2024 Fantasy Football Running Back Tiers (and Sleepers!)

We’re now in the thick of draft season, my friends. Your toss-up decisions are going to get even more agonizing when those mocks become real drafts. When it comes to running backs, this year’s three-headed monster reminds me of those old Arian Foster, Adrian Peterson, LeSean McCoy drafts. The years where running backs were six, maybe seven of the first 12 players picked. Jamaal Charles was in those ranks, C.J. Spiller had a run. Young Ezekiel Elliott joined too. I could go on and on now that I’m racking my brain. Those were the days where the only non-running backs that would crack that first round were Calvin Johnson, Rob Gronkowski, maybe some Demariyus Thomas, or Dez Bryant in the mix. I recall Andrew Luck and Matthew Stafford sneaking in one year, too. Just elite names across the board and fond memories from my years of playing this infuriatingly-beautiful game.

Anyway, I digress. Back to the 2024 guys. For those looking for the best running backs in fantasy football, you’re obviously going to run into Christian McCaffrey. He’s earned the right to be the first player mentioned in any form of fantasy football correspondence. His fit in San Francisco’s offensive scheme has transformed him into fantasy football’s Infinity Gauntlet. Run from him, dread him, he arrives all the same. Your 2024 fantasy running back targets will also include Breece Hall and Bijan Robinson. The young guns have a shot at ushering in a new era of dual-threat, can’t-take-them-off-the-field running backs.

Those are the obvious guys, though. I’ll have more if you’re looking to weigh your options for the top fantasy football running back beyond the early picks. I even have some of my favorite sleeper fantasy running backs who could end up being some of your least expected anchors.

Alright, I think I’ve said enough to set the stage. Here are my running back tiers for your 2024 fantasy football season.

Half-PPR Scoring Used for All Stats

Tier 1: The Cheat Codes

Christian McCaffrey - San Francisco 49ers

Breece Hall - New York Jets

Bijan Robinson - Atlanta Falcons

Source: Niners Nation

What can I say about these guys that hasn’t already been said. Christian McCaffery is inevitable. If you’re playing against him, just pray the other guys on the roster don’t show up. You can mark him down for at least 15-to-20 points when he’s on the field. In Kyle Shannahan’s scheme, the only way McCaffrey doesn’t repeat as RB1 is injury. Short and sweet to start.

Breece Hall and Bijan Robinson are pretty similar players in terms of what they bring to their respective teams. Hall had to work back from the ACL tear that ended his rookie year. After the team’s Week 7 bye, though, Hall was all the way back. He scored 180 fantasy points – good for 16.4 per game on average – and slotted behind Christian McCaffrey as the RB2. He’s elite as a pass-catcher, he’s got game-breaking speed, he finds the endzone. You name it, Hall does it and does it extremely well. When you consider he’s done what he has with the likes of Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemien, and Tim Boyle running the offense, it’s hard to look at other options. If Aaron Rodgers still plays like Aaron Rodgers coming off the injury, Hall might push McCaffrey for the overall RB1 spot.

For Robinson, the talent is undeniable. Unless, of course, you’re Arthur Smith. Then you only give him 33.8 percent of your team’s red zone carries. Smith’s reign of terror is over, though. There should be brighter days ahead for Robinson. Even with his confusing usage, Robinson put together an RB9 finish as a rookie. After his Week 11 bye, he didn’t finish with a snap share lower than 58 percent. He averaged 14.4 fantasy points per game over that span. It’s possible that utilizing your best players as a coach could yield favorable results for your team. Zac Robinson’s system should make last year look even worse. It’ll also help the rookie who averaged 5.4 yards per touch on 1,463 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns take his place among the NFL’s elite backs.

Tier 2: Marginal Risk, High Ceiling

Jonathan Taylor - Indianapolis Colts

Derrick Henry - Baltimore Ravens

Jahmyr Gibbs - Detroit Lions

Saquon Barkley - Philadelphia Eagles

It wasn’t long ago that Jonathan Taylor was viewed as a layup to go 1.01 in drafts. Rightfully so, he finished as the RB1 in 2021 with 353 fantasy points. He followed that up with 1,004 total yards and four total touchdowns over 11 games in 2022. He was the RB34. There was a slight resurgence under first-year head coach Shane Steichen last year, though. Once his lockout/injury issues were settled, Taylor played in 10 games, averaging 14.7 fantasy points per game. Over 17 games, he would’ve finished as the RB8. If he’s able to get back to playing a full slate of games, a return to prominence as an RB1 seems to be a foregone conclusion playing alongside Anthony Richardson.

