Fantasy Football RB Drafters Draft Rankings
Last update .
Sep 05 .
06:50 PM EDT
# | Player | TM | BYE | FF Pts | ADP12 | ADP10 | ↑↓ | GC | DIF | RuAtt | RuYdsRushing | RuTD | Ru1D | Rec | RecYdsReceiving | RecTD | Rec1D | Fum |
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1 | Christian McCaffrey
Draft Note
Christian McCaffrey is the first running back off the board for good reason. He finished as the RB1 in 2023 after an RB2 finish the year before. Last season, he scored 358 (half-PPR) fantasy points, which was over 100 more than the RB2, Raheem Mostert. He just turned 28 years old, so age isn’t much of a concern. There was some question whether he would see a mega workload with Elijah Mitchell healthy, but Mitchell’s status didn’t matter–McCaffrey averaged 21.2 touches per game, which was second only to Kyren Williams. He should continue to be the focal point of the 49ers’ highly-efficient offense.
| SF | 9 | 319 | 1.01 | 1.01 | 1 | 0 | 249 | 1261 | 7.9 | 63.2 | 60 | 484 | 6.9 | 22.2 | 2 | |
2 | Breece Hall
Draft Note
The Jets eased Breece Hall in early last season as he was recovering from a torn ACL in October of 2022. He saw just 37 total touches (9.3 per game) in the first four games. From Week 5 on, he led all running backs in total touches (262) and was second to Saquon Barkley in touches per game (20.2). In that span, Hall was the fantasy RB2, which is where I have him ranked this season. Not only is he talented and versatile, but the Jets did a major overhaul of the offensive line, adding veterans Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, John Simpson, and drafting Olu Fashanue with the No. 11 overall pick. Aaron Rodgers’ return should also help the offense as a whole, creating more scoring opportunities for Hall. He’s a rock-solid pick in the middle of the first round in most formats.
| NYJ | 12 | 290 | 1.04 | 1.04 | 2 | 0 | 187 | 891 | 8.1 | 44.6 | 70 | 599 | 4.3 | 27.4 | 2 | |
3 | Bijan Robinson
Draft Note
Bijan Robinson’s rookie season was inconsistent thanks in no small part to HC Arthur Smith’s insistence of limiting Robinson’s touches for most of the season. However in the 15 games where Robinson played at least 60% of the snaps, he averaged 14.5 (half-PPR) fantasy points per game, which would have been the 12th-highest per-game average last season. If Robinson gets Christian McCaffrey/Kyren Williams treatment–i.e. snap shares averaging 80%+ instead of last year’s 67.9%–then Robinson should live up to his RB3 ADP. Coming over from the Rams, Zac Robinson is the new offensive coordinator, and last season he and Sean McVay fed Kyren Williams to the tune of 21.7 touches per game. If Robinson sees that sort of work at his same fantasy point per touch efficiency, then he would average around 17.3 fantasy points per game, good enough to finish RB3 on a per-game basis last season.
| ATL | 12 | 275 | 1.05 | 1.05 | 3 | 0 | 218 | 963 | 7.2 | 48.3 | 58 | 481 | 5.5 | 22.0 | 2 | |
4 | Derrick Henry
Draft Note
Derrick Henry finished as the RB8 in his age-29 season running behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Tennessee running backs averaged 2.2 yards before contact per attempt last season, while the Ravens were second (3.2) in the league. Henry posted the No. 6 rushing grade at PFF, and was 11th in yards after contact per attempt and 16th in broken tackles per attempt. His age is a minor concern, but if Henry can stay healthy he has the potential to put up monster numbers in the Baltimore offense, which has generated an average of 15.0 (running back) rushing touchdowns since 2020. Working backward, he has finished RB8, RB4, RB14 (eight games played), RB2, and RB3 in the last five seasons. He has legit 20-touchdown upside in the Baltimore offense.
| BAL | 14 | 242 | 2.05 | 2.07 | 7 | 3 | 282 | 1197 | 13.7 | 60.0 | 24 | 188 | 0.3 | 8.6 | 2 | |
5 | Jonathan Taylor
Draft Note
Taylor missed the first few games due to an ankle injury (and subsequent surgery) from the 2022 season and didn’t play 50%+ of the snaps until Week 7. From that point on he had the third-highest per-game average (16.8) at his position even though he missed three games due to a thumb injury later in the season. He missed six games in 2022, but played 15 and 17 games in his first two seasons. In 2021 he was the overall RB1, outscoring the RB2 (Austin Ekeler) by 60 points. Taylor should have a productive 2024, though there are a couple of areas of concern. Anthony Richardson only targeted his running backs on 10 of his 72 pass attempts (13.9%) and in the two full games that Richardson played, he saw three carries inside the opponents’ five-yard line while Indy running backs saw five carries. It’s obviously a small sample size, and Taylor’s availability may change the ratio, but Richardson’s 38% goal-line carry rate is pretty high. (For reference, Jalen Hurts had a 47% goal-line carry rate last season.) Taylor is a fantasy RB1, but perhaps lacks the receiving and touchdown upside of the backs being drafted ahead of him.
