X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Tiered Running Back Rankings (Standard)

RotoBaller writer Frankie Soler breaks the standard running back rankings down into tiers for the upcoming 2016 fantasy football season.

If you’ve frequented RotoBaller over the last week, you’ll have likely noticed our rankings for the upcoming fantasy season. Our toolkit for 2016 has it all; standard rankings, PPR rankings, half PPR, and we’ve even got you covered if you participate in a two-quarterback league.

This piece, along with several others to follow, aims to act as a companion to the positional portion of those rankings. Here you’ll see every running back grouped into a tier of their peers. The tiers represent that particular group’s overall worth in terms of talent, ADP, and a whole host of other factors. Some have similar injury concerns while others are at peak draft value. Whatever the case may be, players within the same tier are of nearly equal value and should be viewed as such during your upcoming drafts.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium NFL Subscription for only $1.99 per week. We have all the preseason tools to help win your drafts, and in-season tools to win your seasonal and daily leagues: Draft Kit, Premium Rankings, ADP Sleepers Tool, Matchup Ratings for every player, Daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids. 

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Tier 1 – Standard Running Back Rankings

  1. Le’Veon Bell, PIT
  2. Todd Gurley, LA
  3. Adrian Peterson, MIN

I don’t think it should come as a surprise to anyone who the most coveted fantasy running backs are for 2016. Bell, Gurley, and Peterson are not just three of the most talented backs in the NFL, but they also have the rare advantage of being the clear-cut starter on their respective teams. Finding a running back that isn’t in a timeshare is such a rarity these days that even the warts attached to these particular three players aren’t significant enough to scare anyone away from drafting them.

Yes, Le’Veon Bell is still recovering from knee surgery, yes, Todd Gurley only has one year of NFL experience under his belt, and yes, Adrian Peterson is now 31 years old. Their overall talent and team situations, however, are far too great for them to be anything but the top of the RB class. There’s a case to be made for putting any of the three of them in whatever order you see fit. For me, it’s Bell followed by Gurley and Peterson due to the strength of the Steeler offense and Bell having the best combination of age and talent. Like I said, they’re all close enough to justify taking them in any order so you can’t really go wrong here. Take the one you feel is safest at the beginning of the first round and consider yourself set at the RB1 position.

 

Tier 2 – Standard Running Back Rankings

  1. Jamaal Charles, KC
  2. David Johnson, ARI
  3. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
  4. Lamar Miller, HOU
  5. Doug Martin, TB

Unfortunately, the question marks at running back only increase in number as you head down the list and that’s even true as early as Jamaal Charles at the fourth RB overall. Charles, much like Le’Veon Bell, is also recovering from knee surgery. The only reason he’s not safely set in the same class as Bell, Gurley, and Peterson is because there’s a possibility that both Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West eat into Charles’ workload now that they’ve proven themselves in his absence. An injury plus a potential for a fewer touches than usual bump Charles down a peg but obviously not significant enough to scare you into avoiding him entirely.

The rest of this group has concerns that are of equal relevance to Charles’ injury and competition. David Johnson really only took off in the second half of the year which could easily make him this year’s C.J. Anderson. Even with that in mind, Johnson has shown he can dominate the fantasy scene and is an excellent offense provided Carson Palmer staying healthy. Ezekiel Elliott, despite being the most hyped rookie running back in forever, still is, well, a rookie. Rookies carry immense risk and the idea of having to take Elliott as early as the middle of the first round is a scary proposition. That being said, his talent is enough to take a shot on.

Rounding out this tier are the likes of Lamar Miller and Doug Martin, two backs that could easily end up being top five at the position if all goes according to plan. Miller is on a new team in Houston and recently had a career year in Miami. The best thing going for Miller is the fact that he was an excellent fantasy RB year last year despite the Dolphins not force feeding him the ball. That’ll be change while he’s on a Texans team that’s a lot more giving in their ground attack. Doug Martin had himself a solid year as well and should look to continue being the lead dog in an offense that’s only getting better with sophomore Jameis Winston under center.

 

Tier 3 – Standard Running Back Rankings

  1. DeVonta Freeman, ATL
  2. LeSean McCoy, BUF
  3. Mark Ingram, NO
  4. Eddie Lacy, GB

It may seem like this group is a significant drop-off from the previous two but I actually think that’s a misconception. DeVonta Freeman’s touchdowns last year may not be repeatable in 2016 but he still has enough talent to end up as a top 10 fantasy back. LeSean McCoy will now have four less games of Karlos Williams to worry about. Mark Ingram and Eddie Lacy may not be the most consistent fantasy assets but their respective offenses are enough to at least get them some scoring opportunities. I know Lacy had a disappointing 2015 but between his newfound offseason regiment and the players ranked below him, it’s hard not to tempt fate by drafting him as a top-12 RB and hoping for the best. Overall, this group of backs is more solid than you think.

