Getting the running back position right in fantasy football can sometimes prove to be key to winning championships, especially at the RB2 spot on your roster.
Two guys going toward the tail end of that territory are New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson and Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White.
Below, I’ll examine the outlook for each player and propose a strategy as to who you should draft.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for Zamir White
White enters the 2024 season as the likely starting running back for the Raiders, with Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Dylan Laube, and more behind him pending cuts.
According to TruMedia, White had 104 carries for 451 yards and one rushing touchdown last season, adding 15 catches for 98 yards. However, over the final four games of last season, White averaged more than 24 touches per game and had 97 total touches. That’s certainly a good sign as we head into this season.
The team did add Mattison, but he’s coming off a season with 180 carries for 700 yards and no touchdowns. He does have some pass-catching upside, though, catching 30 passes on 44 targets for 192 yards and three scores with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023.
The Raiders drafted Laube out of New Hampshire, and he’s also a pass-catching guy.
Over the final four games of the 2023 season, White averaged 4.72 yards per carry and had two games with more than 100 yards. He did have one game with five receptions for 35 yards.
With White, you’re looking at a running back who will get the vast majority of his points through carries. The Raiders have Gardner Minshew as a quarterback, and they averaged 24.3 rush attempts per game (27th) in 2023.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for Rhamondre Stevenson
Stevenson enters 2024 coming off a campaign in which he had 156 carries for 619 yards and four touchdowns, catching 38 passes on 51 targets for 238 yards and no touchdowns.
In 2022, he was much better with 210 carries, 1,040 yards, five touchdowns, and 69 catches for 431 yards and one touchdown.
The key differences between 2022 and 2023 were the addition of Ezekiel Elliott and the overall disarray of the organization, including the offensive line.
KEEP READING: PFN’s Consensus Fantasy Football Rankings
The offensive line still has plenty of question marks, and while they no longer have Elliott, there’s another pass-catching back in the building — Antonio Gibson.
Gibson had just 65 carries compared to 48 catches in 2023 with the Washington Commanders. The Patriots will also have a quarterback situation where it appears Jacoby Brissett will start and Drake Maye will eventually take over, but I have concerns about Stevenson’s pass-catching upside with Gibson in the fold and this offensive line.
Who Should I Draft in 2024?
Stevenson has shown promise, but the team around him certainly limits that. Thus, I’m rolling with White.
White looked good at the end of 2023, and while it might be a situation where he needs the volume to produce, I think he’ll get plenty of that despite the pass-catching limitations and Mattison snagging some carries.
White should see about 20 touches per game with an average offensive line.
Roll with White despite Stevenson’s ADP being one spot higher.