Running backs are the position that fantasy football drafters — if they are trying to win their league championship — are hitting early and hitting the hardest. This position simply offers the most potential value. And with the number of running backs that earn first-round fantasy grades, it makes the most sense to hit this group right away.
Obviously the likes of Michael Thomas, Davante Adams, and Tyreek Hill are some of the mid-to-late first rounders that are wide receivers and not running backs. But for the most part, it is smart to add running backs right out of the gate.
Now there is no one “right” way, per se, about of going RB-RB, RB-WR, or even WR-RB to start the first two rounds. But going double WR is something that, unless you are able to capitalize on something like a Thomas/Julio Jones, Thomas/Hill, or even a Thomas/DeAndre Hopkins pairing, you are severely behind the ball in terms of stacking running back. It forces you to hit that position for the next few rounds, all while other positional value floats right on by.
This list will include the top 15 fantasy running back options for the 2020 fantasy football season, based on projections, 2019 totals, and just overall offensive involvement. There are the predictable four that will top all FF draft boards, but the other 11 members can all help give you great depth at RB, potentially letting you address WR for the middle rounds if you are able to grab two top-15 options.
With that in mind, let us look at the 15-best fantasy running backs that can help you win your league this season (all 2019 season stats are gathered from Pro Football Reference, and all estimated draft positions are operating based on a 12-team league format).
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Top Fantasy Football Running Backs
15. Aaron Jones – Packers
2019 stats – 236 carries, 1,084 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, 49 catches, 474 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns
Aaron Jones has officially arrived for the Green Bay Packers.
The former UTEP running back absolutely broke out to lead all running backs with 19 total touchdowns on the year, which is (unfortunately) a very unsustainable number for him to repeat in ‘20.
The Packers’ offense, in its first year under new head coach Matt LaFleur, succeeded in the same style and scheme that helped get Derrick Henry solid footing in the league. And while King Henry’s power running style contrasts heavily with the do-it-all style that Jones uses, both were able to find success in the LaFleur system.
Unfortunately, it is not expected for Jones to repeat that level of success in ‘20, albeit not necessarily being a bad thing. The offense is expected to be a bit more well-rounded around Jones, QB Aaron Rodgers, and Adams, so fewer touches for Jones can be expected.
Jones’ efficiency should go up this year, even with having to replace starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga with a combo of Ricky Wagner and/or Billy Turner.
A more prevalent inclusion in the passing game can be expected of Jones, but his ceiling should be at 12 total touchdowns. Do not be surprised if Jones finishes this season with fewer than double-digit total scores, with only 6-8 of those being on the ground.
Projected Average Draft Position (ADP) – 3.07
14. Chris Carson – Seahawks
Rushing – 278/1230/7
Receiving – 37/266/2
Fumbling problems and injury concerns aside, Chris Carson is being shunned in fantasy drafts, which can represent huge value for you around the end of round three.
Being the RB1 in one of the heaviest run-first offenses in the league, Carson apparently has the trust of HC Pete Carroll even through his fumble-itis. Which means that he should not lose many touches to backups Carlos Hyde and DeeJay Dallas. The Seahawks’ offensive line is solid enough to continue to pave holes for Carson, but his true value this year is going to be how he is able to become a bigger part of the passing game.
With tight ends Will Dissly and Greg Olsen forming a formidable 1-2 combo, along with D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett at WR, targets may be a bit hard to come by for Carson. But if he can tack on at least eight more to get up to 45, that puts him in great territory to pay dividends on his falling draft stock.
ADP – 4.03
13. Austin Ekeler – Chargers
Rushing – 132/557/3
Receiving – 92/993/8
Phillip Rivers loves throwing passes to running backs – ever heard this story before?
Even with Rivers out of the picture and now in Indy, Austin Ekeler should be able to put up top-15 RB numbers, regardless of Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert taking snaps at QB.
Ekeler can thrive as the leading receiver on the Chargers in ‘20 if needed, but he also has enough carries under his belt to be the bell-cow on the ground too. And even though both Justin Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley will vulture some touches per game from him, Ekeler is the clear-cut RB1 in LA.
