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

Tiered Dynasty Running Back Rankings (Part 1)

What's up RotoBallers. Welcome to part one of our 2016 fantasy football tiered running back rankings for dynasty leagues. You can read the rest of our 2016 dynasty league rankings. Fantasy football covers multiple different types of leagues now. There are Standard Leagues, PPR Leagues, Half-PPR Leagues, Rookie Leagues, and arguably the most popular, Daily Fantasy Football. In this article, I, Justin Bales, will be taking you through my most recent Dynasty League Rankings.

Dynasty Leagues are one of the most difficult types of rankings to project. There are multiple aspects that need to be equally balanced while making the rankings. Each owner needs a mix of players that can produce this season along with players that have the potential to produce for years to come. These rankings take every aspect into consideration, as some younger players may be ranked higher than players that are ready to produce this season.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium NFL Subscription, only $29.99 for the full season. 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.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller’s Dynasty content delivers year-round dynasty fantasy football rankings, trade advice, rookie analysis, and player outlooks. Build a title-winning roster with sleepers, stash targets, and our full dynasty fantasy football guide.

 

Tier 1 – Dynasty Running Back Rankings

  1. Todd Gurley
  2. Le’Veon Bell
  3. Ezekiel Elliott
  4. David Johnson

These top four running backs all have a few things in common with each other. They are all 24 years old or younger and can catch the ball out of the backfield. Each of the running backs will be a fairly large focal point of their offense, as well. Elliott and Bell do have some concerning off the field issues, but that isn’t enough to knock then down in dynasty leagues, where they could be a feature player for the next 10 years. Elliott was recently accused of domestic abuse, but there have been reports that Elliott can prove that it never happened. It’s certainly something to keep your eye on before drafting him with a first round pick.

Le’Veon Bell is the most complicated player of this group. He was suspended for two games last season because of marijuana possession and a DUI and he was suspended for four games again this season after failing to report for his drug tests. On top of that, Bell is coming off a serious knee injury that has hurt running backs in previous years. Even with all these problems, Bell is too talented to ignore in dynasty leagues, and he’s one of the best running backs available.

 

Tier 2 – Dynasty Running Back Rankings

  1. Lamar Miller
  2. Devonta Freeman
  3. Carlos Hyde

There are only three running backs in the second tier here. Lamar Miller was grossly underutilized in Miami, which caused him to leave via free agency and sign with the Houston Texans. He’ll be the clear cut starter for the Texans, who will likely lean on their running game this season. Miller also displayed great receiving potential last season. He is still a young running back with elite upside, but he has yet to prove that he can handle a full season’s workload. He has a ton of upside for a running back in the second tier.

Freeman is coming off an elite fantasy year, and that mostly had to do with his high receiving totals. Those will likely stay, but it’s tough to assume that Freeman will continue to find the end zone at an elite rate this season. On top of that, the Falcons have stated that they want to reduce Freeman’s workload and give more carries to Tevin Coleman to keep each running back fresh. All of the running backs in this tier have the ability to be elite fantasy options, but they all also have questions surrounding their workloads this season.

As is the case with the other running backs in this tier, Hyde’s workload may be reduced because of his injury potential. He’ll be playing in Chip Kelly’s fast paced offense, and Hyde has the ability to put up great numbers. He comes with a bit more risk that Miller and Freeman, but he also comes with a ton of upside for this season and the future.

 

Tier 3 – Dynasty Running Back Rankings

  1. Doug Martin
  2. Mark Ingram
  3. Eddie Lacy
  4. Duke Johnson

This is an interesting tier. The first three players all have something in common. They have all displayed the ability to dominate, but they have all also struggled for at least one season. Martin, Ingram, and Lacy have all displayed good hands, and none of them are all that old. At some point in their career, they struggled, though, and they do come with quite a bit of risk. Still, they are high upside players, and they all have the potential to be RB1s this season.

Duke Johnson is the outlier in this group. He’s only 22 years old and he’s coming off a successful first season. With that being said, he struggled when running the ball and he’s more of a receiving running back that will score fantasy points with receptions. He would be higher, but he likely won’t exceed 200 touches this season, which will make it difficult for him to compete with some of the players ahead of him. He’s a young back with elite upside if the Browns allow him more touches, though.

 

Tier 4 – Dynasty Running Back Rankings

  1. Adrian Peterson
  2. Jamaal Charles

This tier might be the most surprising to some people. Peterson and Charles are both elite running backs this season, but they come in with a ton of question marks in terms of dynasty. Paterson is 31 years old while Charles is 29 years old and they both have dealt with serious leg injuries. Charles’ biggest concern is his health, as his body seems as if it’s beginning to break down. Peterson, on the other hand, seems be healthy, but the Vikings are somewhat phasing him out of their game. Obviously this sounds ridiculous, but they have discussed running more plays out of the shotgun, which would help Bridgewater, but Peterson has really struggled in his career when running out of shotgun. These two players likely only have a couple years left at a high level, and some of the younger backs are the better picks in the long run.

 

Tier 5 – Dynasty Running Back Rankings

  1. Melvin Gordon
  2. Thomas Rawls
  3. C.J. Anderson
  4. Jay Ajayi
  5. Latavius Murray
  6. LeSean McCoy

This tier is filled with talented running backs, who come with different risk factors. Gordon, Rawls, and Ajayi have all dealt with injuries, and it will be interesting to see how they bounce back from them. They, along with Murray, also have better receiving backs on their teams, which means their upside in PPR leagues could be a bit limited. The talent is certainly there, but they will all have ceilings around RB2s instead of a running back to build your team around.

