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USATSI

In the simplest terms, the rationale behind drafting any player is hoping he out-produces everyone else available at that time. This is true whether you're choosing the first overall pick or the fourth pick in Round 9 or the last pick in the draft. Why else would you take a player?

The only reasonable answer to that question: Because you need to fill specific positions in your weekly lineup. But even when you're choosing based on roster needs, the same rationale applies: When you pick a player, you're hoping he out-produces everyone else available from that position at that time.

But that's something you already could have figured out. What you might not have thought through is how you feel about each position. How much will you stress running backs? Is this the year you're going to target receivers early? Or are you going to zag while the rest of your league zigs and lock down a tight end and a quarterback before anyone else? And can you rationalize to yourself the answers to these questions? 

Look, Fantasy is supposed to be fun. This should be a fun thought exercise and not something that keeps you up at night. Besides, you need your beauty sleep. Read along and think about these strategies and how they align with what you think is best on Draft Day. 

And don't forget to know exactly what the rules of your league are and how many players you can start. The strategies you'll map out in a 10-team league with one flex are a lot different than a 12-team Superflex with three receivers or a 14-team tiered-PPR with team RBs and four flex dyno-multipliers. 

I just made that last one up, but it sounds fun! 

In 2021, 21 running backs averaged at least 15 touches per game (15 of them played at least 12 games). Bump those touches up to at least 20 per game, and eight running backs can lay claim to that average (six played at least 12 games). That's a fancy, roundabout way of telling you that there aren't enough running backs to go around in a Fantasy league. 

You've got three choices when it comes to running backs: 

Go big early

If you value position scarcity and want league-winning upside from the toughest position to fill, then target running backs as soon as Round 1 and do not stop until Round 3 or 4. To that end, this year is pretty much like prior years: The running backs in Tiers 1 and 2 are easy to buy into; the ones in Tiers 3 and 4 are a little less appealing but still lineup-worthy. And then you get to the running backs in Tier 5 and you'll think they're grosser than 10-day-old tofurkey chili.

Go Zero RB

Some managers do the opposite and will skip running backs completely until Round 4 or 5, choosing instead to have top-tier talent at wide receiver, tight end and even quarterback. This can work as a winning strategy, especially if you trust yourself to find good running backs both later in the draft and as the season moves along via free agency. But it means more work to find good running backs, and it almost certainly means having a positional disadvantage at RB for however long it takes you to find capable starters. 

Go with one

There's this comfy medium between the first two options where a drafter picks one stud running back, then ignores the position for a while. You'll enjoy the benefits of taking a bunch of quality players at other positions while still clinging to one really good rusher. 

There is no one right way, but I would expect the Fantasy majority to take a balanced approach on Draft Day. That means taking at least one running back within the first three rounds, two through four rounds and three through five or six rounds. This is the alternative that will help you fill your running back spots while also picking up good values at other positions. 

There's one more twist: More and more NFL teams are wisely moving to committee backfields where multiple backs will see weekly work. That does create a larger pool of players who should see at least 10 touches per week when they're sharing – and way more in those weeks when they fall into a big role because a teammate is hurt or an opponent is bad against the run. When you're looking for running backs past Tier 5, think about the players who are young, can catch the football, or are capable at the goal line. Those who carry at least two of those qualities are worth your speculation. 

DAVE'S FAVORITE STRATEGY AT RB: Draft for upside early without fear of missing out on a receiver or tight end. You can find those guys later. Have six running backs before you get to Round 12. 

DAVE'S FAVORITE STRATEGY IF YOU START THREE WR IN A FULL PPR LEAGUE: If you pick before ninth overall, take one running back early and then start grabbing receivers. If you pick ninth or later, wait on running backs and load up on receivers first. 

Running back PPR tiers (updated 9/2)

Round 1
Tier 1
J. Taylor IND Jonathan Taylor IND
D. Henry TEN Derrick Henry TEN
A. Ekeler LAC Austin Ekeler LAC
C. McCaffrey SF Christian McCaffrey SF
Round 1
Tier 1B
D. Cook MIN Dalvin Cook MIN
J. Mixon CIN Joe Mixon CIN
N. Harris PIT Najee Harris PIT
A. Kamara NO Alvin Kamara NO
Round 2
Tier 2
D. Swift DET D'Andre Swift DET
L. Fournette TB Leonard Fournette TB
S. Barkley NYG Saquon Barkley NYG
A. Jones GB Aaron Jones GB
Rounds 3-4
Tier 3
N. Chubb CLE Nick Chubb CLE
J. Williams DEN Javonte Williams DEN
J. Conner ARI James Conner ARI
D. Montgomery DET David Montgomery DET
B. Hall NYJ Breece Hall NYJ
T. Etienne JAC Travis Etienne JAC
Round 5
Tier 4
D. Pierce HOU Dameon Pierce HOU
J. Jacobs LV Josh Jacobs LV
E. Elliott DAL Ezekiel Elliott DAL
A. Dillon GB A.J. Dillon GB
J. Dobbins BAL J.K. Dobbins BAL
Rounds 6-7
Tier 5
E. Mitchell SF Elijah Mitchell SF
C. Edmonds TB Chase Edmonds TB
C. Edwards-Helaire KC Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC
D. Singletary HOU Devin Singletary HOU
K. Hunt CLE Kareem Hunt CLE
M. Sanders CAR Miles Sanders CAR
C. Akers LAR Cam Akers LAR
D. Harris BUF Damien Harris BUF
Round 8
Tier 6
C. Patterson ATL Cordarrelle Patterson ATL
T. Pollard DAL Tony Pollard DAL
R. Penny PHI Rashaad Penny PHI
R. Stevenson NE Rhamondre Stevenson NE
A. Gibson WAS Antonio Gibson WAS
K. Walker III SEA Kenneth Walker III SEA
Rounds 9-10
Lottery Tickets
J. Robinson NE James Robinson NE
B. Robinson Jr. WAS Brian Robinson Jr. WAS
D. Henderson Jr. JAC Darrell Henderson Jr. JAC
M. Gordon KC Melvin Gordon KC
M. Carter NYJ Michael Carter NYJ
T. Allgeier ATL Tyler Allgeier ATL
A. Mattison MIN Alexander Mattison MIN
N. Hines BUF Nyheim Hines BUF
J. Cook BUF James Cook BUF
K. Herbert CHI Khalil Herbert CHI
Round 11+
Backups
K. Drake BAL Kenyan Drake BAL
J. McKinnon KC Jerick McKinnon KC
K. Gainwell PHI Kenneth Gainwell PHI
R. Mostert MIA Raheem Mostert MIA
I. Pacheco KC Isiah Pacheco KC
Z. White LV Zamir White LV
J. McKissic WAS J.D. McKissic WAS
J. Williams NO Jamaal Williams NO
R. White TB Rachaad White TB
M. Davis BAL Mike Davis BAL
A. Abdullah LV Ameer Abdullah LV
J. Wilson MIA Jeff Wilson MIA

Running back Non-PPR tiers (updated 9/2)

Round 1
Tier 1
J. Taylor IND Jonathan Taylor IND
D. Henry TEN Derrick Henry TEN
A. Ekeler LAC Austin Ekeler LAC
C. McCaffrey SF Christian McCaffrey SF
Round 1
Tier 1B
D. Cook MIN Dalvin Cook MIN
J. Mixon CIN Joe Mixon CIN
N. Harris PIT Najee Harris PIT
A. Kamara NO Alvin Kamara NO
Round 2
Tier 2
L. Fournette TB Leonard Fournette TB
N. Chubb CLE Nick Chubb CLE
S. Barkley NYG Saquon Barkley NYG
D. Swift DET D'Andre Swift DET
A. Jones GB Aaron Jones GB
Rounds 3-4
Tier 3
J. Williams DEN Javonte Williams DEN
J. Conner ARI James Conner ARI
D. Montgomery DET David Montgomery DET
B. Hall NYJ Breece Hall NYJ
Round 5
Tier 4
D. Pierce HOU Dameon Pierce HOU
J. Jacobs LV Josh Jacobs LV
E. Elliott DAL Ezekiel Elliott DAL
T. Etienne JAC Travis Etienne JAC
A. Dillon GB A.J. Dillon GB
J. Dobbins BAL J.K. Dobbins BAL
Rounds 6-7
Tier 5
E. Mitchell SF Elijah Mitchell SF
C. Edmonds TB Chase Edmonds TB
C. Edwards-Helaire KC Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC
M. Sanders CAR Miles Sanders CAR
D. Harris BUF Damien Harris BUF
D. Singletary HOU Devin Singletary HOU
C. Akers LAR Cam Akers LAR
K. Hunt CLE Kareem Hunt CLE
R. Penny PHI Rashaad Penny PHI
C. Patterson ATL Cordarrelle Patterson ATL
Round 8
Tier 6
T. Pollard DAL Tony Pollard DAL
A. Gibson WAS Antonio Gibson WAS
R. Stevenson NE Rhamondre Stevenson NE
K. Walker III SEA Kenneth Walker III SEA
Rounds 9-10
Lottery Tickets
M. Gordon KC Melvin Gordon KC
J. Robinson NE James Robinson NE
B. Robinson Jr. WAS Brian Robinson Jr. WAS
D. Henderson Jr. JAC Darrell Henderson Jr. JAC
T. Allgeier ATL Tyler Allgeier ATL
M. Carter NYJ Michael Carter NYJ
A. Mattison MIN Alexander Mattison MIN
J. Cook BUF James Cook BUF
K. Herbert CHI Khalil Herbert CHI
Round 11+
Backups
K. Drake BAL Kenyan Drake BAL
K. Gainwell PHI Kenneth Gainwell PHI
R. Mostert MIA Raheem Mostert MIA
N. Hines BUF Nyheim Hines BUF
I. Pacheco KC Isiah Pacheco KC
Z. White LV Zamir White LV
J. Williams NO Jamaal Williams NO
J. McKinnon KC Jerick McKinnon KC
R. White TB Rachaad White TB
M. Davis BAL Mike Davis BAL
J. McKissic WAS J.D. McKissic WAS
J. Wilson MIA Jeff Wilson MIA