Updated Fantasy RB Rankings 2022: Best running backs, top sleepers & breakouts in fantasy football drafts

Sloan Piva

Updated Fantasy RB Rankings 2022: Best running backs, top sleepers & breakouts in fantasy football drafts image

The modern NFL revolves around passing and has for many years, but in fantasy football, running back still dominates. The drop-off between RB tiers and tiers at other positions remains substantial, and selecting the right backs in your draft usually makes or breaks your bid for a championship. Our 2022 fantasy RB rankings breaks down the top options, best sleepers, breakout candidates, and upside handcuffs you should have in your queue on draft day.

Anyone can pick a solid running back in the top five picks of the draft — the output by Jonathan Taylor last year and Derrick Henry in 2020 put them in the conversation of greatest individual rushing campaigns ever. However, what you do late in the first round — and in the second through seventh rounds — often dictates the fate of your season. Plucking top contributors from the middle tiers — and finding early-round value from mid-to-late-round picks — helps fantasy owners actualize success.

2022 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Top 200 | Superflex

For RBs in both standard and PPR formats, it’s important to consider touches and opportunities, offensive line strength, injury history, passing-game role, and more. Even in non-PPR leagues, receiving out of the backfield can make a huge difference.

2022 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Top 200 | Superflex

For instance, Austin Ekeler and Najee Harris might be viewed as “less valuable” in standard leagues. However, they finished second and fourth, respectively, in the 2021 non-PPR rankings. Sure, they scored 70-plus fewer points in standard leagues than in PPR, but Ekeler still netted 64.7 points through receiving yardage while Harris finished with 46.7. That’s a huge boost, and pinpointing data like catch rate (74.5 percent for Ekeler, 78.7 percent for Harris) and targets (94 for each) will give you a massive leg-up on opponents who solely analyze rushing yardage and TDs.

2022 RANKINGS TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs

Whether your strategy revolves around drafting two RBs in the first two rounds or two in the first three, or three total by round five, you’re going to want to be heavily stocked in the rushing department. It’s always a lot easier to find quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends late in drafts/on the waiver wire than it is to scramble for a back late or replace injured or ineffective RBs during the season.

2022 AUCTION VALUES (Standard & PPR):
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Overall

Last season, the 17th-32nd RBs off the board (Chris Carson to Ronald Jones) finished the season with average positional rankings of 51.6. That’s not even flex value returned on fourth- and fifth-round picks. You simply cannot wait on assembling RB depth, especially in standard leagues.

2022 FANTASY SLEEPERS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | One from each team

Nestled among the first level of studs we’ve already discussed this year, we have a few high-risk, high-reward backs. A big part of coming away with a strong draft is navigating the field of boom-or-busts and assessing the probability you’ll get hurt long-term.

2022 CONSISTENCY RATINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end

Dalvin Cook is arguably the best runner pound-for-pound not named Henry and Taylor, but he always seems to struggle with injuries. He has a 4.7 career yards-per-carry average, a 78.8-percent career catch rate, and scored 30 combined TDs in ‘19 and ‘20 — but he’s never played more than 14 games in a season. Nick Chubb just put together a second-consecutive 5.5-plus yards-per-carry season but seems almost guaranteed to lose his new QB Deshaun Watson to suspension. Christian McCaffrey, the consensus No. 1 pick for many years, has been banged up for over three years and has appeared in just 10 total games the past two seasons. Alvin Kamara could be suspended for an offseason incident (plus he lost his long-time, offensive-minded coach); Antonio Gibson could underwhelm like he did last year; and Ezekiel Elliott might just be cooked. And Saquon Barkley? Where do we start?

After wading through those murky waters that may or may not contain a prize fish, we jump right into breakout and sleeper territory. Young backs like Javonte Williams, D’Andre Swift, Cam Akers, JK Dobbins, and Elijah Mitchell have humongous upsides; veteran plodders like James Conner and Aaron Jones have always found ways to succeed, but we’re somewhat leery this year. Others, like Travis Etienne Jr., Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Josh Jacobs, will hope for healthy campaigns and a little help from their offensive lines.

2022 FANTASY DRAFT STRATEGY:
Snake drafts | Auctions | Dynasty | Best ball | IDP

Oh, and there’s everyone’s favorites – the rookies. Whether you like Breece Hall, James Cook, Kenneth Walker III, Dameon Pierce, Tyler Allgeier, or someone else, you just know plenty of first-year players will be starting for fantasy teams throughout the season.

As is always the case, plenty of changes we’ll be coming to the rankings below ahead of Week 1. Whether it’s injuries, preseason performances, or even a surprise cut/trade, the shakeups will come early and often. Check back frequently for updates and additional player analysis. For full analysis of key RBs, click here.

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2022 fantasy cheat sheet

Fantasy RB Rankings 2022: Best running backs, top sleepers

These rankings are based on standard, non-PPR scoring

Rank Player
1 Jonathan Taylor, Colts
2 Derrick Henry, Titans
3 Najee Harris, Steelers
4 Dalvin Cook, Vikings
5 Austin Ekeler, Chargers
6 Nick Chubb, Browns
7 Christian McCaffrey, Panthers
8 Alvin Kamara, Saints
9 Joe Mixon, Bengals
10 Javonte Williams, Broncos
11 D'Andre Swift, Lions
12 JK Dobbins, Ravens
13 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
14 Saquon Barkley, Giants
15 Cam Akers, Rams
16 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers
17 Elijah Mitchell, 49ers
18 James Conner, Cardinals
19 Aaron Jones, Packers
20 Damien Harris, Patriots
21 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars
22 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs
23 Josh Jacobs, Raiders
24 David Montgomery, Bears
25 Antonio Gibson, Commanders
26 Breece Hall, Jets
27 Tony Pollard, Cowboys
28 AJ Dillon, Packers
29 Miles Sanders, Eagles
30 Kareem Hunt, Browns
31 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks
32 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins
33 James Cook, Bills
34 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons
35 Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
36 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
37 Devin Singletary, Bills
38 Dameon Pierce, Texans
39 James Robinson, Jaguars
40 Michael Carter, Jets
41 Melvin Gordon III, Broncos
42 Alexander Mattison, Vikings
43 Khalil Herbert, Bears
44 Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams
45 Jamaal Williams, Lions
46 Gus Edwards, Ravens
47 Rachaad White, Buccaneers
48 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons
49 Rex Burkhead, Texans
50 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins
51 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles
52 J.D. McKissic, Commanders
53 Nyheim Hines, Colts
54 Darrel Williams, Cardinals
55 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs
56 Isaiah Spiller, Chargers
57 Zamir White, Raiders
58 Brian Robinson, Commanders
59 Joshua Kelley, Chargers
60 Pierre Strong Jr., Patriots
61 Kyren Williams, Rams
62 Boston Scott, Eagles
63 Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers
64 Tyrion Davis-Price, 49ers
65 Hassan Haskins, Titans
66 D'Onta Foreman, Panthers
67 Kenyan Drake, Ravens
68 Samaje Perine, Bengals
69 Mark Ingram, Saints
70 Myles Gaskin, Dolphins
71 Zack Moss, Bills
72 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
73 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals
74 Brandon Bolden, Raiders
75 Jaylen Warren, Steelers

Sloan Piva

Sloan Piva Photo

Sloan Piva is a content producer for The Sporting News, primarily focused on betting, fantasy sports, and poker. A lifelong New Englander, Sloan earned his BA and MA in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts and now lives in coastal Rhode Island with his wife and two kids.