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Fantasy football best ball running back draft rankings and analysis for 2024 best ball drafts, as of July 2024. Phil breaks down the best values relative to ADP
Some of you have been building rosters in best ball drafts since the initial weeks of the offseason, and participation in this format has accelerated as we have advanced through the summer. Enthusiasm for these leagues remains enormous as it provides the opportunity to satisfy your passion for involvement in the draft process while completing all forms of roster management once you have constructed your roster.
However, this also ensures the likelihood of being impacted by injuries and other production-inhibiting developments that cannot be addressed through trades or waiver wire additions during the season. This aspect of the best ball format should be integrated into your decision-making process during each draft. It should also incentivize you to develop a flexible plan that helps you adjust to developments that emerge during every draft.
The team @RotoBaller continues to deliver a collection of resources that are designed to help you assemble your best ball rosters, including our tiered rankings. This article will examine the latest updates for running backs that are contained in Tiers 1-3. Every alteration within the fantasy landscape will be infused into our rankings throughout the offseason, and you can find the latest fantasy football rankings in all formats here.
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Running Back Best-Ball Rankings
Tier 1
Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs
Our latest tier 1 rankings include three backs who are 23 years old or younger. However, 28-year-old Christian McCaffrey has sustained his presence atop our rankings as fantasy managers are selecting him before any other back for the fourth time since 2020.
Death. Taxes. Christian McCaffrey scoring a touchdown.
The 3 certainties of life. #FTTB
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) October 15, 2023
McCaffrey led all backs in points per game during 2023 (24.5) while also accumulating a league-best 1,459 rushing yards (91.2 per game), which eclipsed his previous career-high. McCaffrey also accrued a league-high 853 yards before contact and rose to second in yards after contact (606).
McCaffrey also finished among the top four backs in routes run (401), targets (83/5.2 per game), receptions (67/4.2 per game), and receiving yards (564/35.3 per game) while securing PFF’s second-highest grade for running backs.
Kyle Shanahan has been unwavering in his willingness to entrust McCaffrey with a massive workload, as he has averaged 16 attempts/5.5 targets per game since he arrived in San Francisco. That keeps him entrenched among the top four selections in all drafts.
Breece Hall's 2022 rookie season included a three-game statistical eruption (Weeks 4-6) when he soared to fifth in rushing yards (279/93 per game) and seventh in points per game (21.2). This fueled optimism regarding his outlook in 2023, which was offset by uncertainty surrounding his recovery from a significant knee injury (ACL/meniscus). Concerns were compounded by the Jets’ decision to sign Dalvin Cook, who seemingly loomed as a threat to operate in a rotation with Hall.
Breece Hall is too dangerous in the open field. Touchdown Jets 🙌
📺: #NYJvsNYG on C
BS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/n49QB1tZYg— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023
However, Hall secured his place among the league’s elite backs while finishing eighth in snaps (513/65.8% share), accumulating 169 attempts (14.1 per game) and generating 607 yards (50.6 per game) from Weeks 6-18.
Hall also paced all backs in targets (82/6.8 per game), receptions (68/5.7 per game), and receiving yards (532/44.3 per game) while finishing third in points per game (19.3) during that span.
Hall’s integral role as the Jets’ lead back remains unchallenged as New York’s backfield contains rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis and second-year back Israel Abanikanda. That should incentivize you to seize Hall midway through Round 1 in all drafts.
Bijan Robinson's pathway toward finishing as this season’s overall RB1 was expanded by two favorable developments during the offseason.
Robinson from the roof!https://t.co/8tGnbNnWW3 pic.twitter.com/V6Ab4eqbVF
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 30, 2024
Atlanta’s restructured offense should function more effectively following the transition from Desmond Ridder to Kirk Cousins under center. The Falcons’ offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, should also recognize the benefits of maximizing (Bijan) Robinson’s elite-level talent, which is an approach that Arthur Smith failed to assimilate.
The restrictive impact of Smith’s offensive strategy included the deployment of Robinson in a rotation with Tyler Allgeier. Robinson averaged 12.6 attempts per game/4.6 yards per attempt, while Allgeier was allotted 10.9 carries per game but did not match Robinson’s efficiency (3.7 yards per attempt).
Robinson’s involvement as a receiving weapon was more encouraging, as he finished second among backs in routes run (430), third in target share (16.8%), fourth in receiving yards (487/28.6 per game) and yards after catch (532), and sixth in yards after catch per reception (8.9). Robinson is now primed to thrive as a three-down back in his revamped environment and should be among the first three backs to be selected during your drafts.
