For a few years, fantasy soccer gamers tried their greatest to keep away from rookies in drafts. Just lately, we’ve got seen extra rookies make a right away impression. Simply final we noticed C.J. Stroud and Puka Nacua emerge as elite rookie choices.
Whereas we noticed a number of rookies make fast contributions final 12 months, we additionally had our share of disappointments on the working again place. It’s nothing to stress over as not all gamers enter the league and immediately produce. Typically, gamers want to realize a bit expertise earlier than ultimately making an impression in 12 months two. Which second-year working backs are primed to make a leap in 2024?
Be sure you maintain updated with all of your fantasy soccer wants by following RotoBaller on X and testing RotoBaller.com. Listed here are 5 sophomore working backs with upside to focus on in your 2024 fantasy soccer draft.
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It was a troublesome rookie season for Miller. The 2023 third-round pick of TCU missed time throughout the 12 months because of knee, ankle, and hamstring accidents. Whereas he struggled to remain on the sphere, Miller did briefly present why the Saints invested a third-round choose in him.
Don’t overlook about #Saints RB Kendre Miller in your #fantasyfootball leagues.
Gifted participant. May thrive if the chance presents itself.
— The Fantasy Soccer Stallion (@FF_Stallion) May 10, 2024
Alvin Kamara is presently forward of Miller on the depth chart. Nonetheless, he turns 29 this 12 months and has proven indicators of slowing down. He posted profession lows in speeding yards, yards per reception, and yards per goal. Kamara completed forty sixth in Subsequent Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expectation (RYOE), forty sixth in Professional Soccer Focus’ Elusive Score, and fortieth in Fantasy Factors Knowledge Suite’s Missed Tackles Compelled Per Try (MTF/ATT).
If Kamara’s play continues to say no, Miller might doubtlessly capitalize. He’s lined up for a camp battle with Jamaal Williams for the backup working again job. Given Williams’ struggles final 12 months, it’s a battle Miller can win. This could put him among the many prime handcuff choices for 2024. Whereas his stats underwhelmed, Miller handed the attention take a look at in restricted motion as a rookie. He’s an intriguing late-round draft choose in all codecs.
McLaughlin displayed spectacular burst and quickness at any time when he touched the soccer as a rookie.
Who picked up Jaleel McLaughlin 💪
pic.twitter.com/9EmqarvKMi
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) October 8, 2023
He graded out very nicely throughout a number of metrics. Professional Soccer Focus (PFF) graded McLaughlin as their Sixteenth-highest rusher in 2023, and he additionally completed seventh in PFF’s signature Elusive Score. Amongst rushers with 65 carries, McLaughlin additionally completed fifth in MTF/ATT. There may be critical upside right here if he’s given extra alternatives this 12 months. Operating backs have all the time been closely concerned in Sean Payton’s offense. After a disappointing season from Javonte Williams, McLaughlin could command extra touches in 2024.
Listed at five-foot-seven and 180 lbs, it’s unlikely McLaughlin ever turns into a featured again. Nonetheless, he can nonetheless be a helpful asset in PPR leagues if he can carve out a Reggie Bush-type function. McLaughlin has a Nationwide Fantasy Soccer Championship (NFFC) common draft place (ADP) of 186th total. At this price, he’s the precise sort of participant who will help win your league if he hits. If he doesn’t, simply kick him to the curb.
Spears was snookered behind beginning again Derrick Henry for many of his rookie season. Regardless of that, Spears completed ninth amongst all working backs in Elusive Score and twenty second in PFF’s Breakaway %.
The place does Tyjae Spears go in fantasy drafts subsequent season? pic.twitter.com/Idy5gARkEe
— NFL Fantasy Soccer (@NFLFantasy) January 7, 2024
With the Titans permitting Henry to stroll in free company, Spears was poised to take over because the Titans’ new RB1. That modified as soon as the group signed former Dallas Cowboys working again Tony Pollard to a three-year $21.75 million deal in free company. Pollard is coming off a down season the place he averaged a career-low 4.0 yards per carry and noticed a lot of his superior metrics decline from his 2022 season. The 2 backs determine to separate touches to begin the 12 months.
Spears is youthful and seems to be the extra explosive again. He additionally completed larger than Pollard in Elusive Score, RYOE, and MTF/ATT. If Pollard’s 2023 struggles bleed over to 2024, Tennessee could hand the reins over to Spears. With an NFFC ADP of ninety fifth total, Spears makes for a high quality choice, notably for players who go for a zero RB strategy.
Brown’s 2023 bought off to a rocky begin. Lacking time with a hamstring harm, he solely acquired 5 touches throughout the season’s first 11 video games. After that, the Bengals teaching employees will need to have seen one thing they appreciated as Brown averaged almost 9 touches and 53 scrimmage yards per recreation from Weeks 13-18. That will equate to roughly 150 touches and 900 scrimmage yards over a 17-game season. This could be sufficient to warrant flex consideration in fantasy leagues. His last stats underwhelmed, however Brown displayed big-play capacity throughout the 12 months.
CHASE BROWN TOUCHDOWN 😤
pic.twitter.com/ZmlMAufDku
— Barstool Illini (@BarstoolILL) December 10, 2023
Head Coach Zac Taylor has hinted at Brown receiving an even bigger function this season. Whereas Zack Moss was introduced in to be the lead again, he has by no means dealt with greater than 210 touches in a season nor has he ever been a major pass-catching menace. There may very well be room for Brown to carve out a task on this offense, and he could present stand-alone worth as a flex choice in PPR leagues.
Charbonnet is armed with a smashmouth working type that may be troublesome for defenders to deal with.
Zach Charbonnet making Marshawn Lynch proud with this run pic.twitter.com/LDwuYBnkdk
— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) September 24, 2023
He completed larger than working mate Kenneth Walker in RYOE and Rush Yards Over Expectation Per Try (RYOE/ATT). He’s arguably the higher again. A brand new teaching employees arrives in Seattle this 12 months. They haven’t any loyalty to any of the present gamers. It’s unclear who this new employees will favor. Charbonnet can present standalone worth if he forces extra touches and will ultimately emerge because the favored again if he outplays Walker throughout the season.
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