Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans: The Titans did sign former Cowboy Tony Pollard, but Spears should be in the rushing mix, too. The second-year RB can be efficient, and he is an upside option for fantasy drafters. Last year, Spears gave us some preview snippets of what he could deliver with more touches, with long receptions of 28-plus yards in three games and long runs of 19-plus yards in five games.
According to PlayerProfiler.com, the 23-year-old also ranked sixth in Yards Per Touch (5.5), fifth in Breakaway Run Rate, and fourth in Juke Rate among all RBs. Expect Spears to at least take on a timeshare role, which will mark him as a promising fantasy draft pick for your flex position. The ceiling could be higher.
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals: This is another situation where an RB should share work, yet also might make the most of his touches to potentially surpass what his preseason outlook will forecast. Brown won’t be drafted among the top 30 RBs in many leagues, because the Bengals also brought in Zack Moss during the offseason. This second-year Bengal, however, is a threat to score or rip off a big play from anywhere on the field, as evidenced by a 54-yard catch-and-run for a TD last season.
In 2023, Brown ranked 12th among all RBs in Fantasy Points Per Opportunity, a PlayerProfiler stat that measures an RB’s fantasy production in the context of his usage and playmaking skills. Fantasy points are divided by total touches. The 5-foot-10, 209-pounder is a very tempting fantasy football draft target as an RB3.
Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys: Dallas elected to reunite with Ezekiel Elliott, but Dowdle may be ticketed for a healthy amount of work, too. Elliott might be a primary choice for goal-line area work, while Dowdle should have opportunities to demonstrate some versatility when he gets touches. Like Spears and Brown, this Cowboys RB could make the most of shared snaps, and may also push for a pure lead back role. In 2023, despite only logging 106 touches, Dowdle ranked ninth at RB in Yards Created Per Touch, a metric that was created by Graham Barfield of Fantasy Points, reflecting yards generated above and beyond what was paved by blocking.
The undrafted free agent, who hooked on with Dallas in 2020, is being drafted as a back-half fantasy RB4 and might prove to be a nifty value pick.
Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins: An exciting rookie, the 2023 All-SEC selection fits in well with the explosive Miami offense. Wright has big-play ability and should be on the radar of those who draft De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert, as a fantasy insurance pick in the later rounds. If the Dolphins need him to take on a larger workload at any time, the former Tennessee Volunteer can supply some statistical spike weeks to benefit fantasy leaguers.
