Backup running back jobs are important. These players typically start at least a few games, with it being rare for anyone to last in a featured role for all 17 games. So makes sense to keep a close eye on these players in the preseason games.
It seems to me that many fantasy leaguers are too quick to assume that rookies will be essentially handed these jobs simply because the team invested a draft pick in them. I tend to be more open to the potential of the holdover veteran – with more experience in the offense – will come out on top.
In particular, there are four of these battles this year that I’ve got my eye on. All involve teams selecting running backs in the middle rounds, but in each case the team already has another player at that position who was picked in the exact same round in recent years.
Atlanta: The Falcons selected Tyler Allgeier in the fifth round, and I get the sense some think it’s somehow only a matter of time before Allgeier is starting for them. But I’m not sure that he’s going to be their No. 2 back on opening day. They drafted Qadree Ollison in the fifth round in 2019, and he was running hard in their first preseason game. Ollison was out there with the starters early, and he was knocking people backwards. Damien Williams could also be a factor here.
San Francisco: The 49ers used a third-round pick on Tyrion Davis-Price, but they used their third-round pick a year ago on Trey Sermon. Sermon (pictured) reportedly is vastly improved over his rookie year. We’ll see how the preseason games go, but I’m thinking it’s more likely to be Sermon who’s the No. 2 back behind Elijah Mitchell. (Though the 49ers also have Jeff Wilson.)
Tampa Bay: Bucs picked Rachaad White in the third round. But they picked KeShawn Vaughn in the third back in 2020. They seem like pretty comparable backs. Vaughn had a long touchdown run late last year. They’re about the same size. White looked pretty good in the Miami game, but it’s still early.
Los Angeles Chargers: Chargers picked Isaiah Spiller in the fourth round, but that’s the same spot they picked Joshua Kelley two years ago. Kelley started in the initial preseason game and is probably ahead for now. While his numbers weren’t great, I thought Spiller looked pretty good in that game – seems to have some power, and he adjusted nicely to catch an off-target throw. But I am not ready right not to call Spiller the sure backup. The Chargers also picked Larry Rountree in the sixth round a year ago, but I don’t think he’s going to be their backup.
| RUNNING BACK BATTLES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team | New guy (Round) | Returning (Rd, Yr) |
| 49ers | Tyrion Davis-Price (3rd) | Trey Sermon (3rd, '21) |
| Falcons | Tyler Allgeier (5th) | Qadree Ollison (5th, '19) |
| Bucs | Rachaad White (3rd) | KeShawn Vaughn (3rd, '20) |
| Chargers | Isaiah Spiller (4th) | Joshua Kelley (4th, '20) |
—Ian Allan