In the dynasty markets, no assets are more volatile than running backs. We regularly see guys skyrocket and plummet in dynasty running back rankings. Kyren Williams, for instance, jumped from RB77 to RB6 in just a few months. Javonte Williams peaked as the dynasty RB2 after his rookie season before falling to RB22 less than a year later. Austin Ekeler, a long-time RB1 producer, has become nearly worthless over the course of one bad season. It feels secure to have a running back room of elite blue-chip prospects. But many dynasty players won championships last year on the backs of guys like Zamir White and Ty Chandler.

Wide receivers and quarterbacks maintain insulated value over multiple seasons. Running back rankings change near-weekly.

This article will examine dynasty running back rankings and the overall landscape. As with other articles in this series, this is not to serve as a flat list of dynasty running back rankings. Instead, each fantasy-relevant player will be placed into a bucket with other running backs who profile similarly.

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My theory regarding dynasty running back rankings can be summed up succinctly: They don't matter. Rather than trading premium assets for running backs, I advise implementing a quantity-over-quality approach. The nature of the position leads to injury, and weighted opportunities are the statistic correlated strongest to fantasy production. Stockpiling “injury-away” running backs and investing in safer assets is often a recipe for success. However, some factors indicate a higher ceiling than simply looking at the RB2 on a team's listed depth chart. Youth, athleticism, and pass-catching abilities are all desirable traits in the backs you roster.

Selling high isn't always necessary when you strike gold with a running back. These players sometimes maintain value in dynasty running back rankings. But more often than not, it makes sense to flip your running backs for less volatile assets and piece together week-to-week production at your running back slot.

While I'd recommend trading away the most valuable guys in dynasty running back rankings, you can win with any team construction. And this first tier of guys, when healthy, will likely give you unmatched potential.

Dynasty Running Back Rankings

The Blue Chips

• Breece Hall
• Bijan Robinson
• Jahmyr Gibbs

Should you buy or sell these players atop dynasty running back rankings? That's a tricky question. All of these running backs are entering their age-23 season or younger. All have displayed the ability to accumulate fantasy points at an elite level. But as discussed in the intro, running backs are volatile. An injury could quickly cause these players to plummet in dynasty running back rankings. Like most “yes or no” questions, this requires a nuanced answer. Don’t sell for the point of selling. But if you can flip one of these running backs into a safer asset, it’s recommended. Consensus rankings currently have these backs in the same range as Anthony Richardson, Justin Herbert, Garrett Wilson, and Malik Nabers. You may even be able to trade down, acquiring Kyler Murray, Jayden Daniels, A.J. Brown, or Chris Olave with extra assets on top. In those scenarios, it's hard to justify keeping the running backs.

However, these are the safest running backs you can hold if you choose to do so. They are all young and athletic, with premium draft capital and a history of success in the NFL. They check all the boxes. But as we've seen with Javonte Williams, D'Andre Swift, and J.K. Dobbins, dynasty managers are impatient regarding injuries and lack of production. Even Breece Hall, who immediately displayed elite fantasy production, dipped to RB5 after his rookie-season injury. While the time to buy was then, that window has since shut.

These are the only guys you should feel comfortable paying up for in dynasty running back rankings. When healthy, they will give you unmatchable production and longevity at the running back position. However, as we'll get into later, you could likely find replacement weekly production for cheaper.

The RB1… For Now

• Christian McCaffrey

There isn't much to say about Christian McCaffrey that hasn't been said. He's had unmatched production since joining the San Francisco 49ers midway through 2022. You can seemingly pencil him in for 20 points and a weekly touchdown. Outside of a Week 17 game he left with an injury last season, he's scored double-digit fantasy points in every game since the trade. But he's about to enter his age-28 season. When running backs fall off the age cliff, they fall hard. McCaffrey is renowned for his conditioning since injuries plagued his early career. He also accrues much of his value in the passing game. That should extend his shelf life.

But most dynasty running back rankings have him in the top four, along with “The Blue Chips." That value is extremely tough to project going forward. Maybe he will finish as the RB1 again this year. But what if he doesn't? In a doomsday hypothetical, what happens if he gets injured and misses this season? Then the 49ers can save $8M by cutting him. He'd enter free agency as a 29-year-old coming off an injury. We just saw Austin Ekeler follow a similar trajectory and tumble from RB9 to RB45 in consensus dynasty running back rankings.

Of course, that's the worst-case scenario. But given that he is ranked in a similar tier to the young running backs above, McCaffrey is reaching must-sell territory. I could end up with egg all over my face if he finishes the season as the RB1 again. But I would much prefer the safer quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end assets near McCaffrey. They hold similar value and have the benefit of long-term insulation.

