While training camp is not the best time to evaluate a running back because of the limited physicality, the NFL preseason gives many a first glimpse at running backs before an important season. For some RBs, it’s making a strong first impression in the NFL. For others, it’s establishing themselves in a committee or a new home.
For fantasy football managers, though, it provides the chance to monitor team situations and figure out who could be relevant in 2024 or the future. Here are the top running backs to keep an eye on this preseason.
Who Are the Top Fantasy Running Backs To Watch This Preseason?
Dallas Cowboys: RB Rico Dowdle
The Cowboys typically do not play starters at all in the preseason. Given how prolific the offense was last season, it is unlikely we will see Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, or Jake Ferguson get any action.
Right now, the biggest point of uncertainty in this offense is the running back position. With Tony Pollard gone, the Cowboys brought back Ezekiel Elliott who will share touches with Rico Dowdle. Elliott probably won’t play in the preseason, but I suspect Dowdle will. How Dowdle looks could go a long way in determining how big of a role he has and whether he’s someone fantasy managers should be interested in drafting.
Green Bay Packers: RB MarShawn Lloyd
To be candid, I could’ve listed any of the wide receivers here as well. The Packers have a lot of potentially impactful fantasy weapons but few guaranteed ones.
While the WR situation is interesting, fantasy managers should be more focused on the performance of rookie RB MarShawn Lloyd. We know Josh Jacobs is the starter, but whether this is a 70/30 split or more of a 55/45 split will be heavily dependent on how much Lloyd can impress his coaches.
Head coach Matt LaFleur is known for utilizing a committee. Lloyd could end up more valuable than fantasy managers are projecting. Be sure to keep tabs on how he looks in the preseason.
Houston Texans: RB Dameon Pierce
For better or worse, there really isn’t much to see with the Texans this preseason. It’s highly unlikely C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, or Dalton Schultz can do anything in their limited playing time to change fantasy managers’ minds.
Last year, Dameon Pierce raised his ADP by over a full round when he appeared to be a three-down back. We later learned that was just the Texans wanting to get him his reps and get him out.
With Mixon the clear starter, combined with Pierce’s dreadful performance last season, it will be worth noting if Pierce looks better this year. That will help us determine if Pierce has any value as a Mixon handcuff … or if Pierce would be worth picking up in the event he gets traded to an RB-needy team.
Kansas City Chiefs: RB Deneric Prince
The Chiefs are a team that always plays starters in the preseason. We likely won’t see any of them in the first game, but head coach Andy Reid always gives Patrick Mahomes and friends a couple of series in the final two games.
While we should definitely be interested to see how Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy look, RB Deneric Prince is the guy I’m most interested in seeing.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the presumptive favorite to be the RB2 behind Isiah Pacheco. But apparently, Prince has been the second man during training camp drills. The order in which these players enter preseason games will determine how much that actually means.
The Chiefs’ RB2 is worthy of being selected in fantasy drafts. If that guy is going to be Prince, we want to know.
Los Angeles Chargers: RB J.K. Dobbins
The fact that J.K. Dobbins is at practice at all coming off a torn Achilles, his second serious lower-body injury, is impressive in its own right. It’s been a long time since Dobbins was truly healthy. But when he was, this was an incredibly talented runner who averaged 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie.
There’s a very real chance Dobbins never gets back to the player he was. In fact, it’s more likely than not. It’s also something we’ll be able to effectively evaluate when we see him on the field.
Dobbins hasn’t taken a preseason snap since the one he tore his ACL on two years ago. Given that the Chargers backfield is an open competition, fantasy managers should keep a keen eye on how Dobbins looks. If the explosiveness is back, he’ll be someone rapidly climbing up draft boards in late August.
Los Angeles Rams: RB Blake Corum
Since Sean McVay took over as head coach for the Rams, no starter has played a single snap in the preseason. We are not going to see Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, or Cooper Kupp. We may not even see Demarcus Robinson.
One guy we should see is rookie RB Blake Corum. While Corum is not a threat to Williams’ RB1 status, it is still worth seeing how Corum performs. As the primary handcuff to Williams, knowing that Corum is capable of stepping in for an injured Williams and handling a heavy workload is key for our confidence in drafting the rookie.
Miami Dolphins: RB Jaylen Wright
The Dolphins’ decision to draft another running back seemed perplexing at first. When you realize De’Von Achane struggled to stay healthy last year and Raheem Mostert is 32 years old, it suddenly makes more sense.
Jaylen Wright is a perfect fit in Mike McDaniel’s run-friendly scheme. He won’t have any fantasy value to start, but if Achane or Mostert miss time, Wright will see the field. Use the preseason to evaluate how he looks.
It is unlikely that both Achane and Mostert play all 17 games. Knowing Wright is capable of producing when called upon will give fantasy managers more confidence in drafting or, more likely, picking Wright up during the season when the time comes.
New Orleans Saints: RB Kendre Miller
It feels wrong to say this, but time is running out for Kendre Miller. Despite him only being in his second season, his coaches are getting frustrated with his inability to stay on the field.
The Saints very much want Miller to seize the lead rusher role, allowing them to take some of the pressure off of the declining Alvin Kamara. So far, Miller hasn’t been able to do so. The preseason will be his chance to show he’s improved.
I’d be lying if I said I was optimistic. But regardless, we definitely want to see what Miller can do.
New York Giants: RBs Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
What? No Malik Nabers? Of course, we are excited to see Nabers. However, there’s nothing to learn when it comes to the rookie WR. He’s an elite talent who will immediately be the Giants’ WR1.
Fantasy managers should be far more interested in how this backfield plays out. Devin Singletary is the presumptive starter, but he’s not exactly this amazing talent. If the rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. plays well enough, he could push Singletary for early-down work. It’s a situation we need to monitor and one to pay attention to when the Giants take the field in the preseason.
Philadelphia Eagles: RB Will Shipley
The Eagles don’t play starters during the preseason. Saquon Barkley may be a new addition to the team this year, but it’s highly unlikely we see him before Week 1. The rest of the offense is returning from last year. That leaves rookie RB Will Shipley as the most interesting player to get a glimpse of for fantasy purposes.
Kenneth Gainwell is still the presumptive RB2 behind Barkley, but it will still be beneficial to see what Shipley can do. If something were to happen to Barkley, Gainwell is likely to share the backfield with someone. If we know Shipley can play at a high level, he could be a sneaky in-season pickup if Barkley is sidelined.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Bucky Irving
Rachaad White was fed massive volume last year, despite being one of the least efficient runners in the league. Perhaps the Bucs wanted to ease his workload but just didn’t have the personnel.
This year, the Bucs drafted Bucky Irving, who should immediately become the team’s RB2 behind White. If Irving can play well, he could eat into White’s workload.
Volume is what made White valuable. This is something fantasy managers really need to be mindful of. If Irving is going to handle 8-10 carries a game, that will lower White’s upside; if Irving is the goal-line back, that might make White undraftable at his ADP.
Washington Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler
We have no idea if a veteran like Austin Ekeler will play in the preseason. If he does, he will be one of the most important players to watch.
Based on his play last year, at 29 years old, Ekeler looks to be a player in significant decline. However, there is a chance his drop in efficiency last season was due to his ankle injury.
Seeing how Ekeler looks in preseason action would go a long way toward concluding why Ekeler struggled last season. Most importantly, it would provide insight as to whether we should expect him to bounce back in 2024.