By Winsto (08/20/2025)
Running Backs! They are the foundation of a good fantasy football team, and a reliable work-horse running back has become harder and harder to find. Some would suggest going with a zero running back strategy, in which you basically ignore the position until later rounds while going after elite players at other positions. With this strategy, you no longer need to “reach” for a running back while an elite player at another position is still available. Honestly, I am not a fan of the zero running back strategy. Simply put, the upper to mid-level tier running backs are more consistent than all but the very elite wide receivers. You want consistency with your weekly line-up, allowing yourself the chance to win week in and week out. As for PPR scoring, I have never been a fan. That said, running backs who catch the ball do get those additional yards compared to running backs who typically do not have many receptions. I also believe there is no such thing as having too many running backs. I also believe that you try your best to get the few remaining 3 down workhorse running backs, and you hold onto them with a Kung-fu grip until the end of time or, at the very least, until the end of the season. With all of that said, let us dive in!
Tier 1–the proven elite tier
- Christian McCaffrey, SF
- Bijan Robinson, ATL
- Saquon Barkley, PHI
Sometimes, fantasy experts tend to have recency bias. Christian McCaffrey outscored all other RBs by almost 100 fantasy points two years ago. In fact, since his rookie season, McCaffrey has never had lower than 270 fantasy points (standard scoring) in a healthy season. I am not going to let an injured year sway me from that. Not to mention, Deebo Samuel is no longer in San Francisco to vulture a few rushing TDs. That said, I would not argue if someone wanted Bijan Robinson first. He looks poised to continue his production. Saquon Barkley is in a great environment in Philadelphia—5.8 YPC and over 2,000 rushing yards in 2024 demonstrate as much. What makes this group elite is because they are proven and are 3-down RBs.
Tier 2-the “oh-so-close elite” tier
- Jahmyr Gibbs, DET
- Derrick Henry, BAL
If Jahmyr Gibbs had full control over Detroit’s backfield, he could take over the world. The fact that he doesn’t, however, puts him in Tier 2. Detroit’s offense has been very effective, but occasionally the unit has average games. When that happens, a split backfield will struggle. Derrick Henry may not play much on passing downs and may not be as young as he once was, but he did average 5.9 YPC last season, scoring 18 total TDs (2 receiving).
Tier 3-the “could finish the year as a top 5 RB, but very likely a RB1 at least” tier
- Ashton Jeanty, LV
- Bucky Irving, TB
- Chase Brown, CIN
- Kyren Williams, LAR
- Jonathan Taylor, IND
- Josh Jacobs, GB
- James Cook, BUF
Ashton Jeanty is going to be special, I mean special. Of this tier, he is the most likely to finish as a top 5 RB. Bucky Irving looks legit, and Rachaad White’s injury may have opened the door to even more carries than what he already was going to have. Chase Brown is a solid RB who is in an elite offense that will need to score many, many points, as Cincinnati’s defense looks, to put it mildly, suspect. Kyren Williams, as long as the volume continues, is a fantasy scorer. If I had more faith in Indianapolis’s offense, Taylor would be higher. Jacobs had a nice season with Green Bay last season, and I might be a bit low here. I could have easily slotted him above Williams. James Cook is probably not going to get the same amount of touches as the rest of these players, which is why I have him at the bottom.
Tier 4-the “oh what might be zone” tier
- Omarion Hampton, LAC
- De’Von Achane, MIA
The risks with these two players seem obvious. Hampton has to deal with the presence of Najee Harris, the committee approach by Coach Harbaugh, and the loss of OT Rashawn Slater for the season. Achane has some durability concerns, offensive line concerns, and quarterback durability concerns. Still, there is reward here, as the talent is present.
Tier 5-”the relatively ‘safe’ RB2 zone”
- Alvin Kamara, NO
- Kenneth Walker III, SEA
- James Conner, ARI
- Chuba Hubbard, CAR
- David Montgomery, DET
- Isiah Pacheco, KC
These are players that are probably not going to push for RB1 status but are relatively safe to draft as a RB2. They all have some degree of questions, but they “should” provide weekly fantasy production. Walker is a bit hard to rank, as he has Charbonnet behind him and is coming off a 3.7 YPC season. Still, he could bounce back with Seattle’s slightly improved offensive line. Pacheco may cede some short yardage work to Kareem Hunt here and there, but I think his overall workload is relatively safe.
