2023 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: RB
There is certainly no shortage of analytics and data available to fantasy football enthusiasts. One of the most useful tools available to the well-prepared fantasy drafter is to break down the strength of schedule for each position. FullTime’s 2023 Fantasy
While there is plenty of strength of schedule analysis out there, FullTime Fantasy breaks down the data in a unique way. In addition to season-long data, FullTime Fantasy Members get access to all positions including IDP. Also, the data can be sorted by remaining games and broken down into sections. This can be especially helpful for high-stakes and tournament drafters looking for the edge during the fantasy playoffs.
After breaking down quarterbacks previously, here is a deep dive into the 2023 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: RB and how to take advantage of that data this draft season.
The numbers listed include Weeks 1-17.
Favorable Schedules
Javonte Williams & Samaje Perine (Denver Broncos) – Because there is uncertainty on the health of Javonte Williams’s surgically-repaired knee, drafting both Denver running backs is an easily attainable strategy. Snagging Williams first, then handcuffing Perine would give fantasy drafters the most favorable schedule for running backs in 2023.
Of course, this approach offers plenty of risk. Williams tore multiple ligaments last fall. Meanwhile, Perine has never had an extended run as a starter. However, selecting both players in the new Sean Payton offense offers plenty of fantasy potential.
Plus, Denver gets an appealing slate of games to accrue that production. The Broncos get four games against opponents that…
WHAT OTHER RUNNING BACKS will be impacted by the 2023 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule?
To finish reading this in-depth schedule analysis
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2023 Free Agent Rankings: Running Backs
As you know, there is no real off-season for fantasy football fanatics. While the NFL playoffs are still in progress, it’s never a bad idea to be prepared for the next season. FullTime Fantasy‘s 2023 Free Agent Rankings: Running Backs previews the top veteran rushers available this spring. There are some stud backs available on the open market. Also, the rise in salary cap should help a handful of these RBs secure lucrative long-term deals. Also, check out our 2023 free-agent QB rankings. Three-Down Studs PLAYER TEAM AGE YDS TD REC YDS REC TD Josh Jacobs LVR 25 1653 12 400 0 Saquon Barkley NYG 26 1312 10 338 0 Tony Pollard DAL 26 1007 9 371 3 David Montgomery CHI 26 801 5 316 1 The Raiders declined to extend Josh Jacobs last season. As a result, Jacobs is now set to cash in big time after leading the league with 1,653 rushing yards. Jacobs showed feature-back skills, also. He set a career-best mark of 400 receiving yards and a dozen scores. Expect Jacobs to attract plenty of attention, perhaps commanding north of $50 million over 4 years. Similar to Jacobs, Saquon Barkley‘s fifth-year option was declined and Barkley finally stayed healthy. The fifth-year veteran rusher posted a career-high 1,312 rushing yards and topped 50 receptions for the third time. New York is fresh off a Wild-Card playoff spot. However, both Barkley and QB Daniel Jones are unrestricted free agents. Of the two, Barkley is more likely to be franchise tagged. But, if he is able to test the market, Barkley could earn between $12 and $15 million annually. The Cowboys are in a difficult predicament. Tony Pollard was the team’s best running back all season. However, the club still owes Ezekiel Elliott over $50 million guaranteed. Elliott is a declining player while Pollard displayed top-5 upside and explosiveness. Elliott has reportedly been open to a restricted deal. That may be the only way Pollard could return to Big D. Should Pollard hit the open market, he’ll have no shortage of suitors as a potential top-tier starter. David Montgomery had the fewest rushing attempts of his career despite playing 16 games. With Khalil Herbert in the fold, Montgomery might be allowed to test the market. The 