X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

2017 PPR Rankings Analysis - Running Backs

As the start of NFL training camps quickly approaches, we take a position-by-position look at the RotoBaller PPR player rankings to help prepare you for draft day.

With the recent surge of the running back by committee approach in the NFL, looking at stats like total offensive touches and trends like snaps taken has become increasingly important when it comes to running backs. Teams are changing the way that they use traditional running backs, and we need to adapt to that as fantasy owners as well. This means more Danny Woodhead pass-catching types, and less traditional "bell cow" types. But despite the evolution of the position, it still produced last year's top overall fantasy contributor (David Johnson) and the three highest scoring non-QBs (Johnson, Ezekiel Elliott, and Le'veon Bell) in PPR leagues.

Speaking of the aforementioned, let's take a look at the top twelve PPR RBs heading into NFL training camps.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:

 

2017 PPR Rankings: Running Backs

1. David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

No surprise here, but last year's top point scorer in PPR leagues also led the NFL in total offensive touches with 373. There have been reports that Bruce Arians would like to increase Johnson's workload to nearly 30 touches per game, but even a mere repeat from 2016 would more than do the job to make him worthy of a top overall pick this year. DJ is just getting started at 25 years old and there's no real reason to believe that the Cardinals aren't going to get him as many touches as possible in 2017. The scariest thing about Johnson's potential is that there's actual room for improvement too, as he only caught two-thirds of the balls thrown his way last year. He's the safest pick at #1 overall in virtually all formats.

2. Le'veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers

The only other RB to finish in the top 50 in receptions, the most impressive thing about Bell's 2016 campaign was that he managed to put up such a monster season with just twelve games played (suspended for the first three and a healthy scratch for the regular season finale). Still though, he managed to finish near the top in just about every offensive category possible, including third overall in yards from scrimmage, fourth in touches, and second in rushing yards per game. Bell is bit more of an injury concern than Johnson, but his consistency and heavy usage in Pittsburgh should make you feel safe to pull the trigger. If you aren't drafting him first overall, take him at #2.

3. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

The #4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft became the first rookie to lead the league in rushing since the great Eric Dickerson in 1983, and he handsomely rewarded fantasy owners in the process. The Cowboys rode Zeke (with the help of fellow rookie Dak Prescott) to the tune of 322 carries and 16 total TD, and he's a sure thing for another 300+ carries if he can stay healthy. Though he was efficient in the passing game, catching 80% of the passes thrown his way, the target volume just wasn't there in 2016 to put him ahead of Johnson or Bell. You'll be just fine if you nab him in the front half of the first round, but I don't recommend him any higher than third in PPR.

4. LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills

Talk about a resurgence. The eighth-year vet busted out an extremely consistent season and tallied 14 total TDs as the focal point of the Bills' offense in 2016. Although Rex Ryan is no longer in charge in Buffalo, expect the new coaching staff to keep the game plan revolved around Shady. There may be an uptick in passing plays called under new offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, but McCoy is likely to be one of the main benefactors as his fellow supporting cast is lackluster at best. He should be considered a high-floor, high-end RB1.

5. Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears

Though Ezekiel Elliott may have been the rookie that took the NFL by storm, Jordan Howard is the rookie that took the fantasy world by storm. Undrafted in most leagues heading into the 2016 season, he rewarded owners who scooped him up with the second most rushing yards in football and the sixth most yards from scrimmage with 1,611. His 5.2 yards per carry might seem high, but the Bears offensive line is undoubtedly their strongest unit, and one of the best in the league. Meanwhile, the team's QB situation is questionable at best, which should only add to Howard's workload. Howard's current ADP has him as the ninth RB off the board in PPR leagues, but his ceiling is much higher on a poor Chicago team.

6. DeMarco Murray, Tennessee Titans

Re-establishing himself as a workhorse back during his first year in Tennessee, Murray's 346 offensive touches were good enough for third best in the league. One of the best pass-catching backs in football, he has hauled in 50+ receptions in three of the last four seasons, including 53 last year alone. Though Murray is very likely to return RB1 value, he will probably see a slight decrease in workload for 2017 with added receiving weapons for Marcus Mariota and the continued integration of Derrick Henry into the offense.

7. Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons

Anybody that doubted Freeman's ability to put together quality back-to-back seasons as the featured back in Atlanta is biting their tongue right about now. Not only did the former Florida State Seminole total 1,000+ rushing yards and 11 rushing TDs for his second straight season, but he added 54 receptions to boot. The talent level is certainly there for Freeman, as is his pass-catching ability, but Tevin Coleman is a real threat to his workload. His touches dropped from 338 to 281 in just one year, and the split between the two backs will only get closer to 50/50. Freeman's dynamic and consistent play makes him a low-end RB1, but the presence of Coleman hinders his ceiling a bit.

8. Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers

Contrasting what Devonta Freeman may experience in Atlanta this year, Melvin Gordon is the clear-cut top backfield option for the newly-minted Los Angeles Chargers. Had it not been for a hip injury in Week 14, he would have easily eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in 2016, and neared the 50 reception mark as well. His 3.9 yards per carry isn't great, but that's not a surprise given the hard-nosed type of runner that he is. Viewed as a sexy bounce back candidate after not finding the end zone at all in his rookie year, the arrow is pointing up again on Gordon, who is a high-upside RB1 that could return top five value.

9. Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins

To say that Ajayi broke out in 2016 would be an understatement. After gaining 161 total yards through Week 5, he busted off two consecutive 200+ rushing yard performances in Weeks 6-7, becoming the fourth running back ever to accomplish that feat back-t0-back and putting a stranglehold on the RB job in Miami. From there on out, Ajayi averaged 21.6 touches per game, and cemented himself as a viable fantasy option. Inconsistency is a bit of a concern (even with PPR, he scored single digits points in half of the last eight regular season games), but on volume and opportunity alone, he should produce RB1 numbers over a full season.

10. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Hand up if you drafted Gurley with a first round pick last year (my hand is up). Coming off 2015 Rookie of the Year honors, Gurley finished last year as the 15th ranked PPR RB, sandwiched between Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell. Workload wasn't the issue as his touches increased by almost 30% from his rookie year, but his 3.2 yards per carry was the bulk of his problems. With a new head coach in LA and a (hopefully) improved offensive line, Gurley should return low-end RB1 value in 2017. His touches may slightly decrease, but his efficiency and YPC will only improve.

11. Lamar Miller, Houston Texans

Miller is the first example on this list of a back that was clearly overused in 2016. So much so in fact, that Texans head coach Bill O'Brien has openly talked about lessening his load a bit. That's probably a bad sign for potential fantasy owners as Miller finished last year as just the RB20 in PPR leagues, but Houston is not going to all of a sudden abandon their offensive game plan either. Chances are that Miller will score more than the 5 TDs he totaled last year, and he's likely to be more efficient in the process. Nonetheless, he's a borderline RB1 with a high floor.

12. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

The intro of this article talks about more "Danny Woodhead types" in football, and that's exactly the skill set that McCaffrey brings to Carolina. That is, he is not your stereotypical running back that is going to ground and pound in the trenches, but he's going to be used all over the field in different situations. You'll likely see him this year as: a change-of-pace third down back, a passing option out of the backfield on early downs, a slot receiver, and the occasional early down ball carrier. The point is, McCaffrey's versatility should lend himself well to PPR leagues. That said, the Cam Newton-led offense is a power running attack that Jonathan Stewart fits well. If J Stew was to go down at any point during the season, McCaffrey would instantly become a legit RB1, but his ADP as RB15 in PPR leagues right now seems about right given Stewart's presence.

You can find the remainder of the full RotoBaller PPR player rankings HERE, which will be updated continuously throughout the preseason.


