RADIO
Controversy ruled at the running back position during the NFL offseason. As the 2023 season has gotten underway, not much has changed, as the running back position has been largely plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness.
Despite all the turmoil and upheaval, the running back position is still one of the most exciting in football and there are a number of elite backs performing at a high level this season.
We've been ranking NFL players at every position during the season. Where do things stand after Week 3? Let's take a look at every starting NFL running back for our Week 4 Power Rankings! Remember, this isn't simply a list of the "best" RBs in the NFL, but a one-week snapshot of where things currently stand. These rankings have already changed a lot since Week 1 and will continue to be fluid as the season progresses.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!The Week 4 Top 10
1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Nothing's changed at the top of our Week 4 Power Rankings, as San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey has occupied the top spot for the entire season. He did nothing to lose the crown with a rock-solid performance against the Giants in Week 3. CMC notched 119 total yards and a score in the Niners Thursday night win over New York.
2023 Rushing Leaders:
353 - Christian McCaffrey
308 - D'Andre Swift
267 - James Cook
266 - James Conner
264 - Tony PollardAll Leaders: https://t.co/nEcupXNl3j pic.twitter.com/tDx7R9nAut
— Pro Football Reference (@pfref) September 27, 2023
2. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Tony Pollard and the Cowboys' dream start to the season hit a brick wall in Week 3, as the previously undefeated Dallas squad fell to the hapless Arizona Cardinals. It's hard to place any blame for the loss on Pollard, however, as he averaged over five yards per carry en route to 122 rushing yards on the day. He'll continue to be used as a workhorse in a tough Week 4 matchup against the New England Patriots.
3. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
The rookie had the first underwhelming game of his promising career in Atlanta's Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions. Robinson managed just 60 total yards, while the Falcons offense mustered only six points. Atlanta's pass-game deficiencies are going to be an issue in 2023, but the rookie will remain one of the NFL's most elite RBs thanks to his talent and usage. Expect a bounce-back performance against the Jaguars this week.
4. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
During his short time in the NFL, the second-year back has already proven himself to be one of the league's most dynamic rushers. Walker has earned a large role in the Seattle offense and has now tallied 40 total opportunities across the Seahawks' last two games. His four rushing TDs are the second-most in the NFL through the season's first three weeks.
5. Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins
Is Raheem Mostert the fifth-best running back in the NFL? Probably not. However, these Power Rankings are focused on the here and now, and few have performed better than the Dolphins' running back this season. Mostert - and the entire Miami offense - exploded against the Denver Broncos in Week 3 by scoring 70 points. He chipped in by adding 142 total yards and an eye-popping four TDs. The 31-year-old has been injury-prone throughout his career, but we're going to give him his flowers while he's healthy.
4TH TOUCHDOWN OF THE DAY FOR RAHEEM MOSTERT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fvzs6AY7C3
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) September 24, 2023
6. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
While Jacksonville has now dropped two in a row, starting running back Travis Etienne has played well. Etienne accounted for 88 yards on the ground and an encouraging 50 receiving yards in the Jags' shocking Week 3 loss to the Texans. His 49 rushing attempts are the fifth-most in the NFL to this point.
7. D'Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles
Swift is the biggest mover in this week's Power Rankings. He rockets up the board thanks to his second consecutive game with over 100 rushing yards. Swift gashed the Tampa Bay Bucs for 130 yards on 16 carries in Philly's win on Monday Night Football. For the moment, he appears to have supplanted Kenneth Gainwell as the Eagles RB1. Despite getting just one carry in Week 1, Swift is now the NFL's second-leading rusher with 308 yards on the ground this season.
Gainwell will continue to have a role but as long as D’Andre Swift is healthy I don’t know how he isn’t PHI’s starting RB rest of the year. Via @NFL pic.twitter.com/YezHeheJ3Z
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) September 26, 2023
8. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
The veteran has been a bright spot for the surprisingly feisty Cardinals across the first month of the season. Conner has been a workhorse for the near-talentless Cards, garnering the NFL's third-most rushing attempts (51) through Week 3 and converting for an impressive 5.2 yards per carry. He'll continue to get all the work he can handle for Arizona and is currently has the NFL's fourth-most rushing yards with 266.
9. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
The second-year back has been a dynamic dual-threat for the Buffalo Bills in 2023. Cook is averaging 6.1 yards per carry on the ground and 6.7 yards per reception through the air. Unfortunately, Cook has failed to find the end zone, as he's been forced to battle both Latavius Murray and Josh Allen for work around the goal line.
10. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
We're going on the assumption that Aaron Jones will return to the Packers starting lineup in Week 4. After an explosive performance in the season opener in which he recorded 127 all-purpose yards and two TDs, Jones has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for Green Bay's last two outings. He will be a huge upgrade over backfield placeholder A.J. Dillon when he returns to the lineup.
Big-Name Disappointments (So Far)
11. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals offense has gotten off to a horrible start as a whole this season. However, Cincinnati did come around a bit in a Week 3 win over the L.A. Rams. Mixon scored his first TD of 2023 against the Rams and amassed 70 total yards.
12. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
The NFL's 2022 rushing champion has continued to see elite usage in this Raiders offense and has garnered 59 touches through the first three weeks of the season. Unfortunately for Jacobs, it appears that opposing defenses simply aren't going to let him beat them, as he's consistently faced stacked fronts and found little room to run. Jacobs finished the 2022 campaign averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He's averaging 2.8 YPC in 2023. Until Vegas finds more success through the air, defenses will continue to focus on Jacobs.
13. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
We all know that all running backs have a shelf life. Even the great ones eventually slow down. Is soon-to-be-30-year-old Derrick Henry standing on the precipice of that notorious running back cliff? He was held to 20 yards on 11 carries in a Week 3 loss to the Browns and is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry on the season.
Derrick Henry yards per carry:
2016: 4.5
2017: 4.2
2018: 4.9
2019: 5.1
2020: 5.4
2021: 4.3
2022: 4.4
...
2023: 3.2— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 25, 2023
14. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
The talented Patriots back has been saddled with brutal matchups in 2023, as he's faced both the Eagles and the Jets across the first three weeks of the season. Stevenson draws yet another tough spot against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Despite New England's addition of Ezekiel Elliott to the backfield, the usage remains encouraging for Stevenson. His production should improve once the schedule opens up a bit down the road.
15. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
After an up-and-down 2022 campaign, Harris has struggled to find consistency at the outset of the 2023 season. He's been fairly non-descript when running the ball and continues to cede pass-game work to Jaylen Warren. This could be a full-blown "running back by committee" situation very soon.
The Surprises (Good and Bad)
16. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
Now over a year removed from suffering a gunshot wound in August of 2022, Robinson has looked fully recovered this season. The second-year back has appeared more explosive than what he demonstrated last year. Robinson has amassed the NFL's seventh-most rushing yards and has totaled three TDs on the season while clearly outperforming backfield mate Antonio Gibson.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I introduce Brian Robinson Jr.pic.twitter.com/Na3UbLDUvo
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 17, 2023
17. Breece Hall, New York Jets
Football fans weren't sure what to expect from Jets running back Breece Hall this season, as he works his way back from an ACL injury that prematurely ended his promising 2022 rookie campaign. Hall has looked surprisingly explosive while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Unfortunately, he'll still sharing some work with free-agent signee Dalvin Cook, while also playing on a terrible Jets offense that lost Aaron Rodgers in the season opener. As long as Zach Wilson remains under center, Hall and the entire offense will be limited.
18. Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
After missing the season opener with an injury suffered in training camp, Moss has been a notable addition to the Colts offense over the last two weeks. He's tallied 242 total yards and three TDs since joining the lineup. However, expectations for Moss should be tempered until the looming Jonathan Taylor situation is figured out, as the Colts superstar could potentially rejoin the team as quickly as Week 5.
19. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
The second-year back has played a shockingly large role for the Rams across the first three weeks of the season. Expected Rams starter Cam Akers has been shipped to the Minnesota Vikings, leaving the entirety of L.A.'s backfield work to Williams. He appears to have little competition for the RB1 job and should continue to see elite volume going forward.
20. Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
Alexander Mattison had shined in previous spot starts for Minnesota, but he's stumbled out of the gate in his attempt to serve as a full-time replacement for Dalvin Cook. Mattison's struggles prompted the Vikings to trade for Cam Akers, who should start cutting into Mattison's workload as soon as Week 4.