25-year-old veteran is a dependable receiver and has a 1,000-yard rushing campaign on his resume. Solid Contributors PLAYER TEAM AGE YDS TD REC YDS REC TD Miles Sanders PHI 26 1269 11 78 0 Jamaal Williams DET 28 1066 17 73 0 Damien Harris NE 26 462 3 97 0 Devin Singletary BUF 26 819 5 280 1 Alexander Mattison MIN 25 283 5 91 1 Kareem Hunt CLE 28 455 3 195 1 D’Onta Foreman CAR 27 914 3 26 0 Rashaad Penny SEA 27 346 2 16 0 Samaje Perine CIN 28 394 2 287 4 Jerick McKinnon KC 31 291 1 512 9 A year after (in)famously being shut out of the end zone, Miles Sanders punched in 11 scores and posted a career-high 1,263 rushing yards. Although Sanders snagged 50 balls as a rookie, the Eagles haven’t involved him much as a receiver since. That could impact his ability to attract a deal with the top tier of available rushers. Jamaal Williams was one of the best fantasy values from 2022. Williams led the NFL with 17 touchdowns and also surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career. Williams should be able to parlay that into a decent raise in 2023. However, he most likely finds himself in another timeshare with the Lions or elsewhere. Alexander Mattison has always attracted fantasy attention as the direct handcuff to Dalvin Cook. And when given the chance to shine, Mattison has had some big outings. Now, Mattison will get the chance to see if another NFL team views him in the same light as #ZERORB drafters do. The dream fantasy scenario- re-signing with the Vikings if Cook is a cap casualty. The surprising Christian McCaffrey trade allowed D’Onta Foreman to showcase his potential as a starter. Foreman posted five games with 100-plus rushing yards. In all, the fifth-year pro ran for 914 yards despite having just 12 carries in Carolina’s first six games. Foreman will draw interest from multiple teams but a return to the Panthers would make him an excellent late-round fantasy value. Be cautious with Jerick McKinnon. The aging back easily had his best numbers as a cleverly-deployed red-zone outlet. But, any other destination than a return to Kansas City would be a huge step back. Change-of-Pace Options PLAYER TEAM AGE YDS TD REC YDS REC TD Jeff Wilson MIA 28 860 5 185 1 Raheem Mostert MIA 31 820 3 212 2 Kenyan Drake BAL 29 482 4 89 1 Ronald Jones KC 26 70 1 22 0 Matt Breida NYG 28 220 1 118 0 Dontrelle Hilliard TEN 28 145 0 177 4 Darrel Williams ARZ 28 102 1 9 0 Boston Scott PHI 28 217 3 15 0 Justin Jackson DET 27 170 1 101 1 Justice Hill BAL 26 262 0 58 0 The Dolphins used both of their veteran packs interchangeably. Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert should have no trouble finding work. However, neither back will draw interest as a lead dog. With ties to San Francisco, keep an eye on the Texans as potential fits for both veteran ball carriers. Darrel Williams was limited to just six games in 2022. However, he looked solid in the only contest in which he got double-digit touches. He’ll draw interest as a dependable veteran change-of-pace option. Depending on where he lands, Williams offers some late-round interest as an insurance policy. Boston Scott has averaged over 4 yards per carry in each of his four seasons as Philly’s RB2/3. Scott also has shown a solid nose for the end zone and was solid as a receiver in his first two campaigns. Best of the Rest PLAYER TEAM AGE YDS TD REC YDS REC TD Ty Johnson NYJ 26 148 1 75 0 Benny Snell PIT 25
Mid-to-Late Round WRs to Target
Get a group of 12 football fans together and you might get a dozen different draft strategies. For the many people who will choose to attack running back depth first, our mid-to-late round WRs to target is the perfect companion
Focusing on running backs early is the opposite of Zero-RB. RB truthers love attacking running back early and often and look to load up on quality pass-catchers later. The approach is old school but makes a lot of sense with the available wide receiver depth in the middle rounds.
For you early running back fans, here are some mid-to-late round WRs targets to draft after loading up on runners early. And don’t forget to check out our 2022 Zero-RB targets.
FFWC high-stakes ADP data found here.
