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There comes a point in every Fantasy football draft where you'll look at the running backs left on the board and realize you're not cool with starting any of them. Determining where that point depends on how risk-averse you are and what the scoring is in your particular league, but it's vital to building a winning roster. 

You don't have to worry about any of these things through the first three tiers at running back. Nearly every player among the 18 listed is considered reliable, though you might take issue with a rookie like Clyde Edwards-Helaire or an injury risk like James Conner being among them. That's OK, just scan them and know before your draft how many of those 18 you'd be OK starting. 

Then do the same with the fourth and fifth Tiers. Not feeling as many guys, right? The fewer of those running backs you like, the more running backs from the first three tiers you'll lean toward drafting. 

The remaining tiers are a mixture of guys whose names you'll recognize along with "lottery ticket" players who COULD become special if they land regular playing time. There's rarely a shortage of those running backs, just a shortage of patience from Fantasy managers who don't want to roster a guy who doesn't play every snap. You may find some backs you won't mind being patient with. Prioritize them along with the runners you'd be OK starting if you had to,

RB strategies

For years, I've been called "a running back guy." Is that a bad thing? Of course not, silly! Why not load up on the position that scores more Fantasy points than pass catchers, or is the most valuable trade commodity, or is the most prone to injuries? Why not build up a roster with guys who could go from zeroes to heroes thanks to an injury or a benching? And don't you usually have to start at least two running backs in your league?  

Put it on my tombstone: 

HERE LIES
DAVE RICHARD
FATHER
HUSBAND
RUNNING BACK GUY

So, for me, the question isn't whether or not to collect running backs on Draft Day, it's HOW to do it. 

I'd normally suggest going over the running back tiers (or any set of rankings you like) to get an idea of just how many running backs in the talent pool you'd trust in your lineup, but the reality is that most Fantasy drafters are going to aggressively take rushers this year because of the depth at wide receiver, quarterback and even tight end. Literally every round of 12-team-or-fewer leagues can you find someone at those positions you'd at least tolerate having on your team. 

You can't quite say the same about running backs, especially once you get to Round 6 or 7 and you're staring at part-time players who might have low ceilings. So if you DON'T load up early, have some antacid nearby because you're not gonna feel so good taking running backs you'd need to start later than that. That's my preferred strategy this year. 

My least preferred strategy is waiting to take a running back until that Round 6 or 7 range. That's called Zero RB, you know, and I feel like it'll mean zero Fantasy points from your running backs if you go that route in 2020. There are just too many unpredictable backfield splits with solid players. Maybe you could make the case for waiting at running back and beginning the year with a duo like Jordan Howard and Marlon Mack, but it's not ideal when the rest of your league is taking better running backs early and not missing out much on other positions.  

So allow me to pitch you on a modified version of that. I like to call it Solo RB. Instead of ignoring running backs through your first five or six picks, you take just one. One guy to be the crown jewel of your backfield while you farm others during the draft and season via mid- to late-round picks and waiver-wire adds. In the case of Solo RB, the lone weak spot in your lineup is the second running back you start each week.

A year for insurance

Let's take this moment to talk about COVID-19 and the impact it figures to have on running backs. You should already know that running backs tend to get injured at a higher rate than their skill-position counterparts. Now we're throwing in the threat of testing positive for COVID-19, which is something that can happen to anyone in football, or in life. 

If you draft a running back who ends up missing time because of COVID-19, you'd love to have his backup ready to go. Not all backups are created equally -- do you really think Reggie Bonnafon can replicate Christian McCaffrey's stats? -- but the real-life backups who can produce close to what the starters in front of them can are worth taking. This year especially, it's wise to have the guy behind the guy on your bench. 

 Here's how I have the handcuff options ranked for 2020.

Skip the rookies? 

There were no offseason programs or minicamps, training camps are sure to have limited practices, and there are no preseason games. It sure puts all rookies in a tight spot. 

The good news for running backs is that the things they'll be asked to do figure to be things they've done for years -- namely follow their blockers and run. That should come naturally, especially after adapting to the speed of the NFL game. It's stuff like pass protection, learning routes and developing chemistry with the quarterback figures to limit the playing time of most rookies right away. Those who proved their efficiency in college on passing downs won't have a learning curve as steep. Sadly, the only ones we can confidently say that about are Clyde Edwards-Helaire, D'Andre Swift, Cam Akers and Antonio Gibson.  

