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Fantasy football 2024: RB rankings and tiers

Who is the first pick in fantasy football this year? That question is easy to answer -- at least I hope it is. No need to overthink Christian McCaffrey, people. But beyond the no-brainer at No. 1 overall, what do we do when things get unpredictable? What happens when somebody swipes the player you were counting on being there for your draft slot? Well, we have a plan!

The best way to prepare for your fantasy drafts is to break up your rankings into tiers. That way, you're ready if/when there is a run on quarterbacks. Or when somebody steals Dalton Kincaid from you. Which is something that just happened to me. And to answer the inevitable questions: Yes, some people draft this early; and yes, some leagues place a real premium on the tight end position. But I digress. Let's get back to the task at hand ...

I'm going through the four cornerstones of fantasy football -- quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end -- and providing tiered rankings for each position heading into the 2024 国产外流网season. It's an easy and efficient way to organize your draft thoughts. Savvy? Let's take a look at today's subject matter: RBs.

Tier 1

Rank
1
Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco 49ers
Rank
2
Breece Hall
New York Jets
Rank
3
Bijan Robinson
Atlanta Falcons
  • I know some people are apprehensive about Christian McCaffrey because they're afraid he's going to get hurt. That was the case last year, too, which allowed a bunch of folks drafting third and fourth to pounce on the all-around superstar and ride him to a league title. The man hasn't suffered any serious health issues over the past two seasons, just signed a lucrative extension this offseason and heads into the 2024 campaign as the leading producer on one of the league's very best offenses. Like I said in the intro above, you really don't need to spin your wheels on this one.
  • Breece Hall was the RB2 in PPR scoring last year, despite receiving just one goal-line carry (i.e., from the 1-yard line). Hall did have six games with 125-plus scrimmage yards -- a total that figures to increase in 2024 if Aaron Rodgers plays more than four snaps.
  • Bijan Robinson's getting plenty of buzz these days, with talk of him being Atlanta's CMC. Remember when Dameon Pierce was going to be Houston's CMC? I'm kidding. While I admittedly loved Pierce heading into last season, Robinson is a safer bet in this spot. Personally, I'd prefer the other two backs in this tier, but I won't be shocked if Bijan's the first running back taken in a lot of drafts.

Tier 2

Rank
4
Jahmyr Gibbs
Detroit Lions
Rank
5
Jonathan Taylor
Indianapolis Colts
Rank
6
Saquon Barkley
Philadelphia Eagles
Rank
7
Kyren Williams
Los Angeles Rams
Rank
8
Travis Etienne
Jacksonville Jaguars
Rank
9
James Cook
Buffalo Bills
Rank
10
Derrick Henry
Baltimore Ravens
Rank
11
De'Von Achane
Miami Dolphins
Rank
12
Alvin Kamara
New Orleans Saints
  • Jahmyr Gibbs finished as the RB8 in points per game last season (16.1 in PPR formatting), even with the Lions slow-playing the first-round pick. He had 52 receptions and 11 total touchdowns.
  • Saquon Barkley did have availability issues at times during his Giants tenure. But if he can stay healthy, playing for a better team -- and in a better offense -- could provide the kind of fantasy resurgence Christian McCaffrey has enjoyed since joining the 49ers.
  • The Rams fully committed to Kyren Williams down the stretch last season. I expect him to be prominently featured again this fall, even though a lot of you love third-round pick Blake Corum.
  • Last year, Travis Etienne posted 20-plus fantasy points in six games -- the most for a Jaguars back since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011. If you draft Etienne, Tank Bigsby is worth a handcuff at some point, but Jacksonville still figures to lean heavily on the RB1.
  • James Cook averaged close to 20 touches per game after the Bills swapped in Joe Brady as their offensive coordinator in mid-November. And the third-year back should be even more of a focal point this year with WR Stefon Diggs (and his 160 targets from 2023) out the door. Buffalo's offense will run through Cook.
  • We all dreamed about Derrick Henry landing in Baltimore ... and it actually happened! Monster year incoming.
  • De'Von Achane just finished his rookie season as the RB5 in points per game (17.3 in PPR formats). He averaged nearly 23 fantasy points per game when he received at least 10 touches. The electric back just needs better health in 2024.
  • Alvin Kamara is still looking for a new contract. I think something is going to get done at some point.