Rashod Bateman (Baltimore Ravens) ADP 47.1, (WR27)
We’ve seen Hollywood Brown finish as a WR2 in the Ravens system and have significant stretches looking like an impressive WR1 and now his absence vacated 146 targets from last year and that’s with him missing a game. The Ravens didn’t add any significant pieces at wideout because they believe in Bateman. While he’s not quite as fast as Hollywood, I view Bateman as a better prospect and should develop into a better more well-rounded wideout. There is no reason he shouldn’t see 150 targets in 2022.
Elijah Moore (New York Jets) ADP 51.2, (WR30)
The only reason Moore isn’t being drafted as a WR1 is that he’s on the Jets and the QB situation is a nightmare. That’s a fair argument and I fully understand not having faith in Zach Wilson. However, the talent wins out here for me. Moore broke out down the stretch last year before getting injured. Over his final six games, he posted 34 receptions on 51 targets for 459 yards and five touchdowns. The QBs may not be improved, but the wideout should be just as good if not better…
Who else made the 2022 Fantasy Football Hero-RB targets list?
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2022 Fantasy Football Zero-RB Targets
Now that fantasy football draft season is here, it’s time to look at different strategies. Contrarian approaches like #ZeroRB have a lot of traction and our 2022 Fantasy Football Zero-RB Targets can help identify mid-to-late round running backs to draft.
Although there is no definitive #ZeroRB rule, generally starting the draft focusing on elite wide receivers and tight ends while waiting until the middle of the draft at the earliest to address the backfield is the idea. Some drafters will take a running back before Round 5 in a modified Zero-RB, but we’ll focus on the former.
Here are some 2022 fantasy football Zero-RB targets to look for in the mid-to-late rounds of your draft. All ADP cited courtesy of FFWC high-stakes Advanced ADP.
Chase Edmonds (Miami Dolphins) ADP 70.5, (RB24)
There is a notable difference in Edmonds’s ADP in high-stakes leagues versus the consensus formats. That’s usually a good sign to target a player. As it stands, Chase Edmonds is the overwhelming favorite to be Miami’s main running back. He’s an excellent fit in the team’s new zone-blocking scheme and a trustworthy pass-catcher.
With the Cardinals last season, Edmonds saw 53 targets in 12 games and posted overall RB28 numbers in terms of fantasy points per game. Miami ranked 11th in plays per game in 2021 and should be even more potent with Tyreek Hill added to the fold. I view Edmonds as a quality weekly RB2 and a superb value in the sixth round.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Kansas City Chiefs) ADP 78, RB27
After two disappointing outings to open his career, fantasy managers are understandably off of CEH. In 2021, PFF ranked Edwards-Helaire as the 79th running back. He was even worse as a receiver and struggled mightily in short yardage. Still, new opportunities mean new value in 2022.
CEH has dominated first-team work throughout the preseason and should get plenty of opportunities in an offense that lost four of their top-6 target earners. What we do know is he can pass protect for Pat Mahomes. Plus, rumors persist that Ronald Jones may not even make the Chiefs’ opening day roster. At this point, Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s ADP has fallen so low that there is little downside to targeting him in the seventh or eighth round.
Dameon Pierce (Houston Texans) ADP 88.3, RB32
Pierce’s ADP has shot up multiple rounds due to his impressive preseason film and the lackluster showing for Marlon Mack. The veteran may be extended the starting courtesy in September, but it seems like only a matter of time before Pierce takes over Houston’s backfield. Pierce was PFF’s highest-graded runner in 2021 and ranked 6th as a pass-catcher. He also ranked top-5 in yards created and elusiveness. It looks like the Texans hit a home run with Pierce and fantasy managers are about to do the same.
Who else made the 2022 Fantasy Football Zero-RB targets list?
