Fantasy football drafts are heating up, and more and more fantasy fanatics are joining dynasty leagues. Dynasty fantasy football leagues require a different strategy when it comes draft time, one that requires a long-term look at players. And as we know, there’s no position that has a shorter shelf life than running backs.
One of our favorite platforms for dynasty league is Sleeper Fantasy. Even if you already play fantasy football on Sleeper, you can still use the Sleeper Fantasy Promo Code to sign up for the app’s new pick’em game and receive a $100 deposit match.
With that said, follow along as fantasy football analyst Matt LaMarca breaks down his top fantasy football rankings for dynasty running backs.
Fantasy Football Rankings: Dynasty RBs
- Bijan Robinson
- Jonathan Taylor
- Christian McCaffrey
- Saquon Barkley
- Breece Hall
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- Tony Pollard
- Josh Jacobs
- Travis Etienne
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- Austin Ekeler
- Nick Chubb
- Kenneth Walker
- Najee Harris
- Derrick Henry
- Javonte Williams
- Dameon Pierce
- J.K. Dobbins
- Rachaad White
- D’Andre Swift
- Cam Akers
- James Cook
- Aaron Jones
- Joe Mixon
- Devon Achane
- Dalvin Cook
- Miles Sanders
- Isaiah Pacheco
- Alvin Kamara
- Zach Charbonnet
Tier 1: Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor
It might feel weird to have a rookie as the top running back in dynasty leagues, but that’s how important youth is at the position. By the time you’re 30, your career is basically over.
Robinson figures to step into a massive workload in Year One for a Falcons’ squad that loves to run the football. They were second-to-last in pass rate over expectation last year, and the Falcons’ top three running backs combined for 430 carries last season.
Robinson also stands out as an elite prospect at the position, rushing for 1,580 yards and 20 touchdowns in his final college season. He wouldn’t be my top choice for the position for this season, but he’s probably in the top three. That puts him over the top in dynasty leagues.
Taylor is a bit more seasoned as a three-year veteran, but he’s still just 24 years old. That means that he should still be a top running back for at least the next three seasons, which is really all you can ask for at the position.
Taylor was limited to just 11 games due to injury last season, but he led the league in rushes, yards, and rushing touchdowns in 2021. He also ranked first at the position in Pro Football Focus grade in 2021, and he should bounce back next season. Playing against a mobile quarterback like Anthony Richardson should only open up more holes in the run game and potentially lead to a few more designed pass plays.
Tier 2: Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Breece Hall, Jahmyr Gibbs
There’s only a slight decrease heading from tier one to two tier, but it is noteworthy. Robinson and Taylor are pretty much unimpeachable, while the tier-two guys have at least one red flag.
McCaffrey recently turned 27, and he’s still arguably the top option at the position for the upcoming season. His ability as a pass-catcher is unmatched at the position, and he turned in some monster games after being traded to the 49ers. However, most of his big rushing weeks came in games where Elijah Mitchell was inactive. When Mitchell is healthy, he should siphon off just enough work to keep McCaffrey out of the top tier.
Barkley recently went through a contract dispute with the Giants before ultimately settling on a one-year deal. There’s no denying his talent – he had 1,650 yards and 10 scores last season – but such is the life of an NFL running back. He’s not exactly old at 27, but given his injury history, there are some question marks about his longevity.
Hall and Gibbs are young players with intriguing skill sets. Hall looked dynamic as a rookie for the Jets, averaging 5.8 yards per carry while displaying chops as a receiver. Unfortunately, he’s going to have plenty of competition for touches. Michael Carter remains in town, while the team drafted Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round. The Jets have also recently hosted Dalvin Cook at practice, so it’s possible he enters the fold as well.
Gibbs is another rookie, and the Lions used a premium draft pick on him at No. 12 overall. It’s unclear what his role will look like as a rookie, but you typically don’t draft a running back that high and not feature him. At a minimum, he should be a dynamic pass-catcher out of the backfield, which is the most important skill for a running back in fantasy.
Tier 3: Tony Pollard, Josh Jacobs, Travis Etienne, Rhamondre Stevenson, Austin Ekeler, Nick Chubb, Kenneth Walker
This tier features a mix of promising young players and studs in their prime. It wouldn’t be a huge shock if some of these players moved into tier two after this season.
