A strong bench is one of the most important elements of building a fantasy football roster, especially when it comes to the running back position.

The way my system approaches RB bench building is to break down fantasy football backfields into four workload division types, as the backfield type is a good rule of thumb for gauging a backup’s potential value. Here are those types.

• Bell cow — The vast majority of backfield scrimmage plays go to one running back
• Lead/alternate — A lead back gets most of the carries/targets and an alternate back lands most of the rest of the rushes/receptions
• Platoon — The work is roughly evenly divided between two running backs (although there is often a leader within that platoon)
• Running back by committee (RBBC) — The scrimmage play volume is split between three or more running backs

As it stands now, it doesn’t look like any team will be using a RBBC approach in the 2024 season, so this review will look at running backs in the other three categories.

I’ll start by looking at platoon backs, as these players are technically the backup running backs on their clubs but often get similar work volumes to the lead platoon back. The perceived disparity from the backup role causes these backup platoon backs to have lower ADPs than they should, and that can make them among the best value picks in any fantasy draft. 

Backup platoon backs

1. Raheem Mostert, MIA

Mostert outscored De’Von Achane on a PPG basis in all scoring types last year. Mike McDaniel won’t hesitate to go with a platoon, or even a committee, approach if it keeps his running backs healthy, so Mostert is a RB2 with borderline RB1 potential under the right circumstances.

2. David Montgomery, DET

Jahmyr Gibbs will get more work this year, but much of that will be as a pseudo wide receiver. Montgomery is still the Lions’ power and goal line back and thus will get plenty of carries in this run-heavy offense, so he’s right with Mostert as the most valuable platoon back on this board.

3. Chase Brown, CIN

Brown should end up as the lightning back in Cincinnati’s thunder/lightning backfield, and last year he showed plenty of big-play potential, posting 11.1 YPR on 14 receptions and racking up five carries of 10+ yards on only 44 rush attempts. Slot him as a RB4 with RB3 potential if all goes well.

4. Jerome Ford, CLE

Nick Chubb may need some time to return from last season’s brutal knee injury. That opens the door for Ford to return to last year’s form when he had 23 rushes of 10+ yards and scored nine touchdowns — that gives him a RB3 profile for a RB4 ADP.

5. Austin Ekeler, WAS

This is a tough projection, because Washington has many ways it can utilize the Brian Robinson Jr./Ekeler combination. One wild card is that Ekeler scored five touchdowns on 13 goal line rushes last year, while Robinson was only 2-for-7 in that area. That affords Ekeler a chance to get more work and outplay his RB3 ADP.

6. Jaylen Warren, PIT

Najee Harris may be on track to be the top back in the Steelers offense, but Warren outgained Harris 0.94 to 0.69 in PPR points per scrimmage play last year. Pittsburgh isn’t going to keep that type of big-play ability off the field, so Warren can easily outplay his RB3 ADP.

7. Ty Chandler, MIN

Chandler was a solid RB3 in Weeks 14-18 last year, and he could get more work with Aaron Jones headed into his age-30 season. That may include a potential goal line split given Jones’ mixed track record there. Add in a favorable schedule and there is RB2 potential here for what should be a double-digit round pick.

8. Tyjae Spears, TEN

The Cowboys found out Tony Pollard just can’t hold up to being a bell cow or lead back. Tennessee won’t make that same mistake, and it will lead to Spears getting a workload level that may allow him to generate RB2 potential for a RB3 investment.

9. Rico Dowdle, DAL

Dowdle was 21st out of 56 RBs (min. 100+ scrimmage plays) in PPR points per scrimmage play in 2023. Ezekiel Elliott’s steep regression in the run game could open the door for Dowdle to be the primary two-down back. This makes Dowdle a potential platoon back with borderline RB2 value, although he’s often available as a RB4.

10. Chuba Hubbard, CAR

Hubbard provides Carolina with the option to go with either a lead/alternate or platoon setup while Jonathon Brooks works to return from his November 2023 ACL tear. That upside isn’t accounted for in Hubbard’s RB4 ADP, so he’s a solid late-round value play.

Alternate backs in lead/alternate setup

These are higher cost insurance policies for the lead backs, but many cases these players also have clear paths to spot start value even without an injury.

