Fantasy

2023 NFL Draft: Fantasy-Relevant Day 3 Running Backs

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Below, you’ll find all 10 running backs selected during Rounds 4-7 of the 2023 NFL Draft. For each player, you’ll get a quick-hitting overview of their 2023 fantasy football outlook.

Day 3 RB Fantasy Outlooks

Roschon Johnson: Round 4, Pick 115

  • Roschon Johnson (scouting report) caught 23 passes as a true freshman at Texas before Bijan Robinson arrived.
  • He’ll likely have a Day 1 role, as he’s a better receiver than Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman.
  • He’ll need two running back injuries for high-end RB2 fantasy value, but he’s a stable bet for 100-150 rookie-year touches, even without any injuries.

Israel Abanikanda: Round 5, Pick 143

  • Breece Hall may miss the start of the season, and Israel Abanikanda (scouting report) is a big, fast ball carrier.
  • He has some receiving chops and could play over Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight as a rookie.
  • He has the profile of a priority waiver wire add midseason, should Hall re-injure himself, because of his all-purpose skillset playing alongside Aaron Rodgers.

Chase Brown: Round 5, Pick 163

  • Chase Brown (scouting report) is fast with some size and pass-catching ability. 
  • The Bengals are thin behind Joe Mixon, who they are trying to renegotiate a deal with to lower his cap number. 
  • Brown has a three-down skillset on an elite offense and will be a priority handcuff in fantasy. 

Eric Gray: Round 5, Pick 172

  • Eric Gray (scouting report) had at least 229 yards receiving in his final three years at Oklahoma.
  • Built like Aaron Jones, he’s a capable back who should spell Saquon Barkley occasionally.
  • He’s a fantasy RB2 should Barkley miss time due to an injury.

Evan Hull: Round 5, Pick 176

  • Evan Hull (scouting report) looks like the pass-catching back in this offense after tallying 55 receptions and 546 yards receiving in 2022 at Northwestern. 
  • He has size (210 lbs) and speed (4.47 40-time) and should slot into a lucrative fantasy role if Jonathan Taylor goes down. 
  • Think of his upside as the Nyheim Hines role, with the potential for an occasional red zone carry. 

Chris Rodriquez Jr.: Round 6, Pick 193

  • Big back who played five seasons at Kentucky
  • Offers nothing in the receiving game and won’t run away from defenders either.
  • He projects to be nothing more than a TD-dependent fantasy asset who is unlikely to see the field outside of one or two injuries ahead of him.

Deuce Vaughn

Deuce Vaughn: Round 6, Pick 212

  • Pint-sized and shifty, Deuce Vaughn (scouting report) is also a slick receiver. 
  • Weighing less than 180 lbs, it’s tough to envision a fantasy-relevant role for him. 
  • Because he is unlikely to garner more than 10 touches in a game, he’s best left on fantasy waiver wires. 

Zach Evans: Round 6, Pick 215

  • Zach Evans (scouting report) is a zero in the receiving game but an instinctual runner.
  • He’s the direct backup to Cam Akers, but even if Akers goes down, it’s unclear what his fantasy value would be. 
  • He’s a speculative dart throw based on rushing talent who will be playing behind a below-average offensive line. 

DeWayne McBride: Round 7, Pick 222

  • DeWayne McBride (scouting report) had five career receptions in college but video game numbers as a runner. 
  • McBride slots in behind Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison and probably needs two injuries to be fantasy relevant. 

Lew Nichols

Lew Nichols: Round 7, Pick 235

  • Lew Nichols (scouting report) is a big back with more than 1,800 yards rushing at Central Michigan in 2021. 
  • He is behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon and needs at least one, though probably two, injuries ahead of him to become fantasy relevant.

Kenny McIntosh: Round 7, Pick 237

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