Fantasy football insurance is a tricky animal.
On one hand, you want to protect yourself from injuries by warehousing your star player's backup.
On the other hand, the opportunity cost of expending that roster spot could cost you a valuable waiver pickup.
The fact is insurance is a valuable tool if used correctly.
Some backups are very good players, while others are not. In the event of an injury, some would be positioned for a clear path to a large share of touches, while others would see only a slight uptick in work. When evaluating insurance, the best game plan is to select players with high ceilings should the player ahead of them on the depth chart miss time. For example, if Dalvin Cook goes down, Alexander Mattison would handle a feature back role in Minnesota and would be in the RB1 discussion. If Derrick Henry goes down, however, some combination of Darrynton Evans, Jeremy McNichols and Brian Hill would share touches and none would be a clear fantasy starter. If you selected Henry and not Cook, don't cross Mattison off your draft board and force a dart throw at Evans. Pick the guy who can win you a league championship, not a player who would barely be worth flex consideration.
Below is an examination of the 2021 running back insurance landscape, with a 1-to-32 ranking of the top RB backups for each team, as well as some thoughts on how the backfield might look if the starter goes down.
For updated insurance information and advice throughout the season, be sure to keep up with our fantasy depth charts.
Running back insurance rankings
1. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns - RB1 if Nick Chubb is out
Hunt is the best insurance option in the business, but the problem is that he also has standalone value and is quite expensive on draft day. The 26-year-old was fantasy's No. 13 RB during 11 games both he and Chubb played in full last season and 11th during the four games Chubb was out. Hunt is already a borderline RB2, but with little competition for touches in a run-first offense with an elite offensive line, he'd leap into the top-10 (if not top-5) in the event of a Chubb injury.
2. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys - RB1 if Ezekiel Elliott is out
Pollard has played well as Elliott's backup over the past two seasons, though the 2019 fourth-round pick has only played more than 47% of Dallas' snaps in one game. That was a Week 15 game last season in which Elliott was sidelined. Pollard impressed with 12 carries for 69 yards and two TDs, as well as 63 yards on nine targets. He was fantasy's top-scoring RB that week. Pollard doesn't have standalone value, but he'd leap into the RB1 mix if Elliott were to miss time.
3. Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings - RB1 if Dalvin Cook is out
Mattison has proven to be an effective back during his first two NFL seasons, but the 2019 third-round pick simply hasn't seen the field much when Cook has been healthy. Cook has struggled with durability, however, missing at least two games in all four of his NFL seasons. In three games in relief of Cook last season, Mattison was fantasy's No. 7 RB thanks to 277 yards and three TDs on 58 touches. With Ameer Abdullah and fourth-round rookie Kene Nwangwu his primary competition for touches in the event of another Cook injury, Mattison would be positioned for a large workload and would be in the RB1 discussion.
4. AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers - RB2 if Aaron Jones is out
With Jamaal Williams now in Detroit, Dillon is all but cemented as Jones' primary backup. The 2020 second-round pick will play a significant offensive role even with a healthy Jones, but may not see near enough passing down work to allow standalone value. However, if Jones is out, 247-pound Dillon would be the high-scoring Packers' feature back and handle goal line work while chipping in with, at least, the occasional catch or three. With Dexter Williams and seventh-round rookie Kylin Hill his primary competition, Dillon would rise to RB2 -- if not RB1 -- territory.
5. Kenyan Drake, Las Vegas Raiders - RB2 if Josh Jacobs is out
Drake is going to get plenty of run as a change-of-pace back behind Jacobs this season, but he's likely to struggle for consistent fantasy production barring a Jacobs injury. Drake has 266 career targets and ranked no lower than 12th in snaps, carries, rushing yards, TDs and carries inside the 5 while with Arizona last season, so we know he can handle lead back duties if called upon. Jalen Richard would likely steal some passing-down work, but Drake would leap into the top-15 mix if Jacobs were sidelined.
6. Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos - RB2 if Javonte Williams is out
Gordon may be the veteran and incumbent starter, but it's the second-round rookie Williams who is being selected earlier in most 2021 drafts and who figures to take over as lead back fairly quickly. Of course, like with Jacksonville, this is going to be a two-headed backfield and, should one of Williams or Gordon go down, the other would see a moderate-to-large increase in workload. The healthy back would defer some work to Mike Boone (and perhaps Royce Freeman), but 17-to-20 looks would be on the table.
7. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals - RB2 if Chase Edmonds is out
A healthy Conner very well could lead Arizona in carries this season, but also be the 1B to Edmonds 1A in terms of overall touches. Edmonds is the better receiving option of the two, though should he miss time, Conner could pick up most of the load. The 26-year-old has caught at least 34 passes each of the past three seasons, including 55 in 2018, so we know he as it in his arsenal. Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward are next up on the depth chart and neither played an offensive snap last season.
8. Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - RB2 if Leonard Fournette is out
Jones has a role in the Tampa Bay offense, but with Fournette and Giovani Bernard also factors, it's not a role that will allow standalone fantasy value. That would change if Fournette were out of the mix. We caught a glimpse of it last season during the four games Fournette was sidelined. Jones played 64% of the snaps, averaged 19.5 carries and 4.8 targets per game and was fantasy's No. 4 RB. So why isn't Jones higher on this list? Tampa Bay added Bernard during the offseason and the veteran back is going to play a major role in passing situations even when Jones and Fournette are both healthy.
9. Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions - RB2 if D'Andre Swift is out
Williams was busier than you probably realize during his four seasons in Green Bay (125.0 carries and 38.3 targets per season) and figures to play a similar role while working as a change-of-pace back behind Swift in Detroit. Williams very well could see enough work to flirt with flex value in deep PPR leagues even with a healthy Swift, and should Swift miss time, Williams likely wouldn't leave the field often. His top competition for touches? Seventh-round pick Jermar Johnson.
10. Sony Michel, Los Angeles Rams - RB2 if Darrell Henderson Jr. is out
Henderson is this year's first example of the value of stashing insurance backs, as Cam Akers' torn Achilles has launched him from late-round pick to potential RB2. Of course, with Michel now in the mix, it's likely these two backs will split touches, with youngsters Xavier Jones and Jake Funk potentially mixed in as well. However, if either veteran goes down, the other would have a clear path to 15-plus carries and a few targets each game.
11. J.D. McKissic, Washington - Flex if Antonio Gibson is out
Gibson missed two full games (and all but four snaps another week) last season and McKissic was fantasy's No. 8 RB those three weeks. He racked up 144 yards and one TD on 23 targets and 127 yards on 29 carries while playing 76% of the snaps. He'd defer work (including a hefty chunk of carries) to Peyton Barber and rookie Jaret Patterson this season, but his passing-game role would launch McKissic into the flex discussion.
12. Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills - Flex if Zack Moss is out
Moss may enter 2021 with a slight leg up on Singletary, but it's very likely that Buffalo will again utilize a two-headed backfield attack. Of course, should one of the two recent third-round picks go down with an injury, the other would vault into weekly fantasy lineups. We got a taste of that last season. During the five games Moss was out, Singletary played 74% of the snaps and handled 11.0 carries and 3.6 targets per game. That's compared to 53% of the snaps and 8.4 carries/3.1 targets per game during the 14 games both were active. That's not as much of an increase as we'd like, but it's enough to flirt with RB2 numbers in a high-scoring offense. Matt Breida is next up on the depth chart.
13. Latavius Murray, New Orleans Saints - RB2 if Alvin Kamara is out
Murray was third on this last season, but he's now 31 years old and no longer benefits from the presence of Drew Brees. Kamara didn't miss any action last season, so Murray didn't play more than half of New Orleans' snaps in a single game, but we saw his insurance appeal back in 2019. Murray was fantasy's top-scoring RB thanks to 307 yards and four TDs on 60 touches during the weeks the Kamara was out. Tony Jones Jr. is pushing Murray for No. 2 duties, so this situation is more convulted than in year's past, but whomever locks down the backup gig will have some insurance appeal.
