Fantasy & Betting
8/13/24
8 min read
Fantasy Football 2024: Ranking Top 32 Running Backs This Year
All 32 teams will report to training camp this week, which means football is just around the corner. We are only a few weeks away from the first preseason game of the year. That means it is officially fantasy football season.
One of the biggest challenges for fantasy managers this season will be navigating the running back position. With so many NFL teams using a running back-by-committee approach, there are just fewer workhorse backs to pick from. Gone are the days of six to eight running backs being picked in Round 1, and the RB-RB approach in Rounds 1-2 is completely dead.
Still, there is value to be had this year at running back, and there are some sleepers falling to Rounds 7 and 8 that could help you win your league. So, without further ado, here are our top 32 running backs for the 2024 fantasy football season:
Tier 1: First-Round Running Backs
1. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers
2. Bijan Robinson, Falcons
3. Breece Hall, Jets
There should only be three running backs that are locked to be selected in the first round. Christian McCaffrey sits alone at No. 1, and he is the consensus top pick again this year. McCaffrey scored 391 points last season, 101 points more than the No. 2 back in fantasy (Breece Hall). His average points per game was at least seven points higher than any other running back last season. McCaffrey remains the biggest cheat code in fantasy, even if the 49ers scale back his work some in 2024.
But don’t be bummed out if you can’t grab McCaffrey in Round 1. Bijan Robinson offers similar upside a few selections later. Robinson is Atlanta's featured back, playing behind one of the league's best offensive lines with a massive upgrade at quarterback (Kirk Cousins). Robinson finished ninth in PPR points last year among running backs but should see even more work this year.
Breece Hall is a distant third of this group but still worthy of a first-round pick after totaling 1,585 yards last year. All three running backs will be the workhorse back on their respective teams, and all have a shot to finish at the overall RB1 this season.
Tier 2: Second Round RB1
4. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions
5. Jonathan Taylor, Colts
6. Saquon Barkley, Eagles
7. Kyren Williams, Rams
8. Derrick Henry, Ravens
9. Travis Etienne, Jaguars
The best strategy this year is to wait on running backs until Rounds 2 and 3. That is where the value lines up with the talent level. In other years, Jahmyr Gibbs and Jonathan Taylor would be locked as first-round picks. However, with so many elite receivers going in Round 1, just wait and grab one of these studs at the top of Round 2. Gibbs offers more PPR upside than Taylor, but Taylor is fully healthy and threatens to lead the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns.
Barkley and Kyren Williams are excellent picks anytime in Round 2 as they will each play in an elite offense that should provide plenty of touchdown upside. Williams is the younger back, but Barkley’s ceiling is so much higher in Philadelphia.
Henry is the toughest to slot in this group since he could be a perfect fit in Baltimore playing with Lamar Jackson. Still, he will turn 31 at the end of the season and doesn’t offer much as a receiver. There's a chance he could be so efficient as a runner that it might not matter.
Tier 3: High Upside RB2
10. De’Von Achane, Dolphins
11. James Cook, Bills
12. Josh Jacobs, Packers
13. Kenneth Walker, Seahawks
Fortune favors the bold, and you certainly have to possess some boldness to take a running back high from this next group. These four running backs are coming off the board sometime between the second and fourth rounds and possess league-winning upside.
The best example of that is De’Von Achane, who scored 11 touchdowns on 130 touches last season. He was incredibly dynamic, but injuries caused him to miss six games during his rookie year. It’ll be impossible for him to match his rookie efficiency (7.8 yards per attempt), but he could be the next Jamaal Charles or Chris Johnson if he can stay healthy.
Josh Jacobs is another polarizing back after leading the NFL in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage in 2022. But after a rough 2023 season, the Raiders allowed Jacobs to hit free agency, and he signed with the Packers. Jacobs will be playing in the best offense of his career, but how much work will he get in Green Bay, and can he get back to being the player that he was two years ago?
Tier 4: Workhorse RB2
14. Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs
15. Rachaad White, Buccaneers
16. Joe Mixon, Texans
17. Alvin Kamara, Saints
18. Aaron Jones, Vikings
The next tier of running backs are all players who are locked into big roles on good offenses. However, they lack the upside of being more than RB2s. Isiah Pacheco and Rachaad White are younger backs who have proven they can shoulder the load on offense.
However, Pacheco has some lingering injury concerns, and White has never averaged more than 3.7 yards per carry in a season. Still, they are the clear-cut starters on good offenses that should provide them plenty of scoring opportunities.
The other three running backs in this tier (Joe Mixon, Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones) are all from the 2017 draft class and are likely in their final years of being capable starters. Mixon is in the best offense of the three, but he’s averaged just 4.0 yards per carry during the last four seasons, and his long speed is gone.
The same is true for Kamara, who has not averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry in a season since 2020. Jones might be the most dynamic back of this group, but he’ll be on a new offense in 2024 that will likely have a rookie quarterback under center.
If you are searching for a running back who is guaranteed a lot of work, don’t be afraid to pick one from this tier. If you are chasing upside, it’s better to look elsewhere.
Tier 5: Low-End RB2
19. Zamir White, Raiders
20. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
21. David Montgomery, Lions
22. Tony Pollard, Titans
23. Raheem Mostert, Dolphins
24. Najee Harris, Steelers
25. D’Andre Swift, Bears
26. James Conner, Cardinals
All of the running backs in this tier are either their team's expected starter or locked into a major role.
Zamir White might offer the most upside on this list as he is the clear-cut starter in Las Vegas with Jacobs gone. There are some concerns about how efficient the Raiders’ offense will be this season, but White’s workload could be so big that it won't matter. The same is true for Rhamondre Stevenson and Najee Harris, who are expected to see monster touch totals on less-than-stellar offenses.
Pollard, Mostert, and Swift rely on their speed and quickness to make plays and are capable receivers. Injuries are a concern for them, but that is baked into their price tag. All three should provide solid RB2 numbers with plenty of upside.
Tier 6: Upside RB3
27. Zack Moss, Bengals
28. Brian Robinson, Commanders
29. Jaylen Warren, Steelers
30. Jonathon Brooks, Panthers
31. Jerome Ford, Browns
32. Trey Benson, Cardinals
At this stage of the draft, you are looking for one of two things at the running back position. You are searching for running backs who are guaranteed to earn a ton of touches or a young running back who could soon take over a backfield.
Zack Moss is an example of the former, as he signed a lucrative deal with the Bengals this offseason. He will be Cincinnati's starter, and he could handle 65-70 percent of the workload in one of the league's best offenses. Brian Robinson is a similar example, as he should be Washington's featured back.
If you need upside in the middle rounds, consider drafting a rookie running back like Jonathon Brooks or Trey Benson. Both players are listed as "backups" but will see plenty of playing time early in the season. If they can capitalize on that early playing time, they could be league winners by the end of the season.
