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

Point-per-reception leagues used to be the minority in fantasy football; now, they seem to be the norm. It makes sense since the NFL has become such a pass-first league. Even still, it’s running backs, not necessarily the wide receivers and tight ends, who are the most important players in fantasy football – including PPR leagues. That’s why our 2022 fantasy RB PPR rankings are a key component to any draft cheat sheet, as you need to know the top players, best sleepers, and biggest potential busts.

Why are RBs so important in PPR leagues? Well, wide receiver points are fairly easy to come by. The drop in PPR contribution rate from top-tier WRs to, say, third-tier WRs is much less substantial than the drop in production from top-tier RBs to third-tier RBs. Additionally, you can always find pass-catching wideouts and tight ends on the waiver wire throughout the season, whereas pass-catchers out of the backfield are usually already rostered by the start of Week 1.

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

If you’re not getting production from your RB, you’re probably going to have a tough time contending for your league’s fantasy title. According to FantasyPros, Jonathan Taylor, Austin Ekeler, and Najee Harris were three of the most heavily-rostered players on playoff teams in PPR leagues last season.

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

That makes sense since all three players were heavily involved in their respective teams’ offenses both on the ground and through the air. Taylor had 51 targets — well below the 94 that both Ekeler and Harris saw — but he made up for that with a machine-like 332 carries. Derrick Henry, the rushing champ of the previous two seasons, had an unfathomable 378 totes in ‘20. If you’re getting a guy with 381 total touches like Harris or 372 like Taylor, you’re sitting pretty in any format.

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

But with lower-usage backs, you must be analytical. How efficient are they with their touches and targets? What’s their touchdown rate in the red zone or within the opponents 10-yard line? Are they durable? Has their role potentially expanded since last season, or are they due for some negative regression?

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

The usual suspects we already mentioned live in the top tier, with ‘when-active’ PPR beasts Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey, and Alvin Kamara easily nestled right behind. The only thing holding those guys back is games played concerns: Cook has yet to play more than 14 games in any season; McCaffrey has totaled 10 over the past two campaigns; and Kamara could face suspension for an offseason incident.

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

After those studs, there are plenty of high-upside younger players. D’Andre Swift had a 79.5-percent catch rate and 17.4-percent target share in ‘21, and he should see increased opportunities in his third season now that he’s fully healthy. Joe Mixon, the third-ranked back in ‘21, saw a career high in rushes and touches last season, and his offense should only improve entering QB Joe Burrow’s third campaign. Antonio Gibson wasn’t the breakout many of us thought he would be, but he looked pretty solid toward the end of the season despite a poor QB situation. He should see an expanded role this season, as should Leonard Fournette with Tom Brady a year older and now without Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown.

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

Speaking of expanding roles, Nick Chubb could be without a serviceable starting QB for the foreseeable future now that Baker Mayfield is in Carolina and Deshaun Watson could be facing a lengthy suspension. Dump-off city, right? Well, Chubb already loses considerable snaps to pass-catching wiz Kareem Hunt, and in the two games Chubb played without Mayfield last season, he averaged just 7.6 total PPR points. We’ll continue to rank him lower in PPR leagues compared to standard leagues until he gives us a reason not to. The same goes for Damien Harris, JK Dobbins, Elijah Mitchell, and AJ Dillon among others.

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

Conversely, guys like Aaron Jones, Josh Jacobs, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Chase Edmonds get nice bumps up in PPR leagues. There are also pass-catching specialists, like Nyheim Hines, J.D. McKissic, and James White, though the latter two might have reduced roles this year.

Rookies are always a bit of a wild card in PPR leagues, as a decidedly non-fantasy issue (pass protection) can affect how often they’re on the field in passing situations. Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, James Cook, Tyler Allgeier, Dameon Pierce, and more first-year players all have intriguing profiles given their situations, but it’s tough to expect any to have a Harris-like impact as a receiver in Year 1.

Fortunately, we should get some insight on these players and others based on preseason usage. As information comes in, we’ll be updating our rankings below right up until Week 1, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis. For full analysis of key RBs, click here.

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2022 fantasy cheat sheet

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings 2022: Best running backs, top sleepers

These rankings are based off full-point PPR formats