• Day 2 draft picks in 2023 could limit some big-name RBs: Both Travis Etienne and Kenneth Walker III will face much stiffer competition for touches this season.
• Temper expectations for D’Andre Swift in Philadelphia: The new Eagles running back still has some barriers to consistent production with his new team.
• Treat Isiah Pacheco as more of an RB3 than RB2 in 2023: We highlight some key concerns for Pacheco’s ADP in Kansas City.
Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
July officially kicks off fantasy football draft season, and with that are some early trends in average draft position to take advantage of, whether it involves fading or targeting a player at their current ADP.
Using ESPN’s live draft trends, this list identifies five running backs who are currently getting drafted well above where I have them ranked and makes a case for reasons to fade each player at their current ADP.
Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
- ESPN ADP: 29.0
- ESPN Position ADP: RB10
- My Rank: RB16
With Etienne currently going in the middle of the second round as the 10th running back off the board, he should be considered one of the riskier options among the top 15 taken at the position. Each of the top 15 running backs drafted should be in for close to a workhorse role, including Breece Hall, if healthy, and Rhamondre Stevenson in New England. I have both backs ranked above Etienne, and each proved to be more effective in the receiving game, as highlighted in the chart below, which is where a lot of Etienne’s perceived value comes from.
2022 Receiving Stats for RB10-15 in ESPN ADP
| Running Back | ESPN Position ADP | Targets Per Route Run | Yards Per Route Run | Receptions Per Game |
| Travis Etienne | RB10 | 0.14 | 1.00 | 2.1 |
| Breece Hall | RB11 | 0.28 | 2.00 | 2.7 |
| Joe Mixon | RB12 | 0.23 | 1.47 | 4.3 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | RB13 | 0.26 | 1.24 | 4.1 |
| Najee Harris | RB14 | 0.18 | 0.78 | 2.4 |
| Aaron Jones | RB15 | 0.23 | 1.25 | 3.5 |
DOMINATE FANTASY FOOTBALL & BETTING WITH AI-POWERED DATA & TOOLS TRUSTED BY ALL 32
Unlimited Fantasy League Sync
Fantasy Start/Sit Line-Up Optimizer & Waiver Wire
WR-CB & OL-DL Matchups, PFF Player Grades, & Premium Stats 2.0 Tools
Nathan Jahnkes Rankings - #1 Most Accurate Last 70 Weeks
PFF Best Bets, Player Props, & Power Ranking Tools
NFL Mock Draft Sim with Trades & Draft Grades
Already have a subscription? Log In
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.