2021 Fantasy Football: PPR Running Back Rankings

NFL training camps are just around the corner so it’s time to get cooking here at Fantrax with our PPR Running Back Rankings for the upcoming 2021 season! We started off with our Standard ranks out here but have switched our focus to PPR ranks. One of the more notable risers is Austin Ekeler, as his 100-catch potential is too juicy to ignore and bolts up the rankings into the top-8. Find out below from our analysts whom to draft, who to avoid and more!

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Meet the Rankers

Below are the analysts that will be breaking down our consensus PPR Running Back Rankings over the next few months. We have three analysts from you to draw from. We’ve included their initials so you know who is who in the rankings table, and also their Twitter handles so you can give them a follow and let them know what you think of their PPR running back rankings.

CM – Colin McTamany – @LincoCammyTan
MQ – Michael Quintero – @WeekendMike
MO – Mike Omelan – @mikeomelan

Draft Strategy

CM – In fantasy football, volume is the biggest key to success. For a running back, that means having a role in an offense that includes a high number of carries, as well as targets and receptions. We want our RBs to touch the ball as much as possible; these players can’t score points without the ball in their hands. From 2016 to 2020, the RBs with the most touches, in each respective year, finished as such in half-point PPR scoring on a points per game basis: RB1 (D. Johnson ‘16), RB2 (L. Bell ‘17), RB8 (E. Elliot ‘18), RB1 (C. McCaffrey ‘19), RB4 (D. Henry ‘20). You want to make sure your top pick at running back is a workhorse. As for the later rounds, monitor the handcuffs of your studs and don’t be afraid to draft someone else’s handcuff. If their starter goes down, their backup becomes your starter or very valuable trade bait.

MQ – No matter where you are drafting at, take a running back with your first pick. Unless you have the last pick then you can go wide receiver then running back with back-to-back picks. But, with your first four picks you should have three running backs out of the four picks. The reason why is because you will find wide receivers in the late rounds that will put up high production. As for running backs, after the first three or four rounds, you are not left with much to pick from. The strategy I always take is three running backs in the first three rounds then go for a Darren Waller and George Kittle in the fourth if left. If not, take Amari Cooper or Allen Robinson in the fourth.

MO – The elite running backs are still some of the most valuable commodities in fantasy football. It’s pretty hard to pass up on any running back during the first six-picks especially with the volume they produce. After that, I’m ready for the balanced approach and swap WR and RB picks throughout. There’s a lot of chatter how you need to take an RB with your first two picks, but you can’t pass up on these stud receivers like D.K. Metcalf and Stefon Diggs in the second round. There are some great running back choices to make in the third and fourth rounds between the likes of J.K. Dobbins, Clyde Edwards-Helaire plus a couple of Roll Tide in Josh Jacobs and Najee Harris. One thing that’s clear is, you need to shore up your running back depth early. It starts to get mighty thin after the forties. I’d bump up guys like Zack Moss, Michael Carter and Trey Sermon up a round due to their potential and the lack thereof after them!

Breakouts

CM – Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

Clyde Edwards-Helaire was drafted in the first round of most fantasy leagues last season, but currently carries an ADP anywhere between RB15 and RB20 so far in 2021. While CEH disappointed last year, I find it hard to ignore the starting running back of the high-scoring Chiefs. Andy Reid has an insane track record of empowering top-10 fantasy PPR running backs, having done so 13 of the last 17 seasons as a head coach, and 5 of his 8 seasons in Kansas City. Prior to signing Le’Veon Bell in mid-October last year, Edwards-Helaire was 4^th in touches among running backs. There is no other credible threat to CEH’s workload at this time. At just 22 years old, and running behind a new and improved offensive line, I expect him to outperform his underwhelming rookie fantasy season.

MQ – Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team

Antonio Gibson is set to break out for a high-performance year. He is going in the second round in most leagues but can drop to the third. Just make sure to take him as your RB2. He was on pace for a top tier fantasy year last season before injury. Washington Football team is one of those teams that no one pays too much attention to, but they have some of the highest performing fantasy stars. So, don’t get distracted from the small market teams. They always have the highest producing fantasy stars.

