With six weeks to go in many dynasty fantasy football league regular seasons, plenty of team directions are already declared - in the playoffs and fighting for positioning or out of the playoffs and shifting sights to 2025. This week will focus on the running back position and how different players fit different team directions:

Stack Running Backs

The term stack is to bolster contending team rosters. These backs can benefit from an injury in front of them and be a fantasy starter in a given week down the stretch. As trading is largely still open, these are perfect add-ons to bigger trades.

• Justice Hill: More of a 2024 play than projecting a similar clarified role for future seasons. Keaton Mitchell possibly returning in a few weeks may impact Hill this season as well.
• Zack Moss: Lost the RB1 job to Chase Brown but still the injury-away option for the closing weeks.
• Ty Chandler: Could lose grip on RB2 job to Cam Akers in a worst case but is likely safe for now to benefit from an Aaron Jones absence.
• Austin Ekeler: Could be viable in future seasons as well, but Ekeler's value centers on 2024 and if Brian Robinson Jr misses time.
• Kenneth Gainwell: More near-term value and opportunity than projecting to 2025 and beyond.
• Dare Ogunbowale: PPR-centric option likely to see plenty of opportunity if Joe Mixon were to miss time in Houston. Not much of a long-term asset.
• Trey Sermon: Low-end option for upside but likely to see the most carries if Jonathan Taylor is out again this season.

Stash Running Backs

These are preferred options for non-contending dynasty rosters. While some of them have avenues to turn into a producer this season, their talent, contract status, depth chart, etc., point to a situational change - or the possibility of change - in the offseason. Taking a few lottery tickets with good enough talent can turn into a player you keep through NFL Free Agency and the NFL Draft instead of easily cutting early in the offseason.

• Sione Vaki: Size and athleticism, but buried for now in Detroit. Best case is taking the Craig Reynolds RB3 role in 2025 and moving up due to injury eventually.
• Isaiah Davis: Davis and Braelon Allen were two of the best profiles to come out of Day 3 in the 2024 draft class, but unfortunately landed on the same depth chart. Bet on the talent to rise eventually.
• Keaton Mitchell: Cloudy outlook for now with injury return and missing all of 2024 thus far, but flashed in a major way in 2023 if returning to form.
• Jonathon Brooks: Yet to make his debut, Brooks is a strong bet to be the 2025 Week 1 starter for (a hopefully improved) Panthers offense.
• Will Shipley: Buried for now but could rise to RB2 role for 2025 with a quality profile.
• Audric Estime: Would need Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin both out to be a clarified option for now. Depth chart could clear out by 2025.
• Kendre Miller: Talented but mired by injuries thus far. Should win the RB2 job once healthy for a stretch.
• Jaylen Wright: Brimming with upside but currently blocked by De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert.
• Sean Tucker: Unlikely to be an impact option for now, but finally flashing strong talent after going undrafted.
• Dylan Laube: Projects as an elite receiver but is currently blocked behind three Raiders running backs...for now.
• Trey Benson: Seeing sparse opportunities as a rookie and Emari Demercado will siphon most of the passing game routes at a minimum if James Conner misses time. Benson is a decent bet to be Arizona's Week 1 starter next year.
• MarShawn Lloyd: Struggling to stay healthy but projects as an RB2 (or better) in 2025, considering his pedigree and profile.

Hybrid Running Backs

These backs fall into both categories as universal hold players:

• Tyler Allgeier: Elite upside if Bijan Robinson misses time this season and likely locked into the role for 2025 as well.
• Blake Corum: On the shortlist with elite upside now and in future years for any time Kyren Williams misses.
• Braelon Allen: Likely the new Alexander Mattison (Minnesota version) to be locked into the RB2 role for years behind a pedigreed (and young) starter in Breece Hall.
• Jordan Mason: Could find future starting opportunities in a best case but still offers value in 2024 even if Christian McCaffrey returns.
• Jaylen Warren: Future starting upside but back to form now to impact 2024 as well.
• Zach Charbonnet: Young and pedigreed himself, Charbonnet is locked in behind a young stud in Ken Walker III as well.
• Tyjae Spears: Returning from injury himself, but Spears offers strong workload upside if Tony Pollard is out.
• Roschon Johnson: Seized the RB2 role from Khalil Herbert and has the look of a future starter if opportunity presents itself.
• Ray Davis: Likely a longer-term RB2 to James Cook, has impressed early.
• Tank Bigsby: Locked in behind Travis Etienne Jr. for the near term.
• Kimani Vidal: Benefitting from Gus Edwards missing time now, but also longer-range potential.

Check out all of Chad Parsons' content at Footballguys.