14. Darrel Williams, Kansas City Chiefs - Flex if Clyde Edwards-Helaire is out
Williams is positioned as the No. 2 back in Kansas City after the team's only notable offseason move at RB was replacing Le'Veon Bell with 29-year-old Jerick McKinnon. In three full games in place of Edwards-Helaire last season, Williams played 66% of the snaps and handled 9.7 carries and 4.0 targets per game. His numbers were far from impressive (210 yards and 0 TDs on 38 touches), but we obviously can't ignore the lead back in arguably the NFL's best offense. Williams would surely defer some work to McKinnon and perhaps Darwin Thompson, but he'd see enough work for flex consideration.
15. Devontae Booker, New York Giants - Flex if Saquon Barkley is out
Booker signed with the Giants after flashing behind Josh Jacobs in Las Vegas last season. Booker would step into a sizable role in place of an injured Barkley, with sixth-round rookie Gary Brightwell and Corey Clement making for underwhelming competition.
16. Damien Williams, Chicago Bears - Flex if David Montgomery is out.
Williams quietly signed with Chicago after opting out of the 2020 season. The 225-pound back would step into most of Montgomery's workload, though Tarik Cohen would remain heavily involved, especially in passing situations. Cohen would be the better fantasy option, but Williams would figure to be close behind.
17. Trey Sermon, San Francisco 49ers - Flex if Raheem Mostert is out
Sermon is a popular sleeper pick, but RBs picked after Round 1 have a shaky rookie-season resume and we know San Francisco has tended to play musical chairs at the position. Sermon would be a must add if Mostert misses time, but it's very possible Wayne Gallman (or perhaps Elijah Mitchell or JaMycal Hasty) leads the backfield.
18. Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts - Flex if Jonathan Taylor is out
This is going to seem way too low for Mack, but he missed all of 2020 and has not been a good fantasy back even when atop the depth chart. Mack was top-10 in carries, rushing yards and rushing TDs during his last full season in 2019, but was held to 14 receptions and failed to manage his first top-20 fantasy campaign. Even if Taylor is out, Mack would share with Nyheim Hines and perhaps Jordan Wilkins, which would limit him to flex territory.
19. Carlos Hyde, Jacksonville Jaguars - RB1 if James Robinson is out
With first-round rookie Travis Etienne Jr. out for the season, Hyde is now Jacksonville's clear No. 2 back. He's past his prime years (he turns 30 this year), but Hyde's resume, which includes three seasons with 200-plus carries, tells us that he's capable of handling lead back duties. Of course, he's not very effective as a pass catcher (36 total catches over the past four seasons), so he'd surely have a limited ceiling in this situation while deferring touches to a pass-catching and/or chance of pace back.
20. Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks - Add to bench if Chris Carson is out
Penny has flashed since being drafted in the first round back in 2018, but injuries have limited him to 161 carries and 33 targets in 27 career games. Though he has potential for a big role if Carson were to miss time, he'd need to fend off the likes of DeeJay Dallas, Travis Homer and perhaps Alex Collins. A committee attack makes sense.
21. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots - Flex if Damien Harris is out
The New England backfield is crowded as usual and that wouldn't change if Harris were to go down. Fourth-round rookie Stevenson would figure to handle most of the carries, though J.J. Taylor would also play a role and James White would handle most passing-down work. Stevenson is the best bet for RB2 value, but very limited targets would cap his ceiling.
22. Salvon Ahmed, Miami Dolphins - Add to bench if Myles Gaskin is out
Ahmed filled in for Gaskin in four games last season. The then-rookie played 63% of the snaps and averaged 15.8 carries and 2.5 targets per game. He was fantasy's No. 9 RB those weeks thanks to 329 yards and a pair of TDs. Miami signed Malcom Brown during the offseason, so he'd likely team up with Ahmed in the event of a Gaskin injury, though Ahmed would be the preferred flex option.
