The Top Ten Dynasty Fantasy Football Running Backs
While we all know that dynasty is a game of youth and wide receivers will insulate their value over a longer period of time, in recent years there has been a strong shift back to running backs at the top of dynasty startups. The reasoning is simple: there are very few true workhorse, league-winning, running backs compared to the past; this scarcity has pushed a select group to the forefront of dynasty team building. If you want to win, you will need one or more of these ten players.
Note: This order is based on DLF RB rankings.
Christian McCaffrey, CAR – ADP Rank RB #1, Overall #1
This one is a gimmie, especially if you play in PPR leagues. CMC has been an absolute force since entering the leagues. No player, at any position, has more PPR fantasy points than McCaffrey does over the last three years. Adding to that incredible stat, he has not missed a single game either. It’s clear why he is the number one dynasty running back as well as the number one dynasty asset by ADP. The only blemish on him is that there are shakeups happening at the quarterback position in Carolina and with the team as a whole as they search for a new coach, regardless, any coach that comes in will feature McCaffrey and he has shown to be QB-proof. Getting the first pick in a dynasty startup means a dead sprint to the podium to draft this dynamic and do-it-all back.
Saquon Barkley, NYG – ADP Rank RB #2, Overall #2
After spending some time as the top dog in dynasty drafts, Barkley has settled in at number two. Missing some time in 2019 is potentially the cause of this drop, but he was still on pace for a great season, sitting at seventh in PPR points per game while the team burned around him. Most owners are still expecting big things for this human highlight reel and if his explosive, punishing runs are any indication, the future is bright. Add to that a healthy offense around him, a year for Daniel Jones to progress, and a new coaching staff and owners should feel good for what is to come.
Alvin Kamara, NO – ADP Rank RB #3, Overall #3
The third-year pro out of Tennessee had a down year in the eyes of many of his owners, but in reality, 2019 was very good for Kamara even while missing three games. He topped 15 PPR points in six different weeks and ended the year as RB8 in PPR. Kamara has been the picture of consistency in the Saints offense, especially now that he has taken the lead role with the departure of Mark Ingram. Kamara is second in running back receptions to Christian McCaffrey over his three years as a pro, continuing to cement himself as a modern running back and as a top PPR or half-PPR option. His spot here at three is well warranted based on what has done in the league and is a clear tier break to the next group of running backs. There are some concerns over usage and what the team looks like if Drew Brees ever hangs it up, but at the high level Brees is playing it, who knows when that will come to pass
Dalvin Cook, MIN – ADP Rank RB #5, Overall #6
Finally a bit of a shakeup over last year’s group with Cook replacing Ezekiel Elliot as the fourth running back and for good reason. When healthy, Cook may be one of the best all-around running backs in the league, on an offense that is dedicated to not letting Kirk Cousins throw too much. The Vikings ended the year fourth in total rushing attempts and before his season ended, Cook led all running backs in touchdowns. Cook is a constant home run threat who can still be used as a power back when short yardage is needed. His questions come in when you look at his injury history. He was constantly banged up while at FSU, missed a season with an ACL tear, and multiple nagging soft tissue injuries will follow him for the rest of his career. I’m going to side with ADP here and look at Zeke in this slot, Cook was a great rookie pick but is tough to pull the wagons behind when doing a startup.
Ezekiel Elliott, DAL – ADP Rank RB #4, Overall #5
Potentially the best pure rusher in the league, Zeke has taken a small tumble in ranks as of late, if you can call going from third to fifth a tumble. The fourth-year player had a solid year, ending 2019 as RB3 and RB2 in rush attempts, just two shy of Derrick Henry. In his four years in the league, no one has more carries than Elliot has notched up, which can be concerning for some. Zeke has a litany of questions surrounding his future, on and off the field, but he did get his monster contract and will be a Cowboy for a long time to come. His smooth running style mixed with unparalleled agility and balance will see him at the top of this list often, but I worry about the future. There is turmoil on the team, on their offensive line and with Zeke personally, and these are things that owners shouldn’t forget as they evaluate him in the future
Nick Chubb, CLE – ADP Rank RB #6, Overall #10
The former Georgia running back held the rushing title for a couple of weeks in 2019 before eventually falling to third in total yards on the year as the Brown imploded around him. However, Chubb did end the year with a monster 5.01 yards per carry on the third most attempts which is very impressive for a second-year player. Chubb showcases above-average talent in multiple running back traits and while he may not be the player he was before his devastating knee injury, at times you hardly notice. He has also shown that he can avoid injury, playing in every game since he was drafted. He could use some more development as a pass catcher to really elevate his game, he ended the year 14th in receptions among running backs. There is also the question of what this team will look like going forward, but the volume is clearly there.
Joe Mixon, CIN – ADP Rank RB #9, Overall #29
Finally a bit of division between rankers and ADP drafters. Mixon slides into this spot after having a bit of a weird year as the team around him lost their way into the first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Mixon ended the year as RB11 but the future is bright and he seems to be far beyond the errors of his past. The Bengals will be selecting a very well equipped QB in Joe Burrow come draft day and will be getting their 2019 first-round offensive lineman, Jonah Williams, back from a season-ending injury. Couple that with other improvements along the line and I think the sky is the limit for a very talented and tough runner like Mixon. Running backs are coming with more and more questions barely halfway through the list but Mixon has some of the most upside in this range.
Leonard Fournette, JAC – ADP Rank RB #8, Overall #21
The Jaguars primary rusher is another curious case, held down in 2019 by incredibly low touchdown numbers, partly due to woes at quarterback, Lenny ended the year as RB6 in PPR. A regression to the mean of his touchdown numbers would have launched him slightly higher as well, but he has never been a huge touchdown-scoring running back. One shining silver lining this year was his unexpected use in the passing game. Fournette totaled 76 receptions, good for third among running backs, crushing his previous two-year totals of 36 and 22 receptions. Adding this element to his game saved his fantasy season and is a great sign for the future if it can continue. Once again he did miss time due to injury, but only one game this year, it is something to watch as his style of punishing football can leave him inactive on game days.
Josh Jacobs, OAK – ADP Rank RB #7, Overall #16
While I think that ADP drafters might be getting a bit too excited, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jacobs stick here as the off=season goes on or continue to rise. The leading rookie rusher is a strong contender for Rookie of the Year, even with missing the final three games of the year, Jacobs still ended the year eighth in rushing yards of all players and third in yards per game. Jacobs was a bit of a hot topic at the start of this off-season, coming into rookie draft season in the mid ’30s of dynasty ADP, he produced a very promising rookie year. Many are expecting this to continue with the team move to Las Vegas and its one of those times when buying in now could be worth a huge payoff in the future.
Aaron Jones, GB – ADP Rank RB #10, Overall #29
Jones has not been a player I was ever running to but the metric crowd darling has put together a wonderful season and a half for owners and the Packers. Jones ended the season second in PPR points and tied for first in touchdowns overall. He did this while being 15th in carries and 11th in receptions for running backs. Being on a high powered offense with a solid defense has helped many running backs before Jones and he has looked the part as one of the best overall weapons for the Pack. Jones is great on first contact and has very impressive agility through the hole and in the receiving game. I do worry about touchdowns being the main driver of his point totals, but it’s not hard to predict these types of looks will continue for the third-year player. There are other backs I’m going to look at before him, but I can’t fault anyone for taking him and it’s a case where the rankers and drafters are in lockstep with his value.
- 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Player Dynasty Review - March 13, 2023
- 2022 NFL Scouting Combine: IDP Dynasty Review - March 10, 2022
- 2021 Post-Draft Superflex and Integrated IDP Rookie Mock - May 14, 2021
