2024 preseason rankings: Top 40 running backs in fantasy football ahead of the 2024 NFL season

40. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans

Age: 23
2023 rank: 39
Projected offensive line rank: 21
Quarterback: Will Levis, Mason Rudolph

Spears flew under the radar in 2023 but by the end of the season, the pass-catching specialist shockingly took the exact same number of snaps as Derrick Henry. Entering 2024, Spears will again be a backup, this time to Tony Pollard, but has already proven to have value in that position in deep leagues. Should anything happen to Pollard — or should he show similar inconsistencies as he did at times in 2023 — Spears has top-20 potential.

39. Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers

Age: 20
2023 rank: NA
Projected offensive line rank: 27
Quarterback: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton

In a small sample size, Brooks was impressive in college and showed enough speed and elusiveness to be worth a second-round pick. His rookie season may be a bit underwhelming given that he is still recovering from a torn ACL that ended his final year at Texas but if any rookie running back is in the best position to succeed immediately, it's Brooks. Chuba Hubbard is still the projected starter but that job is fully up for grabs, particularly with the team seemingly done with Miles Sanders.

38. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Age: 28
2023 rank: 33
Projected offensive line rank: 22
Quarterback: Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush

Believe it or not, Elliott is projected to be the Week 1 starter in Dallas. That may not last long, but Mike McCarthy has historically led several running backs to fantasy success, including Elliott in his last productive season in 2021. Now 28, Elliott has lost nearly all of his explosiveness and though he is returning to Dallas, his offensive line is not what it traditionally has been in recent years.

37. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Age: 25
2023 rank: 30
Projected offensive line rank: 10
Quarterback: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields

Warren found himself in a timeshare with the increasingly disappointing Najee Harris late in 2023 and will enter his third season in a similar situation. He does not have the size to ever be the bell cow but has taken over as the third-down back. With the state of the team's current roster, Pittsburgh could be playing from behind more often in 2024, potentially giving Warren additional value.

36. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders

Age: 25
2023 rank: 22
Projected offensive line rank: 28
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota

Despite currently being listed as the backup to free agent acquisition Austin Ekeler, Robinson should maintain a similar role to the one he had in 2023. He will cede all pass-catching situations to the 29-year-old for as long as he is healthy but will likely maintain all short-yardage situations including the goal line work. However, with two consecutive sub-800-yard seasons to begin his career, Robinson's upside is limited, particularly behind a poor offensive line.