The NFL Draft can have a big impact on player value. Seven running backs saw their dynasty fantasy football value increase after the NFL Draft.
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Brian Robinson Jr, Washington
The Washington Commanders were candidates to draft Bijan Robinson before Atlanta selected him with the eighth pick of the draft. Instead of drafting competition for Brian Robinson, the team then spent third- and fourth-round picks on center Ricky Stromberg and guard Braeden Daniels to improve their offensive line. Robinson had double-digit carries in his final eight games of the season and was locked into a starting role after returning from being shot during an attempted robbery. Washington ranked 28th in yards before contact per attempt (2.4) in 2022, so the added offensive line talent should boost Robinson’s production.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England
Rhamondre Stevenson is a big winner of the draft. He entered the draft as the best offensive skill position player for the New England Patriots and leaves the draft as their best offensive skill position player. The Patriots also did nothing to boost their skill position players and did not bring in any drafted competition despite Damien Harris’s departure. Stevenson has RB1 overall in his range of outcomes for 2023.
Cam Akers, LA Rams
Cam Akers enters the final year of his rookie contract without any significant competition to his workload. Akers has a fascinating career arc. Akers had a rookie season timeshare with Darrell Henderson before he tore his Achilles in the 2021 offseason. He had a quick recovery and rejoined the team for their Super Bowl run. Akers then had a disappointing start to the 2022 season before he was made a game-day inactive and put on the trade market. After he was not dealt before the 2022 trade deadline, Akers returned to the lineup, started the final seven games of the season, and finished with 100 yards in each of his final three games. Akers will need to prove himself in 2023 before hitting free agency and has an open opportunity to do so.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay
Rachaad White was a third-round pick in the 2022 draft and worked his way into a timeshare with Leonard Fournette as a rookie. The team cut Fournette earlier this offseason, then passed on running back in the draft before adding Sean Tucker as an undrafted free agent. Tucker and Chase Edmonds are behind White on the depth chart, so White could face veteran competition from a current free agent. But he has an open opportunity in 2023.
Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City
As a 2022 seventh-round pick, the threat rate to Isiah Pacheco was high, but he avoided draft competition. Plus, despite speculation, the team did not trade for D’Andre Swift. The team brought back free agent Jerick McKinnon, but this is a good opportunity for Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire to potentially rebound.
Dameon Pierce, Houston
Damean Pierce had a breakout rookie season, but Houston was one of the favorites to select Bijan Robinson with the 12th pick in the draft. Houston passed on the possibility of selecting Robinson when they decided to trade up in the draft for Will Anderson, leaving Pierce as their unencumbered starter. Pierce, like Stevenson, is arguably the best skill position player on the offense and should benefit from the new offensive system.
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