Anderson doesn’t really have injury concerns, but there are questions about his talent level. Last season, he was set to be one of the best running backs in the NFL before flopping and only recording 720 yards and five touchdowns. Once again, there is hype around his name this season, but rookie Devontae Booker may steal some of Anderson’s receptions, which will limit his upside. After his poor performance last year, Anderson should be penciled in as a RB2 with possible potential to become a RB1 if he can hold off the rookie.

Similarly to the last tier, McCoy is somewhat of the outlier in this tier. He has shown the potential to be a workhorse running back in his career, but he struggled a bit in his first season with the Buffalo Bills. McCoy is also 28 years old, which is significantly older than some of the other options, and in this case, the younger running backs are better options in dynasty leagues over the proven veteran.

 

Tier 6 – Dynasty Running Back Rankings

  1. T.J. Yeldon
  2. Giovani Bernard
  3. Jeremy Hill
  4. Jeremy Langford
  5. Matt Jones

The sixth tier consists of five similar running backs. Each of these running backs is young with great potential, but also splits snaps with different types of running backs. They all have great upside, though, especially if an injury would happen, as they would each essentially take over the majority of the snaps. Depending on the type of running back you’re looking for, someone in this tier would fit the bill, as a few of these backs are essentially receivers, while a few are more of the early down running back. They are all great options later in the rounds of your dynasty draft, though.

 

Running Back Dynasty Rankings (Part 1)

Rank Name Position BYE Week
1 Todd Gurley RB 8
2 Le'Veon Bell RB 8
3 Ezekiel Elliott RB 7
4 David Johnson RB 9
5 Lamar Miller RB 9
6 Devonta Freeman RB 11
7 Carlos Hyde RB 8
8 Doug Martin RB 6
9 Mark Ingram RB 5
10 Eddie Lacy RB 4
11 Duke Johnson RB 13
12 Adrian Peterson RB 6
13 Jamaal Charles RB 5
14 Melvin Gordon RB 11
15 Thomas Rawls RB 5
16 C.J. Anderson RB 11
17 Jay Ajayi RB 8
18 Latavius Murray RB 10
19 LeSean McCoy RB 10
20 T.J. Yeldon RB 5
21 Giovani Bernard RB 9
22 Jeremy Hill RB 9
23 Jeremy Langford RB 9
24 Matt Jones RB 9

 

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

Baltimore Ravens

Emery Jones to Start Training Camp on NFI List
Von Miller

Signs With Commanders
Alfred Collins

Agrees to Four-Year Rookie Deal
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Rashawn Slater

Likely Practicing During Extension Talks
Stefon Diggs

Trending Towards Being Available Week 1
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Cleveland Browns

Elerson Smith Retires From Football
Justyn Ross

Chiefs Waive Justyn Ross
Tre Harris

Chargers Hope to Get Tre Harris on the Field Soon
Najee Harris

Likely to Begin Training Camp on NFI List
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Darren Waller

Signs $2 Million Deal With Dolphins
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
C.J. Stroud

Working on Speed, Pocket Mobility Entering Year 3
Daiyan Henley

Daiyan Henley Full-Go for Training Camp
Bradley Beal

Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Kurtis Rourke

Starting Training Camp on NFI List
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
Micah Parsons

Not Worried About Extension Talks
Jahdae Barron

Broncos Agree to Terms With Jahdae Barron on Rookie Deal
Tyrone Broden

Seahawks Place Tyrone Broden, Montorie Foster on NFI List
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Landon Jackson

Lands on PUP List
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Ja'Kobe Walter

Produces Big Numbers at Both Ends Against Nuggets
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Ajay Mitchell

Outstanding Against Magic Tuesday
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
VJ Edgecombe

Busy in Las Vegas Summer League Debut
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Dominick Barlow

to Sit Out Rest of Summer League
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
NBA

Oshae Brissett Links Up with Maccabi Tel Aviv
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Charlotte Hornets

Josh Okogie Waived by Hornets
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Hit In Pinky In All-Star Game, X-Rays Negative
MLB

NL All-Stars Win On Tie-Breaker Home Run Swing-Off
Junior Colson

Competing for Starting Job
Isaiah Likely

Ravens Looking to Extend Isaiah Likely
Kyle Pitts

Not in Falcons' Long-Term Plans?
Quinshon Judkins

Browns in "No Rush" to Sign Quinshon Judkins to Rookie Deal
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
Dereck Lively II

Undergoes Right-Foot Surgery Tuesday
Isaiah Collier

Logs a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Monday
Devin Carter

Posts 17 Points Versus Suns
Bronny James Jr.

Scores 17 Points in Summer League Loss
Harrison Ingram

has Impressive Outing Against Jazz
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Kyle Filipowski

Records 35-Point Double-Double Against Spurs
Kel'el Ware

Dominates Against Celtics
Oneil Cruz

Ties Home Run Derby Distance Record
Cal Raleigh

Wins 2025 Home Run Derby
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Michael Lorenzen

Royals Put Michael Lorenzen on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Junior Tafa

Unsuccessful in his Light-Heavyweight Debut
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Kyle Stowers

Punishes Former Team with Three-Homer Game
St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Select Liam Doyle with Fifth Overall Pick
Colorado Rockies

Rockies Select Ethan Holliday Fourth Overall
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF