Running backs aren't getting their due respect in the NFL, but they'll get plenty here as we look to find value at the position in the futures market.

The pregame narrative: One of the main talking points this offseason has been the devaluing of the running back position by NFL teams. There are two RBs who are being undervalued at the position in the Offensive Player of the Year market that we're looking to back and three other wagers we really like.

Below are our best NFL running back bets to make for the 2023 season.

Best NFL running back bets overview

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NFL odds as of 12:58 p.m. on 08/29/2023.

Best NFL running back bets

Best Bet: Robinson under 1,425.5 rushing and receiving yards (-112)

Robinson has all of the makings of an absolute stud in the NFL, but we're looking to fade him in his rookie season.

It's not that we dislike the player, we just really dislike the high expectations being placed on a guy in his first season.

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The first issue we have stems from the fact that the Atlanta Falcons already have a young, effective rusher on their team in Tyler Allgeier. Allgeier rushed for 1,035 yards as a rookie while averaging an efficient 4.9 yards per carry.

Expecting him to just fade away is foolish.

There's also the fact that Robinson didn't post gaudy numbers as a receiver in college. Robinson only topped 20 receptions once in his three years at Texas and his single-season high in receiving yards was 314.

While we do expect Robinson to succeed at the next level, this seems like too much too soon.

More RB bets

Best Bet: Hall under 775.5 rushing yards (-112)

Injury and opportunity are working against Hall.

The running back is less than a year removed from suffering a torn ACL. We're expecting a lightened workload from the New York Jets star to begin the year.

Additionally, New York has been very reluctant to appoint Hall as the team's top running back. He didn't record 10-plus carries in a game until Week 4 of his rookie season and the team recently signed Dalvin Cook.

Cook's signing is a pretty telling indicator of how comfortable the Jets are with Hall handling a heavy workload in 2023. The former Minnesota Viking has rushed four 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons and figures to have a sizeable role. He's also very familiar with quarterback Aaron Rodgers as the two spent the last six seasons as NFC North rivals.

Coming off a serious injury and now splitting a backfield with a four-time Pro Bowler, Hall is someone we're fading at this number.

Best Bet: David Montgomery over 725.5 rushing yards (-118)

Montgomery is one of the few running backs who got paid this offseason.

Financial commitment is a rarity for RBs these days, but the Detroit Lions handed Montgomery a three-year, $18-million contract with $11 million guaranteed.

The hype surrounding Montgomery joining Detroit fizzled once the team selected Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round of the NFL draft, but we're still bullish about his prospects of beating this number.

The former Chicago Bears star has usurped 800 rushing yards in all four of his seasons in the league, putting this mark well within his range.

He's also undergoing a massive offensive line upgrade. The Bears, who actually improved their offensive line significantly this offseason, still rank 21st at the position group per PFF. The Lions, meanwhile, sit fifth.

It'd be shocking if Detroit handed Gibbs a heavy workload from the jump and used Montgomery sparsely. The veteran should see plenty of work and cruise past this total for a fifth consecutive year.

Best NFL running back bets: The long shots

McCaffrey to win Offensive Player of the Year (+1,500)

Very few NFL squads centre their offence around a running back, but the San Francisco 49ers will be one of them.

The team sent a 2023 second-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick, a 2023 fourth-round pick and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers to acquire the stud RB.

That's significant compensation for a player of his position and a great indicator that he'll be the featured weapon in his first full season with the Niners.

McCaffrey's dual-threat skills are ultimately why he's a great choice to bring home this award. He totalled 1,880 yards from scrimmage in 2022 which ranked third in the NFL.

The tailback has shown in the past that his ceiling is even higher than that. He recorded 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 receiving yards in 2019. We're betting on that type of season on the best team he's ever played for.

More NFL running back bets: The long shots

Barkley to win Offensive Player of the Year (+3,000)

This is a great number for a player who's the most talented at his position.

Barkley has everything a running back should. He's built like an Adonis, possesses elite speed and is capable of shouldering a heavy workload. He finished fourth in carries (295) last season and tied for seventh in receptions (57).

The addition of Darren Waller should create more room for Barkley in 2023. New York had one of the worst collections of receivers in the league last year, allowing defences to hone in on the offence's lone elite weapon. Waller represents a massive upgrade at the top and will force defences to refocus their attention.

The Giants' offensive success revolves around Barkley. If this team can make major strides once again, the running back should be a big reason and will receive plenty of consideration for this award.

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