The only issue here is that his draft position will probably be a bit rich for his production. People will overvalue his high receiving totals from last year, numbers that could be close to being replicated, but will still fall around 15 receptions short.
11 total touchdowns is a pretty fair number for Ekeler to hit again in ‘20, with there being more of an even distribution between through the air and on the ground. If Ekeler is there in the beginning of the third round, jump on him, as he can outplay his ceiling and become a rookie QB’s best friend.
ADP – 2.10
12. Nick Chubb – Browns
Rushing – 298/1494/8
Receiving – 36/278/0
Nick Chubb’s biggest concern for this year? Kareem Hunt.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski finally has two formidable RBs at his disposal, and his heavy run scheme should fit perfectly into giving both at least 10-12 touches per game. But Chubb, who just was a part of one of the heavier rushing attacks last year, looks to be one of the backs that has the most rushing attempts down near the goal line.
Chubb was an absolute monster on the ground, falling six yards short of 1500 rushing yards. That yardage amount should go down, settling closer to 1250, especially if Hunt is able to play a full season. But if Chubb remains the bell cow and Hunt is not there for a full season, then a repeat of ‘19 is fully in the cards.
The first year under a new offensive-minded HC with a new game plan can be a hard transition for an offense to make. But for Chubb, going from a run-focused game plan to a run-focused game plan should only make him more efficient as the season progresses. With Hunt in the fold, Chubb’s ADP is quite low for a top-15 back, so jump on him no sooner than the middle of the second round (grabbing Hunt four rounds later is a safe plan to have 100% of the CLE backfield shares).
ADP – 2.06
11. Kenyan Drake – Cardinals
Rushing – 170/817/8
Receiving – 50/345/0
One of two players on this list that comes into a (semi)new situation with huge upside, Kenyan Drake is the clear-cut RB1 for the Arizona Cardinals. Chase Edmonds was given a chance when David Johnson got injured last year, yet Drake was acquired shortly thereafter because Edmonds was not a starting-caliber back.
Drake is surrounded by Kyler Murray, Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald, and other weapons that make this AZ offense a huge upside play in ‘20. But Drake has the highest expectations surrounding him, which may put a big weight on his shoulders for this year.
Drake’s value is going to be huge, and his ADP is going to reflect that. So if you are a huge believer in Drake and what he can do for AZ, then taking him at the end of the first round or the beginning of the second round is going to be the ideal territory for him.
However, there is a lot of uncertainty here for his role and how much he will get fed with all the other mouths that need feeding. So until his role is strictly laid out and expectations are known, he will sit just outside the top 10.
ADP – 2.05
10. Derrick Henry – Titans
Rushing – 303/1540/6
Receiving – 18/206/2
King Henry absolutely destroyed teams last year, to the tune of 102.7 yards/game. While over 1500 yards is going to be a hard feat to replicate, his TD totals should increase, as should his involvement in the receiving game.
With scatback Dion Lewis with the Giants, Henry only has rookie Darrynton Evans behind him on the depth chart. So his involvement in the passing game should only increase this season. Around a two-fold increase in receptions should be a fair expectation for Henry, and with QB Ryan Tannehill just having signed a new contract, Henry now has some consistency at the QB position — something that will only help him be more efficient.
Teams obviously know how much more of a threat Henry is on the ground than through the air, so he will face even more loaded boxes in 2020. But if he is able to increase his passing-game involvement, then his eight total scores should get up into double-digits this year too.
With an expected early run on RBs, Henry could easily slot into the first five picks of the second round – take him if you can, the output is almost guaranteed. His lack of guaranteed passing game contributions has him a bit lower on this list than others, however.
ADP – 2.03
9. Josh Jacobs – Raiders
Rushing – 242/1150/7
Receiving – 20/166/0
All Josh Jacobs did in his rookie season was rush for over 1100 yards and seven touchdowns, giving the Las Vegas Raiders a perfect offensive building block for their future.
And those outputs should actually be looking better and better when he goes through this upcoming season as well.