Young Workhorses

• Jonathan Taylor
• Travis Etienne Jr.
• Ken Walker III

The four players atop dynasty running back rankings are expensive. Here, we start looking at running backs who are more affordable, making the position's natural volatility more palatable. The further down this tier we go, the cheaper they get.

We could split hairs and put Jonathan Taylor in a tier by himself. He checks almost every box you want to see from an elite dynasty running back, but being 25 years old puts him below “The Blue Chips.” Injuries last season and the looming presence of Anthony Richardson are also notable. Travis Etienne has first-round draft capital, is tied to his college quarterback, and is on a good offense. But his efficiency has left a bit to be desired. Much of his production last year came from volume; he was third in the league in weighted opportunities. His situation is vaguely reminiscent of Joe Mixon's early career. He is inefficient but being fed volume on an above-average offense. Etienne isn't an aggressive target of mine, but I’d be willing to buy for the right price. Ken Walker III is essentially the anti-Etienne. He was 24th in weighted opportunities but top-10 in a slew of efficiency metrics. There is some concern about Zach Charbonnet squeezing touches here, but Walker's big-play upside and youth make him a desirable target.

These running backs will all be ranked high in dynasty running back rankings. And for good reason.

 Volatile Volume

• Rachaad White
• Kyren Williams
• Isiah Pacheco

Rachaad White, Kyren Williams, and Isiah Pacheco fall into a similar bucket in dynasty running back rankings. None were drafted inside of Round 2. They are all on pretty good offenses and getting a hefty workload, but they haven't been incredibly efficient. These running backs risk losing the volume that props up their value. Although last year’s production might lull you into a sense of security, there's no guarantee their production will last.

Rachaad White finished as last year's RB4 and is just 25 years old. However, his efficiency was awful. His EPA ranked dead last among all running backs. There's risk that another back could infringe on his workload, hurting his value. Kyren Williams was another inefficient player propped up by the league's highest snap share. The team invested a third-round pick in Blake Corum this year, who is a better prospect by almost every measure. There's no guarantee Corum will take over Williams' role or even cut into it, but the risk is there. And Isiah Pacheco recently became a fan favorite because of his tough running style. But there's almost nothing promising in his efficiency profile.

Last year's production has inflated these players in the current dynasty running back rankings. These are arguably the most volatile running backs in the current market. A free agency signing, an injury, or an unexpected split backfield would cause these players to fall down the rankings quickly. Very little in their profile insulates their value. If you roster them, you should look to field some trade offers.

Veteran Bellcows On New Teams

• Saquon Barkley
• Josh Jacobs
• Joe Mixon
• Tony Pollard

Dynasty managers are blinded by youth, and this group does not have it. Because of that, you could be looking at steep discounts here. I've recommended selling most of the players discussed so far. But we're at the point in dynasty running backs rankings now where I am intrigued enough to buy.

Saquon Barkley is the most expensive of the bunch. Despite his age, injury history, and new home, most dynasty running back rankings still have him deservedly inside the top 10. His pedigree and rookie-year production have insulated his value for quite some time. But any speed bumps early in his stint with Philadelphia could cause his value to plummet. Similarly, Josh Jacobs has first-round draft capital and years of production that keep his value afloat. However, the Packers have implemented a committee approach over the years that could negatively impact him if it continues this season. Joe Mixon has never been very efficient. But his ability to pick up positive yardage in negative situations keeps him in coaches' good graces and his skill set pairs well with the wide-zone scheme Bobby Slowik runs in Houston. There's little reason he shouldn’t be ranked closer to Barkley and Jacobs, but he can be had for significantly cheaper. And last year’s disappointing season for Tony Pollard opens up a buy window for him. His skill set overlaps with Tyjae Spears's, but he is, in my opinion, a more talented player. Spears is going well ahead of Pollard in startups, primarily due to his age. But while most dynasty managers are looking towards shiny new toys, buy the dip on Pollard. He was injured last year and had awful touchdown luck, but his efficiency profile is worth investing in.

Mixon and Pollard are my favorite targets in this tier, mainly because of their cost. They can be bought cheaply and can maintain production with their new teams. They're likely outside of the top 24 in dynasty running back rankings but can contribute to your team immediately.

Young And Athletic

• Jonathan Brooks
• James Cook
• De'Von Achane

This tier is made of players high in dynasty running back rankings. As mentioned multiple times in this series over the years, youth blinds dynasty managers. All of these running backs are under 25 and have great athletic profiles. While that sounds like someone worth investing in, the reality is that youth and athleticism aren't always enough to turn into fantasy production.

