Second-year RBs who could come out of nowhere for your 2024 fantasy team

Rookies don't always burst onto the NFL scene immediately, especially at the running back position. Many of these guys need to show that they can catch passes out of the backfield and give the team some level of pass protection before they can get on the field on a somewhat regular basis.

Running backs need time to develop as the transition from college to the pros is not easy. However, in today's NFL, most teams like to employ a committee approach, throwing two or three running backs at their opponents each game without really having a true No. 1 guy.

This will be a look at three running backs who will be entering their second seasons in the league. They could be great sleepers in redraft leagues and if you stashed them on a taxi squad in a dynasty league, you could get some solid production out of them this coming season.

Second-year RBs who could come out of nowhere for your 2024 fantasy team

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders

Chris Rodriguez is a straight ahead, bowling ball of a running back who has a good situation in front of him in Washington.

The Commanders have Brian Robinson Jr. and the recently-signed Austin Ekeler, so it is a good backfield but one in which Rodriguez can still earn some touches. In fact, there's a case for him to be the goal-line and short-yardage back for this team.

Rodriguez came on for the Commanders toward the end of the year after hardly being used at all for the first two months of the season. But the team started to go away from Antonio Gibson and gave a lot of his work to the rookie.

In his last five games, he had at least six carries in four of those and he got 10 carries in each of his final two games which led to a two-touchdown performance against the Jets on Christmas Eve.

Rodriguez likely won't be a breakout guy in 2024, but he will be a serviceable option as a reserve on your fantasy bench.