Facing the Panthers, Saints, and Patriots to open his season, Jacobs will need to become a bigger threat in the passing game if he wants to start out his sophomore campaign strong. The CAR defense is nothing too concerning, but both the Saints and Patriots throw formidable D-units at Jacobs, meaning that he is going to need to be a dual option if he wants to be featured.
Jacobs was pretty quiet this offseason, as the buzz following him didn’t really seem to pick up until camp opened recently. But with Derek Carr now having Henry Ruggs III to throw to, on top of Darren Waller and others, Jacobs has the option to be a threat in the passing game. He'll also be the RB1 option, seeing as how Jalen Richard is merely a pass-catching option in the LV offense.
ADP – 2.02
8. Joe Mixon – Bengals
Rushing – 278/1137/5
Receiving – 35/287/3
Joe Mixon is being left behind in a lot of offseason discussions about top fantasy RBs, which is actually what you hope happens. And being a starting RB with a rookie QB under center is a very good place to be in, fantasy production-wise.
Mixon, who has Giovanni Bernard as more of a handcuff than any sort of vulture, seemed to thrive in Zac Taylor’s offense in the first year under their new HC. While his receiving production was a bit low, his rushing numbers were quite remarkable, especially with how awful that OL was and how inconsistent the rest of the offense was.
So, if Mixon can thrive in inconsistencies, just wait to see how well he performs with Joe Burrow under center, Jonah Williams on the OL, and both A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd at WR. With more mouths to feed, rushing for 1,100-plus yards seems actually like a possible outcome. And he should be able to put together a strong start to the season (Chargers, Browns, Eagles) — especially as Burrow gets his feet wet.
ADP – 3.01
7. Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Chiefs
Rookie
The curious case of Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the explosive offense is leading to a booming price tag in fantasy drafts. The LSU rookie is being pushed into the middle of the first round, which is quite rich for a player that has not taken a single snap in an NFL game.
So having CEH as the seventh-highest back on this list is caused by 1) offseason buzz, 2) expected role and what the surrounding offense can do, and 3) pro readiness.
The buzz surrounding CEH is huge, but only caused by the opt-out of incumbent starter Damien Williams. Having been taken in the first round, KC obviously liked what they saw from CEH, so the ceiling is probably one of the highest of the remaining backs on this list.
His expected role, and something that has so far been true in offseason workouts, is that he will be the starter coming out of camp, with Darrell Williams and DeAndre Washington spelling him. His pro readiness stems from being a part of the scheme that LSU runs, which is nearly what some NFL teams run, helping provide players like CEH easy transitions into the league.
CEH’s ADP is going to be a very tough pill to swallow, especially if he does not produce for a player drafted this high, but the ceiling is huge, so taking a chance on him at the end of the first round is for sure within the realm of acceptable possibilities.
ADP – 1.09
6. Miles Sanders – Eagles
Rushing – 179/818/3
Receiving – 50/509/3
Over 1300 total yards in his rookie campaign, Miles Sanders is the clear-cut RB1 in Philly for the Eagles, but his recent camp injury puts a bit of a damper on that excitement.
Sanders burst last year and put together a superb first season, leading into offseason talks of his breakout in his second year, which would most likely result in 1,000-plus rushing yards and double-digit total touchdowns.
Boston Scott is getting a lot of talk as Sanders’ backup this offseason, which seems to have a ton of potential to it. However, Scott had a decently-large role last year when injuries struck, and while the Philly O was all sorts of misaligned, Scott was able to make a name for himself, surprisingly.
Still, Sanders, provided his injury does not leak into the regular season, is the easy RB1 here and should be treated as such in drafts. The final player with a projected ADP outside of the first round, Sanders can provide great value as your second RB drafted, or a great option if you go WR first.
ADP – 2.08
5. Dalvin Cook – Vikings
Rushing – 250/1135/13
Receiving – 53/519/0
The absolute steal of most ‘19 fantasy drafts (even as a second-rounder), Dalvin Cook was a huge reason why some people ended up winning their leagues. Producing a top-five RB line with over 1600 total yards and 13 total TDs, Cook will have a huge role this season, injuries aside.