 

Tier 4 – Standard Running Back Rankings

  1. Jonathan Stewart, CAR
  2. Carlos Hyde, SF
  3. Matt Forte, NYJ
  4. Thomas Rawls, SEA

Of all the tiers listed here this one might have the greatest balance of high floor and high ceiling. All four of these players are in offenses that can support them being reliable RB2’s while also having the potential to end up well into the top 10 at the position.

Jonathan Stewart had a very underrated season last year and should continue to take advantage of the departure of DeAngelo Williams. Carlos Hyde should have had himself a much better year if not for his lingering foot injury so expect him to roaring back in 2016. Matt Forte and Thomas Rawls might have some minor competition in their respective backfields but they’re also the favorite to lead the Jets and Seahawks in carries. Barring injuries, I can’t imagine any of these four players slipping out of the top 20 at the position. You’re not going to get any “oohs and ahs” by selecting any of these four but you’ll most certainly get decent enough return to justify making them your RB2.

Tier 5 – Standard Running Back Rankings

  1. Jay Ajayi, MIA
  2. Matt Jones, WAS
  3. Dion Lewis, NE
  4. Latavius Murray, OAK
  5. C.J. Anderson, DEN
  6. Jeremy Hill, CIN
  7. Ryan Mathews, PHI
  8. Jeremy Langford

Remember how I was just saying the previous tier has a bunch of players with high floors and high ceilings? Well, this next batch of rushers has all of those players’ upside without any of the safety. That’s exactly what makes them all low-end RB2s in terms of draft value.

I could dissect each and every one of them but they’re all kind of interchangeable in terms of their situation and talent levels. They are all either unproven or have a shaky role in their offense. Take Latavius Murray, for example. For whatever reason, the Oakland Raiders seem unwilling to fully commit to him as a feature back. Yet even with that in mind, Murray still has a great deal of talent and could be the kind of guy that breaks out in 2016 and becomes a low end RB1 instead of a borderline RB2. Or what about Jeremy Hill, someone who was insanely hyped last year only to become touchdown dependent and have Giovani Bernard cut into his workload significantly.

Obviously the concerns aren’t identical across the board in this group but those are the kinds of things you’ll have to worry about in selecting any of them. Upside is all fine and dandy but none of these players are particularly safe.

 

Tier 6 – Standard Running Back Rankings

  1. Frank Gore, IND
  2. Chris Ivory, JAX
  3. J. Yeldon, JAX
  4. Giovani Bernard, CIN
  5. Melvin Gordon, SD
  6. Justin Forsett, BAL
  7. Ameer Abdullah, DET
  8. Duke Johnson, CLE
  9. Danny Woodhead, SD

The leader of this pack has to be longtime veteran Frank Gore, a running back who seemingly refuses to let his career die. This isn’t exactly a stat loaded article but here’s a nice little factoid for you; Frank Gore hasn’t missed a single game in five seasons. Think about that for a second…the average NFL career lasts roughly three years and Gore hasn’t missed any time in almost twice that long. Pretty incredible if you ask me and that’s precisely why I believe he’s one of the most undervalued players in fantasy heading into 2016. You don’t need to draft him any earlier than he’s going but that’s exactly why he’s worth stashing. His value is perfect right now as a borderline RB2.

The rest of this group contains players who have the potential to win you your matchup coming off of your bench once bye weeks start rolling around. Their upside isn’t stellar or anything but they’re also solid RB3s who can be inserted into your lineup when you’re in a bind. Guys like Ameer Abdullah and Duke Johnson do possess considerable upside so stashing them instead of forcing your hand at taking a quarterback or tight end earlier than you need to can be the difference between making the playoffs and being on the outside looking in. That’s how you should approach this group of players.

