RB position preview: Who to target, monitor and avoid at ADP

Matt Harmon believes Blake Corum will eat into Kyron Williams' touches annually, but he rejects the narrative that Corum is a young player coming to usurp an older veteran, as they are the same age.

Breece Hall is a 'green light' target who is expected to return to a workhorse role. Despite the Jets' offensive struggles, he produced RB6 per-game results in 2023 and has top-10 upside if the team's quarterback play stabilizes.

Matt Harmon highlights Brock Purdy as an example of a quarterback who can be drafted outside the top 120 picks, showcasing the depth of the position this year.

Matt Harmon expresses interest in Bucky Irving as a late-round RB2 option, suggesting that he may have overthought the impact of Kenny Gainwell's signing.

Harmon has changed his mind on Irving, moving him out of the 'coping corner' and into a targetable range in the fifth or sixth round. Irving is receiving positive reviews in Tampa Bay, and with a strong offensive line and ecosystem, Harmon believes he could outperform his rookie-year production, even if his ceiling is capped.

Matt Harmon advises caution when evaluating Cam Akers' training camp workload, noting that his shared reps may be due to his recovery from a serious injury rather than a permanent committee role.

Matt Harmon calls Chase Brown the most underrated player in the first two rounds, noting his top-five production from week six on last season and his role as a focal point in the Bengals' offense.

Matt Harmon believes Chris Rodriguez Jr. will have a role in the Commanders' backfield, though he cautions against overreacting to early training camp depth chart reports.

Matt Harmon is lower on Christian McCaffrey than consensus due to his age (over 30), the massive 450-touch workload from last season, and the risk of injury, preferring Jonathan Taylor instead.

Harmon and Boone view Hubbard as a 'red light' player, with Boone explicitly moving Jonathan Brooks ahead of him in his rankings. The consensus is that the Carolina coaching staff is prioritizing Brooks' development, making Hubbard a fading asset in the backfield hierarchy.

DeAndre Swift is considered 'ultra disrespected' at his current ADP. He was the RB14 in fantasy points per game last season and improved to RB10 after week six. Ben Johnson's praise for Swift suggests he remains a steady, high-value presence in the offense.

Matt Harmon has moved Davante Adams down five spots in his rankings over the past week. Harmon cites concerns about Adams' age and the 'fragile' nature of the Raiders' offense, noting that he is now breaking ties in favor of younger receivers like DJ Moore who may have higher target ceilings.

David Montgomery is a solid RB2 target for the Texans, with potential to push for a top-15 or top-12 finish. The team's run-heavy game scripts and strong defense provide a favorable environment, and he is expected to lead the backfield over Woody Marks.

Matt Harmon defends Devon Achane against negative sentiment, arguing that his 18 points per game average last year makes him a strong value even if he experiences some regression.

Harmon ranks Henry as his RB8, acknowledging he is a 'one of one' talent who defies age curves, but expresses concern about his lack of receiving usage and potential for a decline in efficiency. While Henry remains a solid fantasy asset, Harmon views him as a high-end RB2 rather than a league-winning top-10 back, noting that unlike Christian McCaffrey, Henry lacks a passing-game floor to mitigate efficiency drops.

Jadarian Price is a first-round talent in a good offense who is expected to emerge as the lead back. Despite preseason depth chart listings, he has received positive coaching feedback and is a strong investment as an RB2, especially with Zach Charbonnet returning from injury.

Matt Harmon suggests that Jeremiah Love could emerge as the primary back in his respective backfield despite early training camp reports favoring other players.

Matt Harmon ranks Jonathan Taylor above Christian McCaffrey, citing his performance as the RB1 overall when Daniel Jones was healthy last season and his potential for high-volume scoring.

Harmon and Boone are both high on Brooks, with Harmon ranking him 15.7 spots ahead of ADP. Despite coming off an injury, Brooks is receiving glowing reports from the Carolina coaching staff and is expected to eventually lead the backfield, potentially mirroring the emergence of Rico Dowdle last year.

Harmon views Jacobs as a 'red light' player due to potential suspension risk and declining efficiency metrics from last season, including a drop in explosive run rate (7.6% to 6%) and yards after contact (3.5 to 3.1). While his ADP is falling into the fourth round, making him a potential value, Harmon warns that he may be a 'falling knife' in a worse offensive environment in Green Bay.

Justin Jefferson is the only player in the Vikings' offense that Matt Harmon is proactively targeting. While Harmon expressed some concern about the team's overall ceiling, he notes that Kyler Murray starting is good news for Jefferson's fantasy outlook, potentially returning him to WR1 status. Harmon has moved him into his second tier of receivers and ranks him around the end of the first round.

Matt Harmon notes he is lower on Kenneth Walker than consensus but clarifies that he still expects Walker to have a good season.

Kyler Murray has been named the Vikings' starting quarterback. Matt Harmon and Justin Boone agree that the offense should open up more under Murray compared to the previous plan, as he is willing to push the ball downfield and provides a more stable floor than the alternative. Boone views him as a viable late-round quarterback option in standard leagues and a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 in Superflex formats.

Matt Harmon defends Kyron Williams as undervalued, dismissing concerns about Blake Corum usurping him and highlighting Williams' consistent top-10 fantasy production over the last three seasons.

Despite concerns about the Rams' offensive ecosystem, Kyron Williams is a top-10 fantasy back on a per-game basis over the last three seasons. Matt Harmon and the source agree he is undervalued at his current ADP, with potential to finish as a top-12 or top-10 back again.

Boone highlights Lloyd as a sleeper who could have a huge season if he stays healthy, noting he is currently healthy and receiving positive camp reports regarding his explosiveness. While his injury history is a concern, his cheap ADP makes him a low-risk investment who could carve out a significant role in the Green Bay offense if Jacobs struggles or misses time.

Puka Nacua left a joint practice with an injury and faces potential league discipline for offseason actions. Despite these concerns, Justin Boone maintains Nacua as his WR5 overall, arguing that any potential suspension would likely be short and that the Rams' condensed offense provides massive ceiling potential. Both analysts warn that the Rams' ecosystem feels 'fragile' this year, but they remain hesitant to drop Nacua significantly in rankings.

Matt Harmon notes that Rashid Shaheed is a late-round target in double-digit rounds who could realistically provide WR3 or flex value this season.

Harmon has moved Stevenson ahead of TreVeyon Henderson in his rankings, citing reports that the Patriots' backfield remains Stevenson's and that Henderson is struggling with pass protection. Stevenson is viewed as the starter, with Harmon noting he is seven spots ahead of ADP on Stevenson while being behind on Henderson.

Matt Harmon acknowledges he is slightly lower on Saquon Barkley than consensus but emphasizes that he still expects Barkley to have a good season and would rather move other players down than talk negatively about him.

Harmon identifies Etienne as a potential 'red light' player who could actually burn drafters by being much better than expected. Despite concerns about Alvin Kamara's presence, Harmon believes the Saints' fast-paced Kellen Moore offense and a solid offensive line create an environment where Etienne could thrive if he earns the lead role.

Harmon has downgraded Henderson to a 'yellow light' player, noting that he is not answering the coaching staff's call to improve in pass protection. While Henderson has shown big-play ability, Harmon believes he may now require an injury to Stevenson to become the primary back, leading to a shift in their relative rankings.

Matt Harmon uses Tyler Allgeier as an example of why fantasy managers should not overreact to early training camp reports about rookies getting first-team reps, as roles often shift as camp progresses.