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

DK Metcalf17 mins ago

Has Strong Chance To Return In Week 11
Nikolaj Ehlers2 hours ago

Totals Four Points Versus Blue Jackets
Igor Shesterkin2 hours ago

Stops 40 Shots Versus Senators
Aleksander Barkov2 hours ago

Amasses Four Points In Finland
Dan Vladar2 hours ago

Shuts Out Devils Friday Night
Adam Pelech2 hours ago

Makes Early Exit Versus Sabres
Mike Reilly2 hours ago

Exits Friday's Action With Injury
NHL2 hours ago

Nathan Bastian Suffers Jaw Injury On Friday
Jordan Clarkson10 hours ago

Out At Least A Week
Kyle Kuzma10 hours ago

Out Again On Saturday
Jamal Murray10 hours ago

Won't Return On Friday Night
Giannis Antetokounmpo10 hours ago

Anticipated To Play Versus Cleveland
Puka Nacua12 hours ago

Shot To Play Week 9
Jordan Love12 hours ago

Tracking To Play In Week 9
Stephen Curry15 hours ago

Unavailable Saturday
Yves Missi15 hours ago

Expected To Take The Court Friday
Karl-Anthony Towns15 hours ago

Available On Friday
Eric Comrie15 hours ago

Faces Blue Jackets Friday
Daniel Theis15 hours ago

Likely To Suit Up Friday
David Savard15 hours ago

Sits Out Practice For Maintenance Purposes
De'Anthony Melton15 hours ago

Unavailable Saturday
Jordan Hawkins15 hours ago

Expected To Play Friday
Alexander Romanov15 hours ago

Ready To Play Friday
Al Horford15 hours ago

Resting Against Charlotte
Evgeni Malkin15 hours ago

Takes Maintenance Day On Friday
Andrew Wiggins15 hours ago

Probable For Saturday's Matchup With Houston
Rose Namajunas15 hours ago

An Underdog At UFC Edmonton
D'Angelo Russell15 hours ago

Will Suit Up Versus Toronto
Devon Levi15 hours ago

Returns To Sabres Crease
Clayton Kershaw15 hours ago

To Undergo Two Surgeries
Anthony Davis15 hours ago

Available Against Toronto
Erin Blanchfield15 hours ago

Returns At UFC Edmonton
Brandon Lowe15 hours ago

Rays Pick Up Club Option On Brandon Lowe
Ryan Hartman15 hours ago

Rejoins Wild Lineup Friday
Zach LaVine15 hours ago

Will Play Against Brooklyn
15 hours ago

Nick Martinez Headed To Free Agency
Erik Cernak15 hours ago

Available On Friday
Marc-Andre Barriault15 hours ago

Dustin Stoltzfus Set To Face Marc-Andre Barriault At UFC Edmonton
Brent Suter16 hours ago

Inks Extension With Cincinnati
Immanuel Quickley16 hours ago

Out Again On Friday Night
CJ McCollum16 hours ago

Out At Least Two Weeks
16 hours ago

Yankees, Mets Among Teams In Battle For Juan Soto
Anthony Black16 hours ago

Starting Versus Cleveland
Franz Wagner16 hours ago

Cleared For Friday Night
Herbert Jones16 hours ago

To Miss A Significant Amount Of Time With Shoulder Injury
Marc-Andre Barriault16 hours ago

A Favorite At UFC Edmonton
Blake Snell16 hours ago

Opts Out Of Deal With San Francisco
Desmond Bane16 hours ago

Won't Face The 76ers
Josh Jacobs17 hours ago

Questionable For Sunday
Drake Maye17 hours ago

Questionable For Week 9
Tyler Boyd17 hours ago

Tony Pollard, Tyler Boyd Listed As Questionable
Tyjae Spears17 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 9
Calvin Ridley17 hours ago

Off The Injury Report
Trevin Giles17 hours ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Noah Fant17 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 9
Brian Robinson Jr.17 hours ago

Questionable For Week 9
Mike Malott17 hours ago

Opens Up UFC Edmonton Main Card
Dallas Goedert17 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 9
DK Metcalf18 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 9
Zach Benson18 hours ago

Could Play Next Week
Jani Hakanpaa18 hours ago

And Connor Dewar Sent On Conditioning Stint
Dmitri Voronkov18 hours ago

Ready For Season Debut Friday
Jordan Love18 hours ago

Questionable Vs. Lions
Mathew Barzal18 hours ago

Getting Tests Done For Upper-Body Injury
Vladimir Tarasenko18 hours ago

Ready To Go For Saturday
Mark Stone18 hours ago

Misses Practice Due To Birth Of Child
Puka Nacua19 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Week 9
Will Levis20 hours ago

Questionable For Week 9
David Njoku20 hours ago

Good To Go For Week 9
Bucky Irving20 hours ago

Absent During Friday's Practice
David Njoku20 hours ago

Returns To Practice On Friday
Adam Thielen20 hours ago

Doubtful For Week 9
Jonathon Brooks20 hours ago

Not Expected To Play In Week 9
Tee Higgins21 hours ago

Listed As Doubtful For Sunday
Tomás Nosek24 hours ago

Tomas Nosek Ready For Panthers Debut On Friday
1 day ago

Royals Decline Option On Adam Frazier
1 day ago

Manuel Margot, Kyle Farmer Headed To Free Agency
1 day ago

Milwaukee Declines Option On Wade Miley
Lucas Giolito1 day ago

Staying In Boston
Chris Stratton1 day ago

Hunter Renfroe, Chris Stratton Returning To Kansas City
Jordan Montgomery1 day ago

