The NFL Draft lacked many Day 2 running backs, but a significant number of Day 3 options are viable challengers for RB2 roles. Here are the most significant stories at the position coming out of the 2024 NFL Draft:

10. Evan Hull: Favorite for Colts RB2 Job

The Colts lost Zack Moss this offseason, leaving 2023 Day 3 selection Evan Hull and Trey Sermon as notable incumbents for the RB2/3 roles. Hull is a quality profile of size, movement, and two-way collegiate production and his rookie season was lost before it started due to injury. The Colts have shown confidence in Hull as they faded the position throughout the draft. Consider Hull the RB2 favorite after the NFL Draft.

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9. Ray Davis Finds a Thin Buffalo Depth Chart

Davis will be nearly 25 years old to start his rookie season, but the Day 3 selection found an open RB2 depth chart in Buffalo. Darrynton Evans was a placeholder before the draft. Buffalo also added Frank Gore Jr. as a UDFA. Davis is one of the Day 3 rookies to be a favorite for his team's RB2 role as early as Week 1.

8. Jaylen Wright, Yet Another Miami Speedster

The speed-collecting Miami Dolphins added another high-flying athlete, Jaylen Wright, in Round 4. Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane also offer big-time speed at the position. Expect Wright to start in the RB3/4 role, but Mostert and, especially Achane, are hardly confident bets to be workhorse roles or strong durability bets. Wright is affordable for his athleticism in the late second or early third of Superflex rookie drafts and is a late-dart-throw bet in best ball and redraft leagues.

7. Kimani Vidal, the Lone Chargers' Addition

The Chargers not only passed on running backs in the early rounds but also drafted one of the lesser-known running backs of the class, at least in terms of being from a major program or a household name. Vidal has a well-balanced profile and joins an uncertain depth chart with proclamations to be a balanced or more run-heavy attack. Gus Edwards is on the old side (and a two-down option), Isaiah Spiller has done little over two seasons, and J.K. Dobbins is a complete question mark coming off a significant injury (again) in his checkered career. In short, Vidal has impact potential.

6. Tyrone Tracy Jr., The Super Sleeper

Tracy is the latest positional convert of interest. Antonio Gibson was a glaring historical example of a strong athlete transitioning from wide receiver to running back. As he was entering the NFL, Gibson was not even a lock to be with the running back positional group during the Senior Bowl week of the pre-draft process. After being primarily a wide receiver at Memphis, Gibson went on to have multiple RB2 seasons for fantasy (and counting?). Tracy has a similar story. Tracy was dynamic with the ball in his hands for Purdue and has strong size and athleticism. Landing with the Giants, Tracy is competing with Eric Gray for an accessible RB2 role behind Devin Singletary, who is one of the more shaky RB1 projections in the NFL.

5. The Bengals Pass on Running Backs

One of the NFL Draft assumptions was that Cincinnati would add to their running back depth chart. Zack Moss was brought in during the offseason but with minimal contract allegiance. Chase Brown was a mid-Day 3 selection a year ago. Cincinnati passed throughout the draft, leaving Moss and Brown for the RB1/2 roles attached to a strong offense.

4. Blake Corum Snags Valuable Rams' RB2 Spot

Ronnie Rivers has been one of the lower-cost clarified RB2 types in recent years. Unfortunately, Rivers was injured during the same span Kyren Williams missed in-season last year. The Rams splashed the pot by adding Blake Corum in Round 3, likely ending Rivers' run as the team's RB2 plan. Corum could spell the workhorse role of Kyren Williams into more of a traditional committee, but at a minimum, expect Corum to be a valuable clarified RB2 with league-winning potential in short order.

3. Isiah Pacheco Survives the Draft

The Chiefs were a strong bet to draft a notable wide receiver and also a sneaky bet to add a running back from this year's class. Kansas City traded up for Xavier Worthy in Round 1 to check the wide receiver box but passed on running back until adding two UDFA running backs in Carson Steele and Emani Bailey. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is back but was a non-factor to Pacheco's lead role. Overall, Pacheco was a big winner from the NFL Draft by competition not being added from the early rounds.

2. Jonathon Brooks' Rise and Fall

One of the more fascinating aspects of the running back position post-NFL Draft was Jonathon Brooks. The Texas product was projected in the later second round (and commonly to Dallas). Brooks got a positive report on his torn ACL recovery leading up to the draft that he is on track for training camp and is trending towards not being much of a redshirt in Year 1. Brooks then went at 46 overall to Carolina, earlier than expected. Yet, Brooks' rookie draft market is rather tepid (late-first or early-second in Superflex) despite being the clear RB1 of the class with a solid pedigree.

1. Dallas Passes on Running Backs; Ezekiel Elliott Is Back

The assumption was Dallas would draft one of the top running backs off the board considering Rico Dowdle sat atop the depth chart. Dallas missed out on commonly-mocked-to-them Jonathon Brooks and proceeded to fade the position the entire draft. The lone UDFA addition was Nathaniel Peat, who is sub-sized and not one of the notable UDFA profiles either. Dallas then brought back Ezekiel Elliott on a surprisingly strong free-agent contract, considering Elliott's age and the timing of the contract. Nevertheless, Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott are both winners post-draft as the likely RB1/2 of the depth chart.

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