We all know running back is one of the most volatile positions. Just last year, four backups outscored their team’s Week 1 starter, three ending the season RB14 or better. Spotting these players in the late rounds of your draft or signing them off the waiver wire is the key to being a competitive fantasy owner year in and year out. The following five players have shown themselves to be fantasy starting caliber when given the chance and sit behind injury-prone backs and veterans, and you should be targeting them.
1. Zach Charbonnet
Zach Charbonnet has seen multiple opportunities to start during his first two years in the league while Kenneth Walker has missed 8 games over the last two seasons. Walker has yet to play an entire season which has led the Seahawk’s RB2 to have almost guaranteed playing time. In Charbonnet’s six starts last year, He averaged 19.2 PPG with just over 100 scrimmage yards per game and 6 TDs. Keeping this pace for a full 17-game season puts him on pace to be RB5 in fantasy. He’s shown to be a potent back in the running and receiving game and should be eyed by fantasy owners in the late rounds given Walker’s injury history.
2. Justice Hill
Justice Hill is one of the best insurance you can get for the 2025-2026 season. Despite Derrick Henry having over 2,000 scrimmage yards and 18 TDs, he had a managed workload which allowed Justice Hill to have five games with at least 11.5 fantasy points on the way to 611 all-purpose yards and 4 TDs. 383 of those yards came from receiving yards on 42 receptions. Given Henry is 31 years old entering this season, he will continue to see a managed workload and has a higher chance of injury. Hill has one of the highest floors of the league’s RB2s as a pass catcher and is a must-start in the Ravens’ electric offense if Henry misses any time.
3. Trey Benson
Trey Benson was highly awaited to break out in 2024. However, that breakout never arrived as James Conner proceeded to have his most productive season, reaching over 1500 all-purpose yards and 9 TDs. This should not deter fantasy owners from eyeing Benson for their bench. He averaged 4.6 yards per attempt in 2024 before injuring his ankle at the end of the season. Despite Conner’s career high in yards and games, he is 30 years old entering this season and dealt with a lingering knee injury that had him put on IR for the last game of the season. Benson was quoted a few weeks ago as saying “I feel like we can have two RB1s”, leaving some expectation that he and Conner will be splitting reps this season. Ultimately, Conner’s last two seasons have defied expectations, and he should come back down to Earth and share reps with Benson.
4. Isaac Guerendo
Christian McCaffrey notably only played four games last season due to bilateral Achilles tendonitis and a PCL injury which led Jordan Mason to take the RB1 role. Now that Mason has been traded to the Vikings and Elijah Mitchell has signed with the Chiefs, Isaac Guerendo is the definitive RB2 for the Niners behind an elite RB1 who has frequently missed time and is entering his 10th season. In games where Guerendo played more than half the snaps, he finished as the RB25, RB11, RB10, and RB2 respectively. If McCaffrey were to miss time this season, Guerendo is a must-start in fantasy.
5. Tyjae Spears
In the games Tyjae Spears saw at least 10 rushing attempts last year, he averaged 15.6 PPG and caught 30 of his 35 targets throughout the season which gave fantasy owners hope he would usurp the starting role. Tony Pollard averaged 12.5 PPG despite being the clear RB1 for the Titans. Spears has proven himself to be a high-floor player and efficient pass catcher when given the opportunities and remaining healthy. He ended 2024 on a hot streak with 20.7 PPG in his final three games. If Pollard were to go down during the season, Spears would be a must-start player, especially with 1st overall pick Cam Ward now on the roster.
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