There is no more frustrating, yet rewarding position in fantasy football like running back. There is the split backfield or your stud running back goes down with a season-ending injury. Then the reward of your stashed running back finally getting his opportunity. Whether due to injury or a team letting the big-name running back walk in free agency that was in his way on the depth chart. Zamir White’s fantasy football outlook points to one player you stashed that could be set to pay dividends in 2024.
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2024 Fantasy Football Outlook: Zamir White
2023 Year In Review
Last season was looking like another write-off similar to his 2022 rookie season. Year two of stashing Zamir White at the end of your fantasy bench. Until week 13 when Josh Jacobs suffered a quad strain that would put him out for the remaining four weeks of the season. The tail end of a contract season for Jacobs ended in injury, but an opportunity for White.
White started four straight games for the Las Vegas Raiders to end the season. He became a bell cow back with 17 or more carries in each game and at least 12 routes run in three of four games. Plus, he played 70% of offensive snaps in three of the four games. He finished as a top-20 fantasy running back in the four weeks, scoring over 13 fantasy points each week. He finished the RB12 in average points per game over that stretch of four weeks.
2024 Projection
Fantasy managers were previewed to a ton of promise in four games with White in a fairly disappointing offense overall. The real question will be, can he do that for a full season and lead this running back room? Based on the overall moves made by the Raiders at the position, one can be fairly confident in White as a favorite breakout candidate. They let star running back Josh Jacobs go in free agency. They signed perennial backup Alexander Mattison, who underwhelmed in his chance to be a starter last season. Finally, they drafted Dylan Laube in the sixth round of the draft this season. The depth chart is wide open for the taking.
The failed Josh McDaniels head coach experiment, for the second time, is over. So the keys to the offense turn over to Luke Getsy, who was previously the offensive coordinator for the 2022 and 2023 Chicago Bears. Those Bears offenses leaned heavily on a run-first approach and heavy personnel grouping. Something fully possible to see continued in Vegas with the tight-end tandem of Michael Mayer and Brock Bowers. However, the Raiders don’t have as special of a rushing quarterback as Justin Fields. Seeing running as a focal point of this Raiders offense in 2024 is still highly likely. Getsy, like fantasy managers, rightfully enjoyed what he saw to end the 2024 season and will likely lean into White confidently.
Zamir White Fantasy Football ADP
The unfortunate offensive situation puts a small damper on White’s value. There is the major unknown at quarterback and another likely underwhelming season overall offensively for the Raiders. However, it seems that White’s average draft position has these concerns built into it. Per FantasyPros, which takes ADP from five different sources, White is currently going as the RB22 or the 64th pick overall.
From a running back ADP standpoint, he is going just after trusted, but often banged-up, veterans like James Conner, David Montgomery, and D’Andre Swift. And going just ahead of a lineup of running backs you either love or hate like Rhamondre Stevenson, Raheem Mostert, and Najee Harris. White presents truly a boom or bust profile, but the opportunity to boom is very much present. This area will be zero-running back heaven.
When considering other positions and players going at a similar ADP? You are getting the mid-tier TE1s like Kyle Pitts and Evan Engram or the mid-tier WR3s like Tank Dell and Keenan Allen. All very serviceable players, some with potential for big seasons. There is also a significant run on running backs at this point. This may be the point in round six where the decision needs to be made to make moves on running backs before they are picked over.
The small sample size from last season is enough to have the Zamir White hype train rolling. Zamir White’s fantasy football outlook has a great opportunity before him despite the Raiders’ offensive situation overall. Can his four-game playoff run last season turn into a breakout full season?
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