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Breaking Down Committee Backfields
In today’s NFL, it seems like there are fewer three-down feature backs than ever. With more teams employing rotations, breaking down committee backfields is an important part of fantasy draft preparation. It also can lead to an opportunity to exploit value for those that can stay ahead of predicting how these committee backfields will play out, which opens up a variety of different draft strategies. Let’s look at some of the confusing backfields of 2021 and how fantasy football fans should approach them Miami Dolphins There are plenty of teams in today’s NFL that have at least a split-back system. However, in this article, I will try to focus on the teams that are expected to split touches at least three ways. That being said, the Dolphins may have the busiest running back room in the entire league as touches may be split between four backs weekly. New head coach Mike McDaniel had a history of using multiple runners during his stint as offensive coordinator in San Francisco. However, they also often struggled with injuries which leaves the question, was the multi-back system more based on design or necessity? Regardless, I do believe we will see a lot of rotation in this backfield. The four backs I’m projecting to be in that rotation are Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel, and Myles Gaskin. I anticipate Edmonds leading this backfield in touches. He’s probably the most versatile of the backs being that he can run inside, outside, and catch passes. Mostert is in that conversation as well, but Edmonds is much more durable. At his current ADP Edmonds is being selected as the RB35. He’s an absolute steal there in McDaniel’s zone-blocking, run-heavy system. Mostert is the wild card as he’s not only the most dynamic and dangerous back on the Dolphins, but he’s one of the most explosive players in the entire league. He’s a big play waiting to happen. The concern is that he isn’t durable enough to give a ton of touches too. He is more of a best ball option for me. As dynamic as he may be his upside is capped by the fact that he maxes out at about 6-8 touches per game. Michel projects to be the short-yardage and goal-line guy. However, I believe he’s the least talented back in this backfield. While in theory, he should have touchdown upside I believe he eventually loses his role and becomes an afterthought by Halloween. Gaskin is an interesting case. Many predict he could be cut, but he’s never anything short of spectacular in camp every summer. I do believe he will earn a roster spot and with Mostert’s fragility could end up with a significant role in the likely scenario that Mostert misses time. We have seen him put up monster games on bad offenses. He should be monitored on the waiver wire in 2022 despite starting the season as the Dolphins’ fantasy RB3 due to Mostert’s big-play upside. New England Patriots The Patriots are a habitually confusing backfield year after year. This year it’s more important than ever to decipher because the backs they have are extremely talented. The only saving grace may be that James White is a candidate to start the season on the PUP list forcing him to miss the first six games of the season, which would vastly improve Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson’s PPR potential. The team also added Pierre Strong Jr. who is a talented rookie but I don’t expect him to be a factor this season. We know when healthy James White is a premier pass-catching back with limited work on the ground. He is a major part of the offense, nevertheless, the real question here is do you want to roster Harris or Stevenson? Last year in his rookie campaign we saw Stevenson take 133 carries for 606 yards with five TDs. He averages 4.6 yards per attempt and saw his touches increase as the season went on. He also caught 14 passes for 123 yards. Harris also averaged 4.6 yards per attempt rushing 202 times for 929 yards and 15 TDs. He snagged 18 passes for 132 yards. The thing that jumps out about those numbers is obviously the TD disparity. Harris has a nose for the end zone, and I don’t expect that to change. However, Stevenson looks more explosive with the ability to break more big plays. Assuming White does miss time to start the season I expect the backs to split time fairly evenly. The difference will be I believe Stevenson will see a significantly higher volume of targets in the passing game and Harris will get the majority of the goal-line work. With that said, I give Harris a slight edge here. Stevenson could very well be the more productive fantasy back in the first half of the season. My concern is that when White does return we will see Stevenson’s PPR value plummet and Harris will still be finding himself with the ball near the end zone. This is very close and I like both backs, all three if you include White, but the edge goes to Harris in New England. Buffalo Bills The Bills were already a confusing backfield and this offseason they added rookie James Cook and pass-catcher Duke Johnson. It appears Devin Singletary had overtaken Zack Moss as the lead back in Buffalo although it has at times over the past two years seemed exactly the opposite. Still, I expect Singletary to be comfortably ahead of Moss so I will focus more on how Cook and Johnson will factor into the workload. Devin Singletary does start the season as the RB1, nonetheless, the real RB1 in Buffalo may actually be QB Josh Allen. There is a real chance Cook is more talented than Singletary. He certainly appears to be more explosive. However, he had the biggest workload of his career last season at Georgia with 68 carries and only ran the ball 113 times. Granted he
Fantasy RB Tiers 2022 2.0
August is here and that means that the Fantasy Football draft season has finally arrived! Whether you’re in a dynasty, redraft, or best ball format, the most accurate up-to-date rankings are crucial for assembling a championship-winning roster and accurate 2022
2022 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
Temperatures outside are heating up and that means that the Fantasy Football draft season has finally arrived! Whether you’re in a dynasty, redraft, or best ball format, accurate up-to-date rankings are crucial for assembling a championship-winning roster.