If you prefer your running backs with track records, then it's fine to bypass the rookie class. But there's loads of potential with several who could do what Miles Sanders and Devin Singletary did last year and break out in the second half of the season. Again, your own patience should be a factor. 

The bottom line

  • As usual, running back is the thinnest position on Draft Day. 
  • As usual, running backs are still the hottest Fantasy commodity. 
  • Expect the majority of Fantasy drafters to take running backs early to shore up the position. 
  • Drafting insurance policies is more recommended than ever thanks to COVID-19.
  • It's recommended everyone should end their drafts with at least 40% of their roster being running backs.
PPR Elite
Round 1
C. McCaffrey SF Christian McCaffrey SF
E. Elliott NE Ezekiel Elliott NE
S. Barkley PHI Saquon Barkley PHI
A. Kamara NO Alvin Kamara NO
D. Cook BAL Dalvin Cook BAL
C. Edwards-Helaire KC Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC
M. Sanders CAR Miles Sanders CAR
J. Mixon HOU Joe Mixon HOU
PPR Near Elite
Round 2
K. Drake GB Kenyan Drake GB
A. Ekeler WAS Austin Ekeler WAS
D. Henry BAL Derrick Henry BAL
J. Jacobs GB Josh Jacobs GB
N. Chubb CLE Nick Chubb CLE
A. Jones MIN Aaron Jones MIN
PPR High risk, high reward
Round 3
J. Conner ARI James Conner ARI
C. Carson SEA Chris Carson SEA
M. Gordon BAL Melvin Gordon BAL
T. Gurley ATL Todd Gurley ATL
PPR Very good
Rounds 4-5
L. Bell TB Le'Veon Bell TB
D. Johnson NO David Johnson NO
D. Singletary NYG Devin Singletary NYG
R. Jones DAL Ronald Jones DAL
M. Ingram NO Mark Ingram NO
L. Fournette BUF Leonard Fournette BUF
PPR No. 3 RBs/High upside
Round 6
D. Swift CHI D'Andre Swift CHI
C. Akers MIN Cam Akers MIN
J. Taylor IND Jonathan Taylor IND
R. Mostert MIA Raheem Mostert MIA
D. Montgomery DET David Montgomery DET
K. Hunt CLE Kareem Hunt CLE
PPR No. 3 RBs/Less upside
Rounds 7-8
T. Cohen CAR Tarik Cohen CAR
J. White NE James White NE
J. Howard NO Jordan Howard NO
J. Dobbins BAL J.K. Dobbins BAL
M. Mack ARI Marlon Mack ARI
M. Breida NYG Matt Breida NYG
D. Guice WAS Derrius Guice WAS
P. Lindsay IND Phillip Lindsay IND
PPR High-end backups
Rounds 9-10
A. Gibson NE Antonio Gibson NE
Z. Moss CIN Zack Moss CIN
S. Michel LAR Sony Michel LAR
A. Mattison LV Alexander Mattison LV
D. Henderson Jr. LAR Darrell Henderson Jr. LAR
N. Hines CLE Nyheim Hines CLE
K. Johnson PHI Kerryon Johnson PHI
T. Coleman SF Tevin Coleman SF
T. Pollard TEN Tony Pollard TEN
C. Edmonds TB Chase Edmonds TB
B. Scott PHI Boston Scott PHI
L. Murray BUF Latavius Murray BUF
D. Washington MIA DeAndre Washington MIA
A. Dillon GB A.J. Dillon GB
R. Armstead JAC Ryquell Armstead JAC
L. McCoy TB LeSean McCoy TB
D. Evans BUF Darrynton Evans BUF
D. Johnson BUF Duke Johnson BUF
C. Hyde JAC Carlos Hyde JAC
D. Harris BUF Damien Harris BUF
