Running backs are generally the backbone of dominant fantasy football teams, but the number of bell cow backs continues to shrink as NFL offenses spread the field with the new crop of young quarterbacks throwing the ball more and more often.
With a generational talent like Bijan Robinson entering the fold this season, fantasy owners may need to prioritize dual-threat difference makers like him, Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, and Saquan Barkley early in drafts.
Below are my 2023 fantasy football running back rankings and tiers.
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2023 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings
- 1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
- 2. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
- 3. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
- 4. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
- 5. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
- 6. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
- 7. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
- 8. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
- 9. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
- 10. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
- 11. Breece Hall, New York Jets
- 12. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 13. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
- 14. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
- 15. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
- 16. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
- 17. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
- 18. Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
- 19. Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
- 20. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
- 21. J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
- 22. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
- 23. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
- 24. Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
- 25. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
- 26. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 27. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
- 28. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
- 29. Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
- 30. AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers
Tier 1 Running Backs
- 1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
- 2. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
- 3. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
- 4. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
It didn’t take long for Christian McCaffrey to feel comfortable in a 49ers uniform after last year’s mid-season trade from Carolina. He put up eight RB1 scoring weeks out of 11 after the trade. He finished 2022 with the most receiving yards at the running back position and was second-highest in targets and touchdowns.
Coming off the best season of his career, Austin Ekeler finally came to an agreement with the Chargers and appears ready to be the focal point of the offense again this season. Ekeler has scored 20 and 18 total touchdowns over the last two seasons. He is one of the few running backs with the potential to finish as the highest fantasy scorer at the position.
Bijan Robinson enters the NFL as the most touted rookie running back since the likes of Adrian Peterson. The Falcons took him eighth overall despite having one of the best running games in the league last season behind 1,000-yard rusher Tyler Allgeier. A playmaker on the ground and through the air at Texas, the potential volume in an offense without many established playmakers should provide plenty of fantasy opportunity for Robinson to shine early.
The last running back to be drafted higher than Robinson in the first round, Saquon Barkley had a bounce-back season for the Giants last year with a career high 1,312 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He added 57 receptions for 338 yards, but could not find the end zone through the air. If those touchdown totals can increase, he could jump into the overall number one running back picture.
Tier 2 Running Backs
- 5. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
- 6. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
- 7. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
- 8. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
- 9. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
- 10. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb may be the best pure runners of the group with their throwback grind-it-out styles and powerful running physiques. In PPR leagues, their lack of receiving upside caps their ceiling. They each saw upticks in receptions with a combined 78 targets in 2022. With McCaffrey and Ekeler seeing over 100 targets each, it’s hard to elevate much higher than this on the fantasy rankings.
Jonathan Taylor scored 29 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Colts. Last year, he finished with just four in 11 games. Anthony Richardson will bring some much-needed athleticism and excitement to the quarterback position in Indianapolis. It will be interesting to see how he and Taylor co-exist, but the upside is there. Taylor is just a season removed from 1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing scores.
The number two running back in fantasy points per game, Josh Jacobs finally capitalized on his talent with 1,653 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns for the Raiders last season. Can we get this guy a receiving touchdown already? He has 210 total targets in his four-year career without a single receiving score.
Of the top 10 running backs, Joe Mixon and Tony Pollard have the most potential variance. It appears Mixon will avoid suspension from offseason legal troubles. If so, he is in line for another season of workhorse volume in one of the league’s most powerful offenses. Pollard escaped the NFL Draft without a viable challenger coming to Dallas for the starting running back slot. There are still a number of potential free agent running backs that could sign, including former Cowboys tailback Ezekiel Elliott. If Pollard is the obvious starting running back come week one, he has a ton of fantasy potential.
Tier 3 Running Backs
- 11. Breece Hall, New York Jets
- 12. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 13. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
- 14. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
- 15. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
The first three running backs in tier three are in their second or third NFL seasons and looking to breakout into fantasy stardom. Breece Hall is still recovering from knee surgery, but should benefit from Aaron Rodgers coming to town. Najee Harris earned the fifth most carries of all running backs last season, but his 3.8 yards/attempt yielded the 19th highest fantasy points per game in PPR leagues. After missing his rookie season due to injury, Travis Etienne Jr. burst onto the scene with 265 touches from his college teammate Trevor Lawrence in 2022. He managed 1,441 total yards, but only found the end zone five times.
Dalvin Cook and Aaron Jones are now considered the “old guys” at the running back position that leans on young, fresh legs. At this point, it seems fifty-fifty if Cook is still in Minnesota when the season begins. If he is still in a lead role on the Vikings, or another team, he will be an incredible value in drafts. Jones is still fending off A.J. Dillon as the primary fantasy producer in the Packers’ backfield. He has four straight seasons with at least 60 targets.
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