You're On The Clock: Henry, Pacheco, Achane
One position that is usually difficult to predict in fantasy football is running back. It has a short shelf life, and picking a running back past his prime is typically a mistake. Most top running backs will be picked this season in the second round of drafts. But deciding which running back to take is tricky. Three players expected to be picked in Round 2 are Derrick Henry, Isiah Pacheco and De'Von Achane. All three are exciting prospects for the 2024 season, and here is a case for each of them.
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Derrick Henry
The newest Baltimore Raven is looking to continue his dominant NFL career. Henry is entering his age 31 season, but many believe he still has some left in the tank. Only Ezekiel Elliott (2,065) has more rush attempts than Henry (2,030) since the 2016 season. Although Henry has led the NFL in carries in four of the last five years. Joining the Ravens could add wind to Henry's sails. He is now a part of one of the best rushing attacks in football and gets to play alongside Lamar Jackson. Last season, the Ravens led the NFL in rush attempts with 541. That is 31.8 per game. With that number of attempts, it is safe to assume Henry may see 20+ carries per game. Henry makes his bones around the goal line, and his seventh-straight double-digit touchdown season is a strong possibility.
Isiah Pacheco
When most people think of the Kansas City Chiefs, they think of their high-powered passing attack. But running back Isiah Pacheco should not be overlooked. Pacheco is entering his third year in the NFL and is still looking for his first 1,000+ yard rushing season. He finished with 935 yards last year in only 14 games. The opposing defense worrying about Patrick Mahomes and the passing attack gives Pacheco plenty of room to run. What separates Pacheco in fantasy is his ability to catch passes. He caught 44 last year for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Pacheco is great for fantasy because he is used plenty around the red zone. Last season, he was seventh in the NFL, accumulating 50 red zone touches. Pacheco should be in for a monster fantasy season if he continues to see goal-line work and catches passes.
De'Von Achane
You could argue that De'Von Achane is the running back with the highest ceiling in fantasy football this year. He had an outstanding rookie season last year, accumulating 800 rushing yards on 103 carries. According to FantasyData, he was the most explosive running back in the NFL, averaging 7.8 yards per carry, which led the league. Also, he was number one in breakaway run rate with 12.6%. In only 11 games played, Achane finished fifth in fantasy points per game with 17.3. The only issue surrounding Achane is the Miami backfield is crowded. They still have Raheem Mostert and drafted running back Jaylen Wright. There is no question that Achane is the most talented player in this backfield, but the workload the Dolphins want to give him remains to be seen. If he can play an entire season in 2024, there is no reason to think he cannot be a top-five fantasy running back.
Who To Draft?
All three of these players are worthy of their second-round ADP. But you can only select one if you are on the clock. I think the best pick would be Achane. He is the most explosive of the three players and has the highest upside. Also, he is the youngest of the options, which is essential as a running back. The Dolphins are once again expected to be one of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL. Head coach Mike McDaniel is a bright mind and puts his players in the best position to succeed. It seems likely that Achane will be more involved in the passing game this season, which only helps his fantasy value. With his efficiency, Achane appears like a sure thing for a 1,000+ yard season and vaulting himself into the conversation of best running backs in football.
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