10 insurance RBs to target on draft day

Fantasy football insurance coverage is a tough animal.

On one hand, you wish to defend your self from accidents by warehousing your star participant’s backup.

Alternatively, the value of expending that roster spot might value you a helpful waiver pickup.

The actual fact is insurance coverage is a helpful device if used appropriately.

Some backups are superb gamers, whereas others are usually not. Within the occasion of an damage, some could be positioned for a transparent path to a big share of touches, whereas others would see solely a slight uptick in work. When evaluating insurance coverage, the very best recreation plan is to pick out gamers with excessive ceilings ought to the participant forward of them on the depth chart miss time.

For instance, if Aaron Jones goes down, AJ Dillon would deal with a characteristic again position in Inexperienced Bay and could be within the RB1 dialogue (extra on that state of affairs later). If Arizona’s James Conner goes down, nevertheless, some mixture of Keaontay Ingram, Corey Clement and Ty’Son Williams would share touches and none could be a transparent fantasy choice. In the event you chosen Conner and never Jones, do not cross Dillon off your draft board and power a dart throw at Ingram. Decide the man who can win you a league championship, not a participant who would barely be price flex consideration.

Beneath is an examination of the highest 10 working again insurance coverage choices accessible to you on draft day, in addition to some ideas on how the backfield would possibly look if the starter goes down.

For up to date insurance coverage data and recommendation all through the season, you’ll want to sustain with our fantasy depth charts.

1. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions (if Jahmyr Gibbs is out)

As would be the case with a number of of those backfields, this one goes each instructions. If Gibbs goes down, Montgomery will leap into the RB1 dialogue. If it is Montgomery who’s sidelined, Gibbs’ position would enhance and he could be within the top-10 combine. Final season, Detroit’s backfield paced the whole league in fantasy factors (501) and touchdowns (27) whereas rating third in touches (509). Granted it was a unique group, however you may simply make a case that Montgomery is an improve of Jamaal Williams and first-round rookie Gibbs an improve of D’Andre Swift. Montgomery and Gibbs will profit from one of many league’s greatest offensive strains and, on this state of affairs, could be competing with veteran backup Craig Reynolds (Go Golden Bears!) for touches.

2. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks (if Kenneth Walker III is out)

It might sound odd to see a rookie this excessive, however Charbonnet was a second-round choose who may need begun his profession within the RB2 combine had he landed elsewhere (a number of mocks had him in Cincinnati if Joe Mixon was reduce free *eyes emoji*). The previous UCLA star has good dimension (6-foot-1, 220 kilos) and three-down means, so Seattle’s RB-friendly offense would vault him into the RB1 dialogue, particularly with particular teamer DeeJay Dallas and seventh-round rookie Kenny McIntosh as his competitors. A lot to the chagrin of Walker’s dynasty buyers, Charbonnet’s arrival has knocked Seattle’s incumbent lead again all the way down to extra of a midrange RB2, but when the rookie misses time, Walker will leap again into the RB1 dialogue.

3. AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers (if Aaron Jones is out)

Consider it or not, Dillon is considered one of 11 working backs with no less than 180 carries and 25 receptions every of the previous two seasons. And that got here with starter Jones showing in 32 of 34 video games in the course of the span. Other than video games during which starters rested, Jones final missed a recreation in Week 11 of the 2021 season. Dillon posted what had been then career-high marks in snap share (74%) and targets (six) whereas placing up 97 yards on 17 touches. Dillon is likely one of the league’s greatest backs (6-foot-0, 247 kilos) and has proven the flexibility to be an element within the passing recreation. If the 28-year-old Jones is out, Dillon would have minimal competitors for touches (Patrick Taylor, Lew Nichols III) and would bounce into the RB1 combine.

4. Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders (if Brian Robinson Jr. is out)

With passing down specialist J.D. McKissic now not within the fold, it is anticipated to be a two-man backfield that includes Gibson and Robinson in Washington this season. The setup figures to restrict the fantasy upside of every, but when one goes down, the opposite would attain “lineup lock” standing. That is particularly the case for Gibson, who’s a succesful receiver and extra polished three-down choice. Gibson ranked fourth in touches (300) and was fantasy’s No. 10 RB in 2021, so we have seen RB1 manufacturing from him up to now. If Gibson is out, Robinson would not have a ton of competitors for work (Jonathan Williams and sixth-round rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr.. are the headliners), although a scarcity of receiving chops (9 receptions in 12 video games final season) would determine to restrict him to RB2/flex territory.

5. Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (if Sesame Robinson is out)

The Falcons — sure, the Falcons — led the NFL in speeding yardage by working backs final season (and it wasn’t significantly shut). A hefty chunk of that injury was accomplished by then-rookie Allgeier, who racked up 1,035 yards on 210 carries (4.9 YPC). Atlanta nonetheless spent the No. 8 choose of April’s draft on Robinson, however ought to the Texas product miss time, the Falcons shall be in good condition with the 224-pound Allgeier dealing with the majority of the carries and Cordarrelle Patterson working as a change-of-pace/receiving again. We noticed that utilization play out late final season and Allgeier posted 4 consecutive fantasy outings of sixteenth or higher amongst RBs. On the very least, he’d be within the RB2 combine and Patterson could be on the flex radar.

6. Samaje Perineum, Denver Broncos (if Javonte Williams is out)

We might get an early have a look at this one, as Williams continues to be recovering from a torn ACL and will miss time to open the 2023 season. If Perine known as on to begin, the journeyman has proven he could be a fantasy issue. In three video games Joe Mixon was injured final season, Perine stepped in and totaled 330 yards and 4 TDs on 63 touches. Solely Josh Jacobs had extra fantasy factors throughout these three weeks. Perine is a profession backup (401 carries and 122 targets in six seasons), so we do not wish to get too carried away right here, however he’d have minimal competitors for touches (Tony Jones Jr., Tyler Badie) on this state of affairs and would very a lot be on the top-15 radar. That could be the precise state of affairs come Week 1 in opposition to a shaky Las Vegas protection.

7. Elijah Mitchell, san francisco 49ers (if Christian McCaffrey is out)

Mitchell has struggled with accidents, nevertheless it’s fairly obvious that the 49ers are very excessive on him. That was made clear when he soaked up 226 touches as a sixth-round rookie in 2021, in addition to when he all however break up carries with McCaffrey (62 to CMC’s 67) when the 2 had been wholesome collectively final season. If McCaffrey misses time, Mitchell would determine to deal with many of the carries (as he did in 2021), with unproven children Tyrion Davis-Price and Jordan Mason providing change-of-pace work. Mitchell might be restricted by a scarcity of targets (24 in 16 profession video games), so he’d be greatest considered as an RB2 on this state of affairs.

8. Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints (if Alvin Kamara is out)

Identical as with the Broncos, we’d get a have a look at this one early within the season, as Kamara is dealing with a probably prolonged suspension. In that state of affairs, Williams, who led the NFL with 17 speeding TDs final season, would step in because the lead again, with third-round rookie Kendre Miller and maybe Taysom Hill additionally concerned. I gave Williams a lift right here due to Kamara’s state of affairs, nevertheless it’s potential he maxes out as a fringe RB2/flex, particularly contemplating his receiving limitations (12 receptions final season), the potential for a committee and the chance that Miller straight-up beats him out for “1A” duties.

9. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (if Najee Harris is out)

Warren seems to be an elusive, undrafted free agent gem, as he made his means onto the Steelers’ 53-man roster final season and shortly locked down No. 2 duties behind Harris. He confirmed effectively on 105 regular-season touches, posting a wholesome 4.92 yards per carry and catching 28 of 34 targets. Ought to Harris miss time, Warren could be arrange effectively for an enormous position, as Anthony McFarland Jr. and Jason Huntley aren’t significantly intimidating competitors. We do not wish to get too carried away a couple of participant with one profession TD and nil 100-yard video games, nevertheless it’s arduous to disregard Warren’s insurance coverage attraction.

10. Devin Singletary, Houston Texans (if Dameon Pierce is out)

Singletary signed with Houston throughout free company after rising as one of many league’s most dependable backs throughout his 4 seasons in Buffalo. Together with the playoffs, Singletary has been lively for an RB-best 59 consecutive video games, which traces again to Week 7 of his rookie season. He is additionally been productive as a rusher (profession 4.69 YPC) and receiver (38-plus receptions in three straight seasons) however was unable to land something greater than a change-of-pace/backup position behind rising Pierce in Houston. If Pierce is sidelined, Singletary’s prime risk for touches could be journeymen Mike Boone and Dare Ogunbowale. In that state of affairs, Singletary could be within the RB2 dialogue.

Different notables:

Damian Harris, Buffalo Bills (if James Cook is out)
Rashad Penny/Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles (if D’Andre Swift is out)
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (if J.K. Dobbins is out)
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (if Derrick Henry is out)
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (if Travis Etienne Jr.. is out)
Kevin Harris/Pierre Strong Jr., New England Patriots (if Rhamondre Stevenson is out)
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns (if Nick Chubb is out)