In a vacuum, Jonathan Brooks is my favorite of this group. He is conveniently the cheapest in dynasty running back rankings as well. Playing his rookie season at just 21 years old, he will have very little competition for touches. He was the first running back drafted in his class, which should insulate his value. He was graded as one of college's best rushers and receivers last year and deserves to be high in dynasty running back rankings. James Cook saw his usage change dramatically once Ken Dorsey took over as the offensive coordinator. Getting the rare usage as a receiver and goal-line back gives promise for his future. Like Brooks, he was a second-round pick. His slight frame causes some concern, but that's baked into his value. On a per-touch basis, De'Von Achane had arguably the best season ever. But at 5'9" and 188 pounds, his current value as RB7 is tough to stomach. He has already struggled to stay healthy in the NFL. His value makes him someone worth putting on the tradeblock.

My preference for these players is the inverse of their current values. Based on current dynasty running back rankings, Brooks is a buy, Cook is a hold, and Achane is a sell.

Buy With No Plans To Sell

• Derrick Henry
• Alvin Kamara
• David Montgomery
• Aaron Jones
• Austin Ekeler
• James Conner
• Ezekiel Elliott
• Nick Chubb

A sound strategy is to buy players who could see a bump in value. In those instances, you acquire a player, get production from them, and then trade them away for more than you bought them for. The players in this tier have little chance of increasing their value. They are old. You will not be able to flip them down the road. But they project for decent workloads this season and can be had for very cheap. This is the tier of running backs I am aggressively targeting this offseason. All these players (except Nick Chubb) have top-10 running back finishes in their range of outcomes. 

They aren't sexy, and you won't feel great sending the trade offer. But you'll be happy with the production. Just realize that you are acquiring these backs with the intent of rostering them until it's inevitably time to drop them in a few years. This tier's value is spread widely across dynasty running back rankings, but they all make for desirable and cheap targets.

Veterans Who Could See A Value Bump In Dynasty Running Back Rankings

• Javonte Williams
• D'Andre Swift
• Rhamondre Stevenson
• Najee Harris

Implementing the opposite of the strategy for the tier above, these running backs should be acquired with the explicit intent of flipping in-season if they see a value bump. We've seen enough from these running backs over the years that they could be decent but have limited ceilings. All project for big workloads, and that could dupe dynasty managers into buying high. If these guys get off to a hot start in 2024, they'll rise up the dynasty running back rankings. And then you sell.

High-End Rookies Not Named Jonathan Brooks

• Trey Benson
• Blake Corum
• MarShawn Lloyd

This was an excellent Draft class for wide receivers and quarterbacks, but running backs are the apparent weakness. None of these backs crack the top 15 in dynasty running back rankings. It's surprising to see rookies ranked so low. They are all decent targets.

Despite an ACL tear, Jonathan Brooks was drafted as the class's RB1. He's the clearcut best back in the 2024 Draft class and dynasty running back rankings. But there are other intriguing names. Just as the theme of this article is “running backs don't matter,” the NFL has a similar approach. Now and then, we see running backs selected in the first round. But Round 2-3 draft capital is typically enough to get excited about in today’s landscape. And all of these running backs check that box.

Trey Benson is currently projected to be in James Conner's shadow but could easily take over as the season progresses. He could see his value rise in dynasty running back rankings as early as Week 1 with a good workload. His 2025 outlook, hopefully owning the backfield of a revamped Kyler Murray-led offense, is inspiring. He has separated himself from the pack as the clear RB2. Blake Corum and MarShawn Lloyd are in similar situations to Benson, behind a workhorse on the current depth chart. However, the Round 3 draft capital indicates that their teams like them. And while Kyren Williams and Josh Jacobs are formidable hurdles to overcome, injuries could quickly push the rookies into a full-time role. Backfield ambiguity has pushed Corum and Lloyd to reasonable prices. While all these running backs currently project to be their team's RB2s, we are often overconfident in anticipating how the season will play out. These rookies are all talented and make for good trade targets, especially if you can get them for a future second-round pick.

