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

One-Man Backfields to Chase in 2020

Antonio Losada recommends one-man backfields to target in fantasy football drafts in 2020. These running backs should have high number of touches at RB and have an ADP outside of the first round.

We're talking about fantasy football here, and in fantasy, volume is the key to rostering and fielding a winning team. While everything boils down to that concept, seeking volume calls for looking deeper than just the name and reputation of players. Put a great running back in an RBBC backfield and his volume--and thus his fantasy outcome--will drop without question. The touches and opportunities will go down and with them the chances at scoring fantasy points.

With that in mind, it makes sense to pursue backfields with clear and very well-defined roles. Even if the players in those backfields are not top-tier options they will get all of the opportunities they can handle, which will ultimately benefit them. Those players might not be that good, but they will compensate for it just on pure volume. And the exact opposite is also true: Great ballcarriers can rack up points even on low volume, separating themselves from the pack.

Today, I will explore some backfields that enter the 2020 season with a clear option as the No. 1 running back poised to rack up chances on both the rushing and receiving sides of the game. Let's get to it!

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

 

Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars

Fournette is one of the best running backs in the NFL right now, but he's still considered a level behind the very best players at the position. Just a quick look at his ADP (27) tells you that he's going off the board after the end of the second round. Other rushers such as Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, or Joe Mixon are all getting drafted inside the first round on average, let alone Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, or Saquon Barkley.

The greatest thing going Fournette's way, though, is the percentage of opportunities that he will see in Jacksonville next season. Per PFF projections, Fournette is one of only five RBs to project to get at least 35% of opportunities among his teammates (all positions considered; rushing attempts and receiving targets factored in). Among those players, his ADP of 27 is way below the others' ADP (average three).

Fournette projects to log 228 rushing attempts, 64 targets, and 239.5 PPR points over the year. Even when considering the Jaguars' wide receivers, Fournette would be third in the pecking order in terms of target share with 14.4% of all targets going his way, only behind D.J. Chark (22.3%) and Dede Westbrook (17.7%).

 

Le'Veon Bell, New York Jets

The Jets felt like they were lacking depth in their backfield and signed veteran Frank Gore to bulk it up a bit. While the image above doesn't include him, you can pretty much flip Dixon's and Perine's expected shares combined for those Gore should get backing up Bell, and you'll have the Jets' 2020 backfield image.

No matter his presence, Bell's dominance of the opportunities among his teammates looks very promising. PFF has Bell projected to reach 228 rushing attempts and 65 targets for a total of 226.5 PPR points in the season. Compared to the rest of the Jets players combined (assuming that is Gore's outcome), he would still beat them in all shares (percentage of rushing attempts, percentage of targets, and percentage of opportunities combined).

Bell currently has an ADP of just 33 (almost a third-rounder) and he's the cheapest RB to project to get at least 55% of his team's carries and at least 10% of his team's targets (all positions considered). All in all, Bell's 33.9% opportunities rank eighth in PFF's projections. He's also expected to finish 2020 third in targets (65) among his Jets teammates, only behind Jamison Crowder (94) and Breshad Perriman (82), and above TE Chris Herndon (59).

 

Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks

The talk about Russell Wilson being underutilized by Seattle in favor of a run-heavy style seems to always be there. And it will stay alive and well entering 2020. That means that Seattle's backfield will make for an appealing one next season, and twice that if we consider the pieces that are part of it. Only two RBs project to reach 50 PPR points next season and Chris Carson doubles Rashaad Penny in projected targets and carries. Even the addition of Carlos Hyde shouldn't impact Carson's appeal, as the recently signed veteran should just be a threat to eat from Penny's opportunities while battling for that RB2 role.

While Carson is expected to reach 243 rushing attempts and log 38 targets, Penny falls way short of those numbers for just 117 carries and 20 targets. The most interesting thing of all, too, is how Carson also profiles as a great player among all of his skill-position teammates. PFF projects Carson to finish first in rushing attempts and fourth in targets only behind Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf (obviously) and also behind TE Greg Olsen (50 targets compared to Carson's 38).

It's not too crazy to think Carson could easily trump Olsen over the year, though. Even while being "only" the fourth-highest option in targets he still projects to finish as the third-best fantasy player in the team: Wilson and Lockett are the only ones above him, and Carson is only expected to get 4.6 fewer PPR points than the latter over the full season.

 

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

If you don't consider Green Bay's backfield (or Aaron Jones for that matter) a "second-tier" backfield, I don't blame you. The truth is Jones is going off draft boards with an ADP of 18, which is a mid-second rounder, so I'm sure you'll see him getting drafting inside the first round often. Even with that, I had to include him here.

Green Bay's offense is basically going to relly on two men: WR Davante Adams and RB Aaron Jones. Only those two have projected opportunity shares over 16% with RB Jamaal Williams coming in third. That might scare you but fear not. Jones projects to log 184 rushing attempts compared to Williams' 100, and he also beats him in projected targets (59 to 42). Other than Adams, only Allen Lazard (a wide receiver, that is) is expected to get targeted more times than Jones (68 to 59).

While Jones' ADP is quite high, he's one of just six running backs expected to finish 2020 as the leading rusher and top-two or top-three most-targeted player among his teammates. His 27.6% opportunity share is the lowest of those in that group but compared to the first player on the next level (second-most in ruAtts and third-most in reTgt, Tarik Cohen) he's light years ahead of his competition (Cohen projects to get just 17.8% of all opportunities in Chicago).

More Fantasy Football Analysis




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

Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

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

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

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

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
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
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
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
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF