Fantasy Index

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Factoid

Backup running backs

The underrated value of 2nd-string running backs

I am a fan of selecting backup running backs in the middle and later rounds. Typically you don’t get anything out of these guys in September, but at some point during the season, they show up in the starting lineup, with a good chance of productive numbers.

This should be even more true in 2021, with the league moving to a 17-game schedule. It’s even tough now for a running back to stay healthy for the full season.

Consider the following chart. It shows the 39 running backs last year who had at least one game with 100-plus rushing yards. Seventeen of these running backs were backups at the start of the season.

100-YARD RUSHERS IN 2020
YearPlayerTmNo
2020Derrick HenryTEN10
2020Dalvin CookMIN8
2020Nick ChubbCLE6
2020James RobinsonJAC4
2020Ronald JonesTB4
2020Damien HarrisNE3
2020Jonathan TaylorIND3
2020David MontgomeryCHI3
2020Aaron JonesGB3
2020James ConnerPIT3
2020Jeff WilsonSF2
2020J.K. DobbinsBAL2
2020Kenyan DrakeARI2
2020Ezekiel ElliottDAL2
2020Melvin GordonDEN2
2020Clyde Edwards-HelaireKAN2
2020Josh JacobsLV2
2020Miles SandersPHI2
2020Antonio GibsonWAS2
2020Wayne GallmanNYG1
2020Ty JohnsonNYJ1
2020Benny SnellPIT1
2020Leonard FournetteTB1
2020Kareem HuntCLE1
2020Phillip LindsayDEN1
2020D'Andre SwiftDET1
2020AJ DillonGB1
2020Darrell HendersonLAR1
2020Salvon AhmedMIA1
2020Alexander MattisonMIN1
2020Latavius MurrayNO1
2020Ty MontgomeryNO1
2020Todd GurleyATL1
2020Gus EdwardsBAL1
2020Joe MixonCIN1
2020David JohnsonHOU1
2020Cam AkersLAR1
2020Alvin KamaraNO1
2020Sony MichelNE1

Heading into 2021 drafts, I’m looking at guys like Chuba Hubbard, Rashaad Penny, Darrel Williams, AJ Dillon and Darrell Henderson (pictured). Relative to what they’ll cost, I like the potential of them to step in at some point and help your team.

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index