Fantasy Football Buy Low Running Backs: RB Breakout Candidates for Week 5

Buy-Low Running Backs at a Glance

• Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
• Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

Running back is often one of the toughest positions to upgrade during the fantasy football season. Managers understandably hold tightly to players seeing consistent touches, meaning the best time to make a trade can be when a productive back is coming off a disappointing stretch.

After four weeks, we have enough information to identify encouraging workloads while still having time to capitalize on slow starts and frustrating box scores.

Here are three running backs to consider buying low on entering Week 5.

All fantasy football projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research, and NFL odds references are to FanDuel Sportsbook. Statistics mentioned are via NextGenStats or Pro Football Focus unless stated otherwise.

Running Backs to Buy Low in Fantasy Football

Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucky Irving hasn't rewarded fantasy managers lately, making this a nice time to see whether his manager is becoming impatient.

Irving has totaled 241 rushing yards on 56 carries this season, good for 4.3 yards per attempt, while adding 13 catches for 61 yards. The biggest issue has simply been his lack of touchdowns. Irving scored in Week 1 but has been held out of the end zone in three straight games.

His volume has also stabilized after he logged only eight carries in the opener. Irving has handled 17, 15, and 16 rushing attempts over his last three games, so Tampa Bay clearly isn't moving away from him despite the modest fantasy production.

The recent results -- 46 rushing yards in Week 3 and 61 in Week 4 -- could create a buying opportunity. Irving is still the clear RB1 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a player averaging more than 15 carries over his last three games should offer substantially more upside once the touchdowns start coming.

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase Brown's rushing numbers haven't been pretty, but his usage remains exactly what we want from a fantasy running back.

Brown has 58 carries for 207 yards through four games, averaging only 3.6 yards per carry, and he's scored just one rushing touchdown. However, he's also caught 21 passes for 103 yards, including a massive 11-catch, 71-yard receiving performance in Week 4 against Jacksonville.

That receiving workload gives Brown an excellent floor in PPR formats. He managed 19.1 PPR points in Week 4 despite rushing for only 10 yards and failing to score, and he's accumulated 79 touches through four games with only one touchdown.

Brown's efficiency has been underwhelming, but I'd rather buy into a player receiving this kind of opportunity than chase someone relying on touchdowns with a lesser workload. If the Brown manager is frustrated by the lack of rushing production, this is a good chance to acquire an RB who still has significant upside thanks to a quality workload in a high-octane Cincinnati Bengals offense.

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

Bhayshul Tuten‘s Week 4 box score creates a small window to acquire him before his fantasy value climbs any higher.

Tuten rushed 17 times for 73 yards and caught two passes for another 18 yards against Cincinnati, giving him 91 scrimmage yards but no touchdowns. He has now handled at least 13 carries in every game this season and has 60 carries for 277 yards -- a healthy 4.6 yards per attempt -- through four weeks.

His Week 4 performance also could have been much bigger. Tuten had a 44-yard touchdown run wiped away by a holding penalty, while Chris Rodriguez Jr. eventually scored the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ lone rushing touchdown.

That's exactly the kind of situation we want to attack in the trade market. The fantasy result looked mediocre, but the underlying workload was strong. Tuten has averaged 15 carries per game while producing 69.3 rushing yards per contest, and Jacksonville has treated him like its lead runner.

If his manager views Tuten as merely a low-end RB2 or flex play, I'd try to acquire him before the touchdown variance swings back in his favor.

Fantasy Football Buy-Low Running Backs FAQ

What does buy low mean in fantasy football?

Buying low means trading for a player whose perceived fantasy value is lower than his expected value going forward. This can happen because of a slow start, difficult matchups, injuries, or concerns about workload.

When is the best time to buy low on a running back?

The best opportunities often come after a running back has produced a few disappointing fantasy performances but still has an encouraging role. Usage, carries, targets, snap rate, and goal-line opportunities can be more important than the player's recent fantasy-point totals.

What should you look for in a buy-low running back?

Look for backs with strong workloads who haven't converted their opportunities into fantasy production. Receiving usage, red-zone touches, offensive-line play, upcoming schedule, and potential changes to the backfield can also help identify undervalued players.

Should you trade for a running back who is losing touches?

It depends on why his workload is declining. A temporary reduction caused by game script or injury may create a buying opportunity, but a permanent shift toward a committee can significantly lower a running back's fantasy ceiling.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.