Tier 6-”the risk/reward zone”
- TreVeyon Henderson, NE
- R.J. Harvey, DEN
- Cam Skattebo, NYG
This is where I start taking the upside. I could even envision myself taking Henderson over some of the players in the previous tier. Skattebo may not be the fastest player, but gosh golly he has skills.
Tier 7-”the maybe-they-could-be-RB2s?” tier
- Breece Hall, NYJ
- D’Andre Swift, CHI
- Jaylen Warren, PIT
- Jacory “Bill” Crosby-Merritt, WAS
Talent-wise, Hall should be higher. The concern here is the talk of time-sharing and ability of the offense. Swift could be in for solid year, here, with his former OC now in charge in Chicago. With an improved offensive line, Swift could easily be ranked too low. That said, I have been burned by Swift plenty of times already, so I am not ready to proclaim fantasy glory. I think Warren is able to hold off the rookie, but his volume may be capped with both Kaleb Johnson and Kenny Gainwell sprinkling in more than Warren managers would like. JCM stood out during training camp, and he now has an opportunity to shine with the talks of Brian Robinson, Jr. being traded or released. That said, Austin Ekeler and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are still on the team, so this could be a 3-headed monster. We should temper expectations a bit.
Tier 8-”the likely part-timers” tier
- Jaydon Blue, DAL
- Nick Chubb, HOU
- Rhamondre Stevenson, NE
- Aaron Jones Sr., MIN
- Jordan Mason, MIN
- Tony Pollard, TEN
- Tyjae Spears, TEN
- J.K. Dobbins, DEN
- Trey Benson, ARI
- Zach Charbonnet, SEA
- Kaleb Johnson, PIT
- Travis Etienne Jr., JAX
- Tank Bigsby, JAX
- Braelon Allen, NYJ
- Najee Harris, LAC
- Chris Rodriguez, WAS
- Rachaad White, TB
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG
- Justice Hill, BAL
- Joe Mixon, HOU
- Austin Ekeler, WAS
The only Dallas running back I am targeting is Blue, as he is the only one I could envision taking over the job. Stevenson will still have a role with New England. I have concerns with Joe Mixon for several reasons: health (foot injury), efficiency (has not averaged above 4.1 YPC since 2018), and Nick Chubb (rumors of his decline may have been premature). Yes, as of today, I would draft Chubb over Mixon. Jones and Mason are a coin-flip for me. Pollard gets the edge over Spears because of the latter’s high ankle sprain. I included Benson and Charbonnet here due to both already having a role and are premium hand-cuffs. Chris Rodriguez could very well be the lead back in Washington, but I think his upside is lower than Crosby-Merritt’s. I could be ranking Ekeler too low here, especially in PPR leagues, but did anyone notice that Jayden Daniels (QB) did not throw a single TD pass to RBs last season? It could be just a fluke; it could be more.
Tier 9-”the who the heck knows/aka Cleveland” tier
Jerome Ford, CLE / Dylan Sampson, CLE / Quinshon Judkins, CLE
Seriously, take your pick. Ford is safest with least upside. Judkins is the complete opposite. Sampson is in between. Your pick depends on what you are looking for. I “think” I would go Sampson, Judkins, then Ford, but that is not a hill I would fight for.
Tier 10-”the Hail-Mary picks”
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL
- Isaac Guerendo, SF
- Blake Corum, LA
- Will Shipley, PHI
- D.J. Giddons, IND
- Keaton Mitchell, BAL
- Ray Davis, BUF
- Tahj Brooks, CIN
- Raheem Mostert, LV
- Kyle Monangai, Chi
- Ollie Gordon II, MIA
- Bhayshul Tuten, JAX
- Woody Marks, HOU
- Kendre Miller, NO
- Jaylen Wright, MIA
- Brian Robinson Jr., WAS
- Kareem Hunt, KC
Every year, there are a couple of players in this tier who wind up becoming fantasy relevant.
Tier 11-”the players I still include in case I am wrong and they are useful” tier
- A.J. Dillon, PHI
- Roschon Johnson, CHI
- Javonte Williams, DAL
- Rico Dowdle, CAR
- Samaje Perine, CIN
- Miles Sanders, DAL
These are players I am not drafting, but I am not always correct, so who knows?