Looking for the top fantasy running backs for the 2023 fantasy season? Well, welcome to the second installment of fantasy tiers.
Tiers are critical to having consistent success in fantasy leagues both in the draft process and the week-to-week managing of a team. Having tiers can also give you an advantage when it comes to trades and waiver wire pickups.
Let’s continue by looking at the 2023 fantasy running back tiers. This will include each team’s projected starting running back for Week 1.
Note: These rankings are based on half-point PPR scoring.
Previous Installment: Quarterback
Tier 1 – No.1 Pick
Running Backs: Austin Ekeler, Christian McCaffrey
Ekeler and McCaffrey often post just modest rushing stats, but they are threats to catch 100 passes in a season. More importantly for fantasy purposes, they are the most likely players to post double-digit touchdowns.
Ekeler has 38 touchdowns over the last two seasons, leading the NFL in both seasons. McCaffrey scored 13 touchdowns in 2022, but he scored 10 in 11 games in San Francisco.
Ekeler has had 90 or more targets in three of the last four seasons while McCaffrey has surpassed 100 in every healthy season he has had. McCaffrey is certainly an injury risk – he played 10 games between 2020 and 2021 – but you should draft to WIN your league not be safe.
Ekeler and McCaffrey are matchup-proof and game-script-proof and without a doubt the top fantasy running backs. They should be your RB1 every week.
Tier 2 – Bellcow
Running Backs: Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Bijan Robinson
This group will likely post better rushing stats than Ekeler and McCaffrey, but the lack of receiving production will resign these players to the middle of the first round in most drafts. The name of the game in fantasy is volume, and these running backs will likely be in line for 15 to 20 carries per game.
They have reasonably high touchdown value as the lead-backs of their teams. The expectation from this group is 1,200 or more rushing yards, modest additional receiving production, and 10 or more touchdowns.
They are not quite as fool-proof as Ekeler or McCaffrey, but this quintet should be in your lineup every week no matter the matchup.
Tier 3 – RB1
Running Backs: Rhamondre Stevenson, Breece Hall, Nick Chubb, Najee Harris, Tony Pollard, Aaron Jones, Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook*
If one of these players is your lead back, you have yet to embrace the “zero RB” strategy. They might not quite be a bell cow because they are sharing touches with some other running backs, but they should be a solid bet for over 1,000 total yards and at least eight touchdowns.
One potential draft strategy is picking up a wide receiver (or Travis Kelce) in the first round while nabbing two players from this tier in the second and third rounds. This ensures you will have at least one superstar pass catcher plus two top-half running back options.
There will be a handful of bad matchups, but these players are must-start options outside of the most dismal situations.
*Cook is currently not on a roster, but he would jump into this tier the moment he is signed.
Tier 4 – RB2
Running Backs: Joe Mixon, Travis Etienne, Dameon Pierce, Jahmyr Gibbs, Kenneth Walker
These five running backs are missing one key trait to being a top-tier fantasy running back. Mixon plays in an offense that will lend itself to a slew of passing touchdowns, so his outburst performances could be scattered throughout the season rather than consistent.
Etienne and Pierce, at least in their first seasons, did not have much in the way of receiving production. Gibbs and Walker, while young and talented, are in competitive backfields who have traditionally embraced the “hot hand” mentality.
These players will be in your lineups most weeks, but there will be a few games where they should be on your bench because of the matchup.
If one of these players is your lead back, you likely splurged early on receiving talent. This can work – the receivers are studs in their own right – but running back production often comes at a premium.
Tier 5 – FLEX
Running Backs: J.K. Dobbins, Miles Sanders, Rachaad White, Cam Akers, James Conner, Isiah Pacheco, Javonte Williams, Alexander Mattison
While these eight players are the lead-backs of their offenses, they are either in unproductive rushing offenses, “vultured” by Lamar Jackson, or returning from a major injury. Even the backs in good offenses (including Pacheco and Mattison) could be the last man considered given the receiving talent.
If these backs are your lead backs, you have embraced the zero RB strategy and are hoping at least one of them ascends a level. In the fantasy community, White is a popular breakout candidate while others expect Dobbins to be even better two years after his ACL injury.
This group is matchup-dependent. It will take some team management to rotate them in and out of good anticipated matchups.
More: Is Josh Allen Safe From The Madden Curse
Tier 6 – Running Back By Committee
Running Backs: D’Andre Swift, James Cook, Khalil Herbert, Brian Robinson, Raheem Mostert
Depending on the week, these players won’t be the lead back on their team. This volatility is why these players should not be your top fantasy running backs for 2023. They will lead to massive frustration as they will post their best fantasy weeks while they are on your bench.
However, when you put them in your lineup, the real-life team will opt for the other back. Rashaad Penny, Damien Harris, D’Onta Foreman/Roschon Johnson, Antonio Gibson, and Jeff Wilson/Devon Achane will be worthwhile names to follow in the offseason.
More: Rookie Fantasy Outlook For Round 1 Picks
In case of injury, these five running backs (or their team’s backup) could jump into RB2 or FLEX tiers, but this requires monitoring of the injury situation. These players could be useful to fill out your bench – particularly Johnson and Achane as replacements for Herbert and Mostert.
Not only are these players matchup-dependent, but you could also get unlucky and have the backup running back explode while your starter posts little production.