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Fantasy football running back rankings analysis for 2023 best ball drafts for RBs in the top three tiers. Phil breaks down the best values relative to ADP.
The initial weeks of the offseason are now behind us and player movement that transpired during the process of free agency has provided some running backs with pathways toward favorable roles in their new environments. This includes Miles Sanders, David Montgomery, Samaje Perine, and Jamaal Williams who are positioned to thrive in their new landing spots.
The uncertain status of other backs (Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard) has been clarified through the deployment of franchise tags, while the future remains unsettled for several others (Austin Ekeler/Joe Mixon/Alvin Kamara/Ezekiel Elliott). All recent developments have accelerated participation in best ball drafts as fantasy managers embrace the opportunity to assemble rosters following the inevitable rises and declines in these players' ADPs.
These alterations within the fantasy landscape have also been infused into the tiered rankings at RotoBaller, and this article will examine running backs who are contained in tiers 1-3. We will continually update our rankings in every format throughout the offseason and you can find the latest fantasy football rankings here.
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Running Back Best-Ball Rankings
Tier 1
Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley
#49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is gearing up for the upcoming season 👀 pic.twitter.com/ZwOIpo24Qu
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) March 30, 2023
Anyone who secured McCaffrey at the onset of their 2022 drafts despite his recent history of lingering injuries was rewarded for their decision. He vaulted to second with an average of 18.5 points per game, while finishing ninth in rushing attempts (244/14.4 per game), seventh in rushing yardage (1,139/67.0 per game), eighth in yards before contact (683), and 10th in yards after contact (456).
Christian McCaffrey in his second game as a 49er:
⛏ 183 all-purpose yards
⛏ A passing touchdown
⛏ A rushing touchdown
⛏ A receiving touchdownRB1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/rFvuGg4l3C
— PFF (@PFF) October 30, 2022
McCaffrey was also 12th in carries (159/14.5.per game), and ninth in yardage (746/67.8 per game after he was traded to San Francisco (Weeks 7-18) while leading all backs in receiving yards (464/42.2 per game) finishing second in receptions (52/4.7 per game), and rising to third in targets (65/5.9 per game). McCaffrey will reclaim his role as the 49ers’ lead back and his ability to elude health issues last season should diminish the injury concerns that existed one year ago. That also cements him as the first back to select during all drafts.
Who needs Instant Replay when you have Austin Ekeler??
Touchdown Chargers!!!
⚡️🔵⚪️#MNF #LACvsIND#BoltUp #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/8jYhibLhdu— Sportskeeda Pro Football (@SKProFootball) December 27, 2022
Ekeler averaged a league-best 21.9 points per game while performing in 17 matchups. The favorable blend of availability, exceptional talent, and an extensive role within the Chargers’ offense also propelled him to career-highs in rushing yardage (915/53.8 per game), and rushing touchdowns (13). Ekeler also eclipsed 200+ rushing attempts for a second consecutive year (204/12 per game), while securing career highs in targets (127/7.5 per game), and receptions (107/6.3 per game), and leading all backs in both categories.
He also paced his position in receiving yards (722/42.5 per game), finished fourth in routes run (351), was targeted on a league-high 36.2% of his routes, and led the league in both yards after catch (843), and total touchdowns (18).
| Weeks 1-18 | Targets | Targ/Gm | Rec | Rec/Gm |
| Austin Ekeler | 127 | 7.5 | 107 | 6.3 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 108 | 6.4 | 85 | 5 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 89 | 5.2 | 69 | 4.1 |
| Leonard Fournette | 83 | 5.2 | 73 | 4.6 |
| Alvin Kamara | 77 | 5.1 | 57 | 3.8 |
| Saquon Barkley | 76 | 4.8 | 57 | 3.6 |
| Joe Mixon | 75 | 5.4 | 60 | 4.3 |
| Aaron Jones | 72 | 4.2 | 59 | 3.4 |
| Jerick McKinnon | 71 | 4.2 | 56 | 3.3 |
| D'Andre Swift | 70 | 5 | 48 | 3.4 |
| Josh Jacobs | 64 | 3.8 | 53 | 3.1 |
| Weeks 1-18 | Total Touchdowns |
| Austin Ekeler | 18 |
| Jamaal Williams | 17 |
| Derrick Henry | 13 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 13 |
| Nick Chubb | 13 |
| Josh Jacobs | 12 |
| Tony Pollard | 12 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 12 |
| Miles Sanders | 11 |
| Jerick McKinnon | 10 |
| Dalvin Cook | 10 |
Ekeler’s frustration with his failure to secure a contract extension has fueled his request for a trade. The situation remains unresolved, although Ekeler’s status as the second back to prioritize remains intact.