Staying In Arizona
2 days ago

Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn Headed For Free Agency
Roansy Contreras2 days ago

Claimed By Texas
2 days ago

Alex Kirilloff Announces Retirement
Jorge Soler2 days ago

Traded To Los Angeles
Brendson Ribeiro2 days ago

Searching For 1st UFC Win At UFC Edmonton
Caio Machado2 days ago

Drops Down To Light Heavyweight At UFC Edmonton
Jhonata Diniz2 days ago

Gets Big Step-Up At UFC Edmonton
Derrick Lewis2 days ago

Faces An Unranked Heavyweight At UFC Edmonton
Amir Albazi2 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Edmonton
Brandon Moreno2 days ago

Ends Layoff At UFC Edmonton
2 days ago

Daniel Hudson Retires After World Series Victory
Freddie Freeman2 days ago

Drives In Two More Runs, Earns World Series MVP Honors
Chase Elliott5 days ago

Comes Up Short at Homestead
William Byron5 days ago

Rallies to Sixth at Homestead
Kyle Larson5 days ago

Tire Issue at Homestead Could Doom Kyle Larson's Championship Hopes
Tyler Reddick5 days ago

Charges To A Thrilling Victory At Homestead
Ryan Blaney5 days ago

Loses At Homestead On The Final Corner To Tyler Reddick
Christopher Bell5 days ago

Quietly Nabs A Top-5 Finish At Homestead
Khamzat Chimaev5 days ago

Remains Undefeated
Robert Whittaker5 days ago

Gets Submitted At UFC 308
Aleksandar Rakic5 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC 308
Armen Petrosyan5 days ago

Knocked Out At UFC 308
Shara Magomedov5 days ago

Gets Highlight-Reel Knockout Win At UFC 308
Joey Logano5 days ago

Intentionally Sleepwalked Through Homestead to Focus on Phoenix
Denny Hamlin5 days ago

Advances to Championship 4 as Owner but Not as Driver
Dan Ige6 days ago

Loses Second-Straight Fight At UFC 308
Lerone Murphy6 days ago

Remains Undefeated At UFC 308
Magomed Ankalaev6 days ago

Wins Lackluster Decision Win At UFC 308
Max Holloway6 days ago

Gets Knocked Out For First Time At UFC 308

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Keon Coleman - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 9 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Ladd McConkey, Keon Coleman, Joe Flacco

Scott Engel’s Lineup Spotlights are an essential weekly feature on RotoBaller.com for the 2024 fantasy football season. Every week, he focuses on players to choose as starting options when you are dealing with tight lineup decisions. The lineup picks included in this rundown are based on Scott’s Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller […]


Ladd McConkey - Fantasy Football Rankings, Rookies, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 9 - Terry McLaurin, Chris Olave, Ladd McConkey, Jakobi Meyers

Welcome to WR Matchups to Target for Week 9. Last week’s picks yielded one “in the money” pick (3x multiplier on DraftKings salary) in Keon Coleman, giving us 11 such picks over the first eight weeks of the season. Each week we will use matchup data from PFF to determine wide receivers to target based […]


Brian Thomas Jr - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Who Should I Start? Sunday Fantasy Football Lineup Decisions for Week 9 (2024) - Diontae Johnson, Keon Coleman, Jalen Tolbert, Brian Thomas, Jakobi Myers, Brian Robinson, Keenan Allen, Tee Higgins, Bo Nix

It's almost time for Sunday football. Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Sunday football and Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell […]


Bryce Young - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

High-Upside Bench Stashes: Weekend Waiver Wire Adds for Week 9 Includes Jalen Coker, Troy Franklin, Jaylen Wright, Erick All Jr., Kimani Vidal, Blake Corum

Mastering the waiver wire is a crucial skill that can lead you to a fantasy football championship. It's not just about strategically placing your FAAB budget on specific players but also about knowing when to stash players. This dual strategy keeps you engaged and focused on your ultimate goal of winning a fantasy championship. As […]