Jahmyr Gibbs demonstrated his ability to operate as an RB1 for fantasy managers during his first year in Detroit’s surging offense despite functioning in a rotation with David Montgomery.
brb watching Jahmyr Gibbs be unstoppable
pic.twitter.com/83HTwvlpWu— Barstool Detroit (@BSMotorCity) June 11, 2024
Gibbs also emerged as an explosive weapon capable of erupting for sizable gains as both a rusher and receiver. That propelled him to eighth in points per game (16.1) and fourth overall (18.5) from Weeks 7-18. Gibbs also finished third in rushing yards during his final 11 games (766/69.6 per game) while accumulating a league-high nine rushes of 20+ yards and vaulting to second in touchdowns (10).
| Weeks 7-18 | Yards | Yards/Gm | 20+ | YAC | TDs |
| Christian McCaffrey | 906 | 90.6 | 6 | 487 | 7 |
| Najee Harris | 788 | 65.7 | 5 | 531 | 8 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 766 | 69.6 | 9 | 412 | 10 |
| James Cook | 759 | 69 | 4 | 424 | 1 |
| Rachaad White | 758 | 63.2 | 3 | 487 | 5 |
| Saquon Barkley | 755 | 68.6 | 6 | 510 | 5 |
| Devin Singletary | 745 | 67.7 | 3 | 434 | 4 |
| Derrick Henry | 742 | 67.5 | 2 | 563 | 9 |
| Jonathan Taylor | 704 | 88 | 4 | 485 | 7 |
| Kyren Williams | 688 | 114.7 | 4 | 425 | 6 |
He was also second in yards after contact per attempt (2.5) while finishing second among all backs with 50+ attempts in explosive run percentage (runs of 15+ yards), according to Fantasy Points Data.
Gibbs also tied for seventh in yards per touch (4.04) and was eighth among backs in targets (71/4.7 per game). Gibbs will garner another sizable workload in Ben Johnson's offense which makes him a viable option near the conclusion of Round 1 in all drafts.
Tier 2
Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, De'Von Achane, Travis Etienne Jr.
There was ongoing uncertainty surrounding Jonathan Taylor's outlook during the 2023 offseason after his pursuit of a contract extension fueled both a trade request and a holdout. He also sustained an ankle injury that led to his placement on the Colts’ physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
JONATHAN TAYLOR 49 YARD TOUCHDOWN!
pic.twitter.com/6tUo35MGgQ— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) January 7, 2024
However, Taylor later vaulted to fourth in attempts (86/17.2 per game), sixth in rushing yards (377/75.4 per game), and third in yards after contact (275) from Weeks 7-12. He also finished third in carries (69/23 per game), fourth in yardage (327/109 per game), and third in broken tackles (14) from Weeks 16-18 while rising to second in yards after contact per attempt (2.7) from Weeks 1-18.
The departure of Zack Moss currently leaves an unexceptional trio of backs below Taylor on the Colts’ depth chart (Evan Hull, Trey Sermon, and Tyler Goodson). This solidifies Taylor’s prospects of operating with a substantial workload in Shane Steichen's offense. It also positions Taylor as a highly productive RB1 for anyone who secures him near his current ADP (14/RB5).
🗣️BACK IN PA! Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, @saquon.@Toyota | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/mB1f7flTgG
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 13, 2024
Saquon Barkley enters a new phase of his career while transitioning from the primary back for the Giants into a similar role with their NFC East rival Philadelphia.
Barkley accumulated 5,211 rushing yards (70.4 per game) during his six seasons in New York. That placed him ninth among all backs, even though he missed 24 games during that span. Barkley also averaged 17.6 attempts/5.4 targets/2.9 receptions/20 receiving yards per game in those matchups.
Tommy Devito to Saquon Barkley for a Giants touchdown! pic.twitter.com/tFEJFJFQza
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) November 19, 2023
Barkley also led all backs in carries from Weeks 6-18 in 2023 (218/18.2 per game) and was second in both yards after contact (584) and rushes of 20+ yards (seven).
The Giants eschewed their opportunity to place the franchise tag on the 27-year-old Barkley. That propelled him into free agency, which resulted in his three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles. He will operate as the unquestioned lead back with Philadelphia while residing atop a depth chart that contains Will Shipley and Kenneth Gainwell. This has cemented Barkley as a viable target in Round 2 of upcoming drafts.
