4 breakout fantasy running back candidates for 2023

This year is objectively a deep wide receiver year. Even with good running backs going later in the draft, there are still going to be sleepers that your league mates will start fading.

Last season, many weren’t sold on Josh Jacobs as a good fantasy running back (RB23 ADP), but I was a guy who traded Kareem Hunt and a 4th round pick for him in a dynasty league and he finished as the RB1 in standard leagues. These are the kinds of players that you won’t necessarily draft in the first three or even fourth rounds but can be difference-makers despite going off the board in the fifth round or later.

Here are a few running backs to make sure you have on your radar during your next fantasy football draft.

Breakout running backs for 2023

1. Cam Akers (LAR)

From Week 13 onward, Cam Akers was the RB4 in fantasy football. This year he walks into a Rams offense that will have no competition in the backfield. His ADP in sleeper PPR leagues is 64. That would put him just about in the middle of the fifth round, and I love this spot for him. He has serious RB1 potential and could be a huge steal that elevates your entire team.

2. Damien Harris (BUF)

Damien Harris was the Patriots’ backup last year and will likely be the Bills’ backup this year. That does not mean he won’t see carries, however. Since college, James Cook has never seen 14 carries in a game, and he has only had 13 carries once. Last year, Cook was getting his goal-line work stolen by Devin Singletary, which is a good indicator that Harris will probably see the goal-line work this season and be scoring those short-yardage touchdowns.

3. David Montgomery (DET)

David Montgomery is currently going off the board at RB30, and that makes no sense to me. He can easily be a weekly starter for you, given that Jamaal Williams was RB15 last year in this offense. The former Bears’ back should be better at filling this role. Montgomery also has arguably the easiest schedule for a running back this year. I predict Montgomery to have about 850 yards and 12 touchdowns because he will very likely see goal-line work and probably short-yardage carries in the early downs.

4. Eric Gray (NYG)

Eric Gray had a real chance to be an RB1 should Saquon Barkley have sat out. Even had James Robinson gotten that early-down work, Gray would have been the main guy on passing downs. Even with Barkley now signed for the year, Gray is still someone worth keeping on your radar.

In his last year at Oklahoma, he ran for 1366 yards with 11 touchdowns and 6.4 yards per carry. He didn’t have many receiving yards because Oklahoma is never a team to use their running backs much in this way, but when he did catch the ball he had 6.9 yards per catch. Gray may be more of a sleeper than a breakout now that Barkley is set to return, but he could emerge as the main handcuff to own in the Giants’ backfield. Given Barkley’s injury history, this is especially worth remembering.