2023 Fantasy Football PPR Running Back Rankings and Tiers Analysis

Fantasy football PPR draft rankings and tiers analysis for running backs. Jorden Hill breaks down tiers 1-5 of our RB PPR rankings for 2023 fantasy football drafts.

In the not-so-distant past, running backs were viewed as the hottest of all commodities in fantasy football. If you made it out of the first three rounds of a fantasy draft without at least one back on your roster, you were doing it wrong. Things have gradually shifted over the past few years as the zero-RB draft strategy has not only soared in popularity but also in viability. With each season that goes by, fewer NFL teams deploy true workhorse running backs, causing wide receivers to rise to the top of draft boards in PPR formats.

Because of this shift in the mindset of many fantasy gamers, there is plenty of value to be found at the running back position. At this point in the offseason, a handful of players with RB1 overall upside are consistently falling to the back end of the second round, and last season's RB1 can sometimes be drafted with a pick outside of the first five draft slots. Regardless of your strategy, RotoBaller's consensus PPR rankings will help you navigate the running back landscape in your fantasy football drafts.

Our rankings are tweaked all preseason long, so bookmark the fantasy football rankings portal and check back regularly for updates. In addition to these RB draft rankings, be sure to also check out our team's fantasy football articles and analysis - we discuss draft sleepers, busts, NFL players to target and avoid, NFL rookies in the best landing spots, and so much more. Without further ado, let’s break down the first five tiers of running backs right now.

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Fantasy Football Running Back PPR Rankings

Tier 1 - Fantasy Football Running Back PPR Rankings

Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, Nick Chubb

It should come as no surprise to see Christian McCaffrey atop a PPR running back rankings list. He and Austin Ekeler were the top two fantasy backs last season, both in total points and points per game, and should have little difficulty repeating their great success in 2023.

On the other hand, Jonathan Taylor will need to bounce back in a major way to prove worthy of his RB3 ranking. Fresh off of an incredible 2021 campaign, Taylor struggled with injuries last season and disappointed many fantasy managers that likely selected him first overall in drafts. This is reflected in his current average draft position that has him taken as the fifth running back off the board.

There are plenty of reasons for optimism, though, as new Colts head coach Shane Steichen should help to propel Indianapolis' run game after leading the Eagles' offense to the fifth-most rushing yards in the NFL last season.

Our ranking of Saquon Barkley at RB4 is right in line with his ADP, which feels much more secure now that he and the Giants have agreed on a one-year deal. Barkley will once again be featured in a run-heavy offense and should flirt with 60 receptions.

Tony Pollard is ranked a few spots higher than others routinely drafted ahead of him, but it should be easy to understand why. Pollard finished as the RB8 last season despite missing one game and seeing 16 fewer touches than backfield mate Ezekiel Elliott. With Elliott out of town, there is absolutely a path to Pollard becoming fantasy's top running back.

Ezekiel Elliott is no longer a Cowboy.

Dallas didn't spend a high-value pick on an RB:

Tony Pollard is officially the workhorse in Dallas.

He was 5th in RB efficiency in 2022. pic.twitter.com/GxHjOeC6hB

— SAL VETRI (@SalVetriDFS) April 29, 2023

Considered by many to be the best pure runner in the league, Nick Chubb has been a fantasy force for four straight seasons, even without much in the way of pass-catching production. The Browns could involve other backs this season, but without Kareem Hunt on the roster, there is obvious potential for Chubb to post career-highs in receiving and provide plenty of value as the sixth running back drafted.

Tier 2 - Fantasy Football Running Back PPR Rankings

Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs

There's no denying the extraordinary talent of Bijan Robinson, and it's hard to fault the fantasy community for being excited enough to draft him in the first round. Our ranking of Robinson at RB7 may not be a popular one, but it should be viewed as reasonable when considering the situation the rookie finds himself in.

Sure, Atlanta's rushing attack projects to be one of the most prolific in the league in terms of volume. Still, we have not seen nearly enough of quarterback Desmond Ridder to have high expectations for the Falcons' offense. Robinson, a skilled receiver, will compete for targets with Drake London and Kyle Pitts and, despite his early NFL Draft capital, is likely to cede some carries to second-year pro Tyler Allgeier.

We're still believers in Robinson and anticipate a top-12 fantasy finish, but simply put, all of the names above him are safer bets.

