Top 25 Running Backs for PPR Fantasy Football
These players will be the most reliable for this long 17 game season
As the lists of the top 25 players in general and the top 25 Wide Receivers have already come out, its time for the top 25 for the Running Back position, which is undisputedly the most important position in PPR Fantasy Football leagues.
A lot of players did not look like themselves in week 1 like Ezekiel Elliot, Austin Ekeler, James Robinson, and even Antonio Gibson. Only some Superstar Running Backs looked like their usual selves including Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, and Dalvin Cook.
However, regardless of the inconsistencies in week 1 for some of the top Running Backs in PPR leagues, you should not worry since it is only week 1! Antonio Gibson and Austin Ekeler will be some of the best PPR players in Fantasy Football still, even after having “down weeks”. Alvin Kamara and CMC will continue to dominate in all leagues, whereas guys like Jamaal Williams (who had 25 fantasy points in the 41-33 loss for the Lions against the 49ers) will not produce like that on a regular basis.
1. Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey is still the best PPR player in possibly the history of Fantasy Football. The obvious #1 pick will continue to dominate in your fantasy leagues. Hopefully, you got some depth in your other picks because I know that #1 overall can be a hassle for some people to have (since you don’t pick again until 20-26th overall).
2. Alvin Kamara
Kamara should have been picked 2nd overall in every single PPR league. He is almost exactly like McCaffrey and will produce rushing and receiving yards and touchdowns every single week. Being the #1 option in the offense, Kamara is going to dominate PPR leagues all season long.
3. Dalvin Cook
Cook had a rush touchdown in the 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals and looked pretty good, even though it wasn’t his most dominant performance. The way Kirk Cousins looks, Cook should have a bigger role in the next 16 games of the season than he did on Sunday.
4. Antonio Gibson
The player I am the highest on, Antonio Gibson is a PPR monster. He played receiver in college and is already one of the most dominant Running Backs in the league in his only second year in the NFL. He did not play amazing against the Chargers on Sunday, but again, Washington did not control the time of possession like the Chargers did, resulting in very limited opportunities for Gibson. Either way, regardless of if Taylor Heinicke or Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing QB, Gibson remains the #1 option on offense specifically for rushing, but also a good option for receiving as well.
5. Derrick Henry
Henry had a bad week against a much improved Arizona Cardinals defense, but all in all he is still the best rusher in the NFL and will be a rush yard and touchdown machine throughout the rest of the season. He still is the 5th best option in PPR leagues.
6. Austin Ekeler
Ekeler is a PPR monster. He rushed for a touchdown but only for 57 yards in week 1, but don’t let that fool you. It was against arguably the best defense in the NFL, and he is coming off of an injury where he didn’t even practice until last Thursday. Ekeler is built for you to win leagues in PPR formats. He ranks better than Aaron Jones, Jonathan Taylor, and Nick Chubb because of his ability to catch passes.
7. Ezekiel Elliot
Elliot did not rush well against the dominant front line of the Buccaneers, but it’s one week. With a great offensive line and an elite Quarterback, Elliot looks strong and will be one of the best PPR producers all season long.
8. Jonathan Taylor
Taylor and the Colts’ offense could never get into a rhythm against what looks to be an improved Seahawks defense. Taylor is still one of the top 4 best rushers in the NFL and even though he won’t get you as many receptions as Ekeler, CMC, Kamara, and Gibson, he will get you rushing touchdowns and enough receiving yards (he had 60 receiving yards today surprisingly). The best is yet to come for Taylor and the Colts offense. Taylor is one of the most consistent players in the NFL and is a clear RB1 in all PPR leagues.
9. Nick Chubb
Chubb rushed for two touchdowns against the Cheifs on Sunday but is still sharing a backfield with Kareem Hunt (who also looked dominant). Chubb would be the #1 overall pick or at least a top 3 selection if Hunt wasn’t in that backfield just because of how dominant Chubb is as a rusher. Unfortunately, Chubb’s production isn’t as elite with Hunt sharing the backfield with him so he is just barely a top 10 RB in PPR leagues.
10. Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Edwards-Helaire is a PPR beast because of his ability to rush for big yards, but also receive from the best Quarterback in the NFL. He never disappoints as a RB2 and rarely as an RB1 option in PPR leagues.
11. Aaron Jones
Jones didn’t have a good day against the Saints in the Packers blowout loss to them. However, Aaron Rodgers and the whole offense were awful so this isn’t just on Jones. Jones is still a great rusher and a serious threat for receiving yards as well which is why he ranks as #12 in PPR leagues.
12. Najee Harris
Harris didn’t have a great day against the Bills’ defense but is still the lead back in a rush-heavy offense with an aging Quarterback behind center. Expect Harris to pick up a ton of rush yards, but also some receiving yards as well. Harris is a bad RB1 option but a really good RB2 option in PPR leagues.