Jonathan Taylor has officially been placed on injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/qV2od5OuNd
— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) December 20, 2022
Anyone who seized Taylor with the first overall selection during 2022 drafts is already aware of the results that transpired during his disappointing season. Taylor stockpiled 175 total yards in Week 1 while generating 161 rushing yards on 31 attempts and accumulating seven targets. However, he only averaged 60.2 yards per game from Weeks 2-9, while contending with a high ankle sprain that sidelined him during three matchups. He remerged to average 21.3 carries and 99.8 yards per game from Weeks 10-13, before sustaining a season-ending injury to his problematic ankle.
His six-game absence led to a decline in his overall numbers when contrasted with 2021 (1,811/861 rushing yards), (18/4 rushing touchdowns), while his yards-per-game average also decreased by 28.2 (106.5/78.3). Despite the discouraging developments that unfolded last season, Taylor’s ability to capitalize on his integral role with the Colts elevates him among the top three backs that should be targeted during your drafts.
Barkley was the 10th back to be selected during the majority of 2022 drafts but ultimately finished fifth with a 16.0 points-per-game average. He evaded health issues while accumulating 352 touches, including his career-high 295 rushing attempts (18.4 per game) – which placed him fourth overall. He also finished fourth in rushing yardage (1,312/82 per game), yards before contact (749), and yards after contact (563), while also generating 10 touchdowns.
Lost in the heartbreak of the Giants loss vs the Vikings; Saquon Barkley’s touchdown on 4th and 2 that helped tie the game.
He continues to give the Giants much needed yards late in games. pic.twitter.com/0hgIyTKwdR
— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) December 25, 2022
Barkley was also fifth among all backs in targets (76/4.8 per game), fifth in routes run (528), and seventh in receptions (57/3.6 per game) while assembling 338 receiving yards (21.1 per game) as a pass-catcher. Barkley currently resides atop a depth chart that only contains Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell, which leaves him without a discernible threat to his role as the Giants’ primary back. That provides your incentive to target him late in Round 1 of your drafts.
Tier 2
Kenneth Walker, Nick Chubb, Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Travis Etienne, Breece Hall, Rhamondre Stevenson
Walker was inactive during Seattle’s season opener and did not exceed 25 snaps until Week 5. However, he soared to fourth in rushing yards from Weeks 5-18 (992/82.7 per game), and tied for the league lead in rushes of 20+ yards (9). Walker was also second in games of 100+ yards (5), fifth in carries (213/17.8 per game), and sixth in touchdowns (9).
| Weeks 5-18 | Yards | Yards/Gm | Attempts | Att/Gm |
| Josh Jacobs | 1317 | 101.3 | 270 | 20.8 |
| Derrick Henry | 1232 | 102.7 | 273 | 22.8 |
| Nick Chubb | 1066 | 82 | 221 | 17 |
| Kenneth Walker | 992 | 82.7 | 213 | 17.8 |
| Travis Etienne | 981 | 75.5 | 186 | 14.3 |
| Miles Sanders | 913 | 70.2 | 187 | 14.4 |
| D'Onta Foreman | 898 | 69.1 | 198 | 15.2 |
| Tyler Allgeier | 896 | 68.9 | 184 | 14.2 |
| Dalvin Cook | 894 | 68.8 | 201 | 16.2 |
| Saquon Barkley | 849 | 70.8 | 211 | 17.6 |
His numbers during that span ultimately propelled him to 10th in rushing yards (1,050/70 per game), and attempts (228/15.2 per game), from Weeks 1-18, while he was also second in runs of 20+ (10), fourth in games of 100+ (5), and fifth in broken tackles (47).
KENNETH WALKER! 74 YARDS!
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS.
(🎥: @nfl) pic.twitter.com/OZiKKJI8qa
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 23, 2022
Walker is positioned to match or exceed the workload that he attained as Seattle’s lead back in 2022 and he has already established his ability to perform effectively in that role. That places him among your most viable options during Round 2 of upcoming drafts.
