Running back remains the most important position in fantasy due to the opportunity cost that exists. While a high-end receiver may get 10 catches a game, the top RBs will usually have 20+ touches to turn into points and the drop-off from the top tier is far steeper.
1. Christian McCaffrey, CAR
225 rushing yards, 149 receiving yards, 6 TDs, 81.9 points.
Injuries scuttled his 2020 season, but remains the consensus top pick after averaging 27.3 PPG in the three contests he played.
2. Dalvin Cook, MIN
1557 rushing yards, 361 receiving yards, 17 TDs, 315.8 points.
One of two players to average more than 100 rushing yards per game, but with added ability in the receiving game.
3. Derrick Henry, TEN
2027 rushing yards, 114 receiving yards, 17 TDs, 323.6 points.
Has led the league in carries, rushing yards and TDs in each of the past two seasons and has been a top-five fantasy RB despite lack of targets.
4. Alvin Kamara, NO
932 rushing yards, 756 receiving yards, 21 TDs, 336.3 points.
Touchdown totals and receiving ability consistently keeps him near the top of the position in fantasy.
5. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
979 rushing yards, 338 receiving yards, 8 TDs, 197.7 points.
His “down†season saw him finish as RB11 and is likely to bounce back with Prescott and the O-line healthy again.
6. Aaron Jones, GB
1104 rushing yards, 355 receiving yards, 11 TDs, 235.4 points.
Back with the Pack on a big, new deal, Jones has consistently been one of the top fantasy RBs.
7. Austin Ekeler, LAC
530 rushing yards, 403 receiving yards, 3 TDs, 138.3 points.
An excellent asset in PPR leagues, Ekeler saw 63 targets in the eight games he played with Justin Herbert.
8. Nick Chubb, CLE
1067 rushing yards, 150 receiving yards, 12 TDs, 199.7 points.
Perhaps the second-best pure rusher in the league, Chubb remains the lead dog in the Browns’ backfield.
9. Jonathan Taylor, IND
1169 rushing yards, 299 receiving yards, 12 TDs, 234.8 points.
From Week 11 on, he was second in rushing yards, and third in TDs, but might be in more of a RBBC than you’d like.
10. Saquon Barkley, NYG
34 rushing yards, 60 receiving yards, 12.4 points.
Wasn’t performing well under OC Jason Garrett before tearing his ACL and is likely to be eased back in this season.
11. Najee Harris, PIT
2021 rookie
The top RB taken in this year’s draft should immediately step into a three-down role in a good offence.
12. Joe Mixon, CIN
428 rushing yards, 138 receiving yards, 4 TDs, 89.1 points.
The handling of his injury last year frustrated many, but Mixon is set for a big workload in an improving offence.
13. Antonio Gibson, WAS
795 rushing yards, 247 receiving yards, 11 TDs, 184.2 points.
Played just 47% of snaps in his 13 full games last year and still managed to finish as RB12 overall.
14. Chris Carson, SEA
681 rushing yards, 287 receiving yards, 9 TDs, 169.3 points.
Durability is the hard-runner’s biggest concern, but when Carson is on the field, he’s a solid RB2.
15. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC
803 rushing yards, 297 receiving yards, 5 TDs, 158 points.
The definition of a post-hype sleeper, he struggled as a rookie but has low-end RB1 potential in the Chiefs offence.
16. Miles Sanders, PHI
867 rushing yards, 197 receiving yards, 6 TDs, 156.4 points.
Has shown the talent to make a big fantasy impact, but the question is whether he’ll get the volume.
17. Josh Jacobs, LV
1065 rushing yards, 238 receiving yards, 12 TDs, 214.8 points.
Finished as RB8 last season, but the Raiders went ahead and signed Kenyan Drake while dismantling their offensive line.
18. David Montgomery, CHI
1070 rushing yards, 438 receiving yards, 10 TDs, 237.8 points.
An absolute monster down the stretch, Monty had 824 total yards and eight TDs in his final six games.
19. D’Andre Swift, DET
521 rushing yards, 357 receiving yards, 10 TDs, 166.8 points.
Showed good potential in rookie season, but now looks stuck in a timeshare on a poor team and is dealing with a core injury.
20. Gus Edwards, BAL
723 rushing yards, 129 receiving yards, 6 TDs, 123.7 points.
With J.K. Dobbins out for the season, the efficient Edwards could be in for the biggest workload of his career.
21. Damien Harris, NE
691 rushing yards, 52 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 88.8 points.
Most likely to get the lion’s share of carries for the Pats, but the team tends to lean on the committee approach.
22. James Robinson, JAC
1070 rushing yards, 344 receiving yards, 10 TDs, 225.9 points.
Travis Etienne’s injury opens things up for the former UDFA to repeat his surprising rookie season.
23. Mike Davis, ATL
642 rushing yards, 373 receiving yards, 8 TDs, 177 points.
After putting up RB1 numbers when McCaffery was out last year, Davis lands in a featured role in another good offence.
24. Kareem Hunt, CLE
841 rushing yards, 304 receiving yards, 11 TDs, 199.5 points.
The most high-end handcuff there is, Hunt finished just 0.2 points behind teammate Nick Chubb.
25. Javonte Williams, DEN
2021 rookie
Patience may be needed with Williams, who looks to be in a time-share to start the season, but could earn a bigger role.
26. Myles Gaskin, MIA
584 rushing yards, 388 receiving yards, 5 TDs, 143.7 points.
Burst onto the scene in his sophomore season and his receiving ability gives him the upside of a high-end RB2.