1. Blake Corum, LAR

Corum set the Michigan single-season record for rushing touchdowns and will almost certainly get his share of goal line carries (and possibly will get the bulk of them to save wear and tear on the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Kyren Williams). That could turn Corum’s RB4 ADP into RB3 value fast.

2. Trey Benson, ARI

He’s the only FSU player to post an 80-yard touchdown both rushing and receiving. Arizona needs that big-play ability as James Conner’s headed into his age-29 season. Those are high value upside paths for someone with a RB4 ADP.

3. Zach Charbonnet, SEA

Charbonnet had a nearly identical PPR points per play pace as Kenneth Walker last year. Seattle views Walker as a lead back (he’s 12th in RB scrimmage plays the past two years), but Charbonnet should still get solid alternate work that makes him a safe RB4 candidate.

4. Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN

Sean Payton has made it clear the Broncos RB depth chart is up for grabs. Since McLaughlin was eighth in RB PPR points per play (min. 100+ scrimmage plays) and has a strong durability track record, he’s a great value option who may be available as late as the Round 13.

5. Ray Davis, BUF

The Bills drafted Davis to be the goal line back on this offense, as he led the SEC in rushing touchdowns last year. He’s also durable, being the only college player to rush for 1,000 yards at three different programs. Add in his FBS RB leading seven receiving touchdowns last year and Davis is a strong late-round or post-draft waiver selection.

6. Kendre Miller, NO

Miller’s main impediment to an alternate back role is Jamaal Williams, but Williams was last among qualifying running back in points per play in all scoring formats last year (min. 100+ plays). Miller has speed Williams no longer has, so he should win the alternate role and at a minimum earn his RB4 ADP.

7. J.K. Dobbins, LAC

The Jim Harbaugh/Greg Roman combination means the Chargers may lead the league in rush attempts. Gus Edwards’ track record says he’s a better platoon back, so Dobbins could get plenty of carries if he returns to full speed following last year’s Achilles tear, but there is a very low floor given Dobbins’ injury history.

8. Antonio Gibson, NE

Only three running backs with 50+ targets last year had a lower yards per target pace than Rhamondre Stevenson. That should give Gibson a solid reception level and thus some PPR value, but he may have issues garnering many carries in New England.

9. Khalil Herbert, CHI

D’Andre Swift is better suited to be a platoon back, so the Bears are apt to make Herbert one of the most highly utilized alternate backs in the league. Herbert also showed in Weeks 16-17 last year that he can be a short-term lead back if Swift gets hurt. It’s a formula that gives Herbert superb value in the late rounds of a draft.

10. Dameon Pierce, HOU

Joe Mixon has over 1,800 scrimmage plays in his career, which is why DeMeco Ryans said Pierce still has a big role in the Texans offense. It’s a more suitable role for Pierce and could lead to a production level that justifies a late-round dart throw pick.

11. MarShawn Lloyd, GB

Josh Jacobs had the lowest 10+ yard carry percentage among 200+ carry RBs in 2023, so Green Bay could go with a thunder/lightning combo with Lloyd as a high-impact lightning back, having ranked sixth in the Pac-12 in rushes of 10+ yards last year.

12. Eric Gray or Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG

There are many ways the Giants backfield could play out, but as of this writing, Gray or Tracy are likely to end up as the alternate back. Either of their values could move much higher if they are able to outplay Devin Singletary during training camp and the preseason.

13. Alexander Mattison, LV

Zamir White has never posted more than 169 scrimmage plays in a college or pro season and rated 51st out of 56 running backs in PPR points per play last year (min. 100+ scrimmage plays). Those both trend well for Mattison to potentially get on the field more than most alternate backs (and potentially earn a platoon role).

14. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC

Isiah Pacheco showed up on the injury reports last year with hamstring, shoulder, concussion, quad, and ankle injuries. Pacheco also had terrible per play receiving metrics in 2023. Those weaknesses provide Edwards-Helaire with two avenues to outpace his RB6-range ADP.

Backups to bell cow starters

The backups to bell cow starters generally have very limited fantasy value sans an injury to the bell cow. This makes them low-cost insurance options and is why most fantasy managers with bell cow backs should acquire these backups late in drafts, as the draft day cost is minimal and gives your squad significant protection against the gargantuan scoring drop-off that can happen when a bell cow back is lost to injury.

Here are the eight backups to bell cow starters.

(Top photo of David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs: Harry How/Getty Images)