 

Tier 7 – Standard Running Back Rankings

  1. LeGarrette Blount, NE
  2. Arian Foster, MIA
  3. Rashad Jennings, NYG
  4. DeMarco Murray, TEN
  5. Derrick Henry, TEN

This shaky, albeit smaller group than the previous two hosts five players that are essentially stuck in a timeshare at best. You’ve got LeGarrette Blount who will have to compete with young upstart Dion Lewis for meaningful touches, Arian Foster who literally just signed with the Dolphins to back up Jay Ajayi, Rashad Jennings who has a multitude of backs to split time with, and the tandem of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry who are going to be a thorn in each other’s side all year in Tennessee. None of them possess a considerably amount of upside given their individual team issues but that doesn’t mean they can’t be useful if all goes well. Basically, these are players that are a step above those you would automatically cut when you need to make a pickup.

 

Tier 8 – Standard Running Back Rankings

  1. Alfred Morris, DAL
  2. Darren McFadden, DAL
  3. Buck Allen, SD
  4. Charcandrick West, KC
  5. Spencer Ware, KC
  6. DeAngelo Williams, PIT
  7. C.J. Prosise, SEA
  8. Devontae Booker, DEN
  9. Chris Johnson, ARI
  10. Charles Sims, TB
  11. Isaiah Crowell, CLE
  12. Jordan Howard, CHI

When you’re talking about the very end of the top 50 running backs, you’re essentially just hoping for a dart throw to hit bull’s-eye in one shot and that’s okay. You might not cut someone like Rashad Jennings from the previous group right away, but you most certainly can get rid of Buck Allen if it’s clear the Ravens aren’t going to utilize him in any sort of significant manner. That’s essentially what this last bunch is, a couple of backs who are just barely worth a stash until you need to make a move. Besides, we’re talking about actual backups here anyway. None of these players are the starter on their respective teams and really only have considerable value for those looking to handcuff their top back.

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 


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.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Mike Trout

Plans to Return on Thursday
Will Smith

X-Rays Negative on Will Smith's Hand
Jauan Jennings

Gets Incentives Added to Contract
Jakobi Meyers

Unsure About Potential Extension
Matthew Stafford

Off Injury Report Ahead of Week 1
Will Smith

Exits With Hand Contusion
Jackson Chourio

in Lineup Wednesday Despite Hamstring Cramps
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
Christian Yelich

Dealing With Soreness in Lower Back
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Kyle Finnegan

Dealing With Groin Issue
Shohei Ohtani

Will Pitch "Sometime This Weekend"
Jackson Chourio

Absent on Wednesday With Hamstring Cramp
Roman Anthony

Officially Goes on Injured List
Jauan Jennings

Limited on Wednesday, Expected to Play in Week 1
Malik Nabers

Not on Initial Injury Report
Roman Anthony

"High Probability" Roman Anthony Lands on Injured List
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage
Jason Adam

to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Roman Anthony

Will Undergo MRI on Wednesday
Santi Aldama

Bags Double-Double in Losing Effort
Guerschon Yabusele

Erupts for 36 Points Against Poland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia Into Next Round at EuroBasket
San Antonio Spurs

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
Reece Beekman

Joins Magic for Training Camp
Justin Minaya

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Travis Hunter

Jaguars List Travis Hunter as Starting Wide Receiver, Backup Cornerback
Kyle Tucker

Leaves With Calf Tightness on Tuesday
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Max Scherzer

Blue Jays Confident Max Scherzer Will Make Saturday Start Despite Back Tightness
Roman Anthony

Leaves Early With Back Injury
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Done for the Year With Torn ACL
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Nick Kurtz

Back in Action on Tuesday
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Nick Lodolo

Scratched With Illness
Dalton Kincaid

Role Not Expected to Grow?
Quinshon Judkins

Zero Chance Quinshon Judkins Plays Against Bengals?
Najee Harris

Says He's Expecting to Play Against Chiefs
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Departs Monday with Quad Injury
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Stefon Diggs

Expected to Suit Up in Week 1
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
DJ Moore

Bears Experimenting with DJ Moore in Backfield
Rome Odunze

Could Move All Around the Offense
Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales Comfortable With Panthers' Young Receivers
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering NCAA Return
Dallas Goedert

Healthy for Week 1
Marvin Mims Jr.

Returns to Practice Monday
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Carted Off Monday With Knee Injury
Jason Adam

Diagnosed With Ruptured Left Quadriceps Tendon
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Matthew Stafford

Expected to Start in Week 1
Najee Harris

Cleared for Contact, Could Play in Week 1
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Agrees to a One-Year Contract with Milwaukee
Kyrie Irving

"Healing Up Great"
Dante Exum

Mavs Agree on a One-Year Deal
Jaylen Warren

Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Steelers
De'Von Achane

Practicing Monday, on Track to Play in Week 1
Quinshon Judkins

Could Report to Browns This Week
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP