Four Backup Running Backs You Need to Roster

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As we get into the season, values begin to change across the board. In the off-season, rostering running backs never seems like a particularly smart investment, as they’re only ever one rookie draft pick away from their lock on the workload fading. However, as we get into actual football happening, suddenly having a workhorse back on your roster feels much more enticing. It’s fair to say that dynasty feels different the moment that there are actual games to try and win. That’s why, as depth charts have become clearer, backup and handcuff running backs become more important to roster. With running backs being both the most volume-based position and the most injury-prone, all of these backs are only ever one injury away from being a fantasy superstar. We’ve seen it every single year, where suddenly a backup becomes the player you need to own. So it’s worth getting in early on the chance that the starter goes down, rather than suddenly paying a premium if you’ve lost your stud and need someone to replace them in your lineup. For the purposes of this article, I am focusing purely on running backs who are firmly established as the RB2 on their rosters. Backs like Tyrone Tracy or Rachaad White who are in more of a 1A/1B situation will not be featured, as I’m looking for the lower-priced backs with championship upside. Blake Corum , LAR DLF consensus ranking: RB34 May 2026 Startup ADP: RB36 Corum’s second year in the NFL saw a sharp rise in his opportunity share, rising from 58 carries in his rookie season to 145 in year two, with a yards per carry of 5.14 (sixth among running backs or fifth among RBs with over 100 carries) and six touchdowns. That’s a sharp increase from last year, but it more accurately reflects the back half of the season for Corum, which saw him score in four successive games and get double digit touches in three of four between weeks 13 and 16. Corum finished as the PPR RB40 on the season, but his 17 game pace from the Ram’s week 8 bye onwards would have seen him finish on 155 points as the RB30. That four game sample size would have comparatively placed Corum as the RB8 on 282 points. Despite this, Rams’ RB1 Kyren Williams still out-carried Corum by over 100 touches and finished with 10 touchdowns on the year. There’s no reason to think that will change going into next year with Williams finishing with his third straight top 10 finish, but Corum’s stock is certainly rising. This backfield is increasingly becoming shared and an injury to Williams would see Corum become one of the top backs on the season with ease, having the lions’ share of the workload in one of the most dangerous running games in the NFL. SUBSCRIBE TO DLF PREMIUM! Gain Instant Access to this resource and so much more!. Premium membership provides access to all of our industry-leading dynasty fantasy football content. You can also get a DLF Premium Membership for FREE! Find out how . Want more info about DLF Premium? Find out more Have questions or need some help? Contact Us Join DLF Today! Already a DLF Premium Member? Log in now!