Chubb has now averaged 1,336 rushing yards during his last four seasons (90.6 per game), which includes the career-high 1,525 (89.7 per game) that he assembled during 2022. Chubb finished third in yardage, carries (302/17.8 per game), and yards after contact (695), while also leading all backs in Football Outsiders’ DVOA (Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average).
Nick Chubb has another touchdown!
📺: #LACvsCLE on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/psZXYKrNKH pic.twitter.com/ColzhckU5E— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2022
Chubb was fourth with an average of 18.1 points per game while Jacoby Brissett was guiding the’ offense (Weeks 1-12), but dropped to 16th with an average of 11.4 after the insertion of Deshaun Watson under center. However, Watson should perform more efficiently than he did following his protracted absence.
Any rise in Cleveland’s 52.3% pass play percentage during 2022 will not prevent Chubb from operating with a massive workload, which has been cemented after the extraction of Kareem Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson from the depth chart. That provides your motivation to secure him near his ADP (25/RB10).
Bijan Robinson is in a class of his own 💪 pic.twitter.com/jKZ1PbB5KN
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) March 27, 2023
If you have been preparing for 2023 drafts in any format, you have already examined the immeasurable evidence that Robinson should be commandeered for your rosters. He is entrenched as the most coveted back from this year’s rookie class after he stockpiled 2,707 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground during his final two seasons at Texas.
BIJAN ROBINSON IS GOING OFF 🔥
His 4th touchdown of the day!pic.twitter.com/eO2oeQCiRg
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) November 19, 2022
Last year’s winner of the Doak Walker Award also forced an FBS-best 104 missed tackles and generated 1,071 yards after contact during 2022 according to PFF, while also collecting 45 receptions and 609 receiving yards in 2021-2022. Robinson also delivered encouraging results at the NFL Combine when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46, registered a 10'4" broad jump, and recorded a 37” vertical jump. Robinson should be prioritized near the onset of Round 2 in your drafts and his skyrocketing stock will surge even higher if he surfaces in a favorable environment following the NFL Draft.
Henry’s ADP has dropped out of Round 1 (20/RB8) for the first time since 2019, due to concerns surrounding his age (29), the transformation that is occurring in Tennessee, and the unavoidable impact of the 1,249 carries (22.7 per game) that he has accumulated during the last four seasons – which is 174 more than any other back.
However, Henry’s continued presence among the league’s most productive backs during 2022 should not be dismissed, as his 17.9 points per game average was only exceeded by two backs. Henry also led the league in rushing attempts for the third time since 2019 (349/21.8 per game), accumulated 1,538 yards (96.1 per game), and established new career highs in targets (41/2.6 per game) receptions (33/2.1 per game and receiving yards (398/24.9 per game).
Speculation continues surrounding the possibility that Henry could be traded. However, the prospect of Henry operating as the cornerstone of the Titans’ offense for one more season justifies targeting him in Round 2 of your drafts.
The stiff arm. The run. The touchdown. That's just @iAM_JoshJacobs.
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/2LDr77FQHj
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 27, 2022
When the Raiders declined to exercise the fifth-year option on Jacobs prior to the 2022 regular season, it ignited speculation that he might operate in a rotation with rookie Zamir White during the year. However, Jacobs not only functioned as the workhorse back throughout 2022, but he also commandeered the league rushing title (1,653 yards (/97.2 per game), and led the league in total yards (2,053/120.8 per game).
| Weeks 1-18 | Total Yards | Yards/Gm |
| Josh Jacobs | 2,053 | 120.8 |
| Derrick Henry | 1,930 | 120.6 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 1,880 | 110.6 |
| Nick Chubb | 1,764 | 103.8 |
| Saquon Barkley | 1,650 | 103.1 |
| Austin Ekeler | 1,637 | 96.3 |
| Raheem Mostert | 1,595 | 99.7 |
| Isiah Pacheco | 1,559 | 91.7 |
| Aaron Jones | 1,516 | 89.2 |
| Weeks 1-18 | Yards | Yards/Gm | Attempts | Att/Gm |
| Josh Jacobs | 1653 | 97.2 | 340 | 20 |
| Derrick Henry | 1538 | 96.1 | 349 | 21.8 |
| Nick Chubb | 1525 | 89.7 | 302 | 17.7 |
| Saquon Barkley | 1312 | 82 | 295 | 18.4 |
| Miles Sanders | 1269 | 74.6 | 259 | 15.2 |
| Dalvin Cook | 1173 | 69 | 264 | 15.5 |
| Travis Etienne | 1125 | 66.2 | 220 | 12.9 |
| Aaron Jones | 1121 | 65.9 | 213 | 12.6 |
| Jamaal Williams | 1066 | 62.7 | 262 | 15.4 |
| Kenneth Walker | 1050 | 70 | 228 | 15.2 |
Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler have been compelled to place the franchise tag on Jacobs following his prolific season which positions him to return for a fifth year with the team. He is still 25 years old and should remain highly productive, which elevates him among the backs to prioritize during Round 2 of your drafts.
