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PPR RB Tiers 5.0
Non-PPR RB Tiers 5.0

As a position group, running backs matter. They've always mattered. They're huge components of Fantasy in that they're highly productive thanks to their workloads, they're the best trade currency out there and there are enough good ones to go around.

That means Fantasy owners have plenty of strategies when it comes to drafting them, and your league's scoring system will play a huge role in what strategy you go with.

Once you know your lineup requirements and scoring system, you can answer these questions:

  • Are you willing to take risks?
  • Does running back injury history matter to you?
  • Do you believe in handcuffing non-elite running backs?
  • Do you enjoy being active on waivers?

The first two questions are meant to help you determine how deep the running back talent pool is for you. The more chances you're willing to take and the more injuries you're willing to overlook, the more running backs you'll happily put in your starting lineup.

The second two questions are designed to get an idea of how you should attack your running back depth. There are plenty of cases where getting the real-life backup to one of your ball carriers is wise. And if you're lazy about waivers, you might prefer to build serious running back depth on Draft Day.

Because of the depth at receiver and the lack of "safe" running backs once you're through Round 4, it's probably in your best interests to lean toward grabbing reception-heavy running backs early and often. That's a breeze in Round 1, especially if you're picking in the top-4. Round 2 doesn't offer quite as much, but there will be a run in Round 3. As you'll see, there are enough running backs to propel you through Round 3 unless you rule out some based on injury concern (Todd Gurley, Devonta Freeman) or a lack of experience (Damien Williams, Josh Jacobs). The more running backs you refuse to draft, the more certain it is you'll force yourself to fill up on the position in Rounds 1 and 2.

In non-PPR, expect most people to begin taking one running back and one wide receiver/tight end to kick off their teams. If running backs mean anything to you at all, taking three within the first five rounds -- and two in the first four -- should set you up nicely for a well-built roster.

Is Zero RB still a thing? It is, and it's not a bad way to go if you're picking late in Round 1/early in Round 2 in full PPR or are in a smaller league (10 or fewer teams). You could kick off a team with DeAndre Hopkins, Travis Kelce and Julian Edelman and still find Tier 3 running backs later on. This plan is a lot less appealing in non-PPR due to receptions becoming meaningless, and it's straight-up insanity to do it when there's an elite-tier running back staring you in the face, so rule it out if you have an early first-round pick. 

The other key is to select unpopular backs who will at least start the season in a prominent role (Lamar Miller, Jordan Howard, maybe Peyton Barber). You'll squeeze points out of them before replacing them for whatever hotness comes to you off waivers. You must be willing to be active in finding running backs on waivers in order to skip running backs early.

Because running backs are so vital to Fantasy Football success, I still recommend getting a lot of them. If you have six bench spots, aim for at least five. Seven or eight bench spots, aim for six. Remember, each running back you take represents potential, even the ones who begin the season as backups. Never draft a running back you're not excited about, and never draft a running back who you'd probably drop after one or two dud games to begin the year. My favorite backs to be patient with can be found in Tier 6. 

