Updated Fantasy Football RB Rankings 2023: Best running backs, top sleepers & breakouts in standard fantasy drafts

Sloan Piva

Updated Fantasy Football RB Rankings 2023: Best running backs, top sleepers & breakouts in standard fantasy drafts image

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

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.