MO – Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons

I’m all-aboard the Mike Davis breakout train! Davis is a guy I want a ton of this year and I think we see a top-20 finish. I mean from weeks 3 to 16 last season Davis finished inside the top-8 running backs and finished RB12 on the season! Davis definitely did not get the credit he deserved in 2020. Davis finished 5^th amongst running backs in forced missed tackles racking up 65 and only Nick Chubb had a higher rate per touch from weeks 1-16. What else? He finished 4^th amongst RB’s in receptions. Hello PPR points! Julio Jones is out of town, and who’s his competition for RB snaps in Atlanta? Qadree Ollison? Oh baby… sign me up for Mr. Magic Mike.

Busts

CM – Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

This may be one of the hotter takes you see today. I know Alvin Kamara scored six touchdowns on Christmas Day last season and likely won you, or someone you know, their fantasy championship but it’s a new year. Kamara has never carried the ball more the 194 times, rushed for more than 932 yards, and had a career high 21 touchdowns last season (16 rushing, 5 receiving). That being said, without Drew Brees under center in New Orleans, I find it hard to believe he maintains his top-5 ADP value with the likes of Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill at quarterback. With the lack of production as a runner, compared to other top RB picks, Kamara has always added high value as a pass catcher. He still could, but with the questions at quarterback, it may be a down year for Kamara, who, for the first time ever, makes me nervous to spend a top-5 pick on him. Level your expectations.

MQ – D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions

D’Andre Swift was a great sleeper or waiver pick up last season. He does seem like a top option with both Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones gone, but that is going to hurt him in production. Jared Goff is the new quarterback in town but does not have many options to open the pass game for Swift. Swift may have some breakout games, but I don’t trust the consistency with the Lions this year. Swift is going in the late second or early third round. I would easily take David Montgomery over Swift this season. Remember last year when Matthew Stafford went out on Thanksgiving? The run game was terrible. Also, Jamaal Williams is in town to steal some touchdowns and receptions.

MO – Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos

I’m still shocked I keep seeing Melvin Gordon in the 23-25 range in rankings. He’s a 28-year-old RB who continues to have health concerns. I had a hard time putting him at 35. Let’s not forget Gordon faces a potential looming suspension from last season’s late DUI charge as well. Gordon failed to score over 8.5 PPR fantasy points in 40% of his games in 2020 and failed to finish in the top-25 in receptions amongst running backs. The Broncos were clearly frustrated and selected the extremely talented Javonte Williams early in the second round of this year’s draft. I expect it to be the William’s show in no-time in Denver and Gordon potentially being released at some point. This is a puff-puff hard pass in the Mile-High state folks.

2021 Consensus PPR Running Back Rankings

For more Rankings and Analysis please check out our full 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

