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The 2023 season will provide answers to some of the biggest questions in fantasy football. Nine teams are defined by their running back questions.
How does Seattle deploy their running backs?
Kenneth Walker had a breakout rookie season and looked poised to take on the long-term lead role in the backfield after Rashaad Penny departed in free agency. However, the team drafted Zach Charbonnet in the second round of April's draft, which creates an ambiguous situation in the backfield. Walker and Charbonnet have both been banged up during camp but should be ready for week one. How they split the backfield will be a major storyline to watch in 2023.
Can James Cook capitalize in the Buffalo backfield?
James Cook was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft but played a reserve role behind Devin Singletary as a rookie. The team let Singletary walk in free agency and added Damien Harris and Latavius Murray, but neither threaten Cook's initial opportunity as the starter. Singletary significantly underproduced his route volume in the passing game, a place where Cook could immediately capitalize in 2023. His role in both the passing and run game creates an Aaron Jones-type range of outcomes a possibility in a high-powered offense.
Is the Philadelphia backfield valuable?
Philadelphia let Miles Sanders walk in free agency and then replaced him in free agency with Rashaad Penny and traded for D'Andre Swift. Incumbents Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott are still on the roster and can compete for a role in the offense. While there is excitement about Penny and Swift, the team's backfield is less productive than appreciated, ranking 24th in expected running back points in 2022. The team has a low running back route participation and deploys Jalen Hurts near the goal line, leaving the backfield without critical scoring opportunities. Ultimately, a running back will need to consolidate a role, and the offense will need to turn more favorable for any of the running backs to provide long-term value.
What is Jonathan Taylor's future in Indianapolis?
Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts are in a standoff over Taylor's extension. Taylor is officially on the PUP list, but there have been threats by Indianapolis to move him to the NFI list so they can potentially withhold his salary. The situation does not seem close to resolving itself and Indianapolis is publicly refusing to engage in contract and trade negotiations. The situation warrants monitoring throughout the rest of the offseason and could linger into the regular season.
What is the future of the New Orleans backfield?
Alvin Kamara was suspended for the first three games of the 2023 season after he entered a misdemeanor plea on an assault case that occurred during the 2022 offseason. The team added to the backfield by signing Jamaal Williams to a sizeable free-agent contract and selecting Kendre Miller in the third round of the draft. The team also brought Kareem Hunt in for a workout, which has raised eyebrows, but did not ultimately sign Hunt. Kamara is less of a threat than he was at his peak but still has the capability to post a top 5 seasonal finish in per-game scoring. Kamara could be a cap casualty if he disappoints this season and potentially opens room for Miller's development in 2024.
Who is the value in Kansas City's backfield?
Clyde Edwards-Helaire had 1100 total yards as a rookie but has managed only 1099 in the two seasons since. A combination of play quality and injuries have created space for Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon to find a role in the offense, but there is space for Edwards-Helaire to regain the RB1 role. Pacheco was held out of the first preseason game and had off-season surgeries on both his hand and shoulder in the offseason. Additionally, the 31-year-old Jerick McKinnon has a history of injuries and has not profiled as a full-time, season-long back in recent seasons. Edwards-Helaire played ahead of McKinnon with the starters in the team's first preseason game and has the highest ceiling in the backfield if he is healthy in a critical contract year.
What is the future of the backfield in Las Vegas?
After he led the league in rushing in 2022, the Las Vegas Raiders placed the franchise tag on Josh Jacobs. To date, Jacobs has not signed the tag and has not reported to training camp. Jacobs wants a long-term contract but will be forced to play on the one-year tag if he returns to the Raiders camp. The Raiders could trade Jacobs or rescind the tag and make him a free agent, which would allow him to sign a free-agent deal with another team. The Raiders drafted Zamir White in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, and after a quiet rookie season, he started the team's first preseason game. Jacobs' situation throughout the month and through free agency in 2024 should have a big fantasy impact for the RB3 from 2022.
What is the workshare in the Jets backfield?
Breece Hall was on the PUP list recovering from his torn ACL right up until the day the Jets signed Dalvin Cook in free agency. Hall is now activated and will join Cook in practice. Cook has been a declining player in the past couple of seasons but had surgery on his shoulder that has bothered him in recent years. The surgery, plus a workshare with Hall, could help Cook rebound from his falloff in yards after contact. The addition of Cook also calls into question Hall's recovery and his ceiling in 2023. How the backfield workshare is split between Hall and Cook will depend on health and play quality and is a critical watch throughout the rest of the preseason and early into the regular season.
What is the workshare in New England?
After flirting with the free agent running backs for much of the offseason, the Patriots signed Ezekiel Elliott to a one-year deal. Elliott joins a backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson, who broke out in a big way in 2022. Elliott should cut into Stevenson's work as a runner, which was reflected in Stevenson's betting props movement this week. Before Elliott was signed, Draft Kings had a rushing yardage prop of 1000.5 and 6.5 rushing touchdowns. After Elliott was signed, the rushing yardage prop fell to 850.5 and 5.5 rushing touchdowns, a 15% reduction in his production props. Elliott is a declining player at this stage of his career, but he is a capable short-yardage runner and could leave Stevenson plenty of room in the receiving game. How Elliott is used and the impact that has on Stevenson's role will be important to monitor in the coming weeks.