Derrick Henry may be entering his eighth season, but the 29-year-old showed no signs of slowing down in 2022.

In 2022, Derrick Henry ran against six or fewer defenders on only 25% of his rush attempts and still posted 1538 rushing yards.

The average rush rate among viable fantasy RBs vs light boxes was 47%.

— Zareh Kantzabedian (@ZKantzFF) July 25, 2023

Additionally, the Titans could take a notable step up offensively this year with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins. Both Henry and Josh Jacobs should be considered fine values in the mid-to-late second round of fantasy drafts, assuming we eventually get the news that Jacobs plans to suit up in Week 1.

Tier 3 - Fantasy Football Running Back PPR Rankings

Rhamondre Stevenson, Breece Hall, Najee Harris, Travis Etienne Jr., Joe Mixon, Kenneth Walker III, Aaron Jones, Dameon Pierce

Now for our largest grouping yet, tier three represents a batch of talented running backs that should earn plenty of opportunities but have a larger range of outcomes than those in our top nine.

Rhamondre Stevenson has a ton of upside as the undisputed RB1 in New England and could eclipse 100 targets this year. Breece Hall would likely be ranked much higher if he weren't coming back from a significant knee injury, but the 22-year-old reportedly has a real shot to play in Week 1 and should only get stronger as the season progresses.

Pittsburgh's Najee Harris feels like a lock to surpass 300 touches, and if Kenny Pickett and the Steelers' offense can improve, he could easily outperform his ADP. Coming in at RB13, Travis Etienne should continue to shine in the thrilling Jacksonville offense but may lose some work to third-round NFL Draft selection Tank Bigsby.

Joe Mixon is the first running back in this tier to be ranked more than two spots apart from his average draft position. With Mixon agreeing to a pay cut to remain in Cincinnati, there is little reason to suspect a decline in his fantasy output. Mixon has scored as a top-10 fantasy back in each of the last two seasons and could even garner additional target volume with third-down specialist Samaje Perine now in Denver.

Joe Mixon had 16 TDs in 2021 and 75 targets last year. Samaje Perine is gone, per sources.

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) May 25, 2023

Perhaps his ADP will correct itself as we inch closer to the regular season, but for now, Mixon appears to be one of the best values in fantasy drafts.

Kenneth Walker, like the aforementioned Etienne, looks to build upon an impressive debut season but now faces competition in the form of a touted rookie running back. Aaron Jones has not finished lower than RB10 since 2018 and should continue to be a focal point in Green Bay, but it is almost impossible to predict what Jordan Love will accomplish in his first season as a starter.

We are also slightly ahead of ADP on Dameon Pierce, who produced as a solid RB2 in his 13 games as a rookie. The Texans did bring in Devin Singletary this offseason, but it's difficult to project him for much more than a complementary role, given his small one-year deal. Houston's offense is unlikely to be a fantasy goldmine this season, but even as a rookie, C.J. Stroud should immediately be a significant improvement over Davis Mills.

Tier 4 - Fantasy Football Running Back PPR Rankings

Jahmyr Gibbs, J.K. Dobbins, Rachaad White, Cam Akers, Alexander Mattison

Jahmyr Gibbs was drafted shockingly high by the Lions back in April, creating a tidal wave of hype amongst fantasy players. The enthusiasm is justified, given Gibbs' abilities and the high-flying offense he's joining, but we've pumped the brakes a bit in our rankings.

Gibbs is frequently selected ahead of multiple players mentioned in tier three, including Mixon, Jones, Walker, and Pierce. Although the Lions will conceivably score more points than teams such as the Packers and Texans, it's possible that Gibbs does not pace Detroit's backfield in touches. David Montgomery, who displayed a three-down skillset during his time in Chicago, signed a substantial contract with the Lions and figures to see the field often.

Injuries have unfortunately plagued J.K. Dobbins' career to this point, but the 24-year-old has been immensely efficient on the ground when healthy. If he plays a full season, Dobbins could surely approach RB1 territory, especially if the Ravens' offense thrives under new OC Todd Monken.

Unlike Dobbins, Rachaad White was very inefficient with his touches last season but proved he could be a factor in the receiving game. White should be given a plethora of opportunities with Leonard Fournette no longer in Tampa Bay, but he will have to overcome what projects to be a poor offense with Baker Mayfield at the helm. Still, we have him ranked noticeably above his ADP, as the Buccaneers should pass far less than 45 times per game without Tom Brady and, in turn, rely on White and the running game.

