Despite the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the NFL seems intent on having a 2020 season. With the opt-out window shortly coming to a close, it\u2019s time to look at the updated fantasy football running back rankings. Running back is arguably the most important position in fantasy, as true three-down running backs are in short supply. Without further ado, let\u2019s take a look at the current rankings heading into the abbreviated training camp.<\/p>\n
1. Christian McCaffrey<\/a> These five players, in some order, are generally accepted as the best of the best for fantasy football. Christian McCaffrey is coming off of one of the best seasons in history and received an upgrade at quarterback. Expecting him to repeat his 2019 heroics is probably asking too much, but he\u2019s the unquestioned first-overall pick in fantasy.<\/p>\n Saquon Barkley is the focal point of his offense, is as talented as anyone, and has Establish the Run Truther Jason Garrett<\/a><\/strong> as his offensive coordinator. If anyone can usurp McCaffrey, it\u2019s Saquon. Dalvin Cook is back in camp<\/a>, which means that he will be the unquestioned starter on a run-heavy, high-scoring offense. With Stefon Diggs<\/a><\/strong> out of the picture, he\u2019s a safe bet to finish second on the team in receptions.<\/p>\n Ezekiel Elliott doesn\u2019t have the same burst that he used to, and Mike McCarthy<\/strong> is much more of a pass-heavy coach than Jason Garrett. However, Elliott is still earning the big bucks, and that offensive line is still great. He\u2019ll get his touches, and the Cowboys should score a bunch of touchdowns. Alvin Kamara is the only one in this tier that doesn\u2019t have full control of his backfield, but he\u2019s so efficient that it doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n 6. Clyde Edwards-Helaire<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em> Clyde Edwards-Helaire might be a rookie, but he\u2019s the unquestioned starter following the Damien Williams<\/a><\/strong> opt out. Andy Reid<\/a><\/strong> can make any running back great, and the Kansas City Chiefs are going to score a lot of touchdowns. If \u201cArizona Cardinals Starting Running Back\u201d was a single person last year, they would\u2019ve finished as the RB3 in half-point formats. Kenyan Drake is the unquestioned starter and this offense should get even better with DeAndre Hopkins<\/a><\/strong> and expected growth from Kyler Murray<\/a><\/strong> and Kliff Kingsbury<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Doug Pederson<\/a><\/strong> typically uses a committee approach for his running backs, but all signs point towards Miles Sanders being a huge part of this offense. Philadelphia didn\u2019t sign a running back and the receiving corps is already depleted, so Sanders should pick up right where he left off late in 2019.<\/p>\n Joe Mixon is as talented as any running back in the league and has complete control of his backfield. However, the relative uncertainty of rookie Joe Burrow<\/strong><\/a> and the underwhelming coaching staff keeps him out of the top tier. I don\u2019t think Josh Jacobs will receive the passing work that everyone wants, seeing as the team brought in Henry Ruggs<\/a>, Bryan Edwards<\/a><\/strong>, and Lynn Bowden<\/strong><\/a> in the NFL Draft. However, if I\u2019m wrong and Jacobs sees a dramatic increase in targets, he\u2019s a top-tier player.<\/p>\n Austin Ekeler isn\u2019t a 250-carry guy, but his work in the passing game keeps him as an RB1, even though losing Philip Rivers<\/a><\/strong> will affect his target share. Kareem Hunt<\/a><\/strong> is going to steal too much of the passing work for Nick Chubb to be anything more than a low-end RB1.<\/p>\n 13. Derrick Henry<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em> Derrick Henry has a fantastic year last year, but it\u2019s hard for a one-dimensional running back to repeat that success, no matter how talented. If Ryan Tannehill<\/a><\/strong> regresses, it\u2019s hard to see Henry putting up an RB1 finish. Chris Carson isn\u2019t a sexy pick, but he should be healthy for the start of the season. Russell Wilson<\/a><\/strong> will ensure this team has plenty of scoring opportunities, and Brian Schottenheimer<\/strong> will ensure that Carson never stops touching the ball.<\/p>\n Todd Gurley doesn\u2019t need to be his old self to be fantasy-relevant in Atlanta. Devonta Freeman<\/a><\/strong> was literally the worst running back<\/a> in football last year, and Gurley is set to receive the majority of that vacated workload. Even league-average play should project him to a high-end RB2 finish. Aaron Jones is absurdly talented, but the Green Bay Packers don\u2019t seem to want to use him as a feature back. Touchdown regression is coming, and bringing back Jamal Williams<\/a><\/strong> and drafting A.J. Dillon<\/strong><\/a> makes it hard to imagine Jones earning a full workload.<\/p>\n 17. David Johnson<\/a> David Johnson\u2019s best days are behind him, but he\u2019s the only running back in Houston and Bill O\u2019Brien<\/strong> is going to be motivated to give Johnson as much work as possible. Raheem Mostert received his contract extension and should be the primary guy in San Francisco. Of course, the presence of Tevin Coleman<\/a><\/strong> along with Kyle Shanahan<\/strong>\u2019s habit of switching the starter keeps him from being higher on this list.