RADIO
Controversy reigns over the value of an elite running back. This offseason, multiple backs threatened to hold out or delayed signing franchise tags as they thought they should have earned higher salaries. Most of those situations were resolved, but Jonathan Taylor remains on the Colts' PUP list after he and his team could not come to terms.
Running back is still one of the most valuable positions in fantasy football and a position I thoroughly enjoy watching when it is executed to perfection.
We have been ranking players at each position in the preseason and during the season. After one week, where do the running backs stand? Think of this as power rankings for the RB position--ranking them by talent with a smidgeon of trend-backed performance ranking thrown in to reward those who are stepping up.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
The Elites
1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
McCaffrey retains his position at the top of the rankings after a dominant showing in a 30-7 win over the Steelers. His rushing yards alone--152 yards on 22 carries--were enough to finish second in scrimmage yards even though he only added 17 yards receiving. In most games, he will post a multiple of that.
2. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
After the offseason drama that he was partially involved in, Ekeler is back performing at an elite level with the Chargers. He went for 117 yards and a touchdown on just 16 carries and added 47 more through the air on four catches. Ekeler and CMC are the all-around "athletes" that teams like the Lions are looking for when they draft running backs early these days.
Editor's Note: Ekeler is now DOUBTFUL for Sunday's game against the Titans.
3. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
The powerful runner did what he does in the Browns' victory over the Bengals. He churned for 106 yards on 18 carries. Without Kareem Hunt there to play the pass-catching role, Chubb was also targeted more in the passing game, catching four passes for 21 yards. If he keeps it up, he will set career highs for targets, receptions, and receiving yards.
4. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry's per-carry rushing average is never going to equal the lofty (over 5.0 YPC) levels it reached when Arthur Smith was the Titans' offensive coordinator. Now at age 29, the threat of the "RB cliff" is constantly lurking--unseen but felt by fantasy managers--behind him.
In Week 1, against a tough Saints defense, Henry ran for 63 yards on 15 carries. That's not great but not bad considering his opponent. Four and a quarter yards per carry is just below his average the past couple of seasons. He also showcased his continued explosiveness in the passing game, catching two passes for 56 yards to help break into the top ten in scrimmage yards.
5. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
The Giants looked terrible in Week 1, but Barkley did all that was asked of him. He ran the ball 12 times for 15 yards and gained the necessary yardage for the play to be a success 58.3% of the time. If only his teammates had done the right thing half the time, they might have kept the score within 40. Here's hoping, for Barkley's sake, that the Giants can turn things around so that he might still be able to cash his bonus check for a Giants' playoff appearance.
Top-10 Running Backs
6. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Tony Pollard has been freed! With long-time Dallas lead back Ezekiel Elliott now in New England, the road to workhorse usage is wide open for Pollard. In Week 1, he took advantage of his newfound opportunity. He ran for 70 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns. Yet his playing time was still limited somewhat in that game because the Cowboys quickly got out to such a huge lead. Pollard's fantasy managers are still hoping for a juicy 20+ carry game one of these days.
7. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor is still one of the most talented running backs in the NFL. Unfortunately, we won't get to see him play for at least three more weeks, at which time he will be eligible to be removed from the PUP list. What happens next is anyone's guess. The Colts' management has terribly mismanaged the situation.
8. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders back was one of the NFL's most pleasant surprises in 2022. Leading the league with 1,653 yards on the ground after two 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career was enough to cause the Raiders to franchise tag him and then offer him a slightly higher salary than the franchise tag after he threatened to hold out.
Was he worth it? Against a tough Denver Broncos defense, he only gained 48 yards on 19 carries and failed to make successful plays more than half the time. We'll give him a mulligan and hope he can do better this week against Buffalo, which also has a stout defense but got run over by Breece Hall last week.
9. Breece Hall, New York Jets
There was a lot of uncertainty about how healthy Hall was following an ACL tear last season. Even players who do return to play usually lack confidence or burst in their first year back from such an injury. Hall put those concerns to rest when he fired out of the hole for an 83-yard gain in the second quarter. He finished the game with 127 yards on 10 carries.
He didn't just break off the big gain; he also achieved a 60% success rate. If he keeps this up for half the season, he might move up into the top tier of RBs. As long as his backfield mate Dalvin Cook is healthy, he probably won't get as much volume as some of the others on this list, however.
10. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Bijan Robinson looked good, but he wasn't the league-changing game-breaker who makes top-ten RB picks look valuable that some had hoped he would be out of the gate. Oh, he gained 56 yards on 10 carries, but he only achieved a 30% success rate. He was quite productive in the passing game, catching six passes for 27 yards and scoring a touchdown.
