Scott Engel is in his 13th year as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis and *fantasy football rankings* at RotoBaller.com.

Seahawks fans who are also fantasy football players have always looked to their favorite team for prime running back picks on draft day. For many years and decades in the past, fantasy leaguers everywhere have been well aware that the Seahawks have been a top franchise in terms of featuring top running backs.

Two years ago, in a fun article you can still check out here, I ranked the Top 12 Fantasy Football Players in Seattle Seahawks history. Shaun Alexander and Marshawn Lynch led the rankings, and Curt Warner placed sixth. Ricky Watters landed in the top 10 and Chris Warren qualified for the top 12. Alexander delivered elite fantasy seasons from 2001 to 2005, and Lynch was one of the best RBs in fantasy football from 2011 to 2014. Warner was the first standout Seahawks fantasy producer from the RB position in the pre-internet fantasy football days. Watters and Warren were very good fantasy starters in the first impactful eras of online fantasy play.

Kenneth Walker III certainly has the potential to join the Seahawks' unofficial fantasy football "Ring of Honor" at RB. We tell you where Walker fits into 2024 fantasy draft plans while taking an in-depth look at key RB targets from all teams. A section on the projected fantasy impact of Zach Charbonnet is also included in this article. The analysis leans to Point Per Reception (PPR) formats and leagues where only one quarterback can be included in the starting lineup. My Top 35 RBs are provided after the analysis, and you can see the full ranks on RotoBaller.com.

Top Running Backs for Fantasy Football 2024

Christian McCaffrey is the consensus No. 1 overall pick in fantasy football. He finished as the top RB in fantasy scoring last season and as the No. 2 RB overall in 2022. The challenge after "CMC" is picked is to decide between two ascending stars at the position. Both of them are ideal No. 2 picks at RB. In 2023, Breece Hall finished as RB2 overall, as he demonstrated tremendous dual threat abilities. The third-year man caught 76 passes and will be a heavily utilized performer again in a Jets offense that will get a significant boost from the return of Aaron Rodgers.

Atlanta's Bijan Robinson is expected to play a major central role on an offense that will be elevated by the addition of Kirk Cousins at QB. Robinson should be a top-shelf combination runner/receiver for fantasy purposes and will often be drafted right ahead of Hall. I see the two as virtually tied for the No. 2 ranking slot at RB behind McCaffrey. In a close call, though, I consider that the Jets' RB may be ticketed for a slightly larger workload, giving him the nod. Both RBs are being drafted in the top 10 overall, according to Average Draft Position reports from fantasypros.com.

2024 Fantasy Football RB Rankings: More No. 1 Targets

If you don't have a top 10 pick or choose a wide receiver to start out in round one, there are still quality RB1 targets to draft after the top three are taken. A healthy Jonathan Taylor is a surefire top 5 pick at the position. He will share the backfield with another significant rushing threat in QB Anthony Richardson, as Indianapolis keeps defenses off balance more often. The Colts' offense should also be improved this year if Richardson can steer clear of any notable injuries, too.

Saquon Barkley will enter the best offensive environment of his career as he plays in his first season with the Eagles. Last year, he ranked fourth among RBs in Expected Fantasy Points Per Game (17.6) as a New York Giant, according to PlayerProfiler.com. Jahmyr Gibbs is a popular upside target. In 2023, he ranked second among RBs in Breakaway Run Rate (8.2 percent).

Kyren Williams should still be the clear lead RB for the Rams. Rookie Blake Corum is a good change-of-pace option to ensure the No. 1 guy does not get overworked. Last season, Willaims finished second in Fantasy Points Per Game at RB (21.3) and I don't expect a significant fall-off in production. Derrick Henry is 30 years old, an age marker that usually elicits fantasy concerns for RBs. He keeps himself in great shape, though, and his first season with the Ravens should be another satisfying one for fantasy players as he joins last year's No. 1 rushing offense.

ADP reports point to the RBs mentioned in this range being off the overall draft board by the early to middle portions of the third round. You will have to target Taylor, Barkley, and Gibbs in the second round in most cases.

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Possible RB1s And Preferred RB2s

The first four RBs highlighted in this grouping have the statistical upside to function as No. 1 fantasy RBs. Josh Jacobs gets an upgraded outlook as he joins the rising Green Bay offense. He is an attractive fantasy option when you consider that the ex-Raider has not played less than 13 games in five seasons. Isiah Pacheco is the unrivaled No. 1 RB and drive finisher as a runner for the elite Kansas City offensive attack. He ranked sixth among RBs in Positive Game Script last season, a PlayerProfiler stat that indicates a ball carrier can possibly see increased carries in any game.

Travis Etienne finished as fantasy RB3 last season, yet he has an ADP of No. 11 at RB. De'Von Achane is widely considered one of the top upside targets at the position, as he has an ADP of seventh at RB. He does share the Miami RB touches with Raheem Mostert, yet Achane averaged 17.3 FFPG, which ranked fifth at the position in 2023.

Joe Mixon will now be the lead RB for a Houston offense that could bust out to reach new higher-end levels in 2024. ADP reports suggest that Pacheco and Etienne will be off the board by the middle of the fourth round, while Jacobs can be a good value target in the fifth round.

2024 Fantasy Football Rankings: Second RB Starters To Consider

When mulling over quality RB2 selections, think about going with longtime fantasy stars Alvin Kamara or Aaron Jones. Kamara ranked third in FFPG at RB last season (17.9). Now with the Vikings, Jones finished off his Packers tenure with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games including the playoffs. James Cook emerged as the top RB option in Buffalo last season. He is a versatile fantasy producer who ranked second at RB in yards per catch in 2023 (10.1).

