Fantasy managers almost always have to rely on their running back roster depth at some point during the season. You can build this depth up in fantasy drafts with effective use of a draft kit, but don't overlook the value of making trades to build up this depth.
When evaluating running backs for trades in fantasy football, focusing on the right metrics can help you make informed decisions. We also highly recommend using RotoWire's fantasy football trade analyzer to help make your decision.
11 Key Metrics To Consider When Trading for Running Backs
- Opportunity Share – The percentage of a team's total RB touches (both carries and targets) that a player commands. A higher share signals a central role in the offense.
- Snap Count / Snap Percentage – Tracks the total plays or share of offensive snaps a player is on the field. More snaps usually mean more chances to touch the ball.
- Yards Per Carry (YPC) – Measures ground-game efficiency. Use trends over multiple games rather than small samples to avoid misleading conclusions.
- Targets & Receptions – Especially critical in PPR formats, as pass-catching backs add reliable scoring potential.
- Red Zone & Goal-Line Usage – Shows how often a player gets opportunities in prime scoring areas, a key driver of touchdown production.
- Fantasy Points Per Game – While not a perfect predictor, this offers a baseline view of a player's weekly output.
- Explosive Plays – The frequency of 10+ yard runs or receptions. Players with big-play ability can produce high ceilings even on fewer touches.
- Upcoming Strength of Schedule – Projected defensive matchups can influence production, particularly in fantasy playoff weeks.
- Offensive Line Quality – A strong line creates more space and better lanes, often boosting a running back's efficiency and consistency.
- Injury History & Durability – Past and current health, plus workload sustainability, can signal potential risk.
- Overall Offensive Role – What are his combined total of carries and receptions? RBs with steady, high-volume touches typically carry more fantasy value.
By focusing on these metrics and considering them relative to the player's current role and team situation, you'll be better equipped to evaluate running backs and make smart trade decisions.
Putting it All Together: Trade Evaluation Tips
Here are trade evaluation tips to keep in mind when putting together a potential deal.
Always have a specific goal in mind. That can be avoiding tough matchups, targeting favorable matchups or using upcoming fantasy football rankings to trade someone to your primary competition's future opponent, but don't make a trade just to make a trade.
You can trade for starters or backups. It's a very good idea to have handcuff options in place for all of your go-to running backs. You can find the best handcuff options through effective use of a fantasy football cheat sheet as well as using RotoWire's mock draft simulator to see when the handcuff might go in the draft. However, if you can't get that backup during the draft, try to find favorable times to trade for him during the season. Having this caliber of insurance can make the difference between winning a title and missing the playoffs.
Be wary of teams with split goal line work. This is doubly true if the team has a quarterback who can close drives out by running the ball. If you have a player in a split goal line carry situation and can trade him for someone with a more well-defined role, it's usually a deal worth making.
Plan for the playoffs. You may not know if your team is going to make the playoffs when the trade deadline hits, but if it looks like your squad has a really good chance, it's always a good idea to start thinking ahead for the potential postseason matchups. If you can get a running back with one or more favorable playoff matchups, it's the type of thing that can win your team those all-important fantasy playoff battles.
Always figure out why someone is making a trade offer. This harkens back to the top rule on this list. Fantasy managers have a reason for making that trade offer. If you can figure it out, you can then determine if this manager is making a win-win offer or is trying to give you an unwanted player.
Keep a close eye on injury reports. This is true for any position, but even more so for running back. NFL coaches don't like putting banged up running backs into their lineups. Fantasy managers should be of the same mindset. That also goes for offensive line injuries. If a team loses a player or two in that group, the run blocking, and by proxy the running back's productivity, can fall apart. Be sure to use the RotoWire NFL player news to keep up on the latest injury updates.
If you concentrate on win-win scenarios, something a subscription to RotoWire can help you do with its vast array of tools and rankings, you can build up a reputation as a savvy trader and get players to build up your squad throughout any fantasy football campaign.