23. Michael Carter, New York Jets - Flex if Tevin Coleman is out
Carter is being drafted way too early in season-long and rookie drafts this offseason, as many expect him to lead a shaky Jets' backfield. Perhaps he will, but the history of Day 3 rookie backs suggests otherwise. Carter would obviously benefit if Coleman (the likely Week 1 starter) misses time, though a committee with La'Mical Perine and Ty Johnson (perhaps among others) is a near lock.
24. Darrynton Evans, Tennessee Titans - Flex if Derrick Henry is out
Evans landed in a very insurance-friendly spot when he was drafted in the third round last season, but he went on to play only 34 snaps as Henry held up for all 17 games. Evans projects as a change-of-pace/receiving specialist in the pros, so while he could flirt with flex numbers in PPR, he'd certainly share snaps and carries with Brian Hill and Jeremy McNichols.
25. Phillip Lindsay, Houston Texans - Add to bench if David Johnson is out
Houston added Lindsay, Mark Ingram and Rex Burkhead to the depth chart behind Johnson during the offseason. A three-headed committee is the likely gameplan in the event of a Johnson injury. Lindsay's explosiveness makes him the most appealing fantasy option, but he'd likely max out as a flex.
26. Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles - Flex if Miles Sanders is out
The Eagles' RB depth chart is wide open behind Sanders, with Scott competing with fifth-round rookie Kenneth Gainwell and veteran Jordan Howard. A committee is very likely if Sanders goes down, though Scott is the safest bet for flex value.
27. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers - Add to bench if Christian McCaffrey is out
Hubbard is a fourth-round rookie, so expectations need to be kept in check here. That said, we saw journeyman Mike Davis deliver RB1 numbers in place of an injured McCaffrey last season and he's now in Atlanta. Hubbard would compete with the likes of Rodney Smith and Reggie Bonnafon for work in this scenario and would have a shot at a sizable role.
28. Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals - Add to bench if Joe Mixon is out
Perine played 32% of the snaps during the 10 games Mixon missed last season, averaging 6.2 carries and 1.2 targets per game. He managed two top-30 fantasy weeks. Giovani Bernard is out of the picture, but feature back duties for Perine is a longshot. Trayvon Williams and sixth-round rookie Chris Evans would also be mixed in.
29. Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers - Add to bench if Austin Ekeler is out
Jackson, Joshua Kelley and Kalen Ballage (now with Pittsburgh) handled most of the work in place of an injured Ekeler last season. Jackson was 26th at RB in fantasy points during four games he played an Ekeler was out/limited, whereas Kelley sat 54th while averaging a horrific 2.4 YPC in seven games sans Ekeler. Jackson is the preferred flex target if Ekeler misses time and sixth-round rookie Larry Rountree III is worth monitoring.
30. Benny Snell Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers - Add to bench if Najee Harris is out
The Pittsburgh offense provides plenty of value to the RB position, but the problem is that the depth chart is very unclear behind Harris. Last season, Snell was the first man up when James Conner was out. During those three games, Snell played 65% of the snaps and racked up 210 yards and one TD on 50 touches. He was 22nd at RB in fantasy points. If Harris goes down, Snell could return to lead back duties, but it's likely that second-year Anthony McFarland Jr., Jaylen Samuels and/or Ballage will be involved.
31. Ty'Son Williams, Baltimore Ravens -- Add to bench if Gus Edwards is out
Williams --- a 2020 undrafted free- agent signing --- has yet to play an NFL snap, so it's hard to expect much if he's thrown into the water as a starter. Though Williamshe may find his way into double-digit carries, Justice Hill would figure to play a substantial role, especially in passing situations, and Baltimore would surely add another back to the mix. Williams would be well worth a roster spot and could flirt with flex value if he finds his way to consistent touches.
32. Qadree Ollison, Atlanta Falcons - Add to bench if Mike Davis is out
Atlanta did not prioritize the RB position during the offseason, which left them with a 28-year-old journeyman (Davis) atop the depth chart and a bunch of unknowns behind him. The 228-pound Ollison would figure to handle most of the carries here, with receiving-specialist Cordarrelle Patterson are also in the mix.