In the realm of fantasy football, the San Francisco 49ers’ running back, Christian McCaffrey, is undoubtedly the top choice for the 2023 season. Alongside McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler and Tony Pollard also secure spots in my rankings for the top 75 fantasy football running backs. Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb are also prominent figures within the top five of my rankings. Saquon Barkley, Aaron Jones, Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs, and Alexander Mattison round out the top ten.
While elite running backs are typically favored in fantasy football drafts, their susceptibility to injuries can make them unpredictable. For those looking to deviate from the traditional strategy of selecting running backs in the first round, it’s worth exploring mid- to late-round players with average draft positions. When researching potential targets for your backfield, consider factors such as injury history, workload expectations, anticipated strength of schedule, and past performance.
To streamline the process, I’ve categorized my top targets into five tiers: Hall of Fame, All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Just Napping (early to mid-round targets), and Deep Sleepers (mid- to late-round sleepers). The complete rankings can be found below:
Hall of Fame:
1. Christian McCaffrey
2. Austin Ekeler
3. Tony Pollard
4. Derrick Henry
Christian McCaffrey is widely regarded as the number one overall pick in preseason fantasy football rankings. His versatility as both a runner and a pass catcher provides immense value to team owners. Although McCaffrey has faced some injury setbacks in recent years, he was active for 17 games last season and delivered an exceptional campaign, accumulating 1,880 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns. With a full season ahead as a member of the 49ers, McCaffrey is poised to surpass 100 receptions, find the end zone 15 times, and exceed 2,000 scrimmage yards and assert his dominance once again.
Austin Ekeler, another dynamic running back, has proven his ability to make a significant impact on fantasy teams. Last season, he recorded multiple touchdowns in six games and achieved over 100 scrimmage yards in seven games. Ekeler’s consistent statistical performance is expected to continue throughout the 2023 season. Remarkably, he has only missed one game since 2020, solidifying his reliability as a fantasy asset.
Tony Pollard presents an exciting opportunity as he enters the 2023 season as the Dallas Cowboys’ starting running back for the first time. With his remarkable talent, expect the Cowboys to utilize Pollard to his fullest potential. I predict he will amass at least 1,800 scrimmage yards and score 15 touchdowns in the upcoming season.
Derrick Henry is undoubtedly one of the most reliable and productive running backs in the league. However, concerns about overuse from the Tennessee Titans may raise questions for fantasy managers eyeing the 29-year-old star. Despite this, Henry topped the NFL’s carries list in three of the last four seasons, averaging over 1,600 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns. While choosing a running back as the first pick in fantasy football always carries a certain amount of risk, Henry’s undisputed status as the primary back in Nashville guarantees another season of substantial workload and consistent performance, solidifying his position as my RB4.
All-Pro:
5. Nick Chubb
6. Saquon Barkley
Nick Chubb stands as one of my top targets due to his consistent production and expected workload throughout the past five seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Although he may not singlehandedly win you many weeks, his reliability makes him a valuable asset to any fantasy lineup.
Similar to McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley faced challenges staying on the field in recent years. However, he rebounded in the 2022 season with 1,650 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 starts for the New York Giants. As he enters a contract year and remains the primary offensive force for the Giants, Barkley has the potential to finish as a top three fantasy point producer if he remains healthy for the entirety of the season.
Pro Bowl:
7. Aaron Jones
Despite the departure of Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers offense should not be overlooked. Aaron Jones, currently being drafted in the fourth or fifth rounds of fantasy drafts, presents an ideal target for those focusing on early wide receiver selections. In the previous season, Jones achieved a career-high 1,121 rushing yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry in 17 starts. Additionally, he showcased his versatility by catching a career-high 59 passes for 395 yards. Jones holds immense value as a sleeper pick and has the potential to produce as an RB1 in favorable matchups.
Just Napping:
10. Alexander Mattison
15. J.K. Dobbins
For the first time in his career, Alexander Mattison steps into the role of a starting running back due to Dalvin Cook’s departure in free agency. Throughout his first four years in the league, Mattison has demonstrated flashes of RB1-level abilities. With this golden opportunity, I anticipate Mattison capitalizing on his potential and amassing a minimum of 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns. He falls within the range of a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2.
Similarly, J.K. Dobbins has generated considerable excitement heading into the offseason. Although he struggled with injuries in his first three years in the league, Dobbins closed out the 2022-23 season with an average of 99.3 rushing yards per game in his final four contests, including standout performances with 120 and 125 yards in Week 13 and Week 14. If Dobbins manages to maintain his health this season, he has the potential to outperform his current fifth- or sixth-round average draft position (ADP). He is an excellent target for those employing a running-back-by-committee strategy.
Deep Sleepers:
33. Raheem Mostert
39. Jamaal Williams
The Miami Dolphins, among several NFL teams, plan to implement a group running back strategy in the 2023 season. Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., and rookie De’Von Achane are among the Dolphins’ top options. Given Mostert’s explosiveness and anticipated workload, he emerges as an excellent RB2 choice at the start of the season. Mostert’s focus on further developing his pass-catching abilities during the offseason should bolster his receiving stats and propel his overall yards from scrimmage to surpass 1,200. Additionally, he is expected to surpass his five-touchdown mark from the previous season. Mostert ranks as my number 33 option.
Jamaal Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns last season while playing for the Detroit Lions. This offseason, he signed with the New Orleans Saints, where he assumes a starting role for the first month of the season due to Alvin Kamara’s three-game suspension. Williams, who amassed 1,139 scrimmage yards last season, is likely to provide moderate production in Kamara’s absence. Even upon Kamara’s return, Williams should maintain his status as a touchdown-dependent RB2 or flex play.
Given these rankings, fantasy managers can make informed decisions when it comes to selecting their running backs for the 2023 season. It’s important to note that these rankings are based on extensive research and analysis, taking into account various factors such as past performance, injuries, workload expectations, and matchups.
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