Etienne made his NFL debut during Jacksonville’s 2022 season opener while operating in a rotation with James Robinson. However, Etienne eventually seized the Jaguars‘ lead back responsibilities when Robinson failed to register a rushing attempt in Week 7 and was later dispatched to the Jets. Etienne finished 13th with 220 rushing attempts (12.9 per game), was eighth in rushing yardage (1,125/66.2 per game), and finished sixth in yards before contact (738). Those numbers included an 11-game sequence from Weeks 6-17 when he finished third in yardage (893/81.2 per game) while eclipsing 80+ seven times. Etienne also collected 35 of his 45 targets, finished 15th among backs in receiving yards (316/21.1 per game), and tied for the league lead in receptions of 20+ (6),
Etienne can flourish if he is entrusted with an extensive workload, which justifies selecting him at his current ADP (26/RB11). His stock would be altered if the Jaguars add a legitimate competitor for touches during the NFL Draft.
The New York #Jets two touchdowns in Cleveland have come from the rookie weaponry, and the second was Breece Hall's first NFL TD. pic.twitter.com/7T3cnRocY0
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) September 18, 2022
Hall vaulted to fourth with an average of 18.5 points per game from Weeks 4-7 and was in the process of eviscerating the expectations of his Round 4 ADP (45/RB18) before his production was curtailed by a torn ACL. Hall led the Jets in rushing yards (50/7.1 per attempt) in Week 2, then rose to fourth overall in carries (55 /18.3 per game) from Weeks 4-6. Hall was also fifth in rushing yards (279 /93 per game), fifth in yards after contact (162), and assembled three touchdowns during that promising sequence. He also stockpiled 72 yards on four carries in Week 7 before sustaining his season-ending injury.
| Weeks 4-6 | Yards | Yards/Gm | Attempts | Att/Gm | YAC |
| Nick Chubb | 308 | 102.7 | 48 | 16 | 195 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 303 | 101 | 58 | 19.3 | 199 |
| Saquon Barkley | 299 | 99.7 | 66 | 22 | 165 |
| Josh Jacobs | 298 | 149 | 49 | 24.5 | 211 |
| Breece Hall | 279 | 93 | 55 | 18.3 | 162 |
| Austin Ekeler | 269 | 89.7 | 43 | 14.3 | 116 |
| Miles Sanders | 263 | 87.7 | 60 | 20 | 137 |
| Dalvin Cook | 247 | 82.3 | 51 | 17 | 135 |
| Raheem Mostert | 231 | 77 | 47 | 15.7 | 102 |
| Dameon Pierce | 230 | 115 | 40 | 20 | 137 |
Hall’s encouraging usage and production provide the foundation of his highly favorable outlook as he enters his second season. You should embrace the opportunity to seize Hall at his current ADP (21/RB9), as he will operate as the RB1 for both the Jets and fantasy managers after his recovery is complete.
Stevenson operated with a 34% snap share as a rookie but that percentage virtually doubled in 2022 (66%). He also rose to 13th with an average of 12.6 points per game from Weeks 1-18, while finishing 15th in rushing attempts (210/12.4 per game), and 11th in rushing yards (1,040/61.2 per game).
Such a shame that this play was called back. What a run by Rhamondre Stevenson pic.twitter.com/XQN4Fcj5gN
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) November 19, 2021
He was also 13th in both yards before contact (601), and yards after contact (439), while finishing third among all backs in targets (89/5.2 per game), fourth in receptions (69/4.1 per game), and seventh in both receiving yards (412/24.8 per game) and routes run (315).
The departure of Damien Harris leaves Stevenson with an unobstructed path toward another significant workload, as James Robinson, Pierre Strong Jr., and Kevin Harris will split a limited percentage of touches. It also solidifies Stevenson’s status as a high-end RB2 for fantasy managers.
Tier 3
Tony Pollard, Aaron Jones, Najee Harris
Pollard entered 2022 with career-highs of 374 snaps, 130 rushing attempts (8.7 per game), 719 rushing yards (47.9 per game), 46 targets (3.1 per game), 39 receptions (2.6 per game), and 337 receiving yards (22.5 per game).
Tony Pollard averaged 3.7 yards after contact last season, which lead all running backs. pic.twitter.com/jJqo5mROPV
— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) March 27, 2023
However, he easily eclipsed those numbers during 2022, which included a snap count that rose to 569. Pollard also accumulated 193 carries (12.1 per game), 1,007 rushing yards (62.9 per game), 55 targets (3.4 per game), and 371 receiving yards (23.2 per game), while exceeding his previous career highs in red zone touches (32), yards before contact (504), yards after contact (503), rushing touchdowns (9), and routes run (220).
The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pollard who should complete his recovery from a fractured fibula by Week 1. The release of Ezekiel Elliott has cleared the runway for Pollard to seize a favorable workload. However, his outlook would be altered if Dallas secures another back during the NFL Draft. Particularly if the Cowboys seize Bijan Robinson with the 26th pick.
Jones generated a career-high 1,121 rushing yards (65.9 per game) in 2022 which placed him ninth among all backs. It was the third time that he has exceeded 1,000 yards since 2019 while he has also eclipsed 1,100+ twice during his last three seasons. Jones was also 15th in rushing attempts (213/12.5 per game), ninth in yards before contact (645), eighth in yards after contact (476), and ninth in routes run (301). He also established career bests in targets (72/4.2 per game), and receptions (59/3.5 per game), while generating 395 receiving yards (23.2 per game). and finishing among the top 10 in all three categories.
Aaron Jones & @jordan3love in the lab working. 👀
(via @Showtyme_33) pic.twitter.com/8thJGeHjYt
— NFL (@NFL) March 30, 2023
Jones’s contract was restructured in February (four years, $48 million), which ensured that he will retain his critical role in Green Bay’s offense. He will be deployed in a rotation with A.J. Dillon but is an enticing option at his Round 4 ADP (47/RB18).
Harris was a first-round selection during the 2022 drafts (ADP 10/RB6) after finishing second in rushing attempts (307/18.1 per game), and fourth in rushing yards (1,200/70.6 per game), during his 2021 rookie season. However, Harris only averaged 3.3 yards per attempt from Weeks 1-7 during 2022, including two games in which he failed to reach an average of 2.3. That resulted in an uninspiring average of 47 yards per game, while he was only 28th with 329 yards entering Week 8.
| Weeks 10-18 | Yards | Yards/Gm | Attempts | Att/Gm | YAC |
| Josh Jacobs | 910 | 101.1 | 202 | 22.4 | 621 |
| Nick Chubb | 684 | 76 | 153 | 17 | 471 |
| Najee Harris | 673 | 74.8 | 164 | 18.2 | 427 |
| Derrick Henry | 668 | 83.5 | 166 | 20.8 | 471 |
| Isiah Pacheco | 633 | 70.3 | 126 | 14 | 341 |
| Cam Akers | 632 | 70.2 | 132 | 14.7 | 329 |
| D'Onta Foreman | 618 | 77.3 | 143 | 17.9 | 385 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 614 | 68.2 | 133 | 14.8 | 360 |
| Miles Sanders | 613 | 68.1 | 128 | 14.2 | 329 |
| Tyler Allgeier | 612 | 76.5 | 116 | 14.5 | 422 |
Harris vaulted to third overall with 673 yards from Weeks 10-18 (74.8 per game) as he accumulated 80+ during six of his final nine matchups. Harris ultimately finished fifth with 272 rushing attempts (16.0 per game), and 13th in rushing yardage (1,034/60.8 per game) from Weeks 1-18. Jaylen Warren could pilfer a larger percentage of opportunities during his second season but Harris should operate as an RB2 for fantasy managers who secure him in Round 3 of their drafts.
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