Win PPR Leagues: Target RBs Who Catch 50 Passes

Targeting pass-catching running backs in Fantasy Football, especially in points-per-reception leagues (PPR), is playing smart. Typical PPR Fantasy scoring is .1 per rushing yard (10 yards = 1 point), a point per reception, and then .1 points per receiving yard. So with that, a running back who hits both of those categories consistently has a safer floor and higher ceiling for fantasy scoring.

For an example on capitalized balanced opportunity, Aaron Jones rushed the ball 213 times in 2022 and also saw 72 targets which resulted in top-12 fantasy points per game (PPG). Some running backs are known primarily for their pass-catching abilities and the tie to high fantasy scoring. For another example, Austin Ekeler has been a top-two running back in Fantasy PPG the last two seasons, guided by 107 and 70 receptions.

There are tons of other variables when it comes to scoring fantasy points for running backs such as touchdowns, total rushing yards, offensive line, team scheme, offense quality, running back ability, total touches, etc. but pass-catching running backs are great top targets for fantasy football. Let’s take a look across the last five seasons at running backs who caught 50+ passes and how that translated to fantasy football before previewing who can hit that mark in 2023.

**All scoring is PPR**

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2018-2022: 50+ Reception Running Backs

Season	Gms	RB	Rush Atts	Rush Yds	Rush TD	Recs	Tgts	Rec Yds	Rec TD	Overall Rnk	PTS/G
2022	17	Austin Ekeler	204	915	13	107	127	722	5	1	21.9
2022	17	Christian McCaffrey	244	1139	8	85	108	741	5	2	21.0
2022	16	Leonard Fournette	189	668	3	73	83	523	3	12	14.2
2022	17	Rhamondre Stevenson	210	1040	5	69	88	421	1	7	14.7
2022	15	Joe Mixon	212	826	7	60	75	441	2	10	16.0
2022	17	Aaron Jones	213	1121	2	59	72	395	5	9	14.6
2022	16	Saquon Barkley	295	1312	10	57	76	338	0	5	17.8
2022	15	Alvin Kamara	223	897	2	57	77	490	2	16	14.1
2022	17	Jerick McKinnon	72	291	1	56	71	512	9	20	11.5
2022	17	Josh Jacobs	340	1653	12	53	64	400	0	3	19.3
2022	17	Rachaad White	129	481	1	50	58	290	2	36	8.2
2021	17	Najee Harris	307	1200	7	74	94	467	3	3	17.7
2021	16	Austin Ekeler	206	911	12	70	94	647	8	2	21.5
2021	14	Leonard Fournette	180	812	8	69	84	454	2	6	18.3
2021	13	D'Andre Swift	151	617	5	62	78	452	2	15	16.1
2021	15	Josh Jacobs	217	872	9	54	64	348	0	12	15.1
2021	16	Cordarrelle Patterson	153	618	6	52	69	548	5	9	14.7
2021	15	Aaron Jones	171	799	4	52	65	391	6	11	15.3
2020	15	Alvin Kamara	187	932	16	83	107	756	5	1	25.2
2020	16	J.D. McKissic	85	365	1	80	110	589	2	17	12.0
2020	16	Nyheim Hines	89	380	3	63	76	482	4	15	12.1
2020	15	Mike Davis	165	642	6	59	70	373	2	12	13.8
2020	15	David Montgomery	247	1070	8	54	68	438	2	4	17.7
2020	10	Austin Ekeler	116	530	1	54	65	403	2	26	16.5
2020	16	Chase Edmonds	97	448	1	53	67	402	4	25	10.5
2020	15	Ezekiel Elliott	244	979	6	52	71	338	2	9	14.9
2019	16	Christian McCaffrey	287	1387	15	116	142	1005	4	1	29.5
2019	16	Austin Ekeler	132	557	3	92	108	993	8	4	19.3
2019	14	Alvin Kamara	171	797	5	81	97	533	1	9	17.8
2019	16	Tarik Cohen	64	213	0	79	104	456	3	27	10.2
2019	15	Leonard Fournette	265	1152	3	76	100	522	0	7	17.3
2019	15	James White	67	263	1	72	95	645	5	18	13.3
2019	15	Le'Veon Bell	245	789	3	66	78	461	1	16	14.3
2019	14	Devonta Freeman	184	656	2	59	70	410	4	20	14.1
2019	16	Ezekiel Elliott	301	1357	12	54	71	420	2	3	19.5
2019	14	Dalvin Cook	250	1135	13	53	63	519	0	6	20.9
2019	13	Saquon Barkley	217	1003	6	52	73	438	2	10	18.8
2019	16	Miles Sanders	179	818	3	50	63	509	3	15	13.7
2019	14	Kenyan Drake	170	817	8	50	68	345	0	17	15.3
2018	16	Christian McCaffrey	219	1098	7	107	124	867	6	2	24.1
2018	16	Saquon Barkley	261	1307	11	91	121	721	4	1	24.1
2018	16	James White	94	425	5	87	123	751	7	7	17.3
2018	15	Alvin Kamara	194	883	14	81	105	709	4	4	23.6
2018	15	Ezekiel Elliott	304	1434	6	77	95	567	3	5	21.9
2018	16	Tarik Cohen	99	444	3	71	91	725	5	11	14.6
2018	16	Jalen Richard	55	259	1	68	81	607	0	29	9.8
2018	16	Nyheim Hines	85	314	2	63	81	425	2	27	10.1
2018	14	Theo Riddick	40	171	0	61	74	384	0	43	8.3
2018	14	Todd Gurley	256	1251	17	59	81	580	4	3	26.6
2018	16	Dion Lewis	155	517	1	59	67	400	1	28	10.0
2018	13	James Conner	215	970	12	55	71	497	1	6	21.5
2018	14	T.J. Yeldon	104	414	1	55	78	487	4	22	12.4
2018	16	Kenyan Drake	120	535	4	53	73	477	5	14	12.9
2018	12	Melvin Gordon	175	885	10	50	66	490	4	8	23.0
2018	16	David Johnson	258	940	7	50	76	446	3	9	15.4
AVERAGES										12	16.6