Pollard is my top player in this group, and it’s hard not to love him in fantasy. He was one of the best running backs in the league on a per-touch basis last season, and he no longer has to share the rock with Ezekiel Elliott. Pollard was the No. 8 running back in PPR leagues last season, despite Zeke stealing 231 carries and 23 targets. Pollard may not absorb all of that work, but he should grab the majority of it, setting him up for a monster season.
Jacobs is similar to Barkley in a lot of ways. He’s a year younger, but he turned in a career year for the Raiders in 2022-23. He led the league with 1,653 rushing yards and more than 2,000 scrimmage yards, but he also had 393 touches. That kind of workload is a bit concerning, with most running backs regressing after massive volume seasons. Still, he’s improved as a pass-catcher over the past few years and should see plenty of opportunities in Las Vegas.
Etienne, Stevenson, and Walker fit similar profiles. All three players are young – Etienne and Stevenson will be entering their third seasons, Walker entering his second – and were productive in 2022. Stevenson is my favorite of the trio. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry last season, and he also was a major factor in the passing game. Part of that was due to necessity, with the Patriots suffering multiple injuries at the position, but Stevenson handled the role with aplomb.
Etienne and Walker are also tantalizing prospects, but both players will face a bit of competition in 2023-24. Both the Jaguars and Seahawks selected running backs in the second round of the draft, so their roles might not be quite as large as expected.
Ekeler and Chubb are also included in this tier, and both players are really good fantasy running backs. Ekeler was actually the No. 1 fantasy runner last year, while Chubb should see a boost in value with Kareem Hunt no longer in town. Unfortunately, both players are creeping toward 30, so they may only have a few good years left in them.
Tier 4: Najee Harris, Derrick Henry, Javonte Williams, Dameon Pierce, J.K. Dobbins
This may be my least favorite tier of running backs for dynasty purposes. For the most part, the players in this tier lack long-term upside, but they’re not particularly cheap.
Harris is still young, and as a former first-round pick, he’s gotten plenty of opportunities in his first two seasons. Unfortunately, he’s been one of the most inefficient running backs in the league. He averaged just 3.9 yards per carry as a rookie, and he was somehow even worse in his sophomore campaign. Some of that can be attributed to poor quarterback play, but it’s fair to wonder if the Steelers are going to start spreading the touches around a bit more.
Henry is the elder statesman of this group, turning the dreaded 30 in January. He’s been an absolute workhorse when healthy over the past few years, leading the league in carries in three of the past four seasons, but his efficiency has started to decline. He’s averaged 4.4 yards per carry or fewer in each of the past two seasons after averaging at least 4.9 yards per carry in the previous three. That’s not bad efficiency, but it’s noteworthy. He also provides very little in the passing attack, so any additional decline as a runner would be a big deal.
Javonte Williams is arguably the most intriguing option in this tier. Williams was one of the most elusive running backs in football as a rookie, and he appeared poised for an excellent second season. However, he suffered an ACL injury in Week 4, which caused him to miss the rest of the year. He has reportedly not been limited to start training camp, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be the same player. The good news is that knee injuries aren’t nearly as big of a deal as they have been in the past, so Williams still provides upside at his current price tag.
Dobbins fits a similar profile. He was another top prospect entering the NFL, but his early career has been limited by injuries. There’s a chance he’s out or limited to start the year, but he should eventually serve as the Ravens’ top running back. That’s a very fantasy-friendly role, and Dobbins has averaged an astounding 5.9 yards per carry for his career, so he could be a steal if he’s ready for Week 1.
Pierce is only entering his second season, but he was solid as a rookie for the Texans. He racked up more than 1,100 scrimmage yards for a dismal offense, adding five touchdowns in the process. He could certainly build on those numbers if the team improves, but they don’t seem committed to him as their long-term option at the position.
Tier 5: Rachaad White, D’Andre Swift, Cam Akers, James Cook, Aaron Jones, Joe Mixon
This tier is comprised primarily of starting running backs, although most of them are of the low-upside variety. There are some guys who could flirt with RB1 upside, but they’re on the older side.