De’Von Achane rewarded fantasy managers who secured him near his draft Round 11 ADP (123/RB43) in 2023 by skyrocketing to fifth in points per game (17.3) during his rookie season. Achane also finished as an RB1 in five different matchups, as his game-breaking combination of vision, decisiveness, and blazing speed fueled his ability to erupt for big plays.
#GoFins RB De’Von Achane among RBs in 2023 (min 100 carries) 🏈🥵
Yards After Contact: 4.94 (1st)
Breakaway Run Rate: 53.4% (1st)
Fantasy Points per Touch: 1.36 (1st)
Yards per Carry: 7.8 (1st) pic.twitter.com/hRz7PljslB— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) June 24, 2024
Achane’s average of 72.7 rushing yards per game placed him fifth overall, while he secured league-best averages of 7.8 yards per attempt and 3.1 yards after contact per attempt among backs with 100+ carries. He also paced all backs with 30+ attempts in explosive run percentage according to Fantasy Points Data (12.6%) while also finishing as PFF’s highest-graded running back (92.1%).
Achane is destined to share touches with 32-year-old Raheem Mostert and rookie Jaylen Wright, who was secured by the Dolphins in Round 4 of April’s NFL Draft. However, that should not deter you from targeting Achane in Round 3 of your best ball drafts, as he is capable of delivering a statistical explosion in any given matchup.
Travis Etienne Jr. finished 24th with an average of 12.3 points per game during his 2022 rookie season. However, conflicting opinions emerged surrounding his prospects of exceeding low-end RB2 production in 2023.
This was the byproduct of Jacksonville’s decision to select Tank Bigsby in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, along with Etienne’s uninspiring numbers as a receiver in 2022 (2.6 targets/2.1 receptions/18.6 receiving yards per game).
62-YARD TRAVIS ETIENNE TOUCHDOWNpic.twitter.com/ZmTrdRYYMw
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) December 31, 2023
Bigsby’s arrival did not preclude Etienne from vaulting to second in snaps (816/73.3%), which was bolstered by his 80.6% share from Weeks 1-8. He was also fourth in rushing attempts (267/15.7 per game). fifth in yards from scrimmage (1,484), and eighth in yards before contact (573).
| Weeks 1-18 | Snaps | Snap% | Attempts | Att/Gm | Rushing Yards | Total Yards |
| Rachaad White | 823 | 78.61 | 272 | 16 | 990 | 1,539 |
| Travis Etienne | 816 | 73.25 | 267 | 15.7 | 1008 | 1,484 |
| Tony Pollard | 791 | 70.5 | 252 | 14.8 | 1005 | 1,316 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 775 | 80.23 | 272 | 17 | 1459 | 2,023 |
| Bijan Robinson | 746 | 68.32 | 214 | 12.6 | 976 | 1,463 |
| Joe Mixon | 728 | 69.47 | 257 | 15.1 | 1034 | 1,410 |
| Saquon Barkley | 691 | 79.52 | 247 | 17.6 | 962 | 1,242 |
| Kyren Williams | 657 | 82.33 | 228 | 19 | 1144 | 1,350 |
| Chuba Hubbard | 651 | 59.13 | 238 | 14 | 902 | 1,135 |
| Breece Hall | 632 | 59.62 | 223 | 13.1 | 994 | 1,585 |
Etienne’s averages as a receiving weapon also improved (4.3 targets/3.4 receptions/28 yards per game), while he rose to seventh in points per game (16.6). He is primed to garner another sizable workload while operating in a backfield that includes Bigsby, D'Ernest Johnson, and fifth-round selection Keilan Robinson. That should encourage you to secure Etienne in Round 3 of your drafts.
Tier 3
Kyren Williams, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Rachaad White, Kenneth Walker III, Isiah Pacheco
Kyren Williams was the fifth back to be selected during this year's early best ball drafts, as his ADP ascended into Round 1 (11/RB5). This was understandable after Williams obliterated expectations during the 2023 regular season. He confiscated lead back duties for Los Angeles in Week 2 while finishing second in points per game (21.3) and averaging a league-best 95.3 yards per game.
KYREN WILLIAMS WITH HIS 3RD TOUCHDOWN OF THE FANTASY CHAMPIONSHIP 🎩pic.twitter.com/oDfhtfiBGw
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) December 31, 2023
He also led all backs in rushing attempts 131/21.8 per game), rushing yards (688/114.7 per game), yards after contact (425), and games of 100+ yards (four) from Weeks 12-17.
The Rams progressed through free agency without altering the depth chart at running back. However, the landscape of their backfield was altered by their selection of Blake Corum in Round 3 of the NFL Draft (83rd overall).