Last season began as a nightmare for Cam Akers drafters, and for a while, it felt like he may never again earn the trust of the Rams coaching staff. Seemingly out of nowhere, Akers became a fantasy league winner, scoring as the RB4 from Weeks 13 through 18. Akers should also be considered a quiet winner of this offseason. Los Angeles brought back Sony Michel on a one-year deal and added Zach Evans in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, firmly cementing Akers as the team's lead back.

You're unlikely to be impressed looking at Alexander Mattison's numbers through four NFL seasons. Still, the upcoming season represents his first real chance to prove himself as a starting-caliber running back. Mattison has been a seamless fit in Minnesota when taking over for an injured Dalvin Cook in the past and will aim to approximate his statistics now that the veteran has been released.

Alexander Mattison told me that when he re-signed with the Vikings, he knew he would be coming back to be the RB1.

And he expects to be an every-down back. pic.twitter.com/jittKCY2OE

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) July 20, 2023

Tier 5 - Fantasy Football Running Back PPR Rankings

Miles Sanders, James Conner, Dalvin Cook, D'Andre Swift, Alvin Kamara, Javonte Williams, Isiah Pacheco, David Montgomery

We are now firmly in the low-end RB2 category, but there is still plenty of upside to be found in this tier.

After a career season with the Eagles, Miles Sanders joined Carolina this offseason and was paid to be the Panthers' lead back. If Sanders establishes himself as a three-down workhorse, he could finish much higher than this ranking of RB23. It's important to keep in mind, however, that Sanders put up RB15 numbers last season while scoring 11 touchdowns on one of the best teams in the NFL. The transition to the Panthers could prove detrimental to his fantasy value unless he's utilized in the passing game like he was as a rookie.

Miles Sanders has fallen from 63 to 52 to 34 to 26 targets the last 3 seasons, but he had an excellent 20.0% receiving DVOA in his 1st season.

I expect Sanders to catch more passes with the #Panthers.pic.twitter.com/KTmBprvgtr

— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) June 30, 2023

The Arizona Cardinals may have the lowest projected win total of any team in 2023, but James Conner could be a steal based on volume alone. With Kyler Murray sidelined from Weeks 14 through 17 last season, Conner was the fantasy RB4 and accumulated almost six targets per contest.

There aren't many running backs in the league with a wider range of outcomes than Dalvin Cook this season. Still, currently a free agent, Cook's draft cost is practically guaranteed to change depending on where he ultimately lands. According to the man himself, the odds are "pretty high" that he ends up signing with the Jets, which in all likelihood, would diminish his fantasy value.

We're a few spots lower on D'Andre Swift than the majority of fantasy players, who have been selecting him in the late fifth round as the RB21. Swift was sensational on a per-touch basis last season and has an opportunity to pick up right where Miles Sanders left off in Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, Swift has been unable to handle a heavy workload to this point in his three-year career and will battle Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Gainwell for touches. Of course, Penny isn't known for his ability to stay healthy either, so it's difficult to predict just how this backfield will shake out.

Much like Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara is expected to see a change in ADP as we approach the regular season. If Kamara completely dodges a suspension from the NFL, there is no doubt that he will be drafted much earlier than the seventh round. He may not be the league-winner he once was, but Kamara should still serve as an all-purpose talent on an improved offense with Derek Carr under center.

It's easy to forget just how much hype there was surrounding Javonte Williams this time last year. Seeing the rising star sustain a season-ending injury just four weeks into the season was extremely upsetting. By all accounts, Williams is on track to play in Week 1, but he may split work with newcomer Samaje Perine early on.

Isiah Pacheco was one of fantasy football's greatest surprises last season. It took time for him to carve out a role in Kansas City, but Pacheco was the RB18 from Week 10 on, even without much usage as a receiver. While the Chiefs didn't add any big names this offseason, it's still unclear what their plans are for Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon.

Rounding out our top 30 is David Montgomery, the first running back mentioned to have a teammate ranked higher. I discussed Montgomery briefly when explaining our conservative ranking of Jahmyr Gibbs. The 224-pound bruiser should easily earn goal-line duties and is simply making too much money to be viewed as a backup or fantasy handcuff.

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