Rnk	Player	Team	Bye	MQ	MO	CM
1	Christian McCaffrey	CAR	13	2	1	1
2	Dalvin Cook	MIN	7	1	2	2
3	Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	7	3	6	3
4	Derrick Henry	TEN	13	5	5	4
4	Saquon Barkley	NYG	10	6	3	5
4	Alvin Kamara	NO	6	4	4	6
7	Austin Ekeler	LAC	7	7	8	7
8	Jonathan Taylor	IND	14	9	7	10
9	Nick Chubb	CLE	13	10	9	8
10	Aaron Jones	GB	13	8	11	9
11	Joe Mixon	CIN	10	11	12	13
12	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	KC	12	13	14	11
13	Cam Akers	LAR	11	15	10	14
14	Najee Harris	PIT	7	12	16	12
15	Antonio Gibson	WAS	9	14	13	15
16	D'Andre Swift	DET	9	16	17	16
17	J.K. Dobbins	BAL	8	17	18	20
18	Chris Carson	SEA	9	18	21	17
18	David Montgomery	CHI	10	19	19	18
20	Josh Jacobs	LV	8	20	15	22
21	Miles Sanders	PHI	14	21	22	19
22	Myles Gaskin	MIA	14	22	23	23
23	Kareem Hunt	CLE	13	24	25	21
23	Mike Davis	ATL	6	25	20	25
25	Travis Etienne	JAC	7	23	24	24
26	Chase Edmonds	ARI	12	27	26	26
27	Raheem Mostert	SF	6	28	27	29
28	James Robinson	JAC	7	29	30	28
29	Melvin Gordon III	DEN	11	26	35	27
30	Ronald Jones II	TB	9	30	29	30
31	Leonard Fournette	TB	9	31	33	31
31	Javonte Williams	DEN	11	33	28	34
33	David Johnson	HOU	10	32	31	33
34	Damien Harris	NE	14	35	32	32
35	Kenyan Drake	LV	8	34	34	35
36	Zack Moss	BUF	7	37	37	36
37	James Conner	ARI	12	36	38	37
38	Michael Carter	NYJ	6	39	36	39
39	Nyheim Hines	IND	14	38	40	40
40	Jamaal Williams	DET	9	40	42	38
41	Trey Sermon	SF	6	44	39	41
42	Devin Singletary	BUF	7	41	45	42
42	Tony Pollard	DAL	7	42	43	43
42	AJ Dillon	GB	13	43	41	44
45	Tarik Cohen	CHI	10	45	44	47
46	Latavius Murray	NO	6	46	48	45
47	Gus Edwards	BAL	8	48	46	46
48	J.D. McKissic	WAS	9	47	47	50
49	Darrell Henderson	LAR	11	49	49	49
50	Alexander Mattison	MIN	7	50	54	48
51	James White	NE	14	52	50	52
52	Rashaad Penny	SEA	9	53	52	53
53	Phillip Lindsay	HOU	10	51	55	55
54	Giovani Bernard	TB	9	55	53	54
55	Tevin Coleman	NYJ	6	54	58	51
56	Marlon Mack	IND	14	56	51	59
57	Kenneth Gainwell	PHI	14	57	59	56
58	Darrel Williams	KC	12	59	60	57
58	Salvon Ahmed	MIA	14	60	56	60
60	Justin Jackson	LAC	7	62	62	62
61	Carlos Hyde	JAC	7	63	64	61
62	Sony Michel	NE	14	58	73	58
62	Damien Williams	CHI	10	66	57	66
64	Benny Snell Jr.	PIT	7	61	67	64
65	Joshua Kelley	LAC	7	64	68	63
65	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	13	69	61	65
67	Darrynton Evans	TEN	13	67	65	67
68	Malcolm Brown	MIA	14	70	63	70
69	Mark Ingram II	HOU	10	65	71	69
70	Boston Scott	PHI	14	68	69	71
71	La'Mical Perine	NYJ	6	71	72	72
72	Jerick McKinnon	KC	12	72	74	73
73	Wayne Gallman	SF	6	76	78	68
74	Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	14	79	66	78
75	Matt Breida	BUF	7	73	79	75
76	Anthony McFarland Jr.	PIT	7	77	77	76
77	Javian Hawkins	ATL	6	80	70	81
78	Kerryon Johnson	PHI	14	75	84	74
79	Ke'Shawn Vaughn	TB	9	78	80	77
80	Devontae Booker	NYG	10	82	75	79
81	Ty Johnson	NYJ	6	81	82	82
82	Le'Veon Bell	KC	12	84	86	83
82	Rex Burkhead	HOU	10	85	83	85
84	Jeff Wilson Jr.	SF	6	74	96	84
85	Todd Gurley II	FA	-	86	91	80
85	Jalen Richard	LV	8	83	88	86
87	Samaje Perine	CIN	10	91	76	91
88	DeeJay Dallas	SEA	9	87	85	87
88	Ito Smith	ATL	6	89	81	89
90	Duke Johnson Jr.	FA	-	88	92	88
91	Jordan Howard	PHI	14	93	90	93
92	Jordan Wilkins	IND	14	97	89	92
93	Eno Benjamin	ARI	12	95	93	94
94	Kalen Ballage	PIT	7	90	100	95
94	Justice Hill	BAL	8	94	95	96
96	Ryquell Armstead	NYG	10	98	97	98
97	Jermar Jefferson	DET	9	100	99	100
98	Brian Hill	TEN	13	92	NR	90
99	Adrian Peterson	DET	9	96	NR	97
100	Chris Thompson	JAC	7	99	NR	99
101	Qadree Ollison	ATL	6	NR	87	NR
102	Lynn Bowden Jr.	MIA	14	NR	94	NR
103	Mike Boone	DEN	11	NR	98	NR

Are you digging our PPR running back rankings? Then, you’ll also want to check our Consensus Quarterback Rankings for 2021 Fantasy Football.

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