Corum’s arrival is destined to prevent Williams from operating with the massive workload that appeared imminent before the draft. Williams should still function as the Rams’ RB1. However, the infusion of Corum into the equation should compel managers to avoid selecting Williams until Round 3 in upcoming drafts.
#Packers sign RB Josh Jacobs.
📰: https://t.co/a2I79iGEfV#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/SgJW3g5Yc7
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) March 14, 2024
The four-year contract that Josh Jacobs signed with Green Bay emerged as one of the biggest surprises during free agency. Jacobs finished third among all backs in attempts (1,072/17.9 per game) and rushing touchdowns (40) with the Raiders from 2019-2022 while finishing fourth in rushing yards (4,740/79 per game).
| 2019-2022 | Attempts | Att/Gm | Yards | Yards/Gm | TDs |
| Derrick Henry | 1,249 | 22.7 | 6,042 | 109.9 | 56 |
| Dalvin Cook | 1,075 | 18.5 | 5,024 | 86.6 | 43 |
| Josh Jacobs | 1,072 | 18 | 4,740 | 79 | 40 |
| Nick Chubb | 1,018 | 17.3 | 5,345 | 90.6 | 40 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 1,013 | 16.1 | 4,214 | 66.9 | 40 |
| David Montgomery | 915 | 15.3 | 3,609 | 60.2 | 26 |
| Joe Mixon | 899 | 17.3 | 3,584 | 68.9 | 28 |
| Year | Att/Gm | Yards/Gm | Yards/Touch | YAC/Att | BrkTkl |
| 2019 | 18.6 | 88.5 | 5 | 2.8 | 26 |
| 2020 | 18.2 | 71 | 4.3 | 2 | 20 |
| 2021 | 14.5 | 58.1 | 4.5 | 2 | 20 |
| 2022 | 20 | 97.2 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 31 |
| 2023 | 17.9 | 61.9 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 10 |
However, the numbers that he assembled in 2023 were largely disappointing. Jacobs held out until late August, then averaged 2.9 yards per attempt from Weeks 1-7. He rose to sixth in rushing yards from Weeks 1-13 (771/64.3 per game) while benefitting from a league-high 220 carries (18.3 per game).
A quad injury sidelined him from Weeks 15-18, as he finished 11th in carries (233/17.9 per game) but just 24h in yardage (803/61.9 per game). Jacobs also registered career-lows in yards per attempt (3.5), yards after contact per attempt (1.5), and points per game (13.9), and finished 45th in rush yards over expected (-0.86).
Jacobs should be rejuvenated in his new environment after ascending atop Green Bay’s depth chart, although rookie MarShawn Lloyd lurks as a legitimate candidate to confiscate touches.
The two-year contract that Derrick Henry signed with Baltimore has fueled a distinct transformation of the Ravens’ backfield. Henry led all backs in rushing yards (7,209/100.1 per game), attempts (1,529/21.2 per game), and rushing touchdowns (68) from 2019-2023 while also finishing among the top three in yards after contact during four of the five seasons in that span.
Derrick Henry is having his annual 300 yard 5 touchdown game versus the Jaguars right now: pic.twitter.com/XUNicq0JLe
— Sidelines - Bama (@SSN_Alabama) January 7, 2024
Henry also accumulated a league-high 280 carries (16,5 per game) during 2023 while rising to second in yardage (1,167/68.6 per game), third in yards after contact (601), and seventh in touchdowns (12). He also received the third-highest grade among running backs from PFF.
Henry now resurfaces in a Baltimore attack that led the league in run-play percentage last season (50.3%). He will easily garner the most sizable workload within a backfield that contains Justice Hill, rookie Rasheen Ali, and Keaton Mitchell, whose timeline for recovery from a torn ACL is uncertain.
Lamar Jackson’s involvement as a rusher will not prevent Henry from functioning with a sizable weekly workload or accumulating opportunities near the goal line. That should propel Henry to RB1 production in Todd Monken's offense.
Rachaad White operated without the constraints of a timeshare during 2023. This provided his pathway to the league lead in snaps (823/78.6%), while he tied for second in attempts (272/16.0 per game). He only averaged 3.6 yards per attempt, but his sizable workload elevated him to 14th in rushing yards (990/58.2 per game) and sixth in yards before contact (594).