<\/p>\n Leonard Fournette received a lot of work last year, but that was primarily due to Jacksonville having no better options. With Chris Thompson<\/a><\/strong> in town, Fournette\u2019s going to see a drastic drop in targets. David Montgomery remains the only man in Chicago, but his play left a lot to be desired last year, and Chicago\u2019s offense isn\u2019t exactly a high-scoring machine.<\/p>\n At this point, it\u2019s impossible to count on James Conner staying healthy for a full season. Even if he plays a full 16 games, there\u2019s no guarantee that Ben Roethlisberger<\/a><\/strong> stays healthy and plays like his old self. Ronald Jones could be the next LeGarrette Blount<\/a><\/strong> for Tom Brady<\/a><\/strong>, as he\u2019s the only noteworthy guy on the roster with experience in the offense.<\/p>\n Adam Gase<\/strong> and Le\u2019Veon Bell are not on great terms, the offense has no weapons, and the defense is going to force the Jets into playing catch up and abandoning the run. The offensive line should be better, but that\u2019s not enough to make Bell too attractive for fantasy. Mark Ingram won\u2019t be a true workhorse and he could lose the starting job to J.K. Dobbins <\/strong><\/a>as the season progresses. However, for now, he\u2019s going to be the starter on the best running team in football.<\/p>\n 25. Jonathan Taylor<\/a> If Jonathan Taylor wins the starting job from Week 1, he\u2019ll be much higher than this. However, Marlon Mack will probably eat into his workload, and there\u2019s no guarantee that he ever receives passing work. Cam Newton<\/a><\/strong> will target the running back if the running back can catch, and James White might just be the second-best receiver on the Patriots. Devin Singletary is probably going to receive the early-down work for the Bills, but Zack Moss should receive the goal line touches and passing work.<\/p>\n Sony Michel doesn\u2019t make plays in the passing game and is coming off a foot injury, but Cam Newton\u2019s presence and the return of David Andrews<\/a><\/strong> should help his production on the ground. Matt Breida<\/a> is above Jordan Howard in these rankings, as Breida is the better receiving back and the Dolphins probably won\u2019t be winning too many games.<\/p>\n 36. D\u2019Andre Swift<\/a> There\u2019s no way of predicting whether Kerryon Johnson or D\u2019Andre Swift will win the starting job, so both players end up as the best of the rest. Melvin Gordon received the big payday in the offseason, but Philip Lindsay won\u2019t go down without a fight. This is probably going to be similar to the Lindsay-Freeman split of years gone by, except with Lindsay playing the role of Royce Freeman<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Cam Akers could very well win the Week 1 starting job, but it\u2019s far from a foregone conclusion. Henderson has experience in the system, and COVID-19 will make Akers\u2019 acclimation to the NFL even more difficult. I expect Miles Sanders to be the lead guy in Philadelphia, but Boston Scott is an absolute steal if I\u2019m wrong. Ditto for Justin Jackson in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n Alexander Mattison is perhaps the most valuable handcuff in the NFL and could carry some standalone value. Damien Harris<\/a><\/strong> is getting the offseason love, but Rex Burkhead is more likely to take the starting job if Sony Michel gets injured.<\/p>\n Main photo:
\n2. Saquon Barkley<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n3. Dalvin Cook<\/a>
\n4. Ezekiel Elliott<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n5. Alvin Kamara<\/a><\/p>\nRB1 With Top-Tier Upside<\/h4>\n
\n7. Kenyan Drake<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n8. Miles Sanders<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n9. Joe Mixon<\/a>
\n10. Josh Jacobs<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n11. Austin Ekeler<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n12. Nick Chubb<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\nRB2 With RB1 Upside<\/h4>\n
\n14. Chris Carson<\/a>
\n15. Todd Gurley<\/a>
\n16. Aaron Jones<\/a><\/p>\nRB2 Volume Hogs<\/h4>\n
\n18. Raheem Mostert<\/a>
\n19. Leonard Fournette<\/a>
\n20. David Montgomery<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n21. James Conner<\/a>
\n22. Ronald Jones<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n23. Le\u2019Veon Bell<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n24. Mark Ingram<\/a><\/p>\nWorkload Uncertain<\/h4>\n
\n26. James White<\/a>
\n27. Derrius Guice<\/a>
\n28. Devin Singletary<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n29. Sony Michel<\/a>
\n30. Kareem Hunt
\n31. Matt Breida<\/a>
\n32. Marlon Mack<\/a>
\n33. Zack Moss<\/a> [Fantasy Profile<\/a>]<\/em>
\n34. Tevin Coleman
\n35. Jordan Howard<\/a><\/p>\nThe Rest<\/h4>\n
\n37. Kerryon Johnson<\/a>
\n38. Melvin Gordon<\/a>
\n39. Phillip Lindsay<\/a>
\n40. Cam Akers<\/a>
\n41. Darrell Henderson<\/a>
\n42. Duke Johnson<\/a>
\n43. Ke\u2019Shawn Vaughn<\/a>
\n44. Boston Scott<\/a>
\n45. Justin Jackson<\/a>
\n46. Latavius Murray<\/a>
\n47. J.K. Dobbins<\/a>
\n48. Alexander Mattison<\/a>
\n49. Tarik Cohen<\/a>
\n50. Rex Burkhead<\/a><\/p>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>