2021 Fantasy Football: Standard Running Back Rankings

We’re back with our Standard Running Back Rankings for the upcoming 2021 season! Even though PPR continues to gain steam in the fantasy world we can not exclude tradition with many fantasy footballers continuing to roll with standard scoring. Start off your drafts with a Bell-Cow RB!? Find out below with strategies from our analysts.

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Meet the Rankers

Below are the analysts that will be breaking down our Non-PPR Running Back Rankings. In the upcoming months, we will have updated PPR Scoring formats. In the meantime, we have four analysts from you to draw from. We’ve included their initials so that 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 running back rankings.

MO – Mike Omelan – @mikeomelan
JD – Jordan Daniel – @jordand09
JJ – Justin Johnson – @JJ_JetFlyin
BK – Bradlee Kilgore – @SirBradleeK

Draft Strategy

JD – Avoiding injuries, you can’t go wrong by selecting RBs early, and RBs often. Prioritize players who forecast to own a majority of their backfield’s touches and who find themselves on high scoring offenses; everyone loves a late garbage-time rushing TD. A running back reception has much more value than a rush, so target the backs who have the ability to catch at least a few dump-off passes per game. When looking at handcuffs, spend the time identifying the backups who will have a clear starting role should the starter get hurt, and not backfields that may turn into a run committee.

BK – A quality running back is a scarce fantasy asset. It’s for this reason that my favorite strategy is to draft a running back with my first 4 picks…regardless of league style (redraft, dynasty, etc.). I aim to find value at other positions like WR and QB because if I miss on a bet at those positions, I can always trade one of my RBs for a roster weakness during the season. When those RB injuries hit during the season (they always do), league mates will be knocking down your door to get what you already have!!!

MO – For me, it really depends on where you’re drafting. Top six pick? Take an RB! You can’t go wrong. Drafting at the end of the round? I’m definitely taking at least one Wide Receiver or a special TE. This might be the best year yet to take a balanced approach because there is values all over the place. There’s no need to go crazy and draft all RB’s or Wr’s right away. What’s wrong with a nice balance? I’m not going to order two steaks at a restaurant. Give me one nice steak and glass of wine baby. I love starting off with two RB and two WR. There are great RB values going late like Josh Jacobs and Mike Davis you can get in the late 3rd or early 4th. To me, the biggest key is making sure you grab a balance of veterans and rookies in rounds 5-9. Ronald Jones and James Robinson are solid targets with ADPs in the sixties while trying not to miss out on a Michael Carter or Trey Sermon. There arrows will continue to rise as the season goes along…

JJ – If there is a position I never leave the early rounds without, it is at running back. Due to the lack of depth at the position, I always make sure to grab at least one in the first two rounds, with two being the preferred method. However, don’t get caught in the “dead zone” once past round 2. This is where uncertain running backs typically get drafted over top talent wide receivers. The cutoff point for me is at Antonio Gibson. Once Gibson is gone, I’ll wait a few rounds and start targeting players that have standalone value with upside. Included in that list are Javonte Williams, Chase Edmonds, A.J. Dillon, and Damien Harris.

Breakouts

JD – Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon’s 2020 injury-riddled season has left a sour taste in the mouths of a lot of fantasy owners, causing a drop in ADP to the late 2^nd round. This Bengals offense is poised to put up points, and Mixon is the undeniable RB1 with little competition behind him for snaps. If healthy, Mixon could find himself in the top 8 running back conversation.

BK – David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

David Montgomery had a rough start last year, but while the Bears were being the Bears, he still managed to finish the season as RB6. I have him at RB6 again this year. Consensus has him around RB20. Tarik Cohen will be back, which is likely to take away some of his receiving targets, but the Bears will be better offensively with Justin Fields at the helm. Fields’ ability to run will help the Bears in both controlling the clock and having a less predictable offense. More consistency, red-zone work, and positive game scripts will lead to a breakout season from Montgomery.

JJ – Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

The first running back selected in the draft, Najee Harris is a lock to take over the bell-cow role in Pittsburgh that Mike Tomlin prefers. After two seasons without an every-down back, Harris will be fed early and often. Don’t be surprised to see a 350-touch season from the outstanding talent, which gives him top-five upside at the position.

MO – Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

Apparently, Josh Jacobs can enter the breakout thread since he’s ranked consistently in the RB 19-24 range. Let’s also not forget these are standard rankings and I expect a top-10 finish for the 3^rd-year pro with room for more. Jacobs is fresh off an RB8 performance last season and was RB6 after the first 11 weeks in half-point PPR leagues last year. Jacobs is a missed tackle machine as Nick Chubb is the only player to force more in the last two seasons. Jacobs is averaging 9.5 rushing touchdowns and 1,108 yards per season to begin his career and was top-4 in rushes inside the five yard-line last season. Yes, they brought in Kenyan Drake but look at what Nick Chubb can do with Kareem Hunt stealing touches. The first thing Raiders GM Mike Mayock said after drafting Alex Leatherwood was, ‘we are going to run the ball to the right with Josh Jacobs’ and Jon Gruden called him their MVP. Jacobs is going to score the ball in 2021 baby…Knock on wood if you’re with me.

Busts

JD – Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles

Miles Sanders’ RB2 finish in 2020 doesn’t quite tell the full story of his boom or bust season. With very little involvement in the passing game, his fantasy upside takes another hit with the new Philly crowded backfield featuring Boston Scott and newly acquired Jordan Howard, Kenneth Gainwell, and Kerryon Johnson. We can also expect a drop in red zone rushing attempts to the very mobile Jalen Hurts.

BK – Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

I have Saquon Barkley ranked at #20 in my running back Rankings. Quite the contrast from the consensus I see from other experts (around top 5). The Giants made a humongous bet on Barkley with where they drafted him. They’re also likely to sign him to a new contract (Christian McCaffrey type of deal). That said, the Giants are going to protect their investment. I’m thinking a RB by committee is likely for the Giants, especially while they ease him into the offense. On top of that, Barkley has always been a home-run type of runner. Those long runs will come fewer and further between in his first year back. I expect flashes of his talents and plenty of goal-line opportunities, but to draft Barkley with your first-round pick will leave you disappointed.

MO – David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

David Montgomery’s amazing finish to end the season has fantasy footballers all giddy for the 24-year-old but buyer beware. Montgomery definitely took advantage of a super weak schedule facing bottom eight rush defense after another and let’s not forget he was one of the biggest busts in the league after a full 10 weeks! That’s not a small sample size folks. Montgomery’s 3.67 yards per carry ranked 38th among 44 RBs with over 100 attempts last season and finished outside the top-30 in elusive rating. What else could be in store in 2021? Could Justin Fields be vulturing touchdowns? (Montgomery finished outside the top-12 in 2020). Will Tarik Cohen’s return have an impact? Will Damien Williams reuniting with Matt Nagy spark a larger role? That’s a hard pass for me.

JJ – D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions

This isn’t a knock on D’Andre Swift’s talent, as he’s one of the more skilled backs in the league. This is questioning his role in an unknown offense. After signing Jamaal Williams, and potentially adding a third back, it’s highly unlikely Swift takes over as the primary ball carrier. Add in the fact he has never been an every-down back (including college), and there are too many questions for me to make Swift an early-round selection.

2021 Consensus Running Back Rankings

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

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

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