If you put 25-year-old Derrick Henry in Baltimore, he might run for 2,000 yards. A 30-year-old Henry still might finish with something like 1,250. The biggest risk here is age. Henry has proven he’s a freak over his prolific eight-year career. How long will he keep this run up, though, is the biggest question mark. He didn’t show many signs of stopping last year, picking up 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns. Running with Lamar Jackson and very little threat to his workload sets up one of the better situations for his career. He’s never going to wow you with the receiving numbers, but as long as he can extend his streak of seasons with double-digit touchdowns to seven, he should still put together his fifth RB1 season.

Source: Pride of Detroit

All indications are Jahmyr Gibbs will be ready for Week 1. Therefore, you might get him at a value if you’re not in a league with people who autodraft and other managers are scared away by the questionable tag. Don’t be the one who passes on him, though. From Week 10 on, Gibbs and David Montgomery shared the backfield. He finished as the RB6 over that span, rushing for 564 yards and six touchdowns on 5.2 yards per carry. He also added 24 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. The variance in the weekly snap count between Gibbs and Montgomery would support that Dan Campbell took more of a hot-hand approach in that span. Still, Gibbs took the workload and didn’t look back. He figures to play a significant role for the Lions, behind arguably the best offensive line in football.

Public enemy No. 1 in New York seems to be Saquon Barkley. That’ll probably make Eagles fans like him even more. He finished as a high-end RB2 last season for a hapless Giants team. Daniel Jones dealt with injuries until he tore his ACL in Week 9. From that point, it was the Tommy DeVito-Tyrod Taylor show. Barkley missed four games but played a majority of the team’s snaps at running back when he was on the field. Without Jones, Barkley was the RB10 for a team that went 4-4 to close the year. Barkley ran for 2.1 yards before contact on average last season behind the New York offensive line. This was tied for 73rd among FantasyPros qualified rushers. For reference, former Eagles running back D’Andre Swift tied for 22nd with three yards before contact on average. Philadelphia’s offensive line will likely be the most productive Barkley has run behind, in a scheme that will likely feature him in many different roles on the field. His dual-threat ability makes his ceiling pretty loft in Philadelphia, with a relatively high-floor barring injury.

Tier 3: The Potential to Jump Tiers, Lower Floors

Kyren Williams - Los Angeles Rams

Joe Mixon - Houston Texans

Travis Etienne - Jacksonville Jaguars

Rachaad White - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Isaiah Pacheco - Kansas City Chiefs

De’Von Achane - Miami Dolphins

Kenneth Walker - Seattle Seahawks

I’m aware this is a pretty beefy tier. Eight names? Just make two tiers. This is the plight of trying to separate players in similar situations into tiers by splitting hairs. Ultimately, these are my eight favorite names to comprise a third tier with the potential to ascend into Tier 2 by the end of the season. That upside was the determining factor in placing them here. There’s names not listed here that you might think should be. That’s totally fine. I’m sure the argument is compelling.

When it comes to Kyren Williams, I have a couple of minor concerns. The sample size isn’t massive. Not that it typically is for an elite fantasy running back before they explode, but his 2023 season really came out of thin air. The delay in his arrival might be attributed to the injury issues he dealt with as a rookie. He missed seven of the first eight games in 2023, then only totalled 35 carries for 139 yards on four yards per carry over the last nine. All it took for Williams in his second season, though, was an opportunity. He parlayed two touchdowns in the team’s season opener – a game in which Cam Akers carried the ball 22 times – into an All-Pro second team nod in his sophomore season. He totalled 1,350 scrimmage yards, 15 touchdowns, and 5.2 yards per touch. Not to mention, 218 carries in the red zone. That’s more than any other running back in the NFL. So, where’s my pause? I alluded to the injury history earlier. I think that’s more than a nitpick at this point. Williams only played in 12 games last season, then broke his hand in the Rams playoff loss to the Lions. While that makes his run all the more impressive, it’s possible that also emphasized a priority on keeping Williams healthy by limiting his workload. That was underscored by Los Angeles selecting Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 draft, the same Blake Corum who rushed for 27 touchdowns last season at Michigan. The injuries have started to mount for Williams in his young career. He can still be an elite fantasy running back. He proved he’s capable of an RB1 campaign last year. I’m just acknowledging the possibility of more modest usage numbers and Corum taking more work as the year progresses, limiting his upside. Or, I’m wrong and Williams is McVay’s new version of Todd Gurley. The floor definitely makes me nervous, though.