Recently, the FullTime team of Jody Smith and Billy Muzio put together the initial run of 2022 Fantasy Football Rankings after an episode of the FullTime Fantasy Podcast.
Here are our initial 2022 Fantasy Football RB Rankings. Be sure to bookmark all of our rankings, which will be constantly updated all summer.
| RANK | PLAYER | POS | TEAM | BYE |
| 1 | Johnathan Taylor | RB | IND | 14 |
| 2 | Austin Ekeler | RB | LAC | 8 |
| 3 | Christian McCaffrey | RB | CAR | 13 |
| 4 | Najee Harris | RB | PIT | 9 |
| 5 | Derrick Henry | RB | TEN | 6 |
| 6 | Dalvin Cook | RB | MIN | 7 |
| 7 | Joe Mixon | RB | CIN | 10 |
WHAT OTHER PLAYERS MADE OUR TOP-10 RB RANKINGS?
To finish reading this in-depth article and Jody’s DYNASTY QB ROOKIE RANKINGS
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2022 NFL Vacated Targets and Air Yards
The NFL draft has come and gone, and if there is one thing we have learned from the beginning of the 2022 season, it’s that anything is possible. We have seen some of the biggest names in football be traded,
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2022 Free Agent Rankings: Running Backs
This is Part 2 of our offseason look at the 2022 NFL free agent class, this time for running backs. Quarterbacks can be found here. PLAYER POS TEAM AGE GAME YDS TD REC YDS REC TD Leonard Fournette RB TB 27 14 623 8 454 1 Melvin Gordon RB DEN 29 16 918 8 213 2 James Conner RB ARZ 26 15 752 15 375 3 Rashaad Penny RB SEA 26 10 749 6 48 0 Sony Michel RB LAR 27 17 845 4 128 1 Chase Edmonds RB ARZ 26 12 592 2 311 0 Cordarrelle Patterson RB ATL 31 16 618 6 548 5 Ronald Jones RB TB 24 16 428 4 64 0 Marlon Mack RB IND 26 6 101 0 8 0 Alex Collins RB SEA 27 11 411 2 87 0 Leonard Fournette – All of Tampa Bay’s running backs are set to hit free agency but it’s Fournette who rightfully attracts the most fantasy attention. Before going down in Week 15, Fournette was posting top-5 fantasy points per game numbers. There would be no better landing spot than for Fournette to re-sign with the Bucs, but he undoubtedly will test the market. Wherever he signs, Fournette is a solid RB2 due to his voluminous role in the passing game. Melvin Gordon – Even splitting carries with Javonte Williams, Gordon managed to surpass 1,100 scrimmage yards and topped double-digit scores for the fifth time in his last six campaigns. Gordon also averaged 4.5 yards per tote again and snagged 28-of-39 targets. 29 when the season begins, Gordon can still be a productive three-down back and his signing with a new team would be great news for both Gordon and Williams fans. James Conner – Even though I’m a huge fan and picked Conner to be our Comeback Player of the Year, Conner managed to exceed my lofty expectations with a lofty 18 touchdowns. He certainly deserves to attract plenty of teams as a potential workhorse back but a return to the desert would be the best-case scenario. Rashaad Penny – Perhaps no player made themselves as much money as Penny did in the final month of the 2021 season. In Seattle’s final five games, Penny averaged 134.2 rushing yards per game and scored six TDs. He wasn’t asked to catch many passes in Seattle, but Penny flashed the tremendous upside and home-run ability he displayed at San Diego State and may have parlayed his hot streak into a significant contract. With Pete Carroll appearing to be back in Seattle, a reunion would be beneficial for all parties, but expect Penny to test the market, where he could command north of $5-6 million annually. Sony Michel – The trade that sent Michel to Los Angeles wound up working out well for both the Rams and Michel, who showcased solid feature back skills while subbing in for Darrell Henderson. As the starter, Michel rattled off five straight games with 74-plus rushing yards and caught a career-high 21 passes. With Henderson and Cam Akers back, there may not be room for Michel to return to the Rams but he played well enough to warrant attention as a potential starter for many of the RB-needy teams. Chase Edmonds – Injuries limited Edmonds to a dozen games and he wound up falling behind James Conner as Arizona’s main back. Still, Edmonds is a plus receiver who excels in space as a weapon too