Three must-draft mid-round running backs in fantasy football

The NFL preseason is nearing an end, which means fantasy football drafts are quickly approaching. More often than not, the fantasy manager who hits on middle-round running back is well-positioned to contend for a championship. 

Given that, here are three running backs who could be this season's Josh Jacobs or Rhamondre Stevenson. 

Dameon Pierce, Texans (ESPN ADP: 52.3)

More than 1,100 all-purpose yards and five total touchdowns as a rookie apparently weren't enough for Pierce, rated as ESPN’s RB16, to solidify himself as a low-end RB1 in upcoming drafts.  

The arrival of Devin Singletary shouldn't discourage you from drafting Pierce, as he's set to be an every-down back in 2023. Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke pointed out that Pierce played on 3 percent of snaps on 3rd- or 4th-and-5-plus last season and saw four snaps in those situations during his two drives in this past Saturday's preseason loss to Miami. 

What may be the strangest element of Pierce's low price tag is that the Texans significantly upgraded their team this offseason, from the coaching staff to the roster itself. Houston hired DeMeco Ryans as head coach, drafted quarterback C.J. Stroud second overall and upgraded its offensive line by adding two-time Super Bowl champion guard Shaq Mason. With all those areas of improvement, it won't take long before many realize that they should've drafted Pierce. 

Cam Akers, Rams (ADP: 80.5)

Akers was a popular bounce-back candidate last year after suffering a mid-July Achilles tear in 2021, which cost him most of that season, but it took until Week 12 to pay off after being subject to trade rumors. From Week 12 on, Akers was the RB5 overall and finished the season with three straight games with at least 100 rushing yards. 

Although Akers had a high late-season workload, the Rams used him out of necessity since they were afflicted with injuries across the roster. Even so, Akers enters a situation in 2023 that is eerily similar to Jacobs' last year. 

The Florida State product is primed for bell-cow usage this season, having little competition for carries. However, perhaps the most important factor is that Akers is in a contract year. Considering how clear the NFL has made its opinion on running back value, the Rams will run Akers into the ground, and he'll likely be near the top of the league leaders in carries. 

Javonte Williams, Broncos (ADP: 84.7) 

Due to his promising profile, many anticipated Williams to break out last season, and he was typically selected in the late second or early third round as a result. Unfortunately, Denver's offense didn't live up to the hype, and Williams suffered a torn ACL, LCL and posterolateral corner in Week 4 that cost him his sophomore season. 

For many of the same reasons as last season, Williams remains a must-have running back. Denver upgraded its offensive line, which allowed the most sacks in the NFL last season (63), and hired HC Sean Payton, whose experience and competence far exceed that of his predecessor and new adversary, Nathaniel Hackett (now the offensive coordinator for the Jets).

Veteran Samaje Perine may have been added to the mix to handle receiving work, but Joe Mixon was still an effective fantasy player when they shared a backfield in Cincinnati. Plus, Williams is a younger, more talented back than Mixon at this stage of his career with receiving upside of his own, making the ex-Tar Heel a safe bet in the middle rounds.