While teams with good passing games might dominate the NFL, fantasy football squads with top-tier running backs still tend to reign supreme. The consistent greatness delivered by upper-echelon RBs dwarfs the impact of stud quarterbacks and wideouts. Drafting multiple RBs within the first four rounds should not just be a priority — it should be a mission statement. But RB depth matters, too! Our 2023 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues will explore the top options, best sleepers, and upside handcuffs ahead of draft season.
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Selecting the best available running back in the first five picks of a fantasy draft is easy. You can never go wrong drafting a healthy Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, or Austin Ekeler. Things get a little trickier later in the first round and into the second through fifth rounds. Managerial success and failures in those vital portions of the draft often separate the preseason contenders from the pretenders, so it's very important to have a plan (and plenty of backup plans).
Pinpoint early-round value picks coming off a disappointing season or due for positive regression with a new team, QB, or coach. Target the sleepers and breakout candidates from the middle and late rounds who might not be on your opponents' radars. Do ample research so that nobody in your league knows the running back position better than you (or, just let us do the research for you).
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2023 Fantasy Cheat Sheet
We're specifically talking about RBs in standard leagues in this article, but regardless of format, it’s always important to consider each player's projected touches and opportunities, expected 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.
2023 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP
For instance, Ekeler and Saquon Barkley might be viewed as “less valuable” in standard leagues. However, they finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 2022 non-PPR RB rankings. Sure, Ek ranked first and scored 107 more points in PPR formats than in standard — and Saquon had 57 more PPR points than standard points — but Ek finished top four in standard and Saquon was top six in both. For Ekeler, 38.4 percent of his standard-league points were from receiving, and if the Chargers offense gets healthy this year, look out. Defenses won't be able to stack the box against him with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams out wide.
2023 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP
Whether your strategy revolves around drafting two RBs in the first two rounds, two in the first three, or three total by round five, you’ll 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 and on the waiver wire than it is to scramble for a back late or replace injured or ineffective RBs during the season. We all know those owners who enjoy perennial success because he always has incredible RB depth — it's a strategy that allows for backup plans, playing the matchups, and establishing early and sustained trade equity and leverage on the rest of the league.
2023 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Each Team
Of course, situational-based drafting is important. We called Tony Pollard's breakout last season, as we knew how good he had been over the previous two years with his minimal touches and saw Ezekiel Elliott's regression coming. We were big on Jacksonville taking a step forward and had Travis Etienne Jr. as one of our favorite sleepers. We also loved Rhamondre Stevenson and Kenneth Walker Jr. as bell-cow breakout candidates at their respective ADPs of 86 and 95.
2023 AUCTION VALUES (Standard & PPR):
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Overall
Strong running back drafting involves picking two can't-miss backs with high-volume shares and low volatility levels, a couple of high-upside backs you think will eventually emerge, and several low-risk, potentially high-reward rookies, handcuffs, and/or bounce-back candidates.
FANTASY DRAFT STRATEGY:
Snake | Auction | Best ball | Dynasty | IDP
Everyone will be on Falcons rookie Bijan Robinson come draft season, but not everyone will be as high as us on the Buccaneers' Rachaad White, the Eagles' D'Andre Swift, or the Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco. All three are in prime positions to outproduce their ADPs. We also expect to have plenty of stock in Lions rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, Bills second-year sleeper James Cook, and Broncos third-year back Javonte Williams. We're seeing these players slip into the fourth, fifth, sixth, and sometimes even eighth rounds, offering the kind of value we will be gobbling up like Pac-man on draft day.
2023 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST
Of course, we also have to talk about the players we will be fading on the big day. We're a little gun-shy when it comes to Jonathan Taylor, as his name and past success keep him in the conversation of top eight RBs, but his injury/team concerns and offseason drama could see him disappoint once again. At this point, we'd rather have Indy rookie Evan Hull at his rock-bottom ADP than Taylor at him. We have similar reservations with the Packers' Aaron Jones, who will be embarking on his first full season without Aaron Rodgers while sharing the backfield with AJ Dillon.