If he can remain healthy, then Cook is the top offensive option in Minnesota, even with Adam Thielen the top dog at WR with Stefon Diggs in Buffalo. Behind a retooled offensive line that looks to hopefully put its inconsistent and injury-plagued history behind, Cook is the perfect piece in a Gary Kubiak-led offense that will be run-focused.
Cook is the fifth-best RB in fantasy, plain and simple, as his injury concerns hold him back from jumping into the fop four. Look for Cook in the middle of the first round, and his backup Alexander Mattison starting around the ninth round as a quality handcuff.
ADP – 1.05
4. Alvin Kamara – Saints
Rushing – 171/797/5
Receiving – 81/533/1
Only Alvin Kamara can put up over 1200 total yards and 6 total TDs and have a ‘down year,’ yet, that is what his ‘19 season was.
In a Saints offense that relies on Drew Brees connecting with Michael Thomas to open up planes for Kamara and backup Latavius Murray, Kamara has thrived as the second-best dual-threat RB in the league, behind our no.1 guy on this list. Injuries have pushed his production back a bit, but he looks to be fully healthy and ready to produce at a 1.4 ADP level.
With Emmanuel Sanders the new WR2, some targets may be taken away from Kamara. But it would be pretty tough to put up a fourth consecutive season of exactly 81 catches anyways. You should have no issues taking Kamara at 1.3, 1.4, or any slot after if he falls.
He sits below our No. 3 option here based solely on his durability and health issues — production not really being a factor there.
ADP – 1.04
3. Ezekiel Elliott – Cowboys
Rushing – 301/1357/12
Receiving – 54/420/2
Over 1700 total yards and 14 total TDs seems pretty standard for Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys, yet it is such an impressive line that it truly does not receive enough celebration.
Behind a stout OL (now that has to replace center Travis Frederick) and with Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and rookie CeeDee Lamb as WRs, as well as Dak Prescott behind center, this offense is one of the best in the league, top to bottom.
Elliott is that lynchpin here, a player that helps keeps the rushing attack at the forefront of the offense, all while being a huge factor in the passing game to force the defense to pick who to leave open.
Even with needing to replace Frederick at center, this offense is going to be one of the best yet again, and Zeke is going to be that catalyst that helps push them along. 1300 yards and 10-plus TDs on the ground is for sure not out of the realm of possibilities, but his 400-plus receiving yards may be threatened with needing to feed Cooper, Gallup, Lamb, and new TE1 Blake Jarwin.
If there is a downtick in production for Zeke, it should only come in the passing game.
ADP – 1.03
2. Saquon Barkley – Giants
Rushing – 217/1003/6
Receiving – 52/438/2
The second-best player for this upcoming season, Saquon Barkley is the offense in New York for the Giants, plain and simple. His role is quite defined, and he is what helps keep this offense afloat, both through the air and on the ground.
Not much needs to be said here, as Barkley’s production, even with his injuries, was stout last year. And with no real offensive additions made (except for drafting LT Andrew Thomas), Barkley will be asked yet again to help lead this offense out of mediocrity.
In three fewer games, Barkley rushed for 304 fewer yards and 5 fewer TDs, and caught 39 fewer balls, resulting in 283 fewer receiving yards and 2 fewer receiving TD' s. Expect him to best his ‘19 numbers by a considerable amount, especially his total TDs.
ADP – 1.02
1. Christian McCaffrey – Panthers
Rushing – 287/1387/15
Receiving – 116/1005/4
The absolute unstoppable force that is Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey is not going away anytime soon, which should absolutely scare defenses. And with the new HC and OC in the building, expect CMC to be used in so many intuitive ways that maximize his talents.
What needs to be said here that hasn’t already? CMC is the guy that should be going first overall in all drafts, and if he is passed on, then you should absolutely jump on him to stop his fall. He is the top guy in all rankings, PPR or not, and his lion share of the offensive touches makes him a top option every year – DO NOT PASS HIM UP.
ADP – 1.01
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