Alexander Mattison seeing Cam Akers show up to practicepic.twitter.com/8iW9pVQ7lD
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 20, 2023
Talented with Questions
21. Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
After a career year with Philadelphia in 2022 led to a huge offseason contract with Carolina, Sanders' production has been underwhelming to this point, as he's currently averaging just 3.4 yards per carry. However, he has flashed some positives in the passing game by reeling in 12 catches for 68 yards. With the combination of rookie Bryce Young and veteran Andy Dalton at quarterback, Sanders and this Panthers offense will likely struggle more than they succeed.
22. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Obviously, Alvin Kamara is much more talented than this ranking suggests. That said, he's returning from a three-game suspension this week and we simply don't know where he'll be physically. Once he's up to speed, he'll likely zoom up our Power Rankings.
Alvin Kamara back with Saints after three-game suspension. https://t.co/z8XMDA1G2K
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 25, 2023
23. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
The explosive rookie held down the fort in David Montgomery's absence in Week 3. Gibbs rushed for 80 yards on 17 carries in Detroit's win over the Atlanta Falcons. His upside is limited by Montgomery's inevitable return to the Lions backfield.
24. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
The Broncos have been content to ease Williams back in after he suffered a season-ending injury in 2022. The 23-year-old is yet to see more than 13 carries in a game this season, as he's shared work with veteran Samaje Perine.
25. Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
After Nick Chubb went down with a season-ending injury in Week 2, Ford answered the call to the tune of 125 total yards and a TD in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. His production did come back to Earth in a brutal Week 3 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, though he handled the bulk of Cleveland's offensive shares in front of recent signee Kareem Hunt. Stay tuned to this one.
The 'Tweeners
26. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
This is Patrick Mahomes' world, Isiah Pacheco is just living in it. The Chiefs are going to live by the passing game, which limits running back upside. Kansas City also seems content to mix in both Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
27. Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
The talent certainly outweighs the ranking when it comes to Pierce, yet the reality is he's stuck behind a very bad offensive line on a team with a talented rookie quarterback who's been effective when throwing the ball. Pierce will likely also fall victim to lots of negative game scripts this season.
28. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Bucs
After a rookie year spent eating into former Bucs RB Leonard Fournette's workload, Rachaad White has this Tampa Bay backfield all to himself this year. The usage has been elite to this point, but can he do anything with it?
Rachaad White in Week 3:
• 17 total touches
• 91% snaps (Career High)
• 90% of the backfield touchesWhite's role is quietly elite...
— SAL VETRI (@SalVetriDFS) September 27, 2023
Injuries, Committees, and Other Things
29. Khalil Herbert/Roshcon Johnson, Chicago Bears
D'Onta Foreman appears to be the odd man out in the Bears backfield. Herbert and Johnson have evolved into what's essentially been a 50/50 timeshare over the last two weeks. That usage split - and the fact that this Chicago offense has been horrendous - limits the potential upside for both backs.
30. Matt Breida, New York Giants
Big Blue needs Saquon Barkley back ASAP. Veteran Matt Breida inspired little confidence while subbing in for Barkley in a Week 3 loss to the Niners. Breida managed a meager 17 yards on just four attempts last week, although he did at least sneak into the end zone.
31. Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers
While he put forth some nice production in the season opener with Austin Ekeler, Kelley has practically been a zero in Ekeler's absence. He's accumulated just 54 total yards and no scores while filling in for the injured Ekeler as the Chargers' lead running back over the last two weeks.
At a certain point people are going to have to admit that Joshua Kelley is just a terrible RB.
3.2, 3.1, 4.2, & 3.5 YPC in 4 years (just 1.5, 1.3, 1.8, & 1.4 after-contact).
It doesn’t matter how great his matchup is – he’s terrible.
— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) September 24, 2023
32. Baltimore Ravens
Things are so bad in the Baltimore backfield that I don't even know who to list as the starter. Since J.K. Dobbins went down with a season-ending injury in the opener, the Ravens have used combinations of Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Melvin Gordon, and Kenyan Drake. Edwards and Hill have been dealing with injuries of their own as of late, which leaves the Baltimore backfield in a state of ugly flux.
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