We know NFL teams view running backs as disposable, easily replaceable commodities. The point is driven home every offseason. Never more so, I'd say, than in 2024.
Looking at the offseason transactions for each team, as we do every year, I don't think there has ever been a better illustration of how content franchises are to let their starters move on and plug in someone new. Roughly half of the league's 32 teams will have a different No. 1 in 2024 than 2023. And that's not even counting injuries that could occur over the summer, and youngsters (Jonathon Brooks?) who could emerge to take over backfields in the preseason. (Last year was one of the primary examples of this, with Kyren Williams pushing Cam Akers out of the lineup and ultimately off the roster.)
The table below shows each NFL team, with their 2023 running back starter, projected 2024 starter, and a note on each one. New starters are in bold.
NFL STARTING RUNNING BACKS, 2023-2024 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | 2023 | 2024 | Note |
Arizona | James Connner | Conner | Trey Benson by 2025 |
Atlanta | Bijan Robinson | Robinson | Falcons should feature former 8th pick |
Baltimore | Gus Edwards | Derrick Henry | One of biggest stars to change teams |
Buffalo | James Cook | Cook | Rookie Ray Davis should get work |
Carolina | Chuba Hubbard | Hubbard | Jonathon Brooks will eventually be factor |
Chicago | Khalil Herbert | D'Andre Swift | Committee possible |
Cincinnati | Joe Mixon | Zack Moss | Chase Brown will compete |
Cleveland | Nick Chubb | Ford or Foreman | Chubb (knee) iffy for start of season |
Dallas | Tony Pollard | Ezekiel Elliott | Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman possibilities |
Denver | Javonte Williams | Williams | Broncos should use committee |
Detroit | Montgomery/Gibbs | Montgomery/Gibbs | Rare team with two strong options |
Green Bay | Aaron Jones | Josh Jacobs | MarShawn Lloyd will compete |
Houston | Devin Singletary | Joe Mixon | Texans upgrade at position |
Indianapolis | Jonathan Taylor | Taylor | Colts paid their guy |
Jacksonville | Travis Etienne | Etienne | Jags content with Etienne |
Kansas City | Isiah Pacheco | Pacheco | Late-rounder a steal |
Las Vegas | Josh Jacobs | Zamir White | Unlikely to be pushed by Mattison |
L.A. Chargers | Austin Ekeler | Edwards/Dobbins | Even rookie Vidal a possibility |
L.A. Rams | Kyren Williams | Williams | Blake Corum one of the key No. 2s |
Miami | Mostert/Achane | Mostert/Achane | Injuries could make Jaylen Wright relevant |
Minnesota | Alexander Mattison | Aaron Jones | Vikings will be better here |
New England | Rhamondre Stevenson | Stevenson | Antonio Gibson will play some |
New Orleans | Alvin Kamara | Kamara | Kendre Miller should push for snaps |
N.Y. Giants | Saquon Barkley | Devin Singletary | Giants could have relevant youngster |
N.Y. Jets | Breece Hall | Hall | Jets drafted two youngsters |
Philadelphia | D'Andre Swift | Saquon Barkley | Will Eagles let him score occasionally? |
Pittsburgh | Harris/Warren | Harris/Warren | Committee backfield returns |
San Francisco | Christian McCaffrey | McCaffrey | League's best back |
Seattle | Kenneth Walker | Walker | Charbonnet might get some work |
Tampa Bay | Rachaad White | White | Some like rookie Bucky Irving |
Tennessee | Derrick Henry | Pollard/Spears | Committee probable |
Washington | Brian Robinson | Austin Ekeler | Another committee, most likely |
I'm not sure there will be any rookie starters -- not in Week 1, anyway. But Brooks in Carolina and perhaps Audric Estime in Denver could/should push for early roles. And a lot of other rookies should be selected in fantasy leagues in case injuries strike (Benson, Corum, Lloyd, Wright, Irving) or as candidates for early committee roles (Ray Davis, Kimani Vidal). Because it's a position where loyalty to incumbents doesn't go very far.
--Andy Richardson