Well, we made it. We’ve reached the halfway mark of the 2020 NFL season and not without any bumps and bruises (figuratively and literally). With the uncertainty that creeps up on teams every single day due to the ongoing global pandemic, along with injuries plaguing some of the biggest names in the sport this year; it has been a wild and unpredictable year for fantasy football so far. With top running backs like Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley sustaining serious injuries early in the season, and with Ezekiel Elliott’s production being holstered due to Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury, who will emerge as the top runners the rest of the year? Here are my projected top five fantasy running backs for the rest of the 2020 season.
Top Five NFL Fantasy Running Backs for the Rest of the 2020 Season
1. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara has been a monster this year for any fantasy football managers that are lucky enough to have him on their roster. While he not only leads all running backs in fantasy points through the first half of the season (in PPR leagues), a huge portion of his stats have been accumulated on receptions. In fact, he has the second most receptions (55) of any player in the entire league, with Deandre Hopkins as the only player ahead of him in this category. He is also the non-quarterback league leader in fantasy points through the first eight weeks of the season. Just, wow.
Even with Michael Thomas’s return looming, the uncertainty that comes along with the New Orleans Saints record-breaking wide receiver this season is too high to doubt their stud running back’s value going forward. Expect Kamara to continue to produce at a high level with his dual-threat capabilities as one of Sean Payton’s go-to playmakers on the Saints’ offense.
2. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Even after missing a game and a half with a groin injury, along with the Minnesota Vikings having their bye in Week 7, Dalvin Cook still leads the league with ten rushing touchdowns and has a second-best 652 rushing yards. While he did explode for a good chunk of those numbers in last week’s rampage over the Green Bay Packers, Cook should continue being the highlight of the Minnesota offensive attack.
If Cook can stay healthy, even with a Vikings team that has been struggling in the win column, look for their star back to light up opposing teams the remainder of the season like the feature back you drafted him to be on your fantasy squad.
3. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry just continues to be an absolute beast in 2020. While the Tennessee Titans passing attack has improved substantially over the back half of last season into this year with quarterback Ryan Tannehill at the helm, Henry continues to dominate the league on the ground. As the league-leader in rushing yards and attempts through his first seven games, expect King Henry to crank it up into an even higher gear in the back-half of the season, which always seems to be when he has performed the best in previous years.
Even with Tennessee’s defense allowing teams to put up more points this year than in previous seasons, expect Henry to be the centerpiece in this top-ten scoring offense going forward.
4. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Prior to this Thursday night’s game where Aaron Jones returned from a two-game hiatus with a calf injury, he was looking like his 2019 self. While there were a lot of doubters regarding Jones being able to keep up his 2019 production coming into the season (totaling 1558 total yards and tied for a league-best 19 total touchdowns), he has already logged 629 total yards and seven total touchdowns in just five games.
With the Green Bay Packers looking much better through the air in 2020, Jones’s role continues to expand in this Aaron Rodgers-led offense, by being productive in the rushing and passing attack. Look for Jones to be a prime staple in this exciting Green Bay offense going forward as he piles on the fantasy stats for his managers and for his own future with the Packers as well.
5. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
The number one-ranked fantasy player coming into the 2020 season is set to make his return from a high-ankle sprain injury as early as this coming week against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The Carolina Panthers are definitely excited to give their franchise player some breaks to keep him healthy throughout the entirety of the season knowing they have an established backup in Mike Davis, but McCaffrey will still reprise his role as the ultimate workhorse going forward.
Don’t expect a few less reps to slow down a player who last year became just the third player to ever eclipse 1000 yards rushing and receiving in a single season. Look for McCaffrey to continue his dominance on a Carolina team that is quickly finding their stride offensively this season under new head coach Matt Rhule.
Runner-Ups
- James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Todd Gurley, Atlanta Falcons
- Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
- Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
- James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