Rachaad White just keeps producing week in and week out. pic.twitter.com/5gtM8709UN
— Wyatt 🥃 (@WyattB_FF) December 10, 2023
White also accumulated a league-high 202 attempts (16.8 per game) and was fifth in rushing yards (758/63.2 per game) from Weeks 7-18. White was also just 36th in yards per attempt (3.6), and 49th in rush yards over expected (-110).
| Weeks 7-18 | Snaps | Snap% | Attempts | Yards |
| Rachaad White | 589 | 78.95 | 202 | 758 |
| Saquon Barkley | 524 | 78.92 | 194 | 755 |
| Austin Ekeler | 521 | 66.88 | 149 | 484 |
| Tony Pollard | 518 | 70.96 | 156 | 635 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 496 | 83.64 | 162 | 906 |
| Travis Etienne | 493 | 70.03 | 154 | 557 |
| Breece Hall | 473 | 65.6 | 157 | 568 |
| Devin Singletary | 459 | 66.62 | 177 | 745 |
| Chuba Hubbard | 458 | 66.28 | 184 | 660 |
| Bijan Robinson | 456 | 65.99 | 134 | 575 |
| Weeks 1-18 | Routes | Targets | Rec | Yards | YAC |
| Rachaad White | 443 | 70 | 64 | 549 | 616 |
| Bijan Robinson | 430 | 86 | 58 | 487 | 532 |
| Travis Etienne | 412 | 73 | 58 | 476 | 533 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 401 | 83 | 67 | 564 | 471 |
| Tony Pollard | 399 | 67 | 55 | 311 | 330 |
| Joe Mixon | 376 | 64 | 52 | 376 | 459 |
| Austin Ekeler | 347 | 74 | 51 | 436 | 521 |
| Breece Hall | 336 | 95 | 76 | 591 | 663 |
| Kyren Williams | 326 | 48 | 32 | 206 | 270 |
| James Cook | 317 | 54 | 44 | 445 | 409 |
He also led all running backs in routes run (443) from Weeks 1-18 while finishing among the top four in receptions (64/3.8 per game), receiving yards (549/32.3 per game), and yards after catch (616).
White’s sizable involvement as a rusher and receiving weapon also launched his rise to 10th in points per game (15.8). His inefficiency could supply rookie Bucky Irving with an opportunity to siphon touches as the season progresses. However, White will still function as Tampa Bay’s RB1.
Kenneth Walker III was drafted as an RB2 during the 2023 offseason (ADP 46/RB16) after he finished 11th in rushing yards (1,050 yards/70 per game) and rose to 17th in points per game (13.5) during 2022.
Walker played in 15 games for a second consecutive season in 2023 while exceeding 13 points per game (13.3), finishing sixth in runs of 20+ yards and assembling eight touchdowns.
PlayerProfiler Stat of the Day🤖
Kenneth Walker has seen 20+ touches 11x in his career, in those 11 games he averaged👀
🟢124.8 yds
🟢0.9 TDs
🟢19.8 PPGShould the new Seahawks Regime feed him in 2024?📢#PlayerProfilerStats #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/q8nXAyAEvN
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) March 22, 2024
Walker also experienced declines in attempts per game (15.2/14.6), yards per attempt (4.6/4.1), yards after contact per attempt (1.9/1.6), and red zone attempts (51/38) when contrasted with his numbers during 2022. However, he also accumulated 56 missed tackles forced, which tied him for fifth overall, according to PFF.
Walker’s usage as a pass-catcher was underwhelming, as he trailed Zach Charbonnet in targets (28/17), receptions (24/14), and receiving yards (157/148) from Weeks 10-18. Charbonnet’s capabilities as a three-down back present an ongoing threat to reduce Walker's workload. That should compel you to exercise patience before selecting Walker in Round 5 of upcoming drafts.
Isiah Pacheco operated as Kansas City’s lead back during 2023 while sustaining the role that he had confiscated during his 2022 rookie season. He also secured a 64.4% snap share from Weeks 4-17, which placed him 11th among all backs.
Pacheco also finished 10th in rushing yards (935/66.8) from Weeks 1-17 and was sixth in yards before contact per attempt (2.7) during that sequence. 30.5% of Pacheco’s yards were also generated through explosive runs, while he finished 11th in explosive run percentage (5.4%), according to Fantasy Points Data.
Isiah Pacheco to the house! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IDC7P62Zxn
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) June 21, 2024
Pacheco also ascended to 10th in points per game (15.3) from Weeks 1-17 while finishing as an RB1 four times during that span. He also averaged 4.0 targets/3.7 receptions/16.1 receiving yards per game from Weeks 6-17.
Pacheco’s rising ADP is properly placed in Round 3 (33/RB11), as his relentless running style should help him thrive as the primary back in Andy Reid’s potent offense.
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