Hartliner
Footballguy
And we're back!
In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 we had a thread that folks seemed to find valuable so I am starting another version for 2024 - it's a living, ongoing list of potential
King Makers at RB - the idea is to be PREEMPTIVE on RBs most likely sitting on the Waiver Wire or last rounds of draft (depending upon league size, sharks or guppies, etc.). The definition of this thread is generally re-draft.
To paraphrase @TZMarkie from 2016: "This is for re-draft and we are looking for the ones with the best combination of availability, upside and possibility of a big workload. That combination would likely give the average owner the best chance at hitting the "lottery ticket RB" that could change an owners season...The point is, regardless of however you see it, and whatever your league preference and/or breakdown may be, in most cases a typical owner (think redraft with 5-7 bench spots) will only be able to truly "take a shot" on one or two of these guys".
To paraphrase @Interseptopus from 2019: "A lotto ticket, to me, costs almost nothing, and is easily expendable for the next lotto ticket, but has potential to win you your season. ... Lotto tickets, in my mind, are easily cut from one week to the next."
Editor note about the spirit of this list: While TZMarkie and Interseptopus defined "what a LOTTO is" opinions and league sizes vary. This list is meant to be a cast a wide net review as a tool to make your own judgement calls. Then make your own rankings. Please share if you're willing. Some RBs are included in the event of a very shallow league. Others are included in case a frustrated owner drops him during a bye week crunch. Again, wide net.
This all above ^ is a quote pulled from @daylight too
CANDIDATES for the Season Changing – KingMaker List - by division
I'll Bold the Kingmakers and Green the better of the likely RBBC
As of Sunday Aug 4th.
AFC East
In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 we had a thread that folks seemed to find valuable so I am starting another version for 2024 - it's a living, ongoing list of potential
King Makers at RB - the idea is to be PREEMPTIVE on RBs most likely sitting on the Waiver Wire or last rounds of draft (depending upon league size, sharks or guppies, etc.). The definition of this thread is generally re-draft.
To paraphrase @TZMarkie from 2016: "This is for re-draft and we are looking for the ones with the best combination of availability, upside and possibility of a big workload. That combination would likely give the average owner the best chance at hitting the "lottery ticket RB" that could change an owners season...The point is, regardless of however you see it, and whatever your league preference and/or breakdown may be, in most cases a typical owner (think redraft with 5-7 bench spots) will only be able to truly "take a shot" on one or two of these guys".
To paraphrase @Interseptopus from 2019: "A lotto ticket, to me, costs almost nothing, and is easily expendable for the next lotto ticket, but has potential to win you your season. ... Lotto tickets, in my mind, are easily cut from one week to the next."
Editor note about the spirit of this list: While TZMarkie and Interseptopus defined "what a LOTTO is" opinions and league sizes vary. This list is meant to be a cast a wide net review as a tool to make your own judgement calls. Then make your own rankings. Please share if you're willing. Some RBs are included in the event of a very shallow league. Others are included in case a frustrated owner drops him during a bye week crunch. Again, wide net.
This all above ^ is a quote pulled from @daylight too
CANDIDATES for the Season Changing – KingMaker List - by division
I'll Bold the Kingmakers and Green the better of the likely RBBC
As of Sunday Aug 4th.
AFC East
- BUF
- Ray Davis - 3 down potential. BUF as a whole is pegged to trend down offensively but still likely to be top half offense and you do have Josh Allen to vulture TDs. If James Cook gets injured, I believe they will instantly give him RB2 status and he might even have some value as a flex if BUF is better than expected.
- MIA
- Jaylen Wright- Offense predicts to be in top 10. He also has Achane aka small bones and Mostert aka old bones ahead of him. Injury to either both are a road to increase production fantasy relevant as a RB2/Flex. Feels overlooked for some reason.
- NEP
- Antonio Gibson- He has done it in the past but this offense doesn't seem to be productive enough, I would just monitor and save your pick on higher upside.
- NYJ
- Braelon Allen- a must draft if you get Breece and also a solid high upside pick if you don't have Breece.