Conclusions:

55 running back sample size
The average Fantasy Football position finish was 12
- 47/55 running backs finished within the Top 24 for the position in Fantasy (85.45%)
- 35/55 running backs finished within the Top 12 for the position in Fantasy (63.63%)
- 16/55 running backs finished Top 5 for the position in Fantasy (29.09%)
The average Fantasy PPG scored was 16.62 points
- 16.62 would have been RB10 in Fantasy PPG in 2022
- 31/55 averaged 15+ fantasy PPG (56.36%)
- 18/55 averaged 18+ fantasy PPG (32.72%)
- 13/55 averaged 20+ Fantasy PPG (23.63%)
The data definitely has outliers and ranges across the board, but it is very evident that 50+ receptions translates to fantasy football success.

Which RBs Can Hit 50+ Receptions in 2023?

Looking ahead to the next season, we can sort running backs who can hit 50+ receptions into three different categories: Locks, Good Chance, and Hot Takes. The “Locks” will be the players I am most confident in for this category due to historical statistics, skillsets, and opportunity. The “Good Chance” players will be those I feel have historical statistics, skillset, and/or opportunity but there is both the case for and against them hitting this 50+ reception mark. These players should hit it, but there is the possibility they do not. The “Hot Takes” will be players I believe could hit this mark but would not be predicted by consensus to do so.

Locks:

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Good Chance:

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Alvin Kamara (without suspension), New Orleans Saints
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Hot Takes:

D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Leonard Fournette, Free Agent

Looking historically at how catching 50+ receptions translates to Fantasy Football production, it is clear that we should target running backs with this opportunity in 2023. Volume is king when it comes to running backs in fantasy football, and when you can score a point plus the yardage for receiving stats that is huge for fantasy scoring. The above list of players is one to take a closer look at in terms of their opportunity to fit this category and to be impact players in your leagues this year.

For more great rankings and analysis, make sure to check out our 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit!

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2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit

Win Your PPR League By Targeting RBs Who Catch 50+ Passes