PPR Bench depth
Round 13+
J. Kelley LAC Joshua Kelley LAC
A. McFarland PIT Anthony McFarland PIT
K. Vaughn NE Ke'Shawn Vaughn NE
M. Brown LAR Malcolm Brown LAR
J. Williams NO Jamaal Williams NO
A. Peterson SEA Adrian Peterson SEA
G. Bernard TB Giovani Bernard TB
D. Freeman BAL Devonta Freeman BAL
I. Smith DAL Ito Smith DAL
C. Thompson CHI Chris Thompson CHI
Non- PPR Elite
Round 1
C. McCaffrey SF Christian McCaffrey SF
E. Elliott NE Ezekiel Elliott NE
S. Barkley PHI Saquon Barkley PHI
A. Kamara NO Alvin Kamara NO
D. Henry BAL Derrick Henry BAL
D. Cook BAL Dalvin Cook BAL
C. Edwards-Helaire KC Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC
M. Sanders CAR Miles Sanders CAR
J. Jacobs GB Josh Jacobs GB
J. Mixon HOU Joe Mixon HOU
N. Chubb CLE Nick Chubb CLE
Non-PPR Near Elite
Round 2
K. Drake GB Kenyan Drake GB
A. Ekeler WAS Austin Ekeler WAS
A. Jones MIN Aaron Jones MIN
Non-PPR High risk, high reward
Round 3
J. Conner ARI James Conner ARI
C. Carson SEA Chris Carson SEA
M. Gordon BAL Melvin Gordon BAL
T. Gurley ATL Todd Gurley ATL
Non-PPR Very good
Rounds 4-5
L. Bell TB Le'Veon Bell TB
M. Ingram NO Mark Ingram NO
R. Jones DAL Ronald Jones DAL
C. Akers MIN Cam Akers MIN
D. Johnson NO David Johnson NO
D. Singletary NYG Devin Singletary NYG
L. Fournette BUF Leonard Fournette BUF
Non-PPR No. 3 RBs/High upside
Round 6
D. Swift CHI D'Andre Swift CHI
C. Akers MIN Cam Akers MIN
R. Mostert MIA Raheem Mostert MIA
J. Taylor IND Jonathan Taylor IND
D. Montgomery DET David Montgomery DET
Non-PPR No. 3 RBs/Less upside
Rounds 7
J. Howard NO Jordan Howard NO
K. Hunt CLE Kareem Hunt CLE
J. Dobbins BAL J.K. Dobbins BAL
M. Mack ARI Marlon Mack ARI
M. Breida NYG Matt Breida NYG
Non-PPR High-end backups
Rounds 8-9
D. Guice WAS Derrius Guice WAS
P. Lindsay IND Phillip Lindsay IND
Z. Moss CIN Zack Moss CIN
S. Michel LAR Sony Michel LAR
A. Mattison LV Alexander Mattison LV
K. Johnson PHI Kerryon Johnson PHI
T. Cohen CAR Tarik Cohen CAR
D. Henderson Jr. LAR Darrell Henderson Jr. LAR
T. Coleman SF Tevin Coleman SF
Non-PPR Solid backups
Rounds 10- 11
T. Pollard TEN Tony Pollard TEN
J. White NE James White NE
C. Edmonds TB Chase Edmonds TB
L. Murray BUF Latavius Murray BUF
A. Gibson NE Antonio Gibson NE
A. Dillon GB A.J. Dillon GB
D. Washington MIA DeAndre Washington MIA
Non-PPR Bench depth
Round 12+
B. Scott PHI Boston Scott PHI
D. Evans BUF Darrynton Evans BUF
C. Hyde JAC Carlos Hyde JAC
R. Armstead JAC Ryquell Armstead JAC
D. Harris BUF Damien Harris BUF
J. Kelley LAC Joshua Kelley LAC
N. Hines CLE Nyheim Hines CLE
D. Johnson BUF Duke Johnson BUF
L. McCoy TB LeSean McCoy TB
A. McFarland PIT Anthony McFarland PIT
M. Brown LAR Malcolm Brown LAR
D. Freeman BAL Devonta Freeman BAL
K. Vaughn NE Ke'Shawn Vaughn NE
A. Peterson SEA Adrian Peterson SEA
J. Williams NO Jamaal Williams NO