Somehow, we are rapidly approaching fantasy football season again. However, for some people in Campus to Canton fantasy leagues, the season never stops. With football on the horizon once again, it’s time to take a look at a couple of running backs that are worth picking up and stashing for the long haul.
Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
Well, it isn’t much of a question that Ollie Gordon might be the best running back in college football next season. The back out of Oklahoma State had a monster junior campaign, rushing for 1,732 yards, hauling in 39 catches for 330 yards, and scoring 22 total touchdowns. Simply put, he was a dominant force that scared the opposition, and he’ll look to build on it in 2024.
What is worth noting is that Gordon had just 19 touches in the first three games last season, but the school completely altered the offense to suit his strengths. That decision certainly paid off. He’s got good talent surrounding him in Oklahoma State and will be the focal point of the entire offensive unit, it’s hard to envision him not matching his 2023 success at the very least.
As for his potential Campus to Canton value, he’s going to immediately be a strength in 2024 given his opportunity and potential at Oklahoma State. The bigger question is if he can keep the momentum going in the next few years. Assuming he does get another high-value season, it feels like he’ll be viewed as a three-down back that you can build a team around. When that label gets slapped onto a running back, you can usually trust them completely in fantasy.
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson is likely another popular name that many have rostered. However, there are concerns about him that might push people away from him in the long term. That concern is injury-related. See, Henderson played just 10 games throughout the 2023 campaign, and the year before that in 2022, he broke a bone in his foot and had surgery. He’s preparing to make the best of his senior season in 2024, though his injury history has gotten alarming.
At the end of the day though, even injured, he’s worth holding onto. As a freshman, he had rushed for 1,248 yards and 19 touchdowns. Last season, he played 10 games and had 21 total touchdowns with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage. He has immense speed, underrated power, and an uncanny ability to make defenders miss in the open field.
If Henderson remains healthy, then he’ll continue to be a massive difference-maker both in college and when he inevitably moves into the NFL. Even if the worst-case scenario happens and he consistently misses games with injuries, his potential remains off the charts enough to warrant a stash.
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Penn State finds themselves with an interesting running back room, as they have two very talented running backs. The one that provides the best stash value for the future appears to be Nicholas Singleton. Why? Because he does everything that a running back can do to keep him on the field more. He isn’t as explosive as his counterpart is in Kaytron Allen, though he’s significantly more versatile.
Singleton is a capable pass-catcher out of the backfield, he’s patient with his cuts and is a strong blocker. Not to mention that he still averaged 4.4 yards per carry without hitting many home run plays. The stats might not be behind him, and that might push people away, but all of his other strengths will correlate to a lot of extra opportunities.
There’s a chance that he isn’t as fantasy-viable in 2024 as Allen is. Down the line though, Singleton feels like a guy that will be hard to keep off the field, especially if he improves upon his ability to hit big plays. More playing time usually equates to better fantasy viability.
Trevor Etienne, Georgia
Trevor Etienne, brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, is currently set to play for Georgia. Georgia just recently lost two of their running backs, Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards, so they needed the extra help in the backfield. It seems like he’ll be ready to be the number-one option in 2024.
The downside with Etienne is that he was arrested for a DUI not long ago. The DUI arrest could push him to a playing time punishment early on in the season for Georgia, and possibly even push some NFL teams from drafting him. For this reason, Etienne is one of those stashes that could warrant incredible value, or he won’t warrant any production whatsoever.
Given his brother’s success at the NFL level and his position with a powerhouse school like Georgia, it feels right to believe he’ll get his career back on track sooner rather than later. If he stays out of trouble, he’s primed to be a great fantasy football option in the right offense.
Justice Haynes, Alabama
The final player on the list is a former five-star recruit who just so happens to be a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Justice Haynes was brought in last year and struggled early on in the season before having a huge game in the Rose Bowl. After that performance, it became an instant thought that he’d start in the backfield for the school in 2024.
The question mark is whether or not he’ll remain consistent, and what might happen to Alabama in general now that Nick Saban isn’t there anymore. These are all strong questions, but Haynes remains a high-potential fantasy target regardless. He’s got the physical intangibles to keep you hanging on, and he’s in a position where a new head coach/system could favor his services more often than Saban might have.
Haynes might have an unpredictable fantasy season ahead, though there is no better place to grow than Alabama. He’ll have his moments to prove his place in college football and has more to prove before thinking about his impact at the NFL level. Even a stash for these next few college seasons seems worth it for him.