Running back is generally thought of as a difficult fix in dynasty fantasy football. The position has short longevity and be subject to a lot of injuries.
There is risk at the running back position, but there is a lot of upside and payoff to the running back position. Blending the upside and the risk is key.
There are two critical ways to fix the position: First, make sure your roster has a lot of running backs on their roster. Second, buy discount profiles at a discount.
Running Back Volume
Increasing the volume of your running backs on your roster is a key strategy to fixing your running back position. Rostering a lot of running backs, particularly ones that are an injury away from a starting job, is an advantage in your dynasty league. These running backs can be as cheap as a roster spot and only require you to spend waiver wire priority or FAAB and a roster spot on the running back to acquire.
Higher-end, non-rookie, injury-away running backs include:
- Samaje Perine
- Alexander Mattison
- Tony Pollard
- Damien Harris
- Khalil Herbert (when healthy)
Additional cheaper injury-away running backs include:
- Matt Breida
- Jaylen Warren
- Raheem Mostert
- Rex Burkhead
- JaMycal Hasty
- Deon Jackson
- Dontrell Hilliard
- Jerick McKinnon,
- Marlon Mack
- Trestan Ebner
- David Johnson
- Chuba Hubbard
- Travis Homer
Making sure to optimize the back end of your roster is critical. If you are rostering wide receivers that you are not starting, ask yourself two questions. First, are you comfortable playing this person in your lineup? Second, are you a lot more comfortable playing this person in your lineup than someone on your bench? If the answer is no to both questions, it is time to move on from him, cut him, and add a running back in his place.
The running backs you are rostering may not be helpful each week. What you are attempting to do is find spot starts from running backs that are higher upside than any wide receivers you are playing in your flex position. Making a lot of bets on injury-away running backs turns the odds in your favor and enhances your upside.
Buying Profiles
The other way to buy low is trading for depressed player prices. Buying lowing on running backs has the benefit of the ceiling of high-priced profiles without the risk. Three examples of depressed price profiles include Najee Harris, James Cook, and DAndre Swift.
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