Video: Week 9 Booms, Sleepers, and Streamers - 2024 Fantasy Football Start 'Em Analysis

Let's go, RotoBallers! We are back and dropping fire content for the weekend ahead with our top Week 9 booms, sleepers, and streamers! NFL Network and RotoBaller contributor LaQuan Jones gives in-depth fantasy football advice, breaking down some of his high-upside, sleeper, and value plays as we head into Week 9 of the new fantasy […]


Jameis Winston - NFL DFS Picks, Waiver Wire, Fantasy Football Rankings

Week 9 Superflex 2QB Rankings for Fantasy Football: Updates for Jameis Winston, Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, Daniel Jones, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye

With quarterbacks beginning to get benched or banged up, some backup quarterbacks are entering lineups and have become viable in Superflex and two-QB leagues. Our Week 9 fantasy football Superflex rankings (2QB) for 2024 are here to help you close start-or-sit calls between comparable options. Below, you can see where RotoBaller has key Superflex options […]


Bucky Irving - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings (2024) - Week 9 Updates Include Rhamondre Stevenson, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Bucky Irving

Incredibly, Week 9 has already kicked off, and Thursday's game is already in the books. It's time to start reviewing your dynasty leagues to decide whether to make a run for the championship or sell off for next year. There were some big trades in the NFL recently, with DeAndre Hopkins heading to Kansas City […]


Chris Olave - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Week 9 PPR Rankings for Fantasy Football: Overall Updates Include Marvin Harrison, Chris Olave, Amari Cooper, Jayden Reed, Rachaad White, Nick Chubb

The Week 9 slate brings a must-win situation to many fantasy managers, so it's time to lock in and set optimal fantasy football lineups. Below, you'll see our NFL team's updated Week 9 fantasy football PPR rankings for 2024. Let's see where key players like Cooper Kupp, T.J. Hockenson, Jaylen Waddle, Tank Bigsby, Jalen McMillan, […]


Josh Downs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Week 9 FLEX Rankings for Fantasy Football (RB, WR, TE) - Updates Include Jalen McMillan, Xavier Worthy, Calvin Ridley, Josh Downs, Kareem Hunt, DJ Moore

The fantasy football playoffs will be here before we know it, so if you need a few wins to secure your spot and are looking for lineup advice, you have come to the right place. We're here to help with our NFL team's updated Week 9 fantasy football FLEX rankings for 2024. Comparing two flex […]


Chase Brown - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Draft Sleepers

Week 9 Running Back Rankings for Fantasy Football: RB Updates Include Tank Bigsby, Chuba Hubbard, Tyrone Tracy, Chase Brown, Rico Dowdle, JK Dobbins

The running back position has seemingly been the most consistent in fantasy football this season, but things can change in a hurry, so it's important to set optimal lineups each week. Let's get to crucial start-or-sit decisions with help from our updated Week 9 fantasy football running back rankings for 2024. Where do key RBs […]


Cedric Tillman - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Week 9 Wide Receiver Rankings for Fantasy Football: WR Updates Include Cedric Tillman, Darnell Mooney, Khalil Shakir, Romeo Doubs, Jaylen Waddle, more

Ahead of the Week 9 NFL slate, the wide receiver position is the deepest in fantasy football, but that can lead to troubling start-or-sit decisions, especially when comparing two flex-level WR options. We're here to assist with our NFL team's updated Week 9 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for 2024. Let's dive into the rankings […]


Cole Kmet - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL injury News

Week 9 Tight End Rankings for Fantasy Football: TE Updates Include Cade Otton, Cole Kmet, Kyle Pitts, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Tucker Kraft, Sam LaPorta

Tight ends showed out last week on National Tight End Day, so hopefully, the momentum continues for the tough position to analyze and navigate. Below, you'll see our NFL team's updated Week 9 fantasy football tight end rankings for 2024 to help you make tough start-or-sit decisions. Let's dig into the rankings to find out […]


Jordan Love - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Week 9 Quarterback Rankings for Fantasy Football - QB Updates Include Bo Nix, Caleb Williams, Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield, Dak Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa

The quarterback position has felt extra volatile in 2024 fantasy football, and if you aren't having much luck finding the top streaming option at QB every week, we're here to help with our updated Week 9 fantasy football quarterback rankings for 2024. Let's see where quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams, Geno Smith, Baker […]