The end can come quickly for running backs. And with Austin Ekeler, I’m pretty sure we’re at the end. Not of his career, but I don’t think he’s got another top-15 season in him.
It’s been a tough season for him. He’s averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry in only three of his 11 games. There was the embarrassing play at Green Bay, where he busted into the clear for a 37-yard gain but got ran down awfully quickly. “Wait a minute, didn’t this guy used to be fast?”
Ekeler is small; they’ve got him listed at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, but he looks even shorter and lighter. And he’s going to be 29 in May.
The Chargers will have a new coach and GM coming on, and I am confident the offseason adjustments will include bringing in a second viable back – not a fourth-round stab on a flyer who may or may not play much. They need a guy who’s going to play at least as much as Ekeler next year.
Ekeler is a neat pass catcher. At this point in his career, it would make a lot of sense to shift him into more of a change-of-pace and third-down role. He’s not a full-time starter kind of guy anymore.
Which brings us to this week’s dynasty offering. If one were adjusting their roster in a dynasty league, wouldn’t now be a good time to unload Ekeler (assuming you could find a trading partner willing to take him off your hands)?
I’m dropping Ekeler out of my top 20 at the position. I would like to move him even lower, but he’s a good pass catcher, and those guys tend to finish better statistical than you would think in PPR formats (and that’s what I’m assuming here). And there’s the added possibility that maybe I’m wrong, with Ekeler having one more season as a starter in him. But my leaning is that it’s time to move on to something new.
I think it’s fair to wonder whether Ekeler (in a dynasty format) is a better choice than some rookies who have a lot more ball left in front of them. Tyjae Spears, Keaton Mitchell, Roschon Johnson, Zach Charbonnet. Chase Brown (the biggest climber this week) has popped some plays in his last two games; I think he can fairly be weighed against Ekeler.
I turn my attention to dynasty leagues each Saturday, rotating between the four notable positions. I’m posting the list a day early this week because six teams are playing tomorrow (I want the list to be up for at least a few hours before it looks hopelessly dated.)
Rookies are tagged with black dots. I’m assuming a 12-team league with PPR scoring, with teams allowed to control the rights to players indefinitely. So I’m looking at not just 2023 and 2024, but long-term (although is there such a thing as a long-term running back?) To see previous lists at other positions, use the “past issues” navigation box.
Last week: Quarterbacks
Next week: Wide receivers
DYNASTY RUNNING BACKS | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Tm | Player | Age |
1. | ATL | • Bijan Robinson | 21.9 |
2. | NYJ | Breece Hall | 22.5 |
3. | JAC | Travis Etienne | 24.9 |
4. | IND | Jonathan Taylor | 24.9 |
5. | SF | Christian McCaffrey | 27.5 |
6. | DET | • Jahmyr Gibbs | 21.7 |
7. | NYG | Saquon Barkley | 26.8 |
8. | LV | Josh Jacobs | 25.8 |
9. | MIA | • DeVon Achane | 22.2 |
10. | LAR | Kyren Williams | 23.3 |
11. | DEN | Javonte Williams | 23.6 |
12. | KC | Isiah Pacheco | 24.8 |
13. | TB | Rachaad White | 24.9 |
14. | SEA | Kenneth Walker | 23.2 |
15. | DET | David Montgomery | 26.5 |
16. | NE | Rhamondre Stevenson | 25.8 |
17. | WAS | Brian Robinson | 24.7 |
18. | PHI | D'Andre Swift | 24.9 |
19. | DAL | Tony Pollard | 26.6 |
20. | CLE | Nick Chubb | 28.0 |
21. | LAC | Austin Ekeler | 28.6 |
22. | PIT | Jaylen Warren | 25.1 |
23. | TEN | • Tyjae Spears | 22.5 |
24. | BUF | James Cook | 24.2 |
25. | BAL | • Keaton Mitchell | 21.9 |
26. | CIN | Joe Mixon | 27.4 |
27. | CAR | Chuba Hubbard | 24.5 |
28. | PIT | Najee Harris | 25.8 |
29. | CHI | • Roschon Johnson | 22.9 |
30. | SEA | • Zach Charbonnet | 22.9 |
31. | TEN | Derrick Henry | 29.9 |
32. | ARI | James Conner | 28.6 |
33. | NO | Alvin Kamara | 28.4 |
34. | MIA | Raheem Mostert | 31.7 |
35. | HOU | Devin Singletary | 26.3 |
36. | CIN | • Chase Brown | 23.7 |
37. | ATL | Tyler Allgeier | 23.7 |
38. | BAL | Gus Edwards | 28.7 |
39. | CAR | Miles Sanders | 26.6 |
40. | MIN | Alexander Mattison | 25.5 |
41. | HOU | Dameon Pierce | 23.8 |
42. | CHI | Khalil Herbert | 25.7 |
43. | CLE | Jerome Ford | 24.3 |
44. | NO | • Kendre Miller | 21.5 |
45. | GB | Aaron Jones | 29.0 |
46. | WAS | • Chris Rodriguez | 23.2 |
47. | CHI | D'Onta Foreman | 27.6 |
48. | IND | Zack Moss | 26.0 |
49. | NYJ | • Israel Abanikanda | 21.2 |
50. | SF | Jordan Mason | 24.6 |
51. | BAL | J.K. Dobbins | 25.0 |
52. | MIN | Ty Chandler | 25.6 |
53. | DAL | Rico Dowdle | 25.5 |
54. | CLE | Kareem Hunt | 28.4 |
55. | WAS | Antonio Gibson | 25.5 |
56. | SF | Elijah Mitchell | 25.6 |
57. | LV | Zamir White | 24.2 |
58. | DEN | • Jaleel McLaughlin | 23.3 |
59. | GB | AJ Dillon | 25.6 |
60. | ARI | Michael Carter | 24.6 |
61. | JAC | • Tank Bigsby | 22.3 |
62. | NYJ | Dalvin Cook | 28.3 |
63. | KC | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | 24.7 |
64. | PHI | Kenneth Gainwell | 24.8 |
65. | DEN | Samaje Perine | 28.2 |
66. | CLE | Pierre Strong | 25.0 |
67. | GB | • Emanuel Wilson | 24.6 |
68. | MIA | Salvon Ahmed | 25.0 |
69. | JAC | D'Ernest Johnson | 27.8 |
70. | NYG | • Eric Gray | 24.1 |
71. | LAC | Isaiah Spiller | 22.4 |
72. | KC | Jerick McKinnon | 31.6 |
73. | SEA | • Kenny McIntosh | 23.8 |
74. | LAR | • Zach Evans | 22.5 |
75. | NE | Ezekiel Elliott | 28.4 |
76. | BUF | Damien Harris | 26.8 |
77. | DAL | • Deuce Vaughn | 22.1 |
78. | LAC | Joshua Kelley | 26.1 |
79. | MIA | Jeff Wilson | 28.1 |
80. | UFA | Tyrion Davis-Price | 23.1 |
—Ian Allan