We also want little to do with over-the-hill veterans Alvin Kamara (Saints), David Montgomery (Lions), and Devin Singletary (Texans). We'd much rather have their running mates Jamaal Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Dameon Pierce. Kamara has plenty of talent, but his off-field issues and lack of TDs make him too volatile for his high ADP. Montgomery is a walking injury concern, and he will likely be limited to third-down and goal-line work in Detroit. Singletary stands no chance at RB3 or flex value in the same backfield as Pierce. If he was worth a damn, Buffalo would have kept him around.
Pierce broke out in a major way as one of the best rookies in the RB picture last year. On the surface, the 2023 draft class looks awful in comparison to '22, but peel back the layers of your mock drafts and you'll find plenty of value nestled amongst the later stages. In the RB48 through RB59 range, you'll find Minnesota's Ty Chandler, Seattle's Zach Charbonnet, Cincinnati's Trayveon Williams, Jacksonville's Tank Bigsby, Cleveland's Jerome Ford, Miami's De'Von Achane, and Tennessee's Tyjae Spears. We would take any of those high-upside guys over a proven, low-value RB like the Chargers' Joshua Kelley, Tampa's Chase Edmonds, or an occasional-boom-bust-mostly-bust guy like Philly's Kenneth Gainwell.
As is always the case, plenty of changes will be coming to the rankings below between now and Week 1. Whether it’s injuries, preseason performances, or even a surprise cut or trade, the shakeups will come early and often. Check back frequently for updates and additional player analysis.
Fantasy Football RB Rankings 2023: Best running backs, top sleepers
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers
2 Derrick Henry, Titans
3 Austin Ekeler, Chargers
4 Saquon Barkley, Giants
5 Nick Chubb, Browns
6 Tony Pollard, Cowboys
7 Bijan Robinson, Falcons
8 Josh Jacobs, Raiders
9 Kenneth Walker, Seahawks
10 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars
11 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
12 Joe Mixon, Bengals
13 Najee Harris, Steelers
14 Aaron Jones, Packers
15 JK Dobbins, Ravens
16 Breece Hall, Jets
17 Dameon Pierce, Texans
18 Alexander Mattison, Vikings
19 Rachaad White, Buccaneers
20 D'Andre Swift, Eagles
21 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs
22 Cam Akers, Rams
23 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions
24 James Cook, Bills
25 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders
26 Javonte Williams, Broncos
27 Miles Sanders, Panthers
28 Jonathan Taylor, Colts
29 Dalvin Cook, Jets
30 James Conner, Cardinals
31 David Montgomery, Lions
32 Khalil Herbert, Bears
33 Alvin Kamara, Saints
34 Jamaal Williams, Saints
35 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots
36 Samaje Perine, Broncos
37 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs
38 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins
39 AJ Dillon, Packers
40 De'Von Achane, Dolphins
41 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons
42 Elijah Mitchell, 49ers
43 Devin Singletary, Texans
44 Antonio Gibson, Commanders
45 Rashaad Penny, Eagles
46 Damien Harris, Bills
47 D'Onta Foreman, Bears
48 Deon Jackson, Colts
49 Ty Chandler, Vikings
50 Chase Brown, Bengals
51 Evan Hull, Colts
52 Jerome Ford, Browns
53 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
54 Tank Bigsby, Jaguars
55 Jaylen Warren, Steelers
56 Gus Edwards, Ravens
57 Zack Moss, Colts
58 Rico Dowdle, Cowboys
59 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons
60 Tyjae Spears, Titans
61 Kendre Miller, Saints
62 Kyren Williams, Rams
63 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins
64 Joshua Kelley, Chargers
65 Eric Gray, Giants
66 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
67 Roschon Johnson, Bears
68 Isaiah Spiller, Chargers
69 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles
70 Zamir White, Raiders
71 Chase Edmonds, Buccaneers
