While there is still time before the 2023 NFL season kicks off in September, it’s officially Best Ball draft season for fantasy football players. To help you find success in your drafts, check out these 2023 Best Ball Running Back Rankings which can be used to identify sleepers, starters and scrubs. If you’re playing Best Ball on Underdog Fantasy Football, be sure to take advantage of the Fantasy Labs Underdog Fantasy promo code and get a $100 deposit bonus when you sign up.
If you’re new to Best Ball, here’s a quick rundown of how it works. If you love drafting fantasy football teams but aren’t a fan of season-long management, Best Ball is the perfect format for you. In this format, entrants draft a team of players in a snake format draft. Throughout the season, there are no waivers, substitutions, or trades. Each week your top scorers at each position automatically are moved into your starting lineup.
For Running Backs, it’s important to know that receptions are given 0.5 fantasy points per reception. Both receiving and rushing yards are 0.1 fantasy points per yard and 6.0 fantasy points per rushing or receiving touchdowns. It’s also important that each week you start two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end and a flex spot.
With the current state of the position in the NFL, you’ll definitely want to build in plenty of depth at the position. The good news is that plenty of players who are producing points since most teams use multiple running backs in their rotation. Another key strategy to consider for best ball is “handcuffing.” Handcuffing is drafting a big-name running back’s backup in order to have him if the primary running back is injured. For example, if you draft Dalvin Cook early, handcuffing would be drafting Alexander Mattison to step up in case of injury. In Best Ball, the players on your roster with the most points are automatically inserted into the lineup, so it won’t take any action on your part after you draft your star and his handcuff.
Here are the top 30 in my Underdog Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings with some brief analysis at the bottom of the page.
2023 Best Ball RB Rankings
- Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
- Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
- Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
- Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
- Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
- Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
- Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
- Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
- Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
- Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Breece Hall, New York Jets
- Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
- Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
- Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
- Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
- Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
- Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
- Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks
- Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
- Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
- Dalvin Cook, Free Agent
- J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
- Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
- Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
- James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
- Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
- D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles
How I’m Drafting Running Backs in 2023
Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson!
The potential of a full year of Christian McCaffrey in Kyle Shanahan’s offense is the only thing that kept rookie RB Bijan Robinson from claiming the top spot in my rankings. McCaffrey would have been the top RB in fantasy football based on his production after joining San Francisco and should be even more critical after Shanahan has a full offseason to come up with creative ways to get him involved. If he’s healthy, he’ll be a top play every week. He’s the only RB going in the top eight overall in ADP, but Robinson isn’t far behind.
The promising rookie from Texas should step right into a bell-cow role in coach Arthur Smith’s offense in Atlanta. Smith’s system gave us peak years from Derrick Henry, and Robinson fits that mold but with much more ability as a receiver. Last year, Atlanta led the NFL with 559 rushing attempts, so Robinson should get plenty of volume with both a high ceiling and a high floor as long as he stays healthy. Handcuffing him with Tyler Allgeier late makes sense to protect against injury, but barring a big injury, Robinson’s stats should be very healthy by the end of his first year in the NFL.
Can we call it a comeback?
After being the top player in many drafts last season, Jonathan Taylor was a major disappointment last season and the Colts offense sputtered and often stalled. With dynamic rookie QB Anthony Richardson demanding attention as a running threat and hopefully an improved offense as a whole under new coach Shane Steichen, I expect a bounceback year from Taylor. Steichen made Miles Sanders a very productive back last year with Philadelphia, and Taylor brings a lot more raw potential than Sanders. He did look strong during his first few games back from injury last season, giving me hope that with a better attack around him, he can return to fantasy dominance.
I slotted Taylor just above Tony Pollard and Saquon Barkley, who I think are also poised for huge years if they stay healthy. Josh Jacobs and Nick Chubb round out the top nine running backs in my rankings, and I think there’s a sharp dropoff to the next group of rushers that all come with slightly more risk. Depending on how many teams are in your format, you want to grab at least one of the top nine running backs if at all possible since the next tier down comes with lots higher bust potential.
Looking for upside in all the right places
Just outside my top nine, there are a few options that come loaded with upside. Travis Etienne and Breece Hall both showed signs of fantasy stardom last season and could be poised for breakout years as feature backs in offenses that should be markedly improved. The growth of the Jaguars and Hall’s injury concerns made me slot Etienne one slot higher, but I’d be thrilled to land either young rusher at this point in drafts since their ceilings are both so high.
If you can pair one of the high-risk, high-ceiling young options with a “safer” more established option like Rhamondre Stevenson, Najee Harris, Joe Mixon or even Miles Sanders, go for it. In fact, I don’t mind focusing on other positions like tight end or wide receiver and then double or even triple-dipping in this tier from 10-25 to build in extra depth at the injury-prone and volatile position of running back.
A couple of wrong places to look for upside based on their ADP are J.K. Dobbins, Rachaad White and James Conner. I have them ranked significantly below where they’re currently coming off the board. I still include them in my top 30 and would take them in the right situation, but most of the time, they’re flying off the board before several options with greater potential.
One other wild card to watch closely is where Dalvin Cook ends up after being released by the Vikings. His release opens the door for Alexander Mattison to step into a full-time role. He definitely has top-10 upside in his new role since the Vikings lean heavily on their running back. Wherever Cook lands could give his value a huge boost or totally destroy it. I’d take him around 22 with the unknown boom-or-bust factor. He could jump back up near the top 10 or fall out of the top 30 entirely, depending on his expected role in his new home.
Strategic Sleepers
There is a lot of depth at running back after you drop outside the top 25. Since many teams are using more than one running back, there are lots of options that should get enough touches to be considered. I’m very high on Seahawks’ rookie RB Zach Charbonnet, and even slipped him into my top 30. He has great three-down potential and should get plenty of work alongside Kenneth Walker to start the season. Coach Pete Carroll isn’t afraid to shake up his backfield, and Charbonnet’s style reminds me too much of Chris Carson’s not to be a favorite of Carroll in a run-heavy attack.
Another rookie I like a lot but slotted just outside my top 30 since his path to playing time is a little less clear is Miami’s Devon Achane. Achane is a great fit for the offense and is loaded with big-play potential, but it may take him a while to move ahead of Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. on the depth chart. Once he does, though, he has a very high ceiling.
Rookies aren’t the only players outside the top 25 that bring upside, though. Javonte Williams is coming back from an injury but should be ready to take over as the Broncos’ top running back this season. He received plenty of hype and attention last year before the injury, and don’t forget how much of a superstar Alvin Kamara was in Sean Payton’s offense. If you can grab Williams as your third running back in 12-team leagues, he could end up being an absolute steal. It’s also important to remember that Brian Robinson Jr. was playing his rookie season after dealing with a gunshot wound and still looked solid. He comes into Commanders’ camp as the favorite for a heavy workload and should have a strong sophomore campaign.
Other options in potential timeshares that I like better than their ADP include Damien Harris in Buffalo, Roschon Johnson in Chicago and Chuba Hubbard in Carolina.
Speaking of sleepers…if you’re looking for a new home for your more traditional fantasy football leagues, check out our Sleeper Fantasy promo code.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
NFL DFS Week 8 DraftKings Main Slate Look Ahead: Early Values in Our Projections
Daily Fantasy Football Week 8 NFL DFS Stacks and Picks on DraftKings and FanDuel
NFL DFS Week 9 DraftKings Main Slate Look Ahead: Early Values in Our Projections
Daily Fantasy Football Week 16 NFL DFS Pricing Risers and Fallers on DraftKings
