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Fantasy football best ball running back draft rankings and analysis for 2023 best ball drafts, as of July 17th 2023. Phil breaks down the best RB value picks.
Many of you have been assembling rosters in best-ball leagues since the initial weeks of the offseason, and participation in this format has intensified as we have progressed through the summer. You are also dedicating your efforts toward draft preparation and roster construction as we rapidly approach the regular season.
Enthusiasm for the best ball format remains enormous as it provides the opportunity to instantly complete all forms of roster management at the conclusion of each draft. However, that aspect of the best-ball draft process should be integrated into your decision-making process during each selection, as the absence of a waiver wire elevates the importance of constructing rosters that are designed to minimize the impact of injuries and other challenges that emerge during the season.
The team at RotoBaller has just updated our tiered rankings in the best ball format, which will help you prepare for your upcoming drafts. We are also delivering a detailed analysis of these rankings, and this article will examine running backs that are contained in tiers 1-3. We will continue to update our rankings 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, Bijan Robinson
Christian McCaffrey with the 38-yard touchdown run and the route is on! #49ers pic.twitter.com/EBBN6ByQo3
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) December 11, 2022
McCaffrey led all backs with an average of 21.7 points per game following the trade that sent him to the 49ers last October. His ability to evade lingering injuries during 2022 also helped him re-establish his status as the top back to secure on your rosters. McCaffrey finished second in runs of 20+ (8), 10th in rush yards (746/67.8 per game), and 11th in yards after contact (430). He also vaulted to the league lead in rushing yardage from Weeks 13-17 (460/92 per game) and was second in carries (91/18.2 per game) during that five-game sequence.
| Weeks 13-17 | Rushing Yards | Yards/Gm | 20+ | 100+ | TDs |
| Christian McCaffrey | 460 | 92 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Josh Jacobs | 449 | 89.8 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Nick Chubb | 409 | 81.8 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Cam Akers | 408 | 81.6 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| J.K. Dobbins | 397 | 99.3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Derrick Henry | 381 | 95.3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Travis Etienne | 380 | 76 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Najee Harris | 369 | 73.8 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Tyler Allgeier | 348 | 87 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Miles Sanders | 336 | 67.2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Weeks 7-18 | Targets | Targ% | Targ/Gm | TPRR | Rec |
| Austin Ekeler | 78 | 17.7 | 7.1 | 32.6 | 66 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 68 | 19.6 | 6.2 | 32.9 | 52 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 65 | 19.8 | 5.9 | 34.4 | 52 |
| D'Andre Swift | 58 | 16.3 | 5.3 | 38.9 | 40 |
| Jerick McKinnon | 57 | 14.4 | 5.2 | 25.8 | 45 |
| Alvin Kamara | 51 | 17.1 | 4.6 | 29.7 | 40 |
| Saquon Barkley | 50 | 16.7 | 5 | 23.5 | 36 |
| Aaron Jones | 49 | 14.9 | 4.5 | 31.4 | 42 |
| Leonard Fournette | 47 | 10.6 | 4.7 | 24.4 | 41 |
| Josh Jacobs | 46 | 11.9 | 3.8 | 20 | 36 |
McCaffrey’s proficiency as a pass-catcher also remained intact as he paced his position in target share (19.8%), receiving yards (464/42.2), and air yards (158) from Weeks 7-18. He was also second in both receptions (52/4.7 per game) and targets per route run (34.4%), and was third in targets (65/5.9 per game). McCaffrey should stockpile fantasy points while operating as the primary back in Kyle Shanahan’s potent offense and remains entrenched among the top three players to select in all drafts.
Ekeler’s status for 2023 was unsettled earlier in the offseason, due to his disappointment with the inability to secure a long-term extension. His situation in 2024 and beyond is still unclear, but the Chargers ensured that he would remain with the team this season by infusing incentives into his contract. Ekeler leads all backs in targets (394/6.7 per game), receptions (323/5.5 per game), receiving yards (2,769/46.9 per game), and receiving touchdowns (23) since 2019, while also accumulating 2,913 yards (49.4 per game) and 29 touchdowns on the ground.
Players with 10+ rushing TDs and 5+ receiving TDs in consecutive seasons…
• Austin Ekeler
• Marshall Faulk pic.twitter.com/qhPVhvpzz1— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) July 8, 2023
Kellen Moore has replaced the departed Joe Lombardi and will concoct the Chargers’ offense after four seasons as the offensive coordinator in Dallas. Ekeler should remain heavily involved in the restructured attack, as he is cemented atop a depth chart that does not contain a discernible threat to impact his extensive role. He has repeatedly proven his ability to stockpile numbers which elevates him among the top three backs that should be selected in your drafts.
Robinson’s voluminous list of attributes has fueled an enormous surge of anticipation surrounding his entrance into the NFL. Robinson’s array of exceptional abilities also propelled him to 2,707 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground during his final two seasons at Texas, while his 104 broken tackles established a single-season record according to PFF. Robinson also assembled 805 yards and a school-record eight touchdowns during his tenure with the Longhorns.
Bijan Robinson. pic.twitter.com/OgbaRRv1Ge
— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) July 3, 2023
Last year’s winner of the prestigious Doak Walker Award is fully capable of thriving as a three-down back and appears destined to operate as the foundation of Arthur Smith’s run-oriented attack. The Falcons led the league with an average of 32.9 attempts per game and ranked second in run play percentage (55.3%) last season and Smith should maintain his heavy reliance on his ground game. Robinson’s enticing assortment of skills will be displayed in a highly favorable environment that presents fantasy managers with a viable option in the middle of Round 1.
Tier 2
Nick Chubb, Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, Jonathan Taylor
Nick Chubb has another touchdown!
📺: #LACvsCLE on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/psZXYKrNKH pic.twitter.com/ColzhckU5E— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2022
Only Derrick Henry has amassed more rushing yards than Chubb since 2019 (5,345/90.6 per game), while Chubb’s average of 5.3 yards per attempt leads all backs. Chubb is also fourth with 1,018 attempts (17.2 per game), while the 1,525 yards (89.7 per game) that Chubb produced during 2022 also placed him third overall. He also finished second in games of 100+ (7), third in attempts (302/17.8 per game), and sixth with an average of 16.6 points per game.
| 2019-2022 | Yards | Yards/Gm | Yards/Att | Attempts | Att/Gm |
| Derrick Henry | 6,042 | 109.9 | 4.8 | 1249 | 22.7 |
| Nick Chubb | 5,345 | 90.6 | 5.3 | 1018 | 17.3 |
| Dalvin Cook | 5,024 | 86.6 | 4.7 | 1075 | 18.5 |
| Josh Jacobs | 4,740 | 79 | 4.4 | 1072 | 17.9 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 4,214 | 66.9 | 4.2 | 1013 | 16.1 |
| Aaron Jones | 4,108 | 66.3 | 5 | 821 | 13.2 |
| Jonathan Taylor | 3841 | 89.3 | 5.1 | 756 | 17.6 |
Chubb’s extensive workload and favorable accumulation of yardage should be sustained this season, as he operates atop a depth chart that now contains Jerome Ford directly below him. The Browns eschewed the opportunity to resign Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson, and no backs were added to the equation during free agency or the NFL Draft. That leaves Chubb positioned to operate as a highly productive RB1 for Cleveland and for anyone who secures him near his current ADP (16/RB6).
TOUCHDOWN SAQUON BARKLEY!#TogetherBlue goes back in front.
(Via: @NFL)pic.twitter.com/MOeu3kJ4uy
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 27, 2022
Barkley justified his selection as an RB1 during 2022 drafts by remaining in the lineup for 16 games and capitalizing on his ability to evade lingering health issues. That propelled him to new career highs in multiple categories, as Barkley finished fourth with a career-best 295 attempts (18.4 per game) and vaulted to fourth in rushing yardage with a career-high 1,312 (82 per game).
Barkley also rose to fourth in yards before contact (749), fourth in yards after contact (563), and seventh with 23 carries inside the 10-yard line. Barkley was also fifth among all backs in target share (16.9%), while ascending to fifth in routes run (328), and sixth in receptions (57/3.6 per game). He has not been amenable to signing his franchise tender, and failed to reach an agreement with the Giants on a long-term deal. However, it is unlikely that Barkley will conduct an extensive holdout, and he should eventually reward anyone who selects him near his Round 1 ADP (10/RB4).
Pollard attained a snap share of 28.7% from 2019-2021 and had never exceeded a share of 35% during that three-year span. However, the 53% share that he secured last season easily eclipsed his previous career-best.
This was Tony Pollard's fifth touchdown this season of 30 or more yards. pic.twitter.com/82VQ4TX1cU
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) December 5, 2022
Pollard also finished 14th overall with 1,007 rushing yards (62.9 per game) while leading all backs in yards after contact per attempt (2.6) and vaulting to seventh in targets per route run (27.7%). He also finished fourth in receptions (27/3.9 per game), seventh in routes run (123), and eighth in targets per route run (28.5%) from Weeks 10-16. His expanded usage and output also propelled him to an average of 15.6 points per game in PPR leagues, which placed him ninth among all backs.
| Year | Snaps | Snap% | Attempts | Att/Gm | Yards | YardsGm | YBC | YAC |
| 2019 | 204 | 19 | 86 | 5.7 | 455 | 30.3 | 146 | 309 |
| 2020 | 363 | 32 | 101 | 6.3 | 435 | 27.2 | 186 | 249 |
| 2021 | 367 | 35 | 130 | 8.7 | 719 | 47.9 | 398 | 321 |
| 2022 | 543 | 53 | 193 | 12.1 | 1007 | 62.9 | 504 | 503 |
| Year | Targ% | Targets | Targ/Gm | Rec | Rec/Gm | Yards | Yards/Gm |
| 2019 | 3.8 | 20 | 1.3 | 15 | 1 | 107 | 7.1 |
| 2020 | 6.5 | 40 | 2.5 | 28 | 1.8 | 193 | 12.1 |
| 2021 | 8.1 | 46 | 3.1 | 39 | 2.6 | 337 | 22.5 |
| 2022 | 11 | 55 | 3.4 | 39 | 2.4 | 371 | 23.2 |
Pollard is currently residing atop a depth chart that does not contain a legitimate threat to siphon a sizable workload (Malik Davis/Ronald Jones/Deuce Vaughn). The Cowboys could still infuse another back into the equation, but Pollard is currently primed to generate numbers that justify targeting him at his ADP (20/RB7).
Jonathan Taylor ANGRY RUN. @jayt23
📺: #INDvsJAX on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/9Dbwnh03KL pic.twitter.com/rJtbC6bZ0p— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022
Taylor's current ADP (15/RB5) places him fifth among all backs due to optimism that he can approach the numbers that he assembled during 2021. Taylor captured the league rushing total during that breakout season (1,811 yards/106,5 per game), while also averaging a league-high 21.9 points per game. Taylor erupted for 175 total yards – including 161 on the ground during the Colts’ 2022 season opener. He also averaged 5.2 per attempt during that season-best performance but only averaged 2.8 per attempt in Weeks 3-4.
Taylor also began his ongoing encounter with a problematic ankle in Week 5 which sidelined him for six contests. That also negated any opportunity for Taylor to fulfill the lofty expectations that had fueled his status as the first overall selection during draft season. It may be difficult for Taylor to replicate the exceptional numbers that he attained during 2021, as Anthony Richardson will also commandeer rushing opportunities whenever the promising rookie emerges under center. However, that should not preclude you from securing Taylor late in Round 1.
Tier 3
Rhamondre Stevenson, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Breece Hall
Stevenson remained available until Round 7 of 2022 drafts (76/RB29), but he exceeded expectations by finishing 11th overall with an average of 14.7 points per game. He also averaged 16.5 touches per game (12.4 carries/4.1 receptions) during his second season, while playing in all 17 of the Patriots’ regular season matchups.
Stevenson also rose to 12th in rushing yardage from Weeks 1-18 (1,040/61.2 per game), while averaging 5.0 yards per attempt, finishing fifth in broken tackles (24), and vaulting to ninth in yards after contact per attempt (2.1). He also established his prowess as a pass-catcher by finishing third among backs in targets (89/5.2 per game), fourth in receptions (69/4.1 per game), and fifth in targets per route run (28.3%).
Mac Jones ➡️ Rhamondre Stevenson➡️ Touchdown. One handed grab too 👀👀. pic.twitter.com/mNq7CWx6mL
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) November 6, 2022
Damien Harris no longer lurks as a candidate to siphon opportunities, after signing a one-year contract with Buffalo. This has reduced the potential for Stevenson’s workload to be threatened by the backs that remain on New England’s depth chart (Pierre Strong Jr./James Robinson/Ty Montgomery/Kevin Harris). His ability to accumulate yardage and fantasy points, as both a rusher and receiver, provide justification for seizing him at his current ADP (26/RB11).
Henry has stockpiled a league-best 6,042 rushing yards (109.9 per game) since 2019, while also securing league-highs in rushing attempts (1,249/22.7 per game), and rushing touchdowns (56). That has propelled him to four consecutive finishes among the top four in points per game scoring (19.6/20.8/24.2/18.9), while Henry’s ADP also remained inside the top 10 from 2020-2022.
His draft position is currently located near the conclusion of Round 2 (21/RB8), as the 29-year-old Henry is primed to expand upon his impressive numbers. He will operate with a massive workload once again as he retains his role as the foundation of Tennessee's attack. That delivers the rationale for including Henry among the prospective RB1s during your draft process.
The Raiders declined to exercise the fifth-year option in Jacobs’s contract in 2022, and he responded by eclipsing his previous career highs in a collection of categories as he played out the final year of his deal. He soared to the league lead in both rushing yards (1,653 yards/97.2 per game), and total yards (2,053/120.8 per game), while also pacing his position in yards after contact (821), and finishing third in yards before contact (832). He also secured career bests in rushing attempts (340/20 per game), receiving yards (400/23.5 per game), and routes run (320).
8️⃣6️⃣ YARD TOUCHDOWN IN OVERTIME BY @iAM_JoshJacobs FOR THE WIIIIIIINNNN!!! #RAIDERNATION pic.twitter.com/WA1lacwFSC
— NFL Canada (@NFLCanada) November 28, 2022
The Raiders placed a franchise tag on Jacobs in March, which he has yet to sign. He has also failed to secure an agreement on a long-term deal with the team. However, he still has an opportunity to operate with another massive workload this season, providing that he eventually signs his franchise tender. Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah form an uninspiring depth chart below Jacobs, which ensures that Jacobs will sustain his integral role in the Las Vegas attack if he ultimately agrees to play under the tag.
For the fourth-straight week, Breece Hall has himself a NFL touchdown.
He takes it 62 yards to the house to give the Jets the lead!
🎥 @NFL pic.twitter.com/g2nMDfi1ej
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) October 23, 2022
Hall’s rookie season ended abruptly due to the torn ACL that he encountered which prevented him from stockpiling touches and maintaining his promisingly level of production. However, his usage and output as the foundation of New York’s ground game provided a glimpse of his ability to function as an RB1 for fantasy managers once his recovery is complete.
The Jets averaged 31.7 attempts per game (29/33/33) from Weeks 4-6, as Hall eclipsed a 66% snap share during all three matchups. He also vaulted to fifth among all backs with 55 carries (18.3 per game) during that span, while rising to fifth in rushing yardage (279/93 per game) and seventh with an average of 21.2 points per game. He also accumulated 72 yards on just four attempts in Week 7 before sustaining the season-ending injury.
There will be conflicting reports surrounding Hall’s prospects of playing during the Jets’ season opener. That should not deter you from targeting him at his current ADP (30/RB11), even though it may require patience before Hall rewards you for your decision.
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