The running back position came back with a vengeance in 2024 after years of dialogue and debate about the “value” of the position. This year, we have to combine what we learned last season with the historical data and evidence we have for the position while also accounting for changing dynamics within the league. The NFL turned into a spread, run-and-gun, type of league for a while and eventually defenses countered by playing faster, lighter personnel and softer “shell” coverages. The offenses are now striking back by pounding teams on the ground and using dynamic running backs in creative ways as runners and receivers. This fact has done multiple things, with the elite running backs providing a massive edge in terms of both floor and ceiling.
The other main dynamic at play when evaluating these core positions is the fact that there are several key wide receivers with uncertainty around their situations that are driving their draft positions down. This creates a situation where we can put together a roster of stronger running backs early and still have players on our roster that could develop into a super team by the time the playoffs roll around. These wide receivers are outlined in the “Wild Cards” section of the WR Tiers article. We have to be careful with this, however, as selecting too many of these players can result in a very clogged roster and force you to make sub-optimal decisions once bye weeks and injuries to your other players inevitably hit.
With those things in mind and in the spirit of Tony’s “Unspoken Edge” article, here are a couple of other things to consider and be aware of with regards to your strategy at RB and WR for your specific league ::
How many RB, WR, and Flex spots do you start?