Rachaad White also nailed down the top RB slot in Tampa Bay last year. He ranked second at RB in carries (272) and third in receiving yards (549). As you can see from the options listed in this range, there are many good targets available in the mid-RB2 area of drafts. These players might qualify as sixth-round picks in many leagues, but Jones can be a nice bargain target after round six if he stays on the field for most of the season. He still has good vision and runs with both power and breakaway ability.

Kenneth Walker III Stats: Set To Rise In 2024

Walker is an upside fantasy RB, and his arrow is pointing up in an offense that should be more potent in 2024. Seahawks fans who watch him regularly know that the third-year runner can provide the offense with frequent sizable runs while functioning as a quality TD option. Last season, he had runs of 20-plus yards in seven of 15 games played, and Walker opened the schedule with six TD runs in the first five games played.

As he has improved as a runner over his first two seasons, the 5-foot-9, 211-pounder has combined power and the abilities to make defenders miss with improved patience. In 2023, he ranked second among RBs in Juke Rate (29 percent) and third in Evaded Tackles (72), and gave us several glimpses of his fantasy ceiling, with six 16.5-plus point performances. This upcoming season, Walker might see his considerable natural talents translate into increased fantasy output.

Under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, the Seahawks offense has the potential to challenge defenses with a strong complementary balance of running and passing. Walker knows how to deftly create his own running room, and an up-tempo passing game can often put him into position to finish off scoring drives with many shorter-range TD runs. The air attack may also open up more lanes for the running game.

I have Walker ranked as the No. 16 fantasy RB for 2024, which puts him into solid mid-range fantasy RB2 territory. The ADP reports pinpoint him in the same range, 17^th at RB. Walker will be a fine RB2 target for those who draft only one player at the position in the first five rounds. Even if you do have two RBs on the roster by round six, the value on Walker may be too tempting to resist.

2024 Fantasy Football Rankings: The Top 20 Range And Beyond

As we get near and into the top 20 of the rankings that appear below, more worthy RB2 types can be targeted. D'Andre Swift might be on the verge of a career year as a prime runner and receiver in a much-improved Chicago offense. David Montgomery rushed for 13 TDs in a timeshare with Gibbs last year. James Conner is still very productive when healthy, and Rhamondre Stevenson will be a key returnee to bolster a young New England offense. Zamir White will get the opportunity to run with the No. 1 job in Las Vegas, and he blends power running with some speed.

Don't overlook Mostert as the picks get into the RB2/flex range. He scored 21 TDs from scrimmage last season. While the Miami goal line area ace is 32 years old, he only has logged four NFL seasons with 100-plus rushing attempts. Zack Moss takes over as the lead ball carrier for a top AFC offense in Cincinnati. Austin Ekeler will be out to prove he can still be a true playmaker in Washington and might operate as a busy pass-catcher for a rookie QB. New Chargers RB Gus Edwards rushed for 13 TDs last year and Los Angeles is expected to lean on the running game often.

Fantasy Football Draft Advice: Aiming For RB Values

Some of my favorite value targets past the top 35 include Rico Dowdle, who should emerge as the best fantasy RB from the Dallas backfield, and Tennessee's Tyjae Spears, an RB who ranked fifth in Breakaway Run Rate (7.0) in limited action last season. Jaleel McLaughlin has promise as a receiving option for Denver. Dolphins rookie Jaylen Wright can immediately contribute if needed to play a larger role at any time, and Arizona's Trey Benson is another first-year RB to target as an insurance player for the man ahead of him on the NFL depth chart.

Other NFL No. 2 RBs to consider for fantasy insurance purposes to keep rostered behind your No. 1 guys include Atlanta's Tyler Allgeier, Corum of the Rams, and Green Bay rookie MarShawn Lloyd. Kendre Miller may procure the second spot on the Saints' depth chart, and Minnesota's Ty Chandler should be a prime target for those who draft Jones.

Seahawks Running Back Watch: Zach Charbonnet

Entering his second NFL season, Charbonnet models as an ideal complement to Walker. He is a determined inside runner and a receiving threat out of the backfield. In a Week 12 start against Dallas last season, Charbonnet demonstrated what he is capable of producing for fantasy players if he is ever needed to see increased action for the Seahawks, totaling 99 scrimmage yards and rushing for a TD.

In 2023, Charbonnet flashed his skills as a pass-catcher, as he ranked eighth in Catch Rate (82.5 percent) and Routes Run (294) among RBs. The 23-year-old is an essential fantasy depth RB to draft if you land Walker as an RB2. As he becomes a more integral part of the Seahawks offense, Charbonnet may also prove to be useful as a bye week or streaming option in some situations.

Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 35 RBs

1. Christian McCaffrey
2. Breece Hall
3. Bijan Robinson
4. Jonathan Taylor
5. Saquon Barkley
6. Jahmyr Gibbs
7. Kyren Williams
8. Derrick Henry
9. Josh Jacobs
10. Isiah Pacheco
11. Travis Etienne
12. De'Von Achane
13. Joe Mixon
14. Alvin Kamara
15. Aaron Jones
16. Kenneth Walker III
17. James Cook
18. Rachaad White
19. D'Andre Swift
20. David Montgomery
21. James Conner
22. Zamir White
23. Rhamondre Stevenson
24. Raheem Mostert
25. Tony Pollard
26. Zack Moss
27. Austin Ekeler
28. Najee Harris
29. Javonte Williams
30. Nick Chubb
31. Devin Singletary
32. Brian Robinson Jr.
33. Gus Edwards
34. Jaylen Warren
35. Jonathon Brooks