Running back by committee… four words that are a nightmare to fantasy football fans. Unfortunately for fantasy players, the shift to a passing game in the NFL is causing more teams to adopt this approach. As a result, fantasy football has developed the handcuff strategy where an owner drafts the starter and later the backup. Below are four of the best running back tandems for fantasy football this year.
Four Tandems to Invest in for Fantasy Football
Kyren Williams – Blake Corum
You might be wondering why this one is listed after the season Kyren Williams had with the Los Angeles Rams. Make no mistake, Williams is the starter under Sean McVay. However, Williams has missed 12 weeks for fantasy football owners in his first two seasons. Just four of them came last season, but running backs get banged up frequently.
Draft Sharks is expecting Williams to miss at least 3.5 games due to injuries in 2024 given his past with an 88.7% chance of injury. That should raise a red flag and alert fantasy owners right away. Williams is still a must-draft player, but make it a priority to take Blake Corum later on. The rookie running back from Michigan currently has an ADP of 115, making him a perfect player to stash on the bench.
De’Von Achane – Raheem Mostert
This one shouldn’t be as much of a surprise as Mike McDaniel used the two running back system in every game last season. It’s a little backward as De’Von Achane is taken well before Raheem Mostert even though the latter is listed higher on the depth chart. The Dolphins have two running backs with different styles, and it makes the Dolphins offense much more dangerous.
Achane is the explosive playmaker who can create a 50-yard run out of a collapsed backfield. His agility and elusiveness make him so dangerous when he gets into open space. Mostert, on the other hand, is your classic “Mr. Consistent” who finds a way to average 3.5-4 yards per carry. Achane has an ADP of 20 while Mostert is sitting at around 85, so this is a tandem that may need to be drafted before your starting lineup is completed.
Zack Moss – Chase Brown
The Bengals signed Zack Moss in free agency after trading Joe Mixon. He’s never been the top running back for more than a handful of games when injuries have occurred. Moss will be given every chance to establish himself as the starter in training camp and the preseason.
Chase Brown didn’t get many carries last year as a rookie behind Mixon, but he should see more volume this season. The former three-time All-Big Ten running back now gets a chance to prove himself. His ADP of 116 is just behind Corum, setting up another perfect opportunity to stash a 24-year-old running back on the bench.
Alvin Kamara – Kendre Miller
Alvin Kamara is coming off of the worst season of his professional career, but let’s cut him some slack. The Saints offense as a group wasn’t the best in 2023. He ran for 16 touchdowns just four years ago, so his potential is still there. He thrives in PPR leagues catching passes out of the backfield.
New Orleans has the potential for it’s best 1-2 combination since Kamara and Mark Ingram split carries behind Drew Brees with Kendre Miller expected to take on a bigger role. Miller battled injuries last year as a rookie and hopes to stay healthy moving forward. His ADP is 137, meaning he is a 12th rounder in most leagues. His upside makes that pick worth it every single time and makes this a running back tandem you need to keep an eye on.
While other running back tandems can be a difference maker, these four are ones to watch as the draft season is here.
Main Photo Courtesy of Sam Navarro – USA Today Sports
