Fantasy Football Running Back Workhorses - One-Man Backfields to Chase for 2023 Drafts

It's no secret: volume is the key when it comes to rostering and fielding a winning team in fantasy football. With volume comes opportunities, touchdowns, and fantasy points galore, creating the perfect recipe for success as you embark on a quest to win your leagues.

With that said, fantasy managers would be wise to pursue backfields with clear and well-defined lead-backs. These players will get all of the opportunities they can handle, which will ultimately benefit them and those managers who prioritize them in fantasy drafts.

Today, we will explore four backfields that enter the 2023 season with a clear top option. These alpha running backs are dominant whenever the ball is in their hands, and they are absolutely worth pursuing when you're on the clock during your upcoming fantasy draft.

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Just Missed Out - The Caveats

Before we get into the four big names, it's worth mentioning the criteria associated with these picks and players who barely missed the cut. The four players listed in the headings throughout the remainder of the article are players with essentially no competition, no concerning off-the-field storylines, and players who are being ranked adequately or undervalued in terms of ADP.

On the other hand, here are a few fringe players who just missed the cut but are still intriguing enough to warrant a brief note or disclaimer.

New York Giants (Saquon Barkley)

Barkley and the Giants are currently in the midst of some tension after failing to reach an agreement on a new deal prior to the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign an extension. As a result, there was some concern about Barkley's availability as the Giants were ready to report to camp this summer. While it may not have been a serious threat, Barkley did float out the idea that he could hold out. This whole predicament makes his fantasy value a little more murky than it was back in February.

Update: Prior to publishing this article, Barkley agreed to a new one-year deal with the Giants that adds $1 million worth of incentives. His new deal is worth $10.1 million fully guaranteed, including a $2 million up-front signing bonus. However, he did not receive a "no-franchise-tag clause," which means the Giants can tag him again after the 2023 season.

Las Vegas Raiders (Josh Jacobs)

The Jacobs-Raiders saga has continued deep into the summer after the two sides failed to hash out an extension. Perhaps complicating this situation even more is Jacobs' high ADP and the players surrounding him in Las Vegas' backfield. Jacobs is being drafted around his ceiling right now, and even if he does report to the team and suit up in Week 1, there has been some concern that head coach Josh McDaniels' vision for the 2023 season includes a larger dose of Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah, and Brandon Bolden.

New England Patriots (Rhamondre Stevenson)

AUGUST 14 UPDATE: New England has signed veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott to a one-year deal. He is expected to receive a significant workload and cut into Stevenson's volume, especially in short-yardage and change-of-pace situations. Stevenson should retain the bulk of pass-catching work.

The young Patriots running back emerged as one of the best-receiving backs in the NFL last season. His all-around value to the team seemed to have an impact on Damien Harris' departure and the recent release of James Robinson as well. However, Pierre Strong Jr. and Ty Montgomery figure to carve out notable roles in 2023, and Bill Belichick has also kicked the tires on adding depth in the form of Leonard Fournette or Darrell Henderson.

Los Angeles Chargers (Austin Ekeler)

The Chargers certainly could run Ekeler into the ground during a contract year, but there's no ignoring the threat of teammates Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, and Larry Rountree III. Los Angeles has made a steady effort to add young weapons to its backfield over the last few seasons, and 2023 could finally be the year we see someone like Kelley absorb a decent chunk of Ekeler's volume.

New York Jets (Breece Hall)

AUGUST 14 UPDATE: New York has officially signed Dalvin Cook. While Hall offers youth and more burst, Cook will absolutely eat into his workload this coming season.

As Hall recovers from a knee injury ahead of his second (but first full) NFL season, we can't rule out New York adding more depth to its backfield. Even a higher-profile free agent like Dalvin Cook seems like a very real possibility at this point. Obviously, adding someone like Cook would strip the Jets' backfield of its "one-man" descriptor.

Tennessee Titans, Derrick Henry

The Titans' backfield has been powered by one man over the last few seasons, and we've seen just how much this offense suffers when Henry isn't on the field. Heading into 2023, Henry remains the Titans' obvious alpha back and should see enough volume to be a mid-first-round pick in fantasy drafts. (The recent arrest of Henry's backup, Hassan Haskins, adds additional murkiness to Tennessee's depth at the position.)

In 2022, Henry possessed an impressive 83 percent opportunity share, ranking second among running backs. He found the end zone 13 times and also led the league with 349 carries. Henry's effectiveness wasn't limited to the ground game, though. He demonstrated valuable efficiency in the passing attack as well with an 80.5 percent catch rate, 3.0 yards per route run, and 12.1 yards per reception.