Potential Year 2-3 Breakouts

• Jaylen Warren
• Zamir White
• Tyjae Spears
• Jerome Ford
• Brian Robinson Jr.
• Ty Chandler
• Zach Charbonnet
• Kendre Miller
• Chase Brown
• Roschon Johnson
• Jaleel McLaughlin

This might be my favorite tier of running backs to target in trades. They are young and cheap and could easily see their value spike over the 2024 season. The acquisition cost wasn't significant enough to hurt you terribly if they don't. This is a “throw darts and see what sticks” tier. Jaylen Warren, Zamir White, Tyjae Spears, Jerome Ford, and Brian Robinson Jr have already shown some success. Their production makes them more expensive than the others in this bucket. But there's still meat on the bone. For example, if Zamir White gets the same workload afforded to Josh Jacobs over the last few seasons, he'd instantly jump from his current value of RB18 into the top ten. If Jaylen Warren takes over the backfield in Pittsburgh and Najee Harris walks after this season, Warren will also be top ten in dynasty running back rankings. With Nick Chubb on the mend, Jerome Ford has very little competition for touches in Cleveland. All of these backs have it in the range of outcomes to finish as RB1s.

Zach Charbonnet, Kendre Miller, Chase Brown, and Roschon Johnson were all disappointments in their rookie seasons. And that has caused them to tumble in dynasty running back rankings. Everything we liked about these running backs as rookies is still valid, and you can get them for cheaper than a year ago. I am aggressively targeting these backs in trade negotiations. Charbonnet profiles to be a three-down back with goal-line and passing-down abilities. An injury to Ken Walker III would put him in the weekly discussion as an RB1. Injuries plagued Kendre Miller's rookie season. But he's young and athletic and could see his role grow in 2024. Chase Brown showed flashes of his upside at the end of 2023. With Joe Burrow back and healthy and Joe Mixon out of the picture, the runway is clear for him to take off. Roschon Johnson is the cheapest of the bunch. And the signing of D'Andre Swift has pushed his value down even more. However, they have complementary skill sets, and Johnson could see his role grow this season. Jaleel McLaughlin is probably the outlier in the bunch. He was an undrafted rookie who showed burst. But as we've seen often in the past, it's hard for a guy with little draft pedigree to build off of that success.

These running backs will vary in value from dynasty running back rankings from as high as RB18 (White) to as low as RB48 (McLaughlin). But they all have a few things in common. They are young. They still have multiple seasons left on their rookie deals. They can all see big value bumps in the 2024 season.

I'd be willing to bet at least one of these running backs will be a name you'll see on many 2024 championship rosters.

Veterans Who Project For Significant Workloads

• Zack Moss
• Devin Singletary
• Gus Edwards
• Raheem Mostert

We're sifting through the bargain bin now. These guys are old. Everyone is trying to sell them. And if everyone is looking to sell, that likely means there’s a reasonable discount to buy. When acquiring veterans, you must do so with the understanding that it could be a sunk cost. Maybe Zack Moss loses his workload to Chase Brown. In that situation, Moss is a waiver wire candidate heading into 2025. Devin Singletary could lose work to Tyrone Tracy Jr. Gus Edwards has Kimani Vidal to compete with. Raheem Mostert was a ZeroRB savior last year, but De'Von Achane and Jaylen Wright could render him useless. That is the risk in acquiring any of these running backs.

But as we saw last year, they can all still be valuable in fantasy. And while most managers are looking to sell high after productive 2023 seasons, see if you can pull them for a third-round pick. These guys will be way down the list in dynasty running back rankings but could be surprising producers again.

Young Injury-Away Guys

• Tank Bigsby
• Tyler Allgeier
• Khalil Herbert
• Chuba Hubbard
• Dameon Pierce

There isn't a considerable distinction between this and the “Potential Year 2-3 Breakout” bucket. But this tier will be much lower in dynasty running back rankings. They lack excitement. We've seen them get meaningful workloads at some point, but their teams have opted to give those touches elsewhere. They are so cheap that they make reasonable stashes.

Tank Bigsby would require an injury to Travis Etienne to see if there is any meaningful workload. But if that happens, he's presumably the lead back on a potent offense. After 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie season, Tyler Allgeier was replaced by Bijan Robinson. But we know he can produced when called upon. Khalil Herbert is a beacon of efficiency. However, his path to a workload in Chicago is hard to project. The best-case scenario for Herbert would be a trade. Chuba Hubbard stole the job from Miles Sanders last year. But Jonathan Brooks' presence pushes him into “injury-away” status. Dameon Pierce isn't a fit for Houston's new run scheme. But if something happens to Joe Mixon, they have no one else to call up.

Whether you're looking to handcuff your RB1 or stash these players in case their opportunity arises, they all make cheap additions to beef up your dynasty rosters' running back depth.

