Running Back Takeaways from the 2024 Fantasy Season

Today, we continue with our next installment of fantasy takeaways from the 2024 season. Our focus will shift over to the running back position. These are designed to help you formulate your 2025 draft plan. Whether you won a high-stakes fantasy championship or are a recreational player who won your home league, you need to be proactive. The NFL calendar is year-round, and savvy fantasy players are on top of past season results, coaching movement, and free agency. We have two fantasy running back data points that we want to highlight today.

Running Back Takeaways from the 2024 Fantasy Season

Bijan Robinson Became The Running Back We Drafted Him To Be

Bijan Robinson officially arrived as the running back we expected after week 8. Robinson may have finished 2024 as the overall RB3 at 20.1 points per game, but it was a tale of two halves for him. Robinson averaged just under 15 carries in his first eight games with a 56% rushing share. From week nine on, he averaged just under 21 carries and a 65% rushing share. Robinson scored 11 of his 15 touchdowns after week 8. You can see just how dominant he was in the latter half of 2024. He also became a three-down back, seeing just under an 80% snap rate. Robinson’s 61 receptions were third-best in the league.

During the same time frame, his fantasy points per game average rose from 17.5 to 22.41. To put that in perspective, that 22.41 average would have topped both Saquan Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs. If we see the elite usage again in 2025, Robinson could be next season’s overall RB1 and flirt with the 2000-yard rushing mark. To tell you that Robinson is a first-round fantasy running back in 2025 is not earth-shattering. However, a case can be made for him at 1.1, and he should more than return value at his current 1.5 ranking.

Can Chase Brown be an Anchor Back Again 2025 Fantasy Draft?

If you drafted Chase Brown in 2024, he smashed his ADP and was probably a league winner for you. Brown finished as the overall PPR RB5, but much the same as Bijan Robinson, he blew up as the season progressed. Brown started the season sharing the Cincinnati backfield with Zach Moss and averaged 11.25 fantasy points a game. From week nine on, Brown went off for 20.63 points per game. Again, that output was on a level with Saquan Barkley. Brown is tied to Joe Burrow, plays in an elite offense, and is heavily involved in the passing game. He posted 54 receptions, fifth best among fantasy running backs.

Brown currently ranks as the overall RB12 with a third-round ADP of 36. His 289 touches were a career-high, the question going into 2025 is whether he can be an anchor RB1 on fantasy rosters in 2025. Brown is smaller in stature at 5’10 and 210 pounds. The concern for us is whether will he hold up as a bellcow running back for an entire season. Bengals Coach Zac Taylor is a disciple of Sean McVay and therefore the RB1 in that offense is a coveted fantasy asset. Brown, barring injury, will enter as the Bengals lead back, and for those who desire to start their fantasy drafts with two wideouts, should be a nice option for you in round three.

Related – 2025 Superflex Rookie Mock Draft Video