In every fantasy football format, running backs who catch passes are desirable assets. While it’s more pronounced in PPR, a target is worth more than a carry even in non-PPR. We’ve gone through every NFC East team to pinpoint the best pass-catching RB on each of them.
Which Running Backs Are the Best Pass-Catching Options on Each NFC East Team in 2024
Dallas Cowboys: Rico Dowdle
For the past three years, the Cowboys’ receiving back was Tony Pollard. Now that he’s gone, it will either be Rico Dowdle, whose career-high target share was last season’s 3.9%, or Ezekiel Elliott, who is 29 years old but saw a 15% target share last season.
Based on the comments we’ve gotten from Mike McCarthy, the team is not going to use Elliott as they did during his first run. He is best used in short-yardage situations. That doesn’t mean he won’t handle plenty of early-down work. But if there is going to be a timeshare, it makes sense that the younger, more dynamic Dowdle would be the preferred option on passing downs. If Elliott is out there, he would likely be pass-blocking anyway.
New York Giants: Devin Singletary
It’s difficult to project the Giants’ backfield in a post-Saquon Barkley world. Devin Singletary will definitely be the lead back, but will he be a three-down back? I genuinely don’t know.
Last season, the Texans were willing to use Singletary on all three downs at times. But by the end of the season, it was Dare Ogunbowale in the receiving back role.
If Singletary isn’t the receiving back for the Giants, the role would almost certainly go to rookie fifth-rounder Tyrone Tracy Jr. The Purdue product is a former wide receiver. In three of his four years at Iowa and one of his two at Purdue, he had more receptions than carries. If the Giants trust the rookie early, it won’t shock me if Tracy wound up topping Singletary in receptions.
Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley
The Eagles may very well pull Saquon Barkley on third downs or obvious passing situations. However, even if they opt to do that, Barkley should see enough work in the passing game on early downs to lead this team in receptions.
Barkley has always been a true three-down back. He is one of the best runners in the league and has a history of high target shares. Last year, he was at 15.3%.
Despite the fact that rushing quarterbacks throw to running backs less, Jalen Hurts targeted the RB position 16.5% of the time last season. The Eagles did not spend significant financial capital to sign Barkley to make him a glorified two-down grinder. Expect to see pass plays designed for Barkley, allowing him to easily lead the Eagles in targets.
Washington Commanders: Austin Ekeler
Was Austin Ekeler’s poor 2023 season a product of age-related decline or his early season high ankle sprain? We’ll probably find out this season. Regardless, Ekeler should dwarf Brian Robinson Jr. in target share.
Robinson was actually quite efficient as a pass catcher last season, leading all running backs in yards per reception at 10.2. His 1.72 yards per route run was fifth.
If the Commanders need Robinson to catch passes, he can. But Robinson is not the receiver that Ekeler is. Ekeler is one of the best receiving backs of all time. Last year was the first time since 2018 that Ekeler was outside the top five in target share. If he’s healthy this season, even if his ability is declining, he should at least be toward the top of the league and far ahead of Robinson.
