Dynasty Trade Advice: Running Backs to Target (2024 Fantasy Football) (2024)

The only teams that should target running backs in dynasty are the ones that can win it all this season. If you’re still rebuilding or aren’t sure of where you stand, you should spend time focusing elsewhere. Instead, if you’re pushing your chips in and have a shot to win it all, here are some running backs to target at various price ranges.

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Dynasty RB Trade Targets

Premium Options

• Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND)
• Kyren Williams (RB – LAR)
• De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)

The top of running back rankings, in some order, feature four studs: Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbsand Breece Hall. I’m fine calling that the top tier. But the next batch of backs all have question marks for most managers.

Jonathan Taylor was a potential RB1 option a year or two ago, but he’s approaching that age cliff pretty quickly on a team with a wide range of outcomes. Kyren Williams stood out last year, but the Rams could draft a running back that would eat into his upside. De’Vone Achane is a beast but Raheem Mostert re-signed and will once again eat into Achane’s carries.

None of this is to say I’m worried about any of these guys, but your league mates might be. This is where the discount comes in. If you can get one of these Tier 2 RBs for any sort of discount, go for it. All three should be set-it-and-forget-it players in your lineup barring injury. That’s the kind of running back that’s fine paying top dollar for in today’s market.

Mid-Range Options With Upside

• James Cook (RB – BUF)
• Rachaad White (RB – TB)
• Joe Mixon (RB – HOU)

Of these three, only one finished outside the top 10 in PPR scoring for the season. Would you be surprised to learn the lowest score came from James Cook? The Bills are pivoting into a rebuild, which could be a long and painful process, but don’t be shocked if they skip on running backs at the draft and lean on Cook to be the main guy this year. If anyone’s panic selling, you should be confidently buying.

Rachaad White finished as the RB4 on the season in PPR scoring but was the RB10 in points per game. White wasn’t bad at all last year, but the entire Bucs offense looked lackluster. Whether it looked pretty or not, White was on the field, playing in all 17 games. That helped his overall finish but his 15.8 PPR points per game felt light.

I’d be happy to send a package of second-round picks and/or a player to lock White into my roster. He’s probably not going to get a lot of competition from the rookie class and should once again see a fair share of opportunities on a team with playoffs in sight. On top of that, he’s only 25, so there are plenty of carries left in his tank.

Last but not least is Joe Mixon, who moves from a high-powered offense in Cincinnati to another high-powered offense in Houston. The Texans traded a seventh-round pick for Mixon rather than see him hit free agency. That might not seem like much, but trading for a player they knew would hit the market shows you how much they value him. Mixon has finished as a top-five RB in most formats in the last three years. Don’t be shocked if he’s in the top 10 again this year, but at a top-20 RB price.

Discount Options

• James Conner (RB – ARI)
• Austin Ekeler (RB – WAS)
• Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
• Zack Moss (RB – CIN)

This last batch is where things can get a little riskier, but that’s why they’re so cheap. To start, James Conner feels like the one running back that won’t go away. From when he broke out as a starter in Pittsburgh to his last three seasons in Arizona, Conner hasn’t been the epitome of health. He played in 13 games last season. That being said, he was RB13 in points per game last year, so as long as he plays, you’re starting him.

Another vet I’m higher on than most is Austin Ekeler, who moves from one team in chaos to another. He likely gets a rookie QB calling the shots. Who better to dish the ball off to than a reliable vet like Ekeler? Whether it’s Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, both would love to work with the former Charger. His RB34 ranking in dynasty means his price should be right where you want it. Giving up a later-round rookie pick or adding Ekeler as a throw-in is fine in trade scenarios. He’s got at least one good year left in those legs.

Last but not least is the duo of Chase Brown and Zack Moss in Cincinnati. Mixon is out and it looks like either Brown or Moss are in. But which one? In trades, you should target the cheaper one. Whether that’s Brown or Moss will depend on your league. I’d rather take the flier on the younger one with more upside, but I could also see Moss being attractive since he’ll have something to prove. Either way, target both when looking for RB depth to make a run for that title in 2024.

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Andrew Hall is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his profile and follow him @AndrewHallFF.

I love talking fantasy football, either on Twitter or at the bar over a beer. All opinions are welcome, although not all will be agreed with. Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AndrewHallFF