Last week, I looked at the top four rookie wide receiver trade targets for Dynasty rebuilders. This week, I will be looking at running backs. These are players you want to have on your roster for the rest of this year and definitely for the beginning of next season because they are not making a major impact now, but they will be next season.
I am not including players who are already making a major impact for their team and fantasy managers through the first thirteen weeks of the season like Bijan Robinson, De’Von Achane, Jahmyr Gibbs, Zach Charbonnet. Instead, these are the players that were drafted in the late rounds of rookie drafts in Dynasty leagues that I am hoping will make a major impact for the rest of this season or next season. I have a process for all my Dynasty leagues where, if I am out of playoff contention when we turn the calendar to November, I will start to trade or cut older players and take fliers on younger players at all the skill positions. Here are the top four rookie running backs that I am looking to trade for in my Dynasty leagues so I have them on my roster to start the 2024 season.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans got a steal in the third round when they drafted Tyjae Spears. Spears is my favorite running back from this draft class. He isn’t the most talented or the biggest back out of this draft class, but he is the most intriguing running back of the class, in my opinion. He has the ability to be a three-down running back in the NFL as he can catch the ball well out of the backfield and is a shifty between-the-tackles runner. The only two issues for him coming into the NFL were that he was drafted by the Titans, so he will be sitting behind Derrick Henry at least for this season, and he reportedly has no ACL in his one knee. I do believe the Titans will move on from Henry after this season, so I am excited to see what Spears can do if they make him the starting running back. The only question is, how long can that knee with no ACL hold up in the NFL? Spears has outsnapped Henry in about half of the games so far this season and he currently is ranked as the RB38 in PPR scoring. I have managed to roster Spears in about 90% of my leagues this year. I believe in the talent with Spears, and, if you are not in any of my leagues, then you should trade for him now before the Titans move on from Henry after the season.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints selected running back Kendre Miller in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and unfortunately, he has been injured for most of the season, so we have not been able to see what he can do in the NFL. But he was drafted by the Saints to replace Alvin Kamara as the starting running back after next season. Miller has the size and ability to be a three-down running back in the NFL. I believe that Miller will be a top-25 fantasy running back when he gets healthy and gets his opportunity as the starting running back. I would trade for him now before Kamara moves on from the Saints and his stock goes way up.
Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears selected running back Roschon Johnson in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and I believe they found their starting running back for the next five years. Johnson has the size and ability to be a three-down running back in the NFL. He is 6’0” and 219 pounds, and he can catch the ball well out of the backfield. He should get an opportunity to see significant playing time down the stretch, and he should be the Bears’ starting running back next season. I would trade for him now while everyone believes that D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert are the main running backs for the Bears.
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected running back Tank Bigsby in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Bigsby has underwhelmed for most of the season. He was drafted by the Jaguars to compete for the starting running back position this year, but he showed early on that he needed to work on his pass protection, so he was the backup running back to start the season. Still, Bigsby looked coming out of college like he could be a three-down running back in the NFL. He is 6’0” and 210 pounds and he can catch the ball out of the backfield. If you still believe in Bigsby like I do, then I would trade for him now because I don’t think his value can get any lower than it is right now.