13. Saquon Barkley
Barkley looked like the worst runner in the NFL against the Broncos’ elite defense. Again, Barkley is dealing with a bottom 5 offensive line and a below-average QB who can’t get his elite receivers touches so the blame isn’t completely on Barkley. Still, he should have had well more than 10 carries for only 26 yards. What an embarrassment. He still has the upside as an RB1 but for now, he’s barely an RB2 option and could even fall out of the PPR top 25 Running Backs by the end of the season if he keeps this lackluster production up. He is 13th because of his upside.
14. James Robinson
Another RB who had a miserable game, Robinson didn’t look like he knew how to play football in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Texans. He looked like a completely different back and it did not help that Trevor Lawrence was atrocious until the second half, which is when Robinson got most of his fantasy points. Either way, Robinson will still get a ton of touchdowns, both receiving and rushing as the only viable back on the roster.
15. DeAndre Swift
Swift scored a TD and had a solid fantasy day that was overshadowed by his backfield-mate Jamaal Williams’ big day. Williams was one of the best Running Back’s this weekend, but is not going to keep up that kind of production. DeAndre Swift will only get better.
16. Miles Gaskin
Gaskin and the Dolphins had a solid day beating the New England Patriots by 1 in a hard-fought game. Gaskin didn’t score rushing or receiving TD but picked up solid yards from both receiving and rushing. Gaskin is a sleeper that could become an RB1 option by the end of the year depending on how the Dolphins use him.
17. Raheem Mostert
Mostert only ran for 20 yards with two carries before getting hurt with a knee injury. Who knows how long he will be out, but even if a stacked backfield that includes Trey Sermon and Edward Mitchell, Mostert will get the most carries if healthy and pick up tons of rush yards in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme.
18. Mike Davis
Davis is the lead back for the Falcons and had a very underrated year last season playing behind Todd Gurley. With no Gurley, Davis will produce as a good RB2 option in PPR leagues.
19. Chris Carson
Carson is hit or miss. He is great when healthy, but gets hurt way too often which is why he is ranked 19th. However, if Carson stays healthy he will do great in PPR because of being the lead back in a high-powered Seahawks offense. A very solid RB2 in PPR leagues.
20. Miles Sanders
Sanders had a very solid game in the 32-6 win the Eagles had over the Falcons. Sanders rushed for 74 yards on only 14 carries and caught 4 passes for 39 yards. Even though he did not record a touchdown, Sanders continues to show how valuable he is in all PPR leagues because of his ability to run and catch at a high level. A very solid RB2 option.
21. Josh Jacobs
Jacobs had a great rookie year rushing for 1,085 yards (8th in NFL) and 12 TD’s (4th for all RB’s). However, this year should be a tougher one for Jacobs as defenses started to figure him out throughout the second half of last season. Jacobs has some games where he will run for a TD and catch a TD, then he will have some games where he only rushes for 20 yards and doesn’t record a TD. His inconsistencies will be on display this season which is why he is ranked #21 instead of where he should belong which is in the top 12.
22. Joe Mixon
Mixon ran for 127 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals win over the Vikings Sunday. However, don’t let that fool you because Mixon is still the most overrated player in Fantasy Football. Usually a 2nd round pick, Mixon was not even in the top 15 in some categories for Running Backs last season. Joe Burrow and the Bengals will pass more and more once they get into a rhythm and the production of Mixon will go down. He is still a decent RB2, but the best has already come for Mixon.
23. David Montgomery
Montgomery won’t catch many passes this season for the Bears, but he is a very solid rusher as we witnessed in the Bears’ loss to the Rams on Sunday night. Montgomery was one of the few bright spots in that atrocious Bears offense led by the worst starting QB in the NFL, Andy Dalton. The reason why Montgomery is 23rd instead of in the top 15 is that I believe the Bears will rollout Dalton for the first half of the season which will hurt his production tremendously. When Justin Fields becomes the starter Montgomery becomes a top 15 back and an elite RB2 in PPR leagues.
24. Kareem Hunt
Hunt had a solid day for the Browns in the 33-29 loss to the Cheifs on Sunday, rushing for 33 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 3 passes for 29 yards. Hunt is in the top 15 talent-wise, but because he shares a backfield with Nick Chubb he is not worth an RB2 spot most of the time. He should either be in the Flex spot or as the first RB option off of the bench in all Fantasy Football leagues.
25. Zack Moss
Moss did not play in the 23-16 loss to the Steelers on Sunday and his absence hurt the Bills a ton. The Bills don’t really use the run much (unless Allen is running) but Moss showed how good he was rushing for touchdowns in the Red-Zone last season. They missed that today as Moss is ready to take a leap into the top 25 Running Backs in the NFL. Hopefully, he will be able to play next weekend because the Bills need him. Moss should be stashed on the bench until he has a 2 touchdown game, and the way the Bills offense looked on Sunday, that may not come for a long time.