A few months ago, ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes was a contestant on Celebrity Jeopardy. Following her appearance, she shared some key strategies she learned through her experience She outlined those ideas in this TikTok video.
One of her ideas really stuck with me. She stated, regarding Final Jeopardy, “If you’re in second place, only worry about third place.” Her reasoning, which was sound, was that players often wager with an eye on overtaking the leader but the only way to win the game is if that player falters on their own. Instead, just focus on outscoring the third player in the game.
I was reminded of this idea as I was looking over the newly formed NFL depth charts following the NFL Draft. We can already pencil in some rookie running backs as starters for their respective team, but most rookies will find themselves in backup roles, especially early in their careers. Looking beyond the presumed starters, another handful of backs are already being penciled in as RB2s. Finally, the majority of rookie backs are beginning their careers as the RB3, or later, on their teams’ depth chart.
When dynasty managers consider these players, the mindset often shifts to the potential for the buried back to ascend all the way to the top of the depth chart. Perhaps those rookies should focus more on locking in the RB2 job for their respective teams and let the RB1 situation play out. There are multiple paths to a starting role in this league, and we’ve seen these play out on a routine basis. Maybe the correct way to view these players is the reverse of the Jeopardy strategy. Don’t worry about the RB1, but instead find players with the potential to earn the primary backup role and wait for the injury or poor play to impact the starter, as it so often does in the NFL.
Here are seven rookie backs currently projected to be the RB3 on their depth chart that I’ve been targeting in early rookie drafts.
