Top 100 Fantasy Football Running Backs Period!

Fantasy Football is deep with good #1 running back options. We have cloudiness above with a chance of sunshine in a great running back class for the 2018 Fantasy Football Season. Running Back by committee is in full effect across the NFL. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’ve adapted, understand the trends and do your research.

Luckily for my Fantasy Football Friends, I’ve done the research for you. For the 2018 season, We have numerous coaching changes, players changing teams, suspensions, rookies who inserted themselves into the field and injuries.

Taking everything into account including the data and footage of all the NFL teams. Here is how I see it panning out comes season’s end.

Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

1. Todd Gurley (Rams) – A true workhorse running on the ground, in the air and the focul point of an explosive offense. Gurley should put together back to back fantasy seasons for the record books.
2. Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys) – The Cowboys offensive line is still good, Zeke will see an expanded role in the passing game, multiple 20+ carry games in the forecast and fresh legs entering the 2018 season are a few reasons why I’m high on him. Not to mention he averages over 100 rushing yards per game for his career and has 25 touchdowns in 25 games. His per game stats are excellent, the off the field issues are in the past and the Cowboys will feed him the ball.
3. David Johnson (Cardinals) – The Cardinals should feed him the ball and when gamescipts dictate, garbage time receptions will be a plenty. Fantasy Friends will praise D.J. once again for coming through in the clutch and redzone. He may not produce the sexiest season in 2018 from week to week. However, he will produce and give stability at the position.
4. Le’Veon Bell (Steelers)

   

   A week 1 return for the franchise tag king may aid in Bell’s slow start. The Steelers may just run Bell into the ground and part ways come 2019. Bell needs to prove himself in order to get a big payday or will he retire as he said before? James Connor should see the field more in 2018 which may take away touches. Bell is the bellcow nonetheless, on a potent offense and a sure fire rb 1.

5. Leonard Fournette (Jaguars) – This guy will lead the AFC/NFL in rushing yards in just his second NFL season. Another workhorse back, with receiving upside and on a team that will run the ball to control the game (defensive team first). Forecasting 1,500+ rushing yards, 10+ touchdowns, 32+ receptions and 5+ rushes of 40+ yards means Fournette goes bonkers in 2018. Potentially finishing as a top 3 running back by season’s end!
6. Saquon Barkley (Giants) – Pat Shurmur in town. Screen passes for days, receptions and 20+ touches per game make this rookie a rb 1. OBJ ensures 8 in the box will not happen often against the GMEN!
7. Christian Mccaffrey (Panthers)

   

   High floor, 100+ scrimmage yards per game and 20+ touches per game. Sign me up! Downside is Mccaffrey’s finding the endzone with Cam Newton, C.J. Anderson, Greg Olsen and Devin Funchess competing in the red zone for opportunities.

8. Melvin Gordon (Chargers) – Prove me wrong Melvin? We know he is the workhorse back in Los Angeles. He has double digit touchdown potential and will get his targets. He has a history of producing while also having a history of not being that top elite running back in Fantasy Football. Mccaffrey, Saquon and Fournette have higher upsides, hence their rankings.
9. Alvin Kamara (Saints) – The potential for 2,000+ scrimmage yards in year 2 is exciting. However his historic year will not be duplicated, Drew Brees will throw the ball more in 2018, Mark Ingram will be used and Im not drafting Kamara over a guaranteed workhorse back. Can’t do it, won’t do it, no way, no how!
10. Kareem Hunt (Chiefs) – The Chiefs need to use him as Patrick Mahomes enters his first season as the starter. Expect the Chiefs to fall behind in many games leading to Hunt collecting garbage time targets often. With Spencer Ware healthy and Sammy Watkins in town. Hunt’s upside is capped and will keep him outside the top 5 running backs at best!
11. Joe Mixon (Bengals)

    

    Breakout year on an offense that will produce multiple fantasy football options weekly. Im on the Joe Mixon hype train! His versatility behind an improved offense line, John Ross opening up the center of the field and Marvin Lewis’s job on the line. Means feed Mixon the rock.

12. Dalvin Cook (Vikings) – Latavius Murray and Kirk Cousins in town is a recipe for taking caution with his upside. If he performs out his mind per touch than he will be a top 8 running back. Murray wasn’t healthy at the start of last year and Bradford is not a gun slinger. Not to mention Cousins may snag a couple rushing touchdowns from Cook and Murray. This offense will be points for days weekly. Points for days spread out amongst all the offensive weapons.
13. Jordan Howard (Bears)

    

    Consistency in what could be a top offense under Matt Nagy if valuable. Howard is underrated by some. His lack of targets limit his upside.

14. