The New Reality No.224: Stack and Stash Running Backs

With six weeks to go in many dynasty fantasy football league regular seasons, plenty of team directions are already declared - in the playoffs and fighting for positioning or out of the playoffs and shifting sights to 2025. This week will focus on the running back position and how different players fit different team directions:

Stack Running Backs

The term stack is to bolster contending team rosters. These backs can benefit from an injury in front of them and be a fantasy starter in a given week down the stretch. As trading is largely still open, these are perfect add-ons to bigger trades.

• Justice Hill: More of a 2024 play than projecting a similar clarified role for future seasons. Keaton Mitchell possibly returning in a few weeks may impact Hill this season as well.
• Zack Moss: Lost the RB1 job to Chase Brown but still the injury-away option for the closing weeks.
• Ty Chandler: Could lose grip on RB2 job to Cam Akers in a worst case but is likely safe for now to benefit from an Aaron Jones absence.
• Austin Ekeler: Could be viable in future seasons as well, but Ekeler's value centers on 2024 and if Brian Robinson Jr misses time.
• Kenneth Gainwell: More near-term value and opportunity than projecting to 2025 and beyond.
• Dare Ogunbowale: PPR-centric option likely to see plenty of opportunity if Joe Mixon were to miss time in Houston. Not much of a long-term asset.
• Trey Sermon: Low-end option for upside but likely to see the most carries if Jonathan Taylor is out again this season.

Stash Running Backs

These are preferred options for non-contending dynasty rosters. While some of them have avenues to turn into a producer this season, their talent, contract status, depth chart, etc., point to a situational change - or the possibility of change - in the offseason. Taking a few lottery tickets with good enough talent can turn into a player you keep through NFL Free Agency and the NFL Draft instead of easily cutting early in the offseason.