Tier 3

Rank
13
Joe Mixon
Houston Texans
Rank
14
Isiah Pacheco
Kansas City Chiefs
Rank
15
Kenneth Walker III
Seattle Seahawks
Rank
16
Rhamondre Stevenson
New England Patriots
Rank
17
David Montgomery
Detroit Lions
Rank
18
Josh Jacobs
Green Bay Packers
  • In PPR scoring, Joe Mixon is the only running back to finish in the top 12 at the position during each of the last three seasons. He's been the model of consistency. I love this opportunity for him in Houston. Mike Shanahan's offense was always a fantasy boon for RBs, and Texans OC Bobby Slowik is a branch off that coaching tree.
  • David Montgomery still figures to get most of the goal-line work in Detroit. The Lions averaged 2.1 goal-line rushes (inside the 1-yard line) per game in 2023, which was the most in the NFL.
  • What's in store for Josh Jacobs after the 26-year-old received his big payday with the Packers? Is motivation a concern for a running back whose play has fluctuated from year to year? People like the narrative that he's going to be a great cold-weather back -- isn't that what AJ Dillon was supposed to be? The thing is, Matt LaFleur doesn't seem to maximize his RBs, at least from a fantasy perspective. Derrick Henry really broke out after LaFleur left his post as Titans offensive coordinator to become Packers head coach. Aaron Jones had his moments in Green Bay, but I was always left wanting more.

Tier 4

Rank
19
D'Andre Swift
Chicago Bears
Rank
20
Rachaad White
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rank
21
Zamir White
Las Vegas Raiders
Rank
22
Raheem Mostert
Miami Dolphins
Rank
23
Aaron Jones
Minnesota Vikings
Rank
24
James Conner
Arizona Cardinals
Rank
25
Zack Moss
Cincinnati Bengals
Rank
26
Jaylen Warren
Pittsburgh Steelers
Rank
27
Najee Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers
Rank
28
Devin Singletary
New York Giants
  • The Bears have a very crowded backfield, but they wasted no time in signing D'Andre Swift this offseason. That, at least to me, signals Chicago aims to use him a lot.
  • Rachaad White scares me. He was the RB10 in fantasy points per game (PPR scoring) but was second in the league in touches, behind only Christian McCaffrey. That makes him a huge regression candidate if he starts losing work in that backfield.
  • Zamir White could either have the best season in fantasy football or the worst. OK, that's a little aggressive, but this RB just seems so volatile to me. He had 328 rushing yards in the final three weeks of last season. Is that enough for you?

Tier 5

Rank
29
Brian Robinson
Washington Commanders
Rank
30
Jonathon Brooks
Carolina Panthers
Rank
31
Tyjae Spears
Tennessee Titans
Rank
32
Trey Benson
Arizona Cardinals
Rank
33
Tony Pollard
Tennessee Titans
Rank
34
Austin Ekeler
Washington Commanders
Rank
35
Jerome Ford
Cleveland Browns
Rank
36
Blake Corum
Los Angeles Rams
Rank
37
Chase Brown
Cincinnati Bengals
Rank
38
Nick Chubb
Cleveland Browns
Rank
39
Ezekiel Elliott
Dallas Cowboys
Rank
40
Javonte Williams
Denver Broncos
Rank
41
Tyler Allgeier
Atlanta Falcons
Rank
42
Roschon Johnson
Chicago Bears
  • If I'm taking a running back from the Titans this season, I'm going with Tyjae Spears. He was pretty damn effective in a limited role as a rookie backup to Derrick Henry. He also had a 10.0 percent explosive rush rate (runs of 10-plus yards) -- the six-highest mark among qualified RBs in 2023.
  • I like Arizona RB1 James Conner a lot, but I would be willing to take a flier on Trey Benson at this point in the draft. The rookie has a lot of upside; he's more than a handcuff to me.
  • Austin Ekeler had a miserable 2023 campaign. Was that the beginning of the end, or can he bounce back in Washington? I'm willing to take the 29-year-old in this range, especially with him playing alongside dual-threat QB Jayden Daniels.