Tiers 5.0
Running Backs - PPR
RB Tiers 5.0
Elite
S. Barkley NYG Saquon Barkley NYG
A. Kamara NO Alvin Kamara NO
C. McCaffrey CAR Christian McCaffrey CAR
E. Elliott DAL Ezekiel Elliott DAL
D. Johnson HOU David Johnson HOU
J. Conner ARI James Conner ARI
RB Tiers 5.0
Near-Elite
N. Chubb CLE Nick Chubb CLE
L. Bell KC Le'Veon Bell KC
J. Mixon CIN Joe Mixon CIN
L. Fournette TB Leonard Fournette TB
K. Johnson DET Kerryon Johnson DET
RB Tiers 5.0
High-risk, high reward
D. Cook MIN Dalvin Cook MIN
T. Gurley ATL Todd Gurley ATL
J. Jacobs LV Josh Jacobs LV
C. Carson SEA Chris Carson SEA
D. Freeman BUF Devonta Freeman BUF
A. Jones GB Aaron Jones GB
RB Tiers 5.0
Very Good
M. Mack IND Marlon Mack IND
M. Ingram HOU Mark Ingram HOU
T. Coleman NYJ Tevin Coleman NYJ
D. Montgomery CHI David Montgomery CHI
D. Williams CHI Damien Williams CHI
RB Tiers 5.0
No. 3 RBs/High Upside
S. Michel NE Sony Michel NE
M. Gordon DEN Melvin Gordon DEN
J. White NE James White NE
P. Lindsay HOU Phillip Lindsay HOU
D. Henry TEN Derrick Henry TEN
A. Ekeler LAC Austin Ekeler LAC
L. Miller WAS Lamar Miller WAS
K. Drake LV Kenyan Drake LV
T. Cohen CHI Tarik Cohen CHI
RB Tiers 5.0
No. 3 RBs/Less Upside
L. Murray NO Latavius Murray NO
R. Penny SEA Rashaad Penny SEA
M. Sanders PHI Miles Sanders PHI
RB Tiers 5.0
High-potential Backups
P. Barber WAS Peyton Barber WAS
R. Jones TB Ronald Jones TB
J. Howard PHI Jordan Howard PHI
D. Henderson LAR Darrell Henderson LAR
R. Freeman DEN Royce Freeman DEN
C. Hyde SEA Carlos Hyde SEA
J. Jackson LAC Justin Jackson LAC
K. Ballage PIT Kalen Ballage PIT
D. Thompson KC Darwin Thompson KC
RB Tiers 5.0
Mid-potential Backups
D. Guice WAS Derrius Guice WAS
D. Harris NE Damien Harris NE
D. Johnson HOU Duke Johnson HOU
J. Samuels PIT Jaylen Samuels PIT
D. Singletary BUF Devin Singletary BUF
L. McCoy TB LeSean McCoy TB
T. Pollard DAL Tony Pollard DAL
RB Tiers 5.0
Bench Depth
D. Lewis NYG Dion Lewis NYG
J. Hill BAL Justice Hill BAL
A. Mattison MIN Alexander Mattison MIN
M. Breida BUF Matt Breida BUF
C. Thompson JAC Chris Thompson JAC
C. Anderson DET C.J. Anderson DET
J. Williams DET Jamaal Williams DET
A. Peterson DET Adrian Peterson DET
K. Hunt CLE Kareem Hunt CLE
N. Hines IND Nyheim Hines IND
M. Davis ATL Mike Davis ATL
J. Richard LV Jalen Richard LV
M. Brown MIA Malcolm Brown MIA
D. Hilliard HOU Dontrell Hilliard HOU
T. Riddick LV Theo Riddick LV
Tiers 5.0
Running Back - Non-PPR
RB Tiers 5.0
Elite
S. Barkley NYG Saquon Barkley NYG
A. Kamara NO Alvin Kamara NO
C. McCaffrey CAR Christian McCaffrey CAR
E. Elliott DAL Ezekiel Elliott DAL
D. Johnson HOU David Johnson HOU
J. Conner ARI James Conner ARI
RB Tiers 5.0
Near-Elite
N. Chubb CLE Nick Chubb CLE
L. Bell KC Le'Veon Bell KC
J. Mixon CIN Joe Mixon CIN
L. Fournette TB Leonard Fournette TB
K. Johnson DET Kerryon Johnson DET
RB Tiers 5.0
High-risk, high reward
D. Cook MIN Dalvin Cook MIN
T. Gurley ATL Todd Gurley ATL
C. Carson SEA Chris Carson SEA
J. Jacobs LV Josh Jacobs LV
M. Mack IND Marlon Mack IND
D. Freeman BUF Devonta Freeman BUF
RB Tiers 5.0
Very Good
M. Ingram HOU Mark Ingram HOU
A. Jones GB Aaron Jones GB
S. Michel NE Sony Michel NE
T. Coleman NYJ Tevin Coleman NYJ
D. Montgomery CHI David Montgomery CHI
D. Williams CHI Damien Williams CHI
D. Henry TEN Derrick Henry TEN
RB Tiers 5.0
No. 3 RBs/High Upside
P. Lindsay HOU Phillip Lindsay HOU
M. Gordon DEN Melvin Gordon DEN
L. Miller WAS Lamar Miller WAS
A. Ekeler LAC Austin Ekeler LAC
J. White NE James White NE
M. Sanders PHI Miles Sanders PHI
L. Murray NO Latavius Murray NO
RB Tiers 5.0
No. 3 RBs/Less Upside
K. Drake LV Kenyan Drake LV
T. Cohen CHI Tarik Cohen CHI
R. Penny SEA Rashaad Penny SEA
J. Howard PHI Jordan Howard PHI
RB Tiers 5.0
High-potential Backups
P. Barber WAS Peyton Barber WAS
R. Jones TB Ronald Jones TB
D. Henderson LAR Darrell Henderson LAR
C. Hyde SEA Carlos Hyde SEA
R. Freeman DEN Royce Freeman DEN
J. Jackson LAC Justin Jackson LAC
K. Ballage PIT Kalen Ballage PIT
D. Guice WAS Derrius Guice WAS
D. Harris NE Damien Harris NE
D. Thompson KC Darwin Thompson KC
J. Samuels PIT Jaylen Samuels PIT
D. Singletary BUF Devin Singletary BUF
RB Tiers 5.0
Mid-potential Backups
L. McCoy TB LeSean McCoy TB
T. Pollard DAL Tony Pollard DAL
D. Guice WAS Derrius Guice WAS
A. Mattison MIN Alexander Mattison MIN
D. Johnson HOU Duke Johnson HOU
M. Breida BUF Matt Breida BUF
J. Hill BAL Justice Hill BAL
D. Lewis NYG Dion Lewis NYG
C. Anderson DET C.J. Anderson DET
RB Tiers 5.0
Bench Depth
K. Hunt CLE Kareem Hunt CLE
J. Williams DET Jamaal Williams DET
A. Peterson DET Adrian Peterson DET
M. Davis ATL Mike Davis ATL
M. Brown MIA Malcolm Brown MIA
D. Hilliard HOU Dontrell Hilliard HOU
R. Armstead JAC Ryquell Armstead JAC
T. Montgomery NO Ty Montgomery NO

So what 2019 Fantasy football sleepers should you snatch in your draft? And which RB1 candidate can you wait on until late? Visit SportsLine now to get 2019 Fantasy Football cheat sheets from the model that called Matt Breida's huge season, and find out.