I feel like very few players are being overlooked the way Joe Mixon is going into this season. We’ve seen the 28-cliff claim great running backs plenty to know it’s real. Low and behold, Mixon turned 28 in July. There’s plenty of concern for injury here, too. He’s racked up 761 carries over his last three seasons in Cincinnati. He also played in all but three games over that span and finished as the RB7 on average. He was heavily utilized as a receiver, too. Mixon saw 64 targets in 2023, 13 of which came in the red zone. He’s headed to an ascending offense in Houston, with very little competition for touches. C.J. Stroud did only target running backs on 12.8 percent of his passing attempts last season, which could lead to some regression for Mixon’s receiving numbers. If that low rate was a product of Hosuton’s lack of pass-catching backs and not by design, though, Mixon could far outplay his ADP.

Source: Big Cat Country

There’s many fantasy managers who believe there’s another step for Travis Etienne to take. In an offense piloted by Trevor Lawrence, with Doug Pederson calling the shots, the potential for a running back to have a massive dual-threat season should exist. If you’re comfortable with what Etienne has proven to be to this point, then absolutely pick him when you feel like the value makes sense. He turned 267 carries into 1,005 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 58 receptions were the sixth-most in the league, which he cashed in for 476 yards and a touchdown. The receiving numbers are made more impressive by the fact that Lawrence only targeted running backs on 14.7 percent of his attempts. His production was enough for a RB3 finish, ranking behind only Christian McCaffrey and Raheem Mostert in total points. That can largely be attributed to the fact that Etienne played the second-most snaps in the NFL among running backs. This is somewhat uncharacteristic for Pederson, as he’s shied away from deploying bell-cow running backs in his time as an NFL head coach. Tank Bigsby and D’Earnest Johnson are on the roster, and could play more of a role this season. If that role is in short-yardage, red zone situations, touchdown regression might be in store. Lawrence’s history of targeting running backs is also concerning. Still, Pederson seems to find ways to feature Etienne’s receiving chops in the offense. With higher yardage totals and efficiency, Etienne should be able maintain his standing as an RB1.

Last year’s leader in snaps among running backs was Rachaad White. That workload translated to 990 yards – albeit on 3.6 yards per carry – and 549 receiving yards with nine total touchdowns. His 1,539 yards from scrimmage total was the eighth-highest mark in the NFL last season and he finished as the RB7. Efficiency wasn’t a strength for White last season, nor were the returns on his work in the red zone. He took 88.1 percent of Tampa Bay’s snaps within the 20, returning just 2.4 yards per carry and six touchdowns. So, you may be thinking this took a bit of a negative turn. Let’s get to what I like about White. For starters, he’s young and he’s durable. In his first two seasons, he’s yet to miss a game. At 25, there isn’t much reason to question whether or not he can stay on the field in 2024. Additionally, game script won’t have much of an impact on his role or output. He’s an effective pass catching back, and the Bucs lack of investment in the position seems to indicate they believe in him as a three-down back. Bucky Irving’s strength as a pass-catching back could be a situation to monitor. However, White has one of the more solidified roles among running backs. This is a situation where efficiency might cap his ceiling. However, the usage should keep his floor much higher than others in this tier.

Remember all of the Clyde Edwards-Helaire hype when the Chiefs drafted him in the first round? It only took a seventh-round pick in 2022 to send that train off the rails for good. Fast forward two seasons and Isaiah Pacheco is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He’s also developed as Andy Reid’s go-to option in the backfield, taking snaps alongside Patrick Mahomes. That’s as meteoric of a rise as you’ll get. It just dawned on me that Pacheco has never experienced an NFL season that didn’t end in him holding a Lombardi Trophy. Just absurd. He’s been an excellent fantasy running back in that span, too, for less investment than most top-tier running back options. This year, though, you’ll need to pay up. His RB16 finish in 2023 has translated to him being selected as a fringe RB1/high-end RB2 for 2024. His efficiency is the most enticing part about buying in. Pacheco’s 4.6 yards per carry was tied for the fourth-highest mark among top-20 RB’s last season. He also took 80% of Kansas City’s snaps in the red zone, netting eight total touchdowns. Don’t overthink Pacheco. This could be the year he ascends into that next tier.

When it comes to big-play threats, De’Von Achane’s name will likely be mentioned among the game’s elite for years to come. He led the league in 30-yard carries with three, 40-yard carries with five, and 50-yard carries with three as a rookie. Everyone remembers his 49-point explosion in Miami’s 70-20 rout of Denver. In his second season, Achane figures to take on a bigger role in Mike McDaniel’s system. The same system that led to an RB2 finish for Raheem Mostert. After taking 103 carries for 800 yards and 27 catches for 197 yards, Achane could be in for a truly special season if he gets the usage. He did miss seven games as a rookie, and Mostert is still in the fold with rookie Jaylen Wright. The possibility of a frustrating timeshare certainly exists. Still, he’s got the chops to make a lot out of a little in terms of snaps.

His name might be the least-enticing entry on this list. Here’s why sleeping on Kenneth Walker would be the wrong move. Zach Charbonnet’s presence has the potential to limit Walker’s ceiling. Let’s get that out of the way at the top. It’s a real concern, too. Walker only out-snapped Charbonnet 502-478 in the latter’s rookie season. Walker did miss three (and-a-half) games, which certainly skews the number in Charbonnet’s favor. Still, when both were on the field from Week 14-18, neither back took more than 60% of the snaps in a game. It’s worth noting, though, that Walker was the RB17 over that span, with 55.8 fantasy points. Charbonnet, on the other hand, was the RB55 with 20.6 points. Despite how close the snap counts were, Walker far outperformed Charbonnet from a fantasy perspective. It’s certainly possible Charbonnet takes a step and does a little more with his snaps. Still, if this is a timeshare, Walker has proven he can make a split work for RB2 production. There are any number of outcomes for Walker this season. The most prominent variable will be Charbonnet’s role.

Sleeper Running Backs

Jonathan Brooks - Carolina Panthers: Anytime you can snag the first running back taken in the NFL Draft with a late-round pick, there’s reason to be excited. Especially when that player is Jonathan Brooks. He’s returning from an ACL injury he sustained at Texas last season, which is why the start to his NFL career is delayed. Still, he posted 1,425 total yards, 6.7 yards per touch, and 11 total touchdowns for the Longhorns in 2023. When he’s ready, he’s got the draft capital, talent, and a sizable role. If you can, stash him on your IR. The potential is there for a massive return.

Tyler Allgeier - Atlanta Falcons: The BYU product haunted the dreams of Bijan Robinson managers last season. Tyler Allgeier was also probably a recurring, more positive figure in the dreams of Arthur Smith. Even in a new system, Allgeier figures to have a role. He shockingly took 53.8 percent of Atlanta’s red zone snaps last season, compared to Robinson’s 33.8 percent. Whether that should be considered malpractice is a discussion for a different day. Robinson figures to be unleashed in 2024. Still, Allgeier is going to hang around in Atlanta.

Antonio Gibson - New England Patriots: I have vivid memories of buying as much stock in Antonio Gibson as I could when the Christian McCaffrey comparisons started. We all have our fantasy fumbles. This is one of mine. It sounds crazy now, but there was a time Gibson was being drafted as a viable dual-threat RB2. Those days are long gone, but maybe that presents an opportunity. Rhamondre Stevenson is the RB1 in New England. Still, Gibson could carve out a role as a change-of-pace option or third-down specialist and find himself as a flex fill-in you can draft near the end of your draft. He’s still only 26. I’m ready to get hurt again.

Trey Benson - Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals offense is going to score a ton. If I’m wrong, I’ll wear it, but I love their weapons and how their offense is constructed. James Conner is getting older (29 is like 39 in running back years) and has already missed time in each of the last two seasons. The team made a third-round investment in the Florida State product and he showed him juice in the team’s last preseason game. At worst, I think he has a valuable, change-up role in the backfield. Some spot starts aren’t out of the question, either.

That’s running backs down. Next we’ll tackle quarterbacks to help you navigate one of the deeper pools in recent memory. If you’re ready to draft, though, I hope these insights have helped you navigate the two positions that makeup the bulk of your roster.