elusive for linebackers to cover. Wherever he signs, Edmonds will probably be utilized in a committee but re-signing in Arizona would be ideal, particularly if Conner were to sign elsewhere. Cordarrelle Patterson – The Falcons were able to use Patterson brilliantly, leading to a career-best season. As a former wide receiver, that is where Patterson is best, but he can also be a plus returner and red-zone weapon. If Patterson sins with a creative play-caller who knows how to use him, he can remain a solid RB3 but he could also be a significant bust if forced into a scheme that won’t appreciate his skill set. Ronald Jones – All of Tampa Bay’s backs (except Ke’Shawn Vaughn) are free agents but Jones is highly unlikely to return after falling out of favor with Bruce Arians. In Tampa, Jones would flash upside as a runner and receiver but could never quite take control of the backfield. There’s enough there to consider Jones a decent sleeper if he takes over as a team’s starter but he’s likely looking at a one or two-year “prove it” contract. Marlon Mack – Speaking of falling out of favor, Mack surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 2018-19 but found himself as a healthy scratch for most of the 2021 season behind Jonathan Taylor. Just 26 in March, Mack has battled injuries but also showcased a three-down skill set in his first three seasons. He’ll likely sign a modest contract to mix into a committee but don’t discount Mack as a potential sleeper for ‘zero RB’ drafters to target in the latter rounds of drafts. Alex Collins – Injuries have always been an issue for Collins and will likely force him to sign a modest contract as an RB2. He can chip in as a runner and pass-catcher but only had one game with over 50 rushing yards in Seattle. Collins looks destined to sign a short-term deal as a veteran contributor who could fill in when called upon. PLAYER POS TEAM AGE GAME YDS TD REC YDS REC TD Phillip Lindsay RB MIA 27 14 249 1 45 1 Jeff Wilson RB SF 26 9 294 2 31 0 Raheem Mostert RB SF 30 1 20 0 0 0 J.D. McKissic RB WAS 28 11 212 2 397 2 James White RB NE 30 3 38 1 94 0 Darrel Williams RB KC 27 17 558 6 452 2 Justin Jackson RB LAC 26 14 364 2 178 0 Royce Freeman RB HOU 26 15 169 0 77 0 Matt Breida RB BUF 27 9 125 1 72 2 Tevin Coleman RB NYJ 29
Breaking Down Committee Backfields
In today’s NFL, it seems like there are fewer three-down feature backs than ever. More and more teams are employing a committee backfield and that makes things awfully difficult for fantasy football enthusiasts. It also can lead to an opportunity to exploit value for those that can stay ahead of predicting how these committee backfields will play out. Let’s look at some of the confusing backfields of 2021 and how fantasy football fans should approach them Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs backfield has plenty of names Fantasy owners have become familiar with over the years, however, it’s tough to figure out who has the most value. With Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette, Giovani Bernard, and even Keshawn Vaughn in the mix, I fully expect this backfield to frustrate fantasy owners weekly this season. The two big-name backs with the most upside to be a workhorse are Jones and Fournette. Jones appeared to have a stranglehold on the job last season before playoff Lenny showed up and dominated in the postseason. Now it’s anyone’s guess who will be the RB1 to start the season. Head coach Bruce Arians will bench either back on a whim after a missed block or fumble as well making this backfield all the more volatile. The most defined role in this backfield, although limited, is Bernard. While his lack of early-down work will surely cap his upside, he’s locked in as the pass-catching back. He could carve out a nice little role in this offense and have flex potential in PPR leagues. Behind all of these backs is Keshawn Vaughn, who when he got an opportunity last season in limited touches averaged more than four yards per carry and looked just as good if not better than the other backs. Nonetheless, he would need an injury to have any real fantasy value. Ronald Jones offers the most upside as an early-down back