Henry has consistently opened eyes as a clear-cut RB1 in previous seasons and 2023 should be no different. Feel free to chase the leader of the Titans' backfield in your upcoming drafts.

Cleveland Browns, Nick Chubb

Chubb has always been a top-tier running back, but the presence of Kareem Hunt was just enough to be a steady thorn in his side. However, as we head into the 2023 season, Hunt is gone and Chubb has this backfield all to himself. In all honesty, the biggest threat to Chubb's production might actually be wide receiver Elijah Moore, an offseason addition who could be utilized as a gadget player this year.

In addition to being the Browns' clear-cut alpha, Chubb has quietly developed a fantastic reputation in fantasy leagues over the years, delivering the stats and fantasy finishes shown in the following table. (Career highs are indicated by bold and italicized font.) As you can see, Chubb set a career-high in most major non-receiving categories last season, and even his pass-catching production has increased over the last three seasons.

Critics have argued that Chubb's production declined when Deshaun Watson took over in the middle of last season, but the data suggests otherwise. At most, Watson's arrival simply sparked natural growing pains, and these impacted the whole offense, not just Chubb. Let's check out Week 18 when Chubb flashed his efficiency and dominance. (What this chart doesn't show is that Chubb also showed key improvements in the passing game, racking up 23.2 fantasy points while posting a season-high five catches for 45 receiving yards.)

Nick Chubb Week 18 (2022) Carry Chart, via NFL Next Gen Stats

The evidence is overwhelming: Chubb is a beast, an alpha, an improved receiver, and a clear fantasy RB1. And he might just be a steal in the second round of drafts.

Indianapolis Colts, Jonathan Taylor

We're just one year removed from Taylor being the consensus 1.01 in both redraft and dynasty leagues. After an injury-laden 2022 campaign produced subpar results, the fantasy community seems to have lost a little bit of interest in Taylor, and justifiably so. However, the Colts are still all-in, adding virtually no competition to their backfield.

Zack Moss and Deon Jackson are fine handcuffs, but neither player will see the field on a steady basis unless Taylor gets hurt again. Furthermore, the Colts should be even more run-heavy after injecting a dose of Anthony Richardson into their offense.

Taylor, 24, has recovered from his ankle injury and is very capable of returning to 2021 form. We even saw a glimpse of that in 2022 when he produced 72.8 fantasy points (RB3 overall) from Weeks 10 to 13. As soon as Taylor steps back on the field in Week 1 this coming season, the football world will realize that a healthy Taylor is just as dominant as the likes of Henry, Ekeler, or Christian McCaffrey.

Taylor's injury is a thing of the past; don't let that deter you from selecting him in the future. He is absolutely a worthwhile investment in the first round of fantasy drafts, perhaps as early as the third overall pick if McCaffrey and Justin Jefferson are off the board.

Update: Taylor was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to begin training camp on Tuesday, July 25. Days later, he expressed frustration with the Colts and formally requested a trade. Meanwhile, backup running back Zack Moss suffered a season-ending injury. Between Taylor's frustration and Moss' absence, this backfield is far less straightforward than it was prior to publication. 

Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Mixon

Mixon is flying under the radar right now, which could be a blessing in disguise since you are able to draft him as a high-end RB2. In reality, the stage is set for Mixon to have an elite 2023 campaign that mirrors Jacobs' 2022 performance.

Four factors contributed to Jacobs being so dominant in 2022. First of all, he was in a contract year, which meant Las Vegas felt comfortable running him into the ground. Secondly, Jacobs played in an empty backfield with virtually no competition. Additionally, he benefitted from playing with an elite wide receiver who helped to open up the offense and create more opportunities. Finally, he was a multi-faceted weapon with talent in both the rushing and passing attacks.

Sound like someone else? If you guessed Mixon, you're right! The Bengals' lead back will be due for a new contract next offseason, has absolutely no competition now that Samaje Perine is gone, and should continue to see increased opportunities to make plays with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins working their magic down the field. Mixon can also be a PPR darling with these solid receiving stats from 2022:

Mixon has been an annual top-13 running back in fantasy football for the last half-decade, excluding 2020 when he played in just six games. That includes an RB4 finish from 2021, as well as a historic 55.1-point performance in Week 9 last year. Don't sleep on the 27-year-old heading into his seventh pro season.

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