Fantasy Football Off-Season Movement: 2024 Running Back Landscape, Part One

Each off-season, I track team needs and the players most likely to fill those needs in a chart like this. In the coming weeks and months, NFL teams will have multiple opportunities to fill those holes, namely the March free agency period and April’s NFL Draft.

In this series, I’ll go position-by-position looking at teams in need, along with the veterans and rookies who could eventually fill the blanks on the chart below.

Unlike the other fantasy-relevant positions, the free-agent running back crop is loaded. That could change pending teams’ Franchise Tag decisions but so many big-name backs hitting the open market also leaves many teams searching for a new starter. This all makes for a fun off-season.

Team Needs

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens once again dealt with multiple injuries in their backfield, starting with JK Dobbins in the season opener. With a second major injury, Dobbins’ career is unfortunately in question. Even if he’s able to return to the field, he’s a free agent, as is veteran fill-in Gus Edwards. That leaves Baltimore to rely on electric Keaton Mitchell, who will also use the off-season to recover from an injury. Given the success the Ravens have had this season despite a lack of star power in the backfield, they may not even prioritize the position this off-season. With that said, free agent Derrick Henry was made to play in this offense.

Dallas Cowboys