Day 3 Rookies Who Could See Work In 2024

• Jaylen Wright
• Ray Davis
• Kimani Vidal
• Bucky Irving
• Tyrone Tracy Jr.
• Audric Estime
• Will Shipley
• Dylan Laube

These guys are all being drafted in Rounds 3-4 of rookie drafts and far down in dynasty running back rankings. As we know, the hit rates for Day 3 running backs are low, but it doesn't mean it can't happen. This is a “pick your guy” tier. I like Jaylen Wright's speed in Miami. I like Ray Davis's complementary playstyle alongside James Cook. Kimani Vidal, Bucky Irving, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. are all in backfields that could see work as early as Week 1. Most of these guys will probably be off your roster by the end of the 2024 season. But it doesn't hurt to stash some of these lottery tickets, just in case they rise in dynasty running back rankings.

Discount De'Von Achane

• Keaton Mitchell

A suppressed cost following an ACL tear to Keaton Mitchell has made him one of my favorite trade targets. His 8.4 yards per carry last year led the NFL. He averaged 1.21 fantasy points per opportunity, second-most in the NFL. His +17.2 EPA was fifth-best among all running backs. He is the perfect lightning to Derrick Henry's thunder. He won't be a factor early in the season but could return as a late-season hammer for patient dynasty managers.

De'Von Achane is currently ranked as the RB7 in consensus dynasty running back rankings. Mitchell is ranked RB42. Almost everything we like about Achane is true for Mitchell: game-breaking speed, run-heavy scheme, and elite efficiency. Float out offers to acquire Mitchell for a third-round pick and stash him on your IR spot.

We Used To Be Excited But Probably Need To Give It Up

• Antonio Gibson
• AJ Dillon
• J.K. Dobbins
• Miles Sanders
• Alexander Mattison
• Kenneth Gainwell
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire
• Elijah Mitchell

As I mentioned in the intro, this is a more complex list of dynasty running back rankings. At this point, I've covered nearly 60 running backs. That doesn't mean I prefer 60 running backs to Antonio Gibson. But these are players who still cause intrigue in some people. I am not one of those people.

These running backs have been in the league for three or more years. All have had opportunities and floundered them. These running backs could be used to sweeten the pot in a deal to tier up at another position. Maybe you can get lucky and flip one for a Round 2 or 3 rookie pick. But the running backs in this tier appear headed toward a value freefall in dynasty running back rankings. I recommend cashing in while you can.

Cheap Enough In Dynasty Running Back Rankings To Buy

• D'Onta Foreman
• Rico Dowdle
• Jeff Wilson Jr.
• Kareem Hunt
• Jamaal Williams
• Samaje Perine
• Justice Hill

If the “Veterans Who Project For Decent Workloads” tier was the bargain bin, this section of dynasty running back rankings is the clearance rack at the thrift store. These backs should only be rostered in deep leagues if you can acquire them cheaply. They're aged veterans with no projectable workload. But opportunities may arise for a handful of spot starts throughout the season.

Rookies With An Uphill Battle To Relevancy

• Braelon Allen
• Isaac Guerendo
• Rasheen Ali

Rookie surprise us every year. These guys slid far in the NFL Draft and didn't get desirable landing spots. They might not even be on their team’s Week 1 roster, but they're worth a stash on your taxi slot in deep leagues. Braelon Allen was ranked inside the top 24 in dynasty running back rankings prior to the NFL Draft and tumbled outside of the top 50 after. He was an important reminder not to steam players up too much before we get draft capital.

Young And Cheap Enough In Dynasty Running Back Rankings To Buy

• Israel Abanikanda
• Evan Hull
• Chris Rodriguez Jr.
• Pierre Strong Jr.
• Michael Carter
• Sean Tucker
• Eric Gray
• Emari Demercado

Again, we're only talking about deep dynasty leagues at this point. Most dynasty managers aren't looking this far down dynasty running back rankings. These guys have all flashed at one point. Maybe you prefer the “what if” of a fourth- or fifth-rounder in next year's rookie draft. But if you're hurting for running back depth, you can probably get these guys for nearly nothing. Anyone you're acquiring from this list requires a heavy dose of personal conviction.

Why Are You Still Rostering These Guys?

• Deuce Vaughn
• Joshua Kelley
• Dalvin Cook
• Leonard Fournette
• Rashaad Penny
• Cam Akers
• Chase Edmonds
• Isiah Spiller
• Zach Evans
• Jerick McKinnon

We've seen enough from these guys that there's almost no world where they'll be fantasy-relevant again. Be it veterans who aged out, young players who faceplanted, or promising prospects who couldn't shake the injury bug. There are very few leagues deep enough where I'd entertain rostering any of these players.

Dynasty Running Back Rankings

In addition to my dynasty running back rankings, check out all positional rankings here!

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