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It is the final days before the NFL season starts, and many fantasy football players will still be drafting until the final night before kickoff. Below we provide a look and review of our latest updated fantasy football running back rankings, here to set you up well if there is a crunch for preparation time at this point.
Be sure to also check out our entire 2021 fantasy football rankings dashboard. It's loaded up with our rankings for all other league formats and scoring settings including:
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If you have already drafted, we serve you well here also. Perusing the running backs analysis here, it can be confirmed that you made some quality picks, or this can serve as a handy guide to preseason trade targets. Now let's get to it!
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Fantasy Football Running Back PPR Rankings
Tier 1 Running Backs
In the top two slots, Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook are the easy picks, and you should be thinking ahead to your second and third selections on the turn. Alvin Kamara is also an easy selection now that Jameis Winston has been named New Orleans’ starting QB over Taysom Hill. Derrick Henry will be hard-pressed to match last season’s rushing totals, but he has led the league in rushing yards and TDs in each of the past two seasons and there is no reason to expect a significant drop-off in production.
Aaron Jones has rushed for 25 TDs over the past two seasons, and even if that production falls off slightly because of A.J. Dillon, he could catch more passes this season. Ezekiel Elliott is set for a big rebound year in what could be the best offense in the NFC. Austin Ekeler is unlikely to emerge as a goal-line runner this season, yet should be good for double-figure TD totals from scrimmage.
Tier 2 Running Backs
Saquon Barkley remains a true injury risk as I indicated in my latest rankings update article here. If you drafted him already, build some good RB insurance behind Barkley, and that does not mean rostering Devontae Booker. Jonathan Taylor led all RBs and was second in the NFL last year with 10.2 yards after the catch per reception. If he catches more passes this season, the upside can be elevated as long as Carson Wentz remains healthy and at least adequately effective.
Najee Harris is all about volume, of course, but a healthier Ben Roethlisberger also can boost his outlook. Antonio Gibson was a TD revelation as a rookie and now the Washington offense looks improved with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm.
Tier 3 Running Backs
Nick Chubb and Joe Mixon may be considered Tier 2 players by some fantasy analysts. Chubb is the lead runner on a team that was fourth in run-pass ratio last season and should remain in that range. Kareem Hunt does share touches, but outside of Dalvin Cook and Henry, Chubb may be the best pure runner in the league. Joe Mixon is hungry to put a disappointing 2020 season behind him.
David Montgomery is a very good RB2 pick when he slips to the second half of the third round or later. He played very well down the stretch, and if you say he had a friendly schedule, I say a good RB will take advantage of such matchups. Clyde Edwards-Helaire needs to show he can become more than a secondary option in the Kansas City offense. James Robinson may not be overworked like he was last season, yet will still function as a high-end RB2.
Chris Carson is a value when taken in the fourth round. He was 13th in average fantasy points per game last season at RB and finished 12th in overall points at the position in 2019. He plays at a high-end fantasy RB2 level when healthy and there will be no threat to his role as Seattle’s No. 1 RB. De’Andre Swift has a lot of backers based on potential volume, yet he also has bust potential. Swift is going to get a lot of defensive attention because of the lack of surrounding playmakers, and throwing to him out of the backfield won’t be the way to catch up when the Lions fall behind by significant margins in many games.
Tier 4 Running Backs
Gus Edwards takes over as the lead RB from the best rushing team in the league last season. You may be concerned about the presence of Lamar Jackson, yet consider Edwards rushed for six TDs in a lesser role last year and has averaged 5.2 yards per carry so far in his career.
The Rams do seem concerned about the durability of Darrell Henderson, and that is why they acquired Sony Michel. When Henderson is healthy, though, he is an upside performer with the ability to make plays of note from anywhere on the field. Miles Sanders would have more appeal if we could count on him more as a goal-line runner.
Tier 5 Running Backs
Mike Davis does not get enough respect. He is versatile and fully expected to function as the lead RB for the Falcons. Atlanta has confidence in him and so should you. Wayne Gallman will not be a threat to his starting status, he was just added off waivers. Javonte Williams will at least be a viable flex play as a rookie. Josh Jacobs is not a “sexy” fantasy name, yet he did rush for 12 TDs last season.
Myles Gaskin was never a local favorite among Miami insiders and is now caught in a committee situation. Chase Edmonds is very promising, as he is certainly more dynamic than James Conner and just needs to stay healthy to possibly unlock his potential. Trey Sermon has feature-back promise, but the 49ers may always cap the ceiling of their RBs with timeshares and committee approaches.
Tier 6 Running Backs
Raheem Mostert is one of the most dazzling speed runners in the league when available, and could have even more upside if he works with Trey Lance in an RPO attack.
Tier 7 Running Backs
Ronald Jones is stuck in the most confusing committee situation in the NFC, and should only be looked at as a fantasy RB4. If you want to avoid significant frustration, do not invest in the Tampa Bay backfield at all.
Melvin Gordon is likely gone from Denver after this season and will be heavily pushed by Javonte Williams, yet he is also determined to prove he is still a very effective RB himself. He does have appeal as a flex player.
James Conner could function as the inside complement to Edmonds as he operates on the inside with Edmonds on the perimeter. Kenyan Drake should pair with Jacobs much like Edmonds does with Conner, as a RB who works in space, but there is not much upside.
Tier 8 Running Backs
Zack Moss has the potential to rush for eight-plus TDs as the main short yardage RB for Buffalo. Sony Michel could be a primary goal-line option and finisher for an improved Rams offense.
Nyheim Hines can post quality numbers in any given week, yet he is also very unreliable. At this point, though, you are starting to get into the territory of pass-catching specialists who have very limited ceilings and Hines has some more statistical promise than others.
James White gets a minor boost again with Mac Jones taking over at QB for New England, but Jones is certainly no Brady, so do not overestimate White’s outlook for 2021.
Michael Carter is going to prove to be significantly undervalued in this tier. He is an electric and versatile playmaker who will emerge to be the best fantasy producer from the Jets RB crew this season.
Tiers 9 and Beyond
J.D. McKissic could see his value drop as Fitzpatrick is more of a downfield thrower than a check-down QB.
Ty Johnson is stirring a lot of recent buzz, but Tevin Coleman is also in his way, and the Jets backfield does look like a full-on committee until Carter starts to rise.
Rhamondre Stevenson is a more explosive runner than Damien Harris and it would not be surprising to see him push Harris at some point.
If you must roster a Texans RB, Mark Ingram should be the best bet for rushing TDs.
Alex Collins looked very good this preseason and may work in a timeshare with Rashaad Penny if Carson goes down, and would likely be the inside runner in such a situation.
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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.