| IND | 14 | 232 | 1.10 | 1.10 | 4 | -1 | 318 | 1263 | 8.8 | 63.3 | 30 | 211 | 1.3 | 9.7 | 3 | |
6 | Travis Etienne
Draft Note
Travis Etienne finished the season as the fantasy RB3 with the fifth-highest per-game average in half-PPR formats. He was the RB16 in 2022, but didn’t play big snaps until Week 7. From that point on, he was the RB12. As he enters his third season, Etienne has a clear role and a high floor as the Jaguars’ bellcow back. He should provide solid RB1 numbers again this season.
| JAX | 12 | 231 | 2.07 | 2.09 | 8 | 2 | 230 | 895 | 9.3 | 44.8 | 47 | 368 | 0.9 | 16.9 | 2 | |
7 | Jahmyr Gibbs
Draft Note
As a rookie, Jahmyr Gibbs finished as the fantasy RB9 with the seventh-highest per-game average. In the three games that David Montgomery missed, Gibbs showed overall RB1 upside, averaging 23.0 touches for 132 yards and 0.67 touchdowns, or 22.2 fantasy points per game. The issue is that Gibbs’ workload took a hit when Montgomery was active. The duo played 15 games together, including the postseason. Montgomery averaged 16.8 touches and 14.2 (half-PPR) fantasy points while Gibbs averaged 13.7 touches and 13.7 fantasy points, so Montgomery outscored Gibbs in the 15 games they played together. In the last 12 games they played together, Gibbs turned 14.2 touches into 15.3 fantasy points, while Montgomery posted 15.0 touches and 12.7 fantasy points. So down the stretch, they were basically splitting the work and Gibbs was more productive on a per-touch basis, posting midrange RB1 numbers in the process.
| DET | 5 | 231 | 2.02 | 2.04 | 5 | -2 | 179 | 898 | 8.4 | 45.0 | 49 | 363 | 1.2 | 16.7 | 1 | |
8 | De'Von Achane
Draft Note
As a rookie, De’Von Achane finished as the fantasy RB22 while missing six games. He posted the fourth-highest per-game average, just behind his teammate Raheem Mostert. He led the league in yards before contact per attempt (4.7), yards after contact per attempt (3.1), and was fourth in broken tackles per attempt (0.126). He was first in PFF’s rush grade and 13th in receiving grade. He’s a star in the making and has overall RB1 upside, but his workload is a concern. The 32-year-old Mostert is still around and should absorb 10-15 carries if he remains healthy. Achane only averaged 11.2 touches in the nine games he played with Mostert, but he did see an average of 13.9 touches in seven games when his first game (two touches in Week 2 vs. NE) and his injury game (two touches in Week 11 vs. LV) are removed. He averaged 20.1 fantasy points per game in those seven games, which is actually more than the 17.2 fantasy points he averaged in the two games that Mostert missed. If Achane sees around 14 touches per game and can stay healthy, he’s going to finish as a solid fantasy RB1. Any increase in touches could lead to a top-three type season.
| MIA | 6 | 226 | 2.12 | 3.04 | 11 | 3 | 125 | 937 | 6.9 | 47.0 | 38 | 300 | 4.2 | 13.8 | 1 | |
9 | Kyren Williams
Draft Note
The Rams drafted Blake Corum to take some of the load off of Kyren Williams, but I still think Williams is a good bet for a top-five season. He was the RB2 on a per-game basis while handling 21.7 of the team’s 28.0 backfield touches in his 12 games played. Even if his touches fall to the 18.0-19.0 range–or 64% to 68% of the team’s backfield touches–he’s still looking at 16.5-17.5 (half-PPR) fantasy points per game. That would have been good enough to remain the RB2 behind McCaffrey.
| LAR | 6 | 224 | 2.04 | 2.06 | 9 | 0 | 189 | 951 | 10.3 | 47.6 | 32 | 193 | 3.2 | 8.9 | 2 | |
10 | Alvin Kamara
Draft Note
Despite missing a few games due to suspension, Alvin Kamara finished RB11 and had the sixth-highest per-game average. In 2022, he turned in an RB20 finish with the 19th-highest per-game average. He’s turning 29 years old this summer, so the production cliff is looming, but given the makeup of the Saints’ backfield, Kamara is likely to see a heavy workload again in 2024.
| NO | 12 | 223 | 5.01 | 5.09 | 17 | 7 | 183 | 680 | 6.7 | 34.1 | 70 | 435 | 0.8 | 20.1 | 2 |
What is an RB in Fantasy Football?
The running back lines up in the backfield and is the player who handles the majority of the team’s carries. More recently teams have started implementing a more committee-based approach to this position, which entails multiple guys pitching in. Fantasy managers have also become accustomed to scat backs or change of pace backs and these players are generally smaller in stature and are better pass-catchers. They provide the offense with a different skill set and are not as equipped to handle rush attempts up the middle.