- BAL
- Justice Hill meh you should love yourself more than picking him
- Keaton Mitchell he is the glass cannon, could be Devon Achane lite
- CIN
- Chase Brown/Zack Moss.
- CLE
- Jerome Ford inherent starter he wasn't a home run but was a RB2/Flex and now its an easy pick for early season boost to your roster.
- D'Onta Foreman (INJ)
- PIT
- Najae Harris/Jaylen Warren, I don't know if they qualify. More of an ambiguous backfield, I like to pick whoever is last
- HOU
- Dameon Pierce middling handcuff, not sure why he stunk so bad last year even before the injury we had like 8 weeks of garbage. I would just monitor.
- IND
- Trey Sermon handcuff to JT, good enough for me to be a last pick shoot for the moon guy or you can monitor since he hasn't really ever done it and I don't think others are intrigued.
- JAC
- Tank Bigsby stunk last year, but I will be monitoring since maybe he was just not mentally ready as a rookie.
- TEN
- Tyjae Spears This offense isn't great but if Will Levis plays better, I like the odds that spears will be worth having. I think Tony Pollard isn't a strong RB. I think Spears has the Kingmaker all over him and really is a 1B if not 1A by end of August. Keep watch
- DEN
- Jaleel McLaughlin - He is quick but DEN offense is bottom 3, really should monitor similar glass cannon archetype
- Audric Estime - again I would just monitor
- KCC
- Deneric Prince - The best bet to be the next Pacheco, monitor or even handcuff if you get Pacheco on team
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire - Darkhorse, what if Prince can't pass protect? Mahomes needing to be protected is #1
- LVR
- Dylan Laube - Never heard of him TBH and this is why I love the thread. He is a pass catching specalist and might be supplanting Ameer Abdullah. This backfield seems destined for RBBC
- Alexander Mattison he seems to be uninspiring, but monitor
- LAC
- Kimani Vidal - Here is the thing about this group collectively I think this is a timeshare trap, they all have their perks, but I would save the picks, Herbert is also injured and this Offense is no where near top 10 like it used to.
- J.K. Dobbins - Monitor
- Gus Edwards - Monitor
- DAL
- Rico Dowdle - Good pick for 2nd half surge? Maybe ultimately should let someone else draft and then trade into the season, Zeke will fizzle each week and the Offense is top 10 so trade for him when the owner is tired of the RBBC.
- NYG
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. - never heard of him TBH and this is why I love the thread. Could take over three-down duties, He supplanted Eric Gray from last year and Singletery could wear down, but the Offense might be too bad. Monitor tho
- PHI
- Kenneth Gainwell -
- Will Shipley - the better bet, but still only monitor.
- WAS
- Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Monitor in case Ekeler and Brian Robinson go down, seems to be a JAG.
- CHI
- Roschon Johnson - Valuable if Swift and/or Herbert get injured but monitor
- DET
- David Montgomery - Not breaking news, but he would be a RB1 if Gibbs goes down.
- GBP
- MarShawn Lloyd - This is more of he is at least not AJ Dillon.
- AJ Dillon
- MIN
- Ty Chandler - This feels borderline imo. I feel it is logical but this team is gonna stink.
- ATL
- Tyler Allgeier- Must Draft. kind of an exception to my top offense, but he has great situation if Bijan were to go down.
- CAR
- Chubba Hubbard
- Miles Sanders
- NO
- Kendre Miller(INJ)
- TBB
- Bucky Irving Raachad White handcuff
- ARI
- Trey Benson- James Conner handcuff. Offense could definitely surprise.
- LAR
- Blake Corum- similar to Pacheco I believe Corum is a must draft for Kyren owners
- SF
- Eli Mitchell- Must Draft. He is great same as last year easiest kingmaker
- Jordan Mason
- SEA
- Zach Charbonnet- I'll prolly be in this line for too long, but I like him a lot again.
Notable Free Agents
- Dalvin Cook
- Jerick McKinnon
- Kareem Hunt
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