If he "disappointed," it was only in relation to the extremely high expectations and hype surrounding him. No one could really have expected an RB1 weekly finish for a rookie playing their first NFL game ever. He could very well put up those kind of numbers a couple of weeks into the season.
11. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
One of the many highlights of a dynamic Green Bay offense, Aaron Jones surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the third time in his career in 2022, and he may be on his way to doing it again. He ran for 41 yards on nine carries in the Packers' big win over the divisional rival Bears, and he added 86 yards on just two receptions, including a 51-yarder. The Packers are fun to watch and tough to defend, and Jones is one of the reasons.
The Risers & Fallers
12. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Speculation was rampant that Zach Charbonnet would eat into KWIII's volume. That didn't happen. Walker carried the ball 12 times for 64 yards, while Charbonnet only took the rock three times for 11 yards. As with some other mentions of rookies on the list, there is the caveat that it was Charbonet's first game ever, and he should be expected to get more carries in the future. But Walker looked stronger and more explosive, and Charbonet will have to show something to earn more than a bit role in the Seahawks' offense.
13. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
After missing his rookie season with foot surgery, Travis Etienne took over as the Jaguars lead back in 2022. Etienne impressed in the role, rushing for over 1,000 yards while accounting for nearly 75% of the team's carries in 2022. There was fear that the Jags would scale back that workload in the upcoming season in an attempt to decrease Etienne's injury risk. So far those fears have been ungrounded. Etienne carried the ball 18 times for 77 yards in a Week 1 victory over the Colts.
14. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
The Patriots back made exciting strides in his second year in the NFL. Stevenson displayed his dynamic dual-threat skill set, rushing for over 1,000 yards and being one of just eight RBs to exceed 400 receiving yards in 2022. Ezekiel Elliot did not significantly threaten Stevenson's volume in Week 1. Elliot only carried the ball seven times and didn't help his case by fumbling. Stevenson took 12 carries for 25 yards and caught six passes for 64 yards. His biggest challenge was the imposing Eagles front seven.
15. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon is never going to contend for a spot in the top tier. He's 27-years-old now, and he has always been a hit-the-hole-for-four kind of back. For years, Samaje Perine ate into his workload, but now he has the Bengals' valuable backfield all to himself. In Week 1, he gained 56 yards on 13 carries and found a way to bust off a gain of 22 on his long. He only achieved a success rate of 30.8%, but in a week in which many other RBs in this tier underperformed, he moves up a couple of spots.
16. Dalvin Cook New York Jets
Cook is coming off four straight seasons as a 1,000-yard rusher, but his efficiency numbers have suffered year by year. His declining value as a runner combined with his huge cap hit and the Vikings' rebuild led him to be cut. He struggled in Week 1 against the Bills, gaining just 33 yards on 13 carries. He could rise or fall depending on what he does in Week 2.
17. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
The 2021 first-round pick is utilized as one of the NFL's true workhorse backs. He can shoulder a heavy workload, but he isn't what you might call explosive. Combined with nagging injuries, Harris regressed in 2022 with both his rushing production (1,034 yards) and receiving output (229 yards) declining in comparison to his stellar rookie season in 2021. A Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, one of the best defenses, wasn't a great opportunity to disprove his critics. He only gained 31 yards on just six attempts. We'll have to wait until he faces some less difficult opponents to get a better gauge of where he's at in 2023.
18. Alvin Kamara/Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints
An offseason filled with questions about his 2023 availability was resolved when Alvin Kamara was handed down a three-game suspension for his role in a Las Vegas nightclub brawl. The former Lion Jamaal Williams was known more for his goalline prowess and his personality than for his running ability between the 20s. In Week 1, he only averaged 2.5 yards per carry and hit a 27.8% success rate. It was just enough to help the Saints beat the Titans by 1.
19. Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
The Florida Gator was one of the breakout rookies of last year. He was like a superstar in the making during the early portion of his rookie season. However, Pierce slowed down as the season progressed and eventually gave way to an ankle injury that ended his 2022 campaign. It would be tough for any running back on a poor Texans offense with a rookie quarterback. Pierce did his best, rushing for 38 yards on 11 carries in a brutal Week 1 loss to the Ravens.
20. Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
Alexander Mattison will inherit the aforementioned Cook's lead role in the Vikings' backfield in 2023. He cannot replace Cook, however. He gained 34 yards on 11 carries in Week 1, and, if you watched Thursday Night Football, you've seen he didn't do anything to solidify his place in Week 2. There's a reason many fantasy analysts were taking gambles on random Vikings' backup RBs. They might not be much better, though.
Talented with Questions
21. Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Sanders exploded for a career-high 1,269 rushing yards in 2022. He leveraged that output into a four-year, $25.4 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. The move to Carolina was not ideal. Some thought he was a product of the Eagles' system. But in Week 1 (albeit against a below-average Falcons defense), Sanders gained 72 yards on 18 carries.
22. Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens
Edwards takes over as the Ravens RB1 after J.K. Dobbins exited Week 1 with a torn Achilles that ended his season prematurely. Edwards has always posted a high yards-per-carry figure while running behind a strong offensive line. In Week 1, he gained 32 yards on eight carries.
23. David Montgomery/Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
The trending Lions will field a revamped backfield in 2023. Detroit moved on from both Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift during the offseason by signing David Montgomery from the Chicago Bears and using a first-round pick to draft dynamic Jahmyr Gibbs out of Alabama. Fantasy managers who drafted Gibbs early were disappointed by his relative lack of touches in his first NFL game. He should get more carries as the season goes along, but his size will limit him to being more of a receiving back.,
24. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
Many expected big things from Javonte Williams in 2022, but the talented RB fell victim to "The Nathaniel Hackett Experience" before suffering a season-ending ACL injury just four games into the year. Williams will most likely be ready to go in Week 1 in this Sean Peyton-led offense, though the Broncos will likely ease him in slowly, and signed veteran Samaje Perine during the offseason.
25. Khalil Herbert/Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
With David Montgomery now in Detroit, the talented Herbert should have the reigns for the Bears backfield. The third-year man has looked dynamic in spot duty for Chicago during his first two years in the league. Herbert, however, has to compete with rookie Roschon Johnson for touches. In Week 1, Johnson led the way in receptions, with six for 35 yards, while Herbert ran the ball nine times for 27 yards.
26. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Cook's talent and explosiveness are clear, but his overall production was somewhat underwhelming during his rookie campaign in a part-time role for Buffalo. The electric Cook averaged 5.3 yards per carry in 2022 while largely playing a complimentary role to Devin Singletary. With Singletary now in Houston and Nyheim Hines out for the season with an injury, Cook has become Buffalo's clear RB1. In Week 1, he took 12 carries for 46 yards and added four receptions on six targets.
27. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
It doesn't matter if the Cardinals are tanking. They still need to play football games, and they need to do something with the football when they play. So they hand it to James Conner. What else are they going to do? Throw 40 passes with Joshua Dobbs? Conner gained 62 yards on 14 carries in a Week 1 loss to the Commanders.
28. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Pacheco took over as the Chiefs' starter halfway through last season and did well down the stretch for Kansas City last year. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry as a rookie. The Chiefs are a pass-first team, and Pacheco still hasn't completely vanquished the ghost of Clyde Edwards-Helaire. In Week 1, Pacheco carried the ball eight times for 23 yards, while CEH had only two fewer carries and gained 22 yards. Pacheco had the advantage in the passing game.
29. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Bucs
White earned his way into a timeshare with incumbent Bucs starter Leonard Fournette down the stretch last season. With Fournette now gone, the second-year back has a clear path to workhorse-type usage. The downside? White only managed 3.7 yards per attempt last year and he'll now be playing in an offense led by Baker Mayfield rather than Tom Brady.
Committees and Other Things
30. Kenneth Gainwell/D'Andre Swift/Rashaad Penny, Philadelphia Eagles
This could well be one of the best backfield committees in football this year behind one of the NFL's strongest offensive lines. However, there's no clear lead back at the moment between holdover Kenneth Gainwell and the perma-injured duo of D'Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny. Swift has the advantage after accumulating 181 total yards on Thursday Night Football in Week 2, but who is to say who will start in Week 3? (Probably Swift.) Once he grabs ahold of his role as the RB1a, he'll move out of this tier.
31. Brian Robinson Jr./Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
Robinson's recovery from a gunshot wound prior to last season is undoubtedly amazing, but the rookie often looked sluggish and averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in 2022. After another year of healing, it looks like he has taken over the starting role in Washington. In Week 1, he outcarried Gibson 19 to 3 and outgained him 56 to nine.
32. Raheem Mostert/Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins
Mostert can still look explosive at times, though he's always an injury concern. He'll share plenty of work with backfield mate Jeff Wilson Jr., and likely, with rookie De'Von Achane. Wilson is on the IR, and Achane missed Week 1. Mostert gained 37 yards on 10 carries. Unlike the Cardinals, the Dolphins could just let their quarterback air it out 40, 50, or maybe 60 times a game.
33. Cam Akers/Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Akers struggled mightily at the outset of the 2022 season to the point that he appeared to be a trade - or even a cut - candidate. While he finished the season with multiple 100-yard games, there were still lots of questions surrounding his abilities. He didn't answer them in Week 1. He only ran for 29 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, and his teammate Kyren Williams outgained him and scored one more touchdown than Akers.
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