Heading into 2024, there are plenty of committee backfields, knowing the ones to target can be a huge step to fantasy success. Here, we take a look at four backfields that are worth considering.
Detroit Lions
The Lions backfield was a big part of their success last season. Being able to move the ball effectively on the ground on early downs gave the team the ability to take the pressure off of Jared Goff. Personally, I had some question marks around how this backfield would be able to function last season.
Jahmyr Gibbs was more the more dynamic runner, and had a great run, especially in the second half of the season. Gibbs was able to really showcase his ability as a pass-catcher too, with 71 targets in this offense. Where Gibbs has struggled a little is near the redzone, where Montgomery has been an important part of the offense. The fact of the matter is that Gibbs is going to continue to by a PPR machine in this offense. Goff can’t run, and looks for checkdowns. If the team can continue to keep the chains moving, Gibbs should be a great fantasy option for 2024.
David Montgomery was a decent runner last year, and was tasked with the early-down work. Missed some time with injury, but excluding the Week 6 game where he was injured, had double-digit carries in every game. The Lions were an unexpected success last season, but that might not continue into this year. If it doesn’t, then Montgomery could see a limit to his workload, with Gibbs seeing more work (as a dual-threat option out of the backfield), due to his ability as a pass-catcher.
Summary: This backfield is an expensive one to pay into, and isn’t without risk for both players. Gibbs is the more expensive, but is likely that he is also going to be the ‘safer’ option- given his ability as a receiver. Even if TD regression comes on the ground, it should be offset with an increase in receiving TD numbers. Montgomery is the more risky option, given that his viability is gamescript-dependent. I’d be in with him, but would need to be considered in your roster build.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins backfield, at least for fantasy, feels like it’s on it’s head. De’Von Achance is being taken in the very early rounds of drafts, despite the depth chart for the team and his lack of volume last season. Instead, Raheem Mostert is available several rounds later than him.
Achance was a highlight reel of a player, with his ability to make defenders miss at the line and his burst to get through the gap. He finished with a huge 7.5 yards per attempt, over two yards further than the second-placed player. He is also a dangerous pass-catcher. Benefitting from being schemed open when Tyreek Hill has been used as a distraction for the defense.
Mostert feels like a fantastic value where he is currently going. He is the veteran with the most experience in the system, and has shown that he can handle the volume of carries in the offense. Mostert was also the player in the backfield in the redzone. An area where he was one of the best backs in the league- scoring 11 TDs on the ground (only beaten by Gus Edwards, and Jalen Hurts).
Summary: Achance feels like you are drafting him at his ceiling. If his efficiency were to take a hit, he is going to struggle to repay his draft capital. Mostert is a player that I really like at his ADP, and feels like he is being drafted closer to his floor. Although the addition of Jaylen Wright does muddy his role a little bit. If you miss out on both, taking Wright at the end of drafts feels like a nice pickup as an effective runner in a high-scoring offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers backfield looked like a very odd unit last season. You had Najee Harris who was looking like age was catching up with him, struggling to be a dynamic runner. Combined with refusing to give Jaylen Warren more volume, despite being far more efficient. With the Steelers offense as a whole struggling too, there wasn’t a lot of production to split. But, with the way that Arthur Smith has run his offenses to establish the ground game before anything else there should be a decent amount of volume here.
At the moment, Harris is on the top of the depth chart and figures to be given the early down work. Harris might not have been a dynamic runner and had limited offensive line help. But, he still managed to get just over 4 yards per carry and found the endzone 8 times too. Warren has more appeal in PPR leagues, as he has shown that he is a more effective pass-catcher than Harris. If Harris were to get injured at any point too, Warren could end up being a league winner.
Summary: Both Harris and Warren are both worth rostering for this season. If either were to go down with an injury then you’d have a great piece for fantasy. Warren has far more value in PPR leagues, in STD leagues he is going to struggle for production with his volume.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans backfield goes back to being a committee, after years of having Derrick Henry leading their backfield for the past few seasons. The coaching staff has completely changed, and they have made offseason moves that suggest a complete change in offensive mindset. The team have brought in a pass-happy OC who will be wanting to get Will Levis firing. They also have brought in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to work alongside DeAndre Hopkins as pass-catchers.
The team have brought in Tony Pollard from the Cowboys, who struggled last season. But he is an established pass-catcher and runner. There is definitely a bit of a stink on Pollard, due to the high draft capital cost last season that wasn’t repaid. But, a massive part of his struggle last season was the lack of scoring. He was given carries near the goal-line, he just struggled to convert them into scores. With new surroundings, he could see his efficiency increase for the coming season.
Tyjae Spears is hard to project for the upcoming season. Saw limited work last season, with only 100 carries across the season (and 34 of those came from three games). Where he did see work was as a pass-catcher. Not overly surprising, due to Henry’s limitation through the air, but he could definitely be limited with that this season if Pollard were to continue working as a dual-threat.
Summary: The Titans backfield has a lot of uncertainty. New coaching staff, new pieces, (relatively) new QB. Pollard is the name-value in this backfield, and should be able to deal with the ‘Joe Mixon‘ role in this offense. Spears is the player that has the widest range of outcomes. Could be a decent PPR play if he manages to get targets in the offense, but could struggle if Pollard continues in his role as pass-catcher.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders backfield (and offense) is really one that I’m interested to see how it shakes out. Brian Robinson was the clear lead back for the team, working alongside Antonio Gibson and Chris Rodriguez. The team let Gibson leave the team, opening up a pass-catching runner spot. That was filled by new signing Austin Ekeler, who has shown his ability not only as a check-down option, but a genuine dual-threat.
Robinson is likely to get the first go in games, as he is able to get around defenders, or simply go through them with his size. Where he could be limited though is through the air. He was able to show his ability to catch passes out of the backfield last season, including in the redzone. But, the addition of Ekeler is likely to limit that work. Ekeler himself feels like his ADP is an over-reaction. Don’t forget, Ekeler suffered a high-ankle sprain to start the season, and was likely going to be off the roster given the Chargers cap situation. In PPR leagues, Ekeler is going to be a prime candidate to exceed his ADP. Ekeler was also seen returning kicks in minicamp, previously a sign of a borderline back. But, with the new kick rules in the NFL could provide another source of production.
Summary: This backfield is one that you want a piece of, but depends on the cost. Robinson would be the guy I’d try to get first, but don’t overlook Ekeler. If he manages to be a true pass-catcher, and steal some goal-line work, he could be similar to his early career with the Chargers- with upside.
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