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Mike Fanelli dives into his dynasty running back rankings, explaining why Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Ashton Jeanty are the top three running backs to own in dynasty fantasy football leagues.
The fantasy football world is seeing a change in the running back position. The 2017 NFL Draft class produced several elite fantasy football running backs. Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, and Joe Mixon have been three of the top fantasy running backs since their rookie seasons.
Meanwhile, James Conner, Aaron Jones, Kareem Hunt, Dalvin Cook, and Leonard Fournette were all top-10 fantasy football running backs at some point in their careers. While many of these veterans are still starters in the NFL, they are no longer the best of the best at the running back position.
Instead, the top running backs in the league are young superstars just hitting their prime years. Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Ashton Jeanty are arguably the top three dynasty running backs. Let’s dive into their dynasty rankings.
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Bijan Robinson Dynasty Ranking Analysis
Fantasy players tanked for the 1.01 pick in 2022 for the right to select Robinson in 2023 dynasty rookie drafts. He was a superstar at Texas, totaling 539 rushing attempts for 3,410 yards and 33 touchdowns in three years. Robinson also was a force in the passing game, totaling 60 receptions for 805 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Furthermore, the former Longhorn was unstoppable in his final college season, leading the Big 12 in rushing yards (1,580) and touchdowns (18) while ranking second in attempts. Unfortunately, Robinson’s success didn’t quite transfer to the NFL as a rookie. He had 214 rushing attempts for 976 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.
The superstar had only 28 more rushing attempts than Tyler Allgeier despite being the far superior rusher. However, Robinson made up for it in the passing game, totaling 58 receptions on 86 targets for 487 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He ended his rookie year as the RB9, averaging 12.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
Thankfully, Arthur Smith got fired after the 2023 season. The Atlanta Falcons hired Raheem Morris as their new head coach and Zac Robinson as his offensive coordinator. The new coach staff didn’t repeat Smith’s mistakes, making Robinson their featured running back.
He had 304 rushing attempts last year, the fourth-most in the NFL. By comparison, Allgeier had 137 rushing attempts after totaling 186 or more in each of his first two seasons.
More importantly, Robinson had a breakout year with his featured workload. He had 14 rushing touchdowns, the fifth-most in the NFL. The superstar finished the season as the RB4, averaging 21.5 touches and 18.3 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, Robinson was outstanding after the Week 12 bye, averaging 22.1 fantasy points per outing. He is the clear-cut dynasty RB1.
Bijan Robinson with his 10th touchdown of the season!
📺: #NYGvsATL on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/xIoIiqnfaA— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024
Jahmyr Gibbs Dynasty Ranking Analysis
Gibbs would have been the clear-cut RB1 in almost any other dynasty rookie draft class. Unfortunately, he shared a draft class with Bijan Robinson. The superstar was an excellent prospect coming out of college, especially because of his game-changing abilities in the passing game. After two productive years at Georgia Tech, Gibbs became an elite prospect at Alabama.
The explosive playmaker had 292 touches for 1,979 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns in two years at Georgia Tech. However, Gibbs had 151 rushing attempts for 926 yards and seven touchdowns in his lone season at Alabama. More importantly, he was a force in the passing game, totaling 44 receptions for 444 receiving yards and three touchdowns, leading the team in receptions.
Many were surprised when Gibbs got drafted by the Detroit Lions, even after they traded away D'Andre Swift during the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions signed David Montgomery to a significant contract earlier that offseason. Some pushed the former Alabama star down in their dynasty rankings behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Dalton Kincaid because of the landing spot. Unfortunately, that was a massive mistake.
Despite splitting the backfield work with Montgomery and missing two games because of injury, Gibbs finished as an RB1 his rookie year. He was the RB10 in 2023, averaging 14.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The explosive rookie averaged more fantasy points per game than several big-name superstars, including Derrick Henry (13.7) and Josh Jacobs (12.5).
More importantly, Gibbs took his game to another level last season. He finished as the RB2, averaging 19.8 fantasy points per game, totaling 20 offensive touchdowns. While Gibbs put up massive numbers in the three games without Montgomery, he still produced with the veteran.
Gibbs was the RB3, averaging 17.6 fantasy points per game during the first 15 weeks with Montgomery healthy. He is the clear-cut dynasty RB2 behind Robinson.
JAHMYR GIBBS' THIRD TD.
Lions up 24-9.
📺: #MINvsDET on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/veXKswzpt6— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2025
Ashton Jeanty Dynasty Ranking Analysis
Some dynasty players and fantasy football experts will have Jeanty as the top running back in their draft rankings. Others will see that as crazy until we know where the superstar running back will get drafted. However, no one can doubt the superstar’s natural talent. He has been the clear-cut top running back in college football.
Jeanty has been the top running back in college football over the past two seasons. Last year, he led the country with 374 rushing attempts for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy Award race behind Travis Hunter. Unfortunately, the superstar fell just short of breaking Barry Sanders’ rushing record.
ASHTON JEANTY IS UNSTOPPABLE ⚡️@BroncoSportsFB scores a third TD before the half 😤 pic.twitter.com/2Xek565tR5
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 7, 2024
However, Jeanty was the reason why Boise State made the College Football Playoffs. He was the majority of the team’s offense, accounting for 49.7% of their offensive touches, 42% of their scrimmage yards, and 45.5% of their touchdowns. Opposing defenses knew the superstar running back was getting the ball on nearly half the plays.
Yet, they had no way of stopping him. According to PFF, Jeanty averaged 5.3 yards per rushing attempt after contact. His 1,970 rushing yards after contact were 748 more than the next closest running back (Omarion Hampton with 1,222). Furthermore, Jeanty’s 1,970 rushing yards after contact would have ranked second in college football in total rushing yards behind himself.
The former Boise State star is the only running back guaranteed to be a first-round NFL Draft pick this spring. Furthermore, Jeanty is a lock to be the 1.01 dynasty rookie pick, even in superflex leagues, regardless of his landing spot. However, the elite prospect could have a Saquon Barkley-like rookie season if he lands in the right situation. Regardless of landing spot, Jeanty is the RB3 in my dynasty rankings.
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