Workhorse running backs are a gem for fantasy football owners. The only time they leave the starting lineup is their bye week or an injury, but they are so hard to find. The writing is on the wall this year for Breece Hall to embrace that role in fantasy football. Hall performed well last year as the Jets RB1, but was that performance strong enough to become a fantasy workhorse worthy of a first-round pick?
2024 Fantasy Football Profile: Breece Hall
2023 in Review
Hall finished the 2023 season with a total of 1,585 yards (994 rushing, 591 receiving) and was the sixth-best running back last year. He did this while being handcuffed to Dalvin Cook as he was coming back from an injury. Hall’s potential quickly became limited by Cook’s presence, not his knee injury from 2022.
The second-year running back produced 214.5 fantasy points last year in standard leagues and jumped up to 290.5 in PPR leagues. He caught 76 passes in 2023, primarily as a result of the Jets not having Aaron Rodgers to push the ball down the field. The return of the star quarterback should increase the number of receptions and his yardage on the ground.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh knows what he has in Hall in his backfield as Hall produced 75+ yards rushing in five games last season. Three of those five games were the last three games of the season. Consistent production was the one criticism of Hall in 2023, and this fall should show everyone whether that was because of a lackluster Jets offense or Hall being conservative with his knee.
Breece Hall will have a HUGE season for the Jets
@BreeceH
This was at a Running Back session with Coach @3hunnidGuru pic.twitter.com/3yU5xGebww
— Quarterback Plug (@QuarterbackPlug) July 1, 2024
2024 Projection
Fantasy football fans have two things to be excited about this year: the return of Aaron Rodgers and no more Dalvin Cook. There isn’t a single running back on the depth chart behind Hall that should see more than 7-10 per game. This is an indication that Saleh and the Jets are all-in on Hall being their workhorse running back in 2024.
General manager Joe Douglas easily could have gone out and signed a veteran to rotate in with Hall. Instead, he bolstered the offensive line by bringing in two starters: John Simpson and Tyron Smith. In addition to this, Douglas used his first-round draft pick on former Washington tackle Olu Fashanu to pave the way for Hall and protect Rodgers.
Given the roster construction, Hall is in line to receive almost all of the carries this season. With Rodgers under center, Hall should see his 80% catch rate increase from better passes being thrown in his direction.
Breece Hall Fantasy Football ADP
FantasyPros has Hall being a first-rounder in almost every draft. His current ADP is five, but he has been taken as early as four and as late as 18. The odds of Hall making it to the second round are slim, but he’s worth the high cost.
The potential is there for Hall to finish in the top five this season of fantasy football. His rushing abilities are second to none, and he adds to his game as a pass catcher. This makes him even more valuable in PPR leagues, but he will still help you win your league in a standard format.
Whether or not you use an early draft pick on Hall is determined by your draft strategy. If you’re someone who takes the best player available or invests early in running backs, Hall is yours for the taking. For those who use the “zero RB” strategy, he may be someone you pass up. If you draw the short end of the stick and pick 7-12, start praying he falls.
Hall shut down any worries about his play last year coming back from injury. Expect him to do the same this season and be a true workhorse in fantasy football.
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