27. Darrell Henderson Jr., LAR
624 rushing yards, 159 receiving yards, 6 TDs, 122.3 points.
Looks to have the lead role in an excellent offence, but the trade for Sony Michel raises a few usage questions.
28. Raheem Mostert, SF
521 rushing yards, 156 receiving yards, 3 TDs, 91.7 points.
Has played just 31 games in three seasons and now must fight off rookie Trey Sermon to keep top job.
29. Chase Edmonds, ARI
448 rushing yards, 402 receiving yards, 5 TDs, 141.5 points.
The Cards’ addition of James Conner puts a serious damper on Edmonds’ fantasy potential.
30. Ronald Jones II, TB
978 rushing yards, 165 receiving yards, 8 TDs, 172.3 points.
Had a good 2020 thanks to some great efficiency, but Bucs backfield remains RBBC, now with Gio Bernard taking a receiving role.
31. Michael Carter, NYJ
2021 rookie
Fell in the draft, but landed in a great spot in terms of fantasy. Should be the Jets’ leader by season’s end.
32. Leonard Fournette, TB
367 rushing yards, 233 receiving yards, 6 TDs, 114 points.
Was the Bucs’ top RB during their playoff run, but isn’t as efficient as Jones and will lose targets to Bernard.
33. Zack Moss, BUF
481 rushing yards, 95 receiving yards, 5 TDs, 94.6 points.
With the Bills utilizing multiple RBs and being pass-heavy, there’s probably less upside for Moss than you think.
34. Trey Sermon, SF
2021 rookie
A very good stash option, Sermon is a decent bet to end the season as the 49ers top dog.
35. Melvin Gordon III, DEN
986 rushing yards, 158 receiving yards, 10 TDs, 182.4 points.
Finished as RB13 overall last year, but will have to fend off rookie Williams for carries as season wears on.
36. Phillip Lindsay, HOU
502 rushing yards, 28 receiving yards, 1 TD, 62.5 points.
The former Bronco looks like he’ll be the featured back on a Houston team that will likely be very poor.
37. Sony Michel, LAR
449 rushing yards, 114 receiving yards, 2 TDs,
Considering Henderson’s durability issues, Michel is a must-own handcuff in this Rams offence.
38. James Conner, ARI
721 rushing yards, 215 receiving yards, 6 TDs, 147.1 points.
Will be in a backup role behind Edmonds, but his real value should come with his work at the goal line.
39. Kenyan Drake, LV
955 rushing yards, 137 receiving yards, 10 TDs, 179.7 points.
Will get the majority of his work in the passing game, but could be a great handcuff is Jacobs goes down.
40. AJ Dillon, GB
242 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 39.3 points.
Remains in the shadow of Aaron Jones, but will see a workload increase with Jamaal Williams gone.
41. Jamaal Williams, DET
505 rushing yards, 236 receiving yards, 3 TDs, 111.6 points.
Has seemingly worked his way into a split backfield situation with Swift in Detroit.
42. J.D. McKissic, WAS
365 rushing yards, 589 receiving yards, 3 TDs, 151.4 points.
Led all RBs in targets last season, but new QB Fitzpatrick isn’t exactly known for checking down.
43. Tony Pollard, DAL
435 rushing yards, 193 receiving yards, 5 TDs, 106.8 points.
One of the best handcuffs in fantasy, Pollard should also see some normal work in the passing game.
44. Damien Williams, CHI
Did not play in 2020.
After opting out of the 2020 season, many will forget that Williams was nearly the Super Bowl MVP with the Chiefs.
45. Nyheim Hines, IND
380 rushing yards, 482 receiving yards, 7 TDs, 161.7 points.
A lot more valuable in PPR, but should be noted that Wentz has 127 fewer RB targets than Rivers over the past two years.
46. Devin Singletary, BUF
687 rushing yards, 269 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 124.6 points.
Despite ranking in the top 10 for snaps last season, he was outside the top 20 in touches and yardage.
47. Rashaad Penny, SEA
34 rushing yards, 3.4 points.
Former first-rounder just can’t stay healthy, but has great upside as Carson’s handcuff.
48. Giovani Bernard, TB
416 rushing yards, 355 receiving yards, 6 TDs, 134.6 points.
The long-time Bengals RB should be line for most of the receiving work out of the Bucs backfield.
49. David Johnson, HOU
691 rushing yards, 314 receiving yards, 8 TDs, 163 points.
Lost his grip on the starting job over the off-season, but still remains in the mix.
50. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE
2021 rookie
Averaged an outstanding 7.7 YPC in the pre-season and could steal some carries from Harris.
51. James White, NE
121 rushing yards, 375 receiving yards, 3 TDs,
As about as pure of a receiving back as there is, White should be a sneaky add in PPR leagues with Mac Jones taking over at QB.
52. Alexander Mattison, MIN
434 rushing yards, 125 receiving yards, 3 TDs, 80.4 points.
Strictly a handcuff for Cook, Mattison’s real value depends on a big workload.
53. Chuba Hubbard, CAR
2021 rookie
Last year, Run CMC’s handcuff, Mike Davis, was a league-winner. This year the Canadian takes over the backup role.
54. Darrynton Evans, TEN
54 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, 1 TD, 15.1 points.
If Derrick Henry ever slows down or misses time, Evans is man on deck to take that big role.
55. Tevin Coleman, NYJ
53 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards, 10.7 points.
Veteran RB should get the most looks early in the season, but durability and competition are a big concern.