For fantasy football, running backs typically have the highest ceiling of any position. Guys like Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara who not only are excellent rushers, but extremely productive pass catchers are cheat codes. 10 years ago, running backs were the building block for any championship team, but now, with the shift towards the passing game and full-PPR leagues, running backs have lost some of their appeal. However, the elite guys still carry league-winning upside.
Who is the best fantasy RB?
This very much is based on scoring format. In standard scoring leagues, Jonathan Taylor is most likely the consensus No. 1 pick. He paced the position in 2021. Many expect him to be the odds-on favorite to lead the league in rushing and he should have 15+ touchdowns again in 2022. He’s not used as heavily in the passing game as others, but his overall yardage should be comparable. While any running back can get injured at any time, the perception is that he’s a safer choice than Christian McCaffrey.
However, in PPR scoring leagues, Christian McCaffrey is, without a doubt, the best fantasy player on the planet. His upside is substantial because of how frequently he’s used in the passing game. He has a 1,000/1,000-yard season to his credit and has over 100 receptions in a single season. He's struggled with injuries the last two seasons, but when he’s healthy, fantasy managers are essentially getting two players with one selection. He’s a top-10 running back while also playing the part of a mid-range WR2. Fantasy managers can debate about injury prone and if he’s worth the risk, but when McCaffrey is healthy, there’s not a single player that can rival his upside.
How Many RBs Should I have on my Roster?
The running back position is annually hit the hardest by injuries. It is the most physically demanding position and it’s common for guys to miss 1-2 games each season. Due to this fact, fantasy managers should have plenty of replacement options available. Most leagues require two starting running backs with the upside for a third in the form of a flex play. With three possible starters, fantasy managers should plan on having around 4–6 running backs on their squad. If you start off heavy on running backs with two early selections, you might be able to get by on the lower end. If you wait on running back until the later rounds, you should be adding more potential starter-worthy players late in hopes of getting lucky.
What is Zero RB Strategy?
Zero-RB is a strategy that seeks to benefit from the high rate of injuries that typically occur among running backs. By avoiding this position in the first 5-7 rounds of your draft, you’re able to load up on quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end. This strategy will allow you to create positional advantages at these three other positions. While your running back group will most likely be worse than your league mates, if you are able to hit on a backup running back or waiver wire addition at the position, it can send your lineup into overdrive. It makes sense when implementing this strategy to target backs who have a wide range of outcomes and who are one injury away from a significant increase in their workload.
The increase in PPR leagues is also making this a more viable strategy because there are plenty of pass-catching backs that are often devalued in fantasy leagues but carry plenty of weekly consistency. With more and more teams using multiple backs instead of just one workhorse, fantasy managers have more options to find quality running backs.
When Should I Draft an RB?
This is largely dependent on what scoring format your league operates under. If it’s a standard scoring league, it’ll be important for you to attack the running back position earlier than later. In this type of format, running back is the most important position, so it’s important to get a player you can consistently depend on.
If it’s a PPR scoring league, fantasy managers have a little more flexibility in how they want to form their roster. In full-PPR leagues, it can make a lot of sense to wait on running back until the fifth or sixth round and target backs who will have consistent volume in the passing game, such as Chase Edmonds, Cordarrelle Patterson, Kareem Hunt, and Tony Pollard. These decisions will often be driven by how your draft board falls, but in PPR scoring leagues, you have a lot more flexibility in when you want to attack the position because there are more viable options later and because the PPR settings increase the value of receivers and tight ends, making it a more reasonable decision to select those positions first.
What Should I look for in Drafting Fantasy RBs?
What fantasy managers are looking for in their running back is greatly determined by what kind of scoring format they’re playing under. In standard scoring leagues, it’s important to not only chase volume, but runners on good offenses because this will increase their touchdown scoring potential. Players who offer a high number of touches per game provide fantasy managers with a safe floor.
In PPR scoring leagues, fantasy managers should be looking at targets and high-value touches. High-value touches are defined as any touches inside the red zone. These are especially important because they come with higher scoring potential. Someone like D’Andre Swift did not have the number of overall carries as Jonathan Taylor, but his high number of receptions per game helped him make up the difference. Receptions are significantly more valuable than carries in this setting unless the carry comes with a high rate of scoring, such as being a carry inside the five or 10-yard line.
In general, fantasy managers should be prioritizing running backs who have a high number of overall touches with preferably their fair share coming in the form of targets. Running backs who have a three-down skill set are also highly desirable because they rarely come off the field.
Do Different Scoring Formats affect RBs?
The different scoring formats will play a big factor in how you value the running back position. Certain players are more and less valuable depending on what scoring format they’re being used in.
In standard scoring leagues, running backs who don’t catch a lot of passes are not downgraded as they would be in PPR. This works in the opposite direction for running backs who do catch a lot of passes. Fantasy managers will want to target overall touch totals and touchdown potential in standard leagues. In PPR leagues, they’ll want to focus on targets and high-value touches. These two different criteria will result in some players that fit into both and other players who are best in one format or the other. It’s important to recognize which scoring format you’re playing in so you can target the right kind of player.
M/U = 4for4 matchup ranking (Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed). 1 = Worst Matchup, 32 = Best Matchup