and should be the first Bucs’ back drafted. Fournette should be the second back off the board but is riskier than any back on this team. Gio is a nice late-round stash in PPR leagues. He has sneaky value and could emerge as a nice flex option in 12-team drafts. Look for him to be Tom Brady’s new James White in Tampa. Philadelphia Eagles The Eagles’ backfield is much easier to decipher for me. This committee is more smoke than fire. Fantasy owners are projecting rookie Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott to have significant roles this season. I doubt their roles are as significant as people think. Gainwell and Scott will have a role in this offense, but Miles Sanders will be the clear-cut RB1 and is a steal as he continues to fall in drafts. Lately, he’s being drafted as a low-end RB2 or in some cases even a flex option. He has league-winning upside going that late. While his floor does bring some risk it is currently baked into his ADP. Scott and Gainwell don’t need to be rostered in non-dynasty leagues unless you have deep rosters and one needs to stash a player. Sanders is the man here as long as he’s healthy. If he were to go down I expect Gainwell to be the next man up to lead the backfield. Houston Texans Houston’s backfield is looking like a three-headed nightmare comprised of David Johnson, Phillip Lindsay, and Mark Ingram with Rex Burkhead lurking as a darkhorse to further muddy the waters. Lindsay and Ingram are listed as co-starter while Johnson appears to be locked in as the pass-catching back according to all the reports we’ve heard out Houston this summer. This is an unpopular opinion, but Lindsay being drafted as the RB47 has huge upside. I expect him to lead this team in carries and he’s always been a productive fantasy producer when healthy. Mark Ingram is washed and a non-factor. Johnson will take the PPR value, nevertheless, this coaching staff wants to limit his carries. Lindsay is a low-risk option who could pleasantly surprise this season. He’s well worth the risk. Denver Broncos Unlike the other backfields in this article, the Broncos have a strong rushing attack and two good backs. Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams will both see plenty of work. As much as many owners want to project Williams into a larger role, Gordon isn’t going away and will likely lead this team in carries and goal-line touches. Williams’ role should grow as the season goes on, but Gordon’s role is secure as long as he’s healthy. If both backs were to stay healthy all season, Gordon would have a slight edge on Williams. As much as fantasy owners would like him to go away, he’s not and is the RB1 in this backfield until further notice. Where it gets interesting is if one of these two backs were to go down with an injury. If either Williams or Gordon was to get hurt, the back left standing has legitimate low-end RB1 upside. With Javonte Williams being drafted as the RB28 and Gordon as the RB30, they are potential game-changers this season. I like Gordons’ value this season more than Williams in redraft despite the excitement surrounding Williams. I’d be happy to have either player on my team as a high-upside flex option. New York Jets Back to the dumpster fire backfields. No matter how much fantasy owners want to will Michael Carter into being a lead back it’s not going to happen. He’s currently the third man in a three-back committee on a bad offense that will often be in a negative game script for running backs. Ty Johnson currently looks like the RB1 in New York with Tevin Coleman behind him. Johnson isn’t the sexy pick, but all reports out of camp say after looking good in camp, he’s the top guy in this backfield. He should be the first running back drafted off this roster. Despite being the RB2 on this roster, Coleman is less appealing than Carter. I
2021 Rookie Running Backs Outlook – 1 of 2
Members enjoy this outlook of 2021 Rookie Running Backs Outlook to prepare you for your upcoming rookie dynasty drafts by our NFL Scouting Analyst Riley Bymaster. The influx of running backs from the 2020 draft class spoiled fantasy football owners
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