Tier 6

Rank
43
Gus Edwards
Los Angeles Chargers
Rank
44
J.K. Dobbins
Los Angeles Chargers
Rank
45
MarShawn Lloyd
Green Bay Packers
Rank
46
Zach Charbonnet
Seattle Seahawks
Rank
47
Chuba Hubbard
Carolina Panthers
Rank
48
Khalil Herbert
Chicago Bears
Rank
49
Kendre Miller
New Orleans Saints
Rank
50
Ty Chandler
Minnesota Vikings
  • With Greg Roman reuniting with Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles, the Chargers supplied the offensive coordinator with a couple of familiar faces from his Baltimore days in Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. This makes a lot of sense. But you're pretty much banking on both players being healthy and not being usurped by a rookie. (I'll get to him in a moment.)
  • Third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd could end up carving out a huge role in the Packers' offense.

Tier 7

Rank
51
Kimani Vidal
Los Angeles Chargers
Rank
52
Jaylen Wright
Miami Dolphins
Rank
53
Tank Bigsby
Jacksonville Jaguars
Rank
54
Bucky Irving
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rank
55
Ray Davis
Buffalo Bills
Rank
56
Elijah Mitchell
San Francisco 49ers
Rank
57
Jaleel McLaughlin
Denver Broncos
Rank
58
Audric Estimé
Denver Broncos
Rank
59
Antonio Gibson
New England Patriots
Rank
60
Dameon Pierce
Houston Texans
Rank
61
D'Onta Foreman
Cleveland Browns
Rank
62
Keaton Mitchell
Baltimore Ravens
Rank
63
Braelon Allen
New York Jets
  • All right, this is where I'm going to get a little weird. The Chargers have two running backs in front of sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal. And I understand a lot of you hate making speculative adds in fantasy, instead waiting to scramble on the waiver wire in Week 8. But why not try to be the person who already has the young stud on your roster when opportunity knocks? You don't need to keep two defenses and an emergency kicker.
  • I'm curious to see how the Dolphins backfield shakes out. Fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright has legitimate backs in front of him, but keep an eye out if the Dolphins ultimately decide to move a veteran like Raheem Mostert.
  • There is a theme here in this tier. Fifth-round pick Audric Estim茅 might get a lot of playing time, especially if Sean Payton sours on Javonte Williams. Jaleel McLaughlin showed juice last season as an undrafted rookie, but I'm not going to be shocked if Estim茅 ends up having a serious impact here. And look, you might not have a deep enough bench to stash all three of the guys I just mentioned. Try to have one.

Tier 8

Rank
64
Alexander Mattison
Las Vegas Raiders
Rank
65
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Kansas City Chiefs
Rank
66
Will Shipley
Philadelphia Eagles
Rank
67
Kenneth Gainwell
Philadelphia Eagles
Rank
68
AJ Dillon
Green Bay Packers
Rank
69
Miles Sanders
Carolina Panthers
Rank
70
Jamaal Williams
New Orleans Saints
Rank
71
Justice Hill
Baltimore Ravens
Rank
72
Samaje Perine
Denver Broncos
Rank
73
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
New York Giants
Rank
74
Evan Hull
Indianapolis Colts
Rank
75
Trey Sermon
Indianapolis Colts
Rank
76
Jordan Mason
San Francisco 49ers
Rank
77
D'Ernest Johnson
Jacksonville Jaguars
Rank
78
Michael Carter
Arizona Cardinals
Rank
79
Cordarrelle Patterson
Pittsburgh Steelers
Rank
80
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Washington Commanders
Rank
81
Royce Freeman
Dallas Cowboys
Rank
82
Chase Edmonds
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rank
83
Isaac Guerendo
San Francisco 49ers
Rank
84
Salvon Ahmed
Miami Dolphins
Rank
85
Ronnie Rivers
Los Angeles Rams
Rank
86
Dylan Laube
Las Vegas Raiders
Rank
87
Deuce Vaughn
Dallas Cowboys
Rank
88
Keaontay Ingram
Kansas City Chiefs
Rank
89
Dalvin Cook
Free agent
Rank
90
Kareem Hunt
Free agent
  • Alexander Mattison is on the outside looking in for the Raiders, but still worth keeping an eye on -- especially if you draft Zamir White.
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire is one of those guys who keeps hanging around and hanging around. The internet would break if something happened to Isiah Pacheco, thrusting CEH back into the RB1 role. Though I feel like I've said this before.
  • We already discussed Denver's crowded backfield. Turning 29 in September, Samaje Perine might be the odd man out.
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