With Leonard Fournette now gone, White should serve as the Buccaneers’ top running back this season. He wasn’t particularly good as a rookie, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, but he entered the league as a decent prospect. He was extremely productive in college, particularly as a pass-catcher, and his athleticism scores are all above average. White could definitely improve with a larger role in Year Two.
Swift will be hoping that a change of scenery helps him tap into his massive potential. He was an early second-round pick in 2020, and he’s displayed flashes of brilliance through his first three seasons. Unfortunately, playing time and injuries were a major issue for him in Detroit, and things don’t figure to get much better in Philly. He’ll likely have to share the RB duties with Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Gainwell, while Jalen Hurts is always a threat to steal touchdowns. He’s an avoid for me at his current price tag.
Akers is another young back who is basically unquestioned as his team’s starter. He spent much of last year in Sean McVay’s doghouse, but he regained his starting spot by the end of the year. The biggest thing working against Akers is his team. The Rams were one of the worst teams in the league last season, and they don’t figure to be much improved this year. That means there might not be a ton of rushing and scoring opportunities.
Cook didn’t get much of an opportunity in his rookie season, but he appears set to take over the lead role in the Bills’ backfield. That’s an enticing proposition – the Bills boast one of the top offenses in football – but it hasn’t been very RB-friendly over the past few seasons. He’ll likely split the touches with Damien Harris, while Josh Allen remains a major threat near the goal line. The good news is that Cook has elite speed for the position, which could lead to a few long touchdowns.
Jones and Mixon are both three-down backs who appear to be on their last legs for fantasy purposes. Jones will turn 29 in December, and he’s going to have to split touches with A.J. Dillon in the Packers’ backfield. The Packers also recently handed the reigns of the offense to Jordan Love, so they could be much worse overall this season.
Mixon could’ve been cut during the offseason but agreed to a pay decrease to stay in Cincinnati. There’s a good chance that this will be his final year with the Bengals, and he could be extremely productive: Cincinnati has an outstanding offense, and Samaje Perine is no longer around to steal touches. Ultimately, Mixon stands out as an excellent addition for teams looking to “win now,” but his role after 2023-24 is very murky.
Tier 6: Devon Achane, Dalvin Cook, Miles Sanders, Isaiah Pacheco, Alvin Kamara, Zach Charbonnet
Now we’re getting into the question marks. Most of these players are not entering the year as guys you’d feel comfortable starting in most leagues. However, some of them could pay big dividends.
Achane is my favorite of the bunch. He was the Dolphins’ third-round pick in 2023 and can absolutely fly, blazing a 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That puts him in the 99th percentile at the position per PlayerProfiler. He’ll have to contend with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., but I think there’s a chance he runs away with the job. After all, you can’t teach speed.
Dalvin has yet to find a home for the upcoming season. He’s recently spent time with the Jets and Dolphins, but neither team has officially pulled the trigger. He would likely take over as the starter wherever he lands, but the longer he’s without a job, the less appealing he becomes for fantasy purposes. Cook could end up missing the early part of the season before signing with a team after someone suffers an injury.
Sanders is coming off the best season of his career, but he did it for the dynamic Eagles’ offense. If he’s going to repeat his production, he’s now going to have to do it alongside a rookie quarterback in Carolina. That’s a risky proposition, but at least Bryce Young doesn’t figure to siphon as many touchdowns from Sanders as Hurts did.
Pacheco went from a virtual unknown to the Chiefs’ starting running back extremely quickly. Unfortunately, he doesn’t catch many passes, and the Chiefs were first in the league in pass rate over expectation. If you had Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, you’d probably throw the ball a ton too. The Chiefs also love to pass the ball near the goal line, which lowers Pacheco’s ceiling quite a bit.
What do you do with Kamara at this point? You can make a strong case that you just shouldn’t draft him. He’s coming off his worst season as a pro, and he’s likely looking at some sort of suspension to start the year. That said, ignoring his upside completely feels like a mistake. He was one of the best running backs in fantasy not too long ago, and a new quarterback in New Orleans could lead to a bounce-back season.
Let’s wrap things up with one final rookie. Charbonnet was a second-round pick, and he’ll join Walker in Seattle. It’s tough to decipher exactly how large his role will be, but he possesses a “do everything” skill set. He was an elite pass-catcher in college, and he looks like the perfect complement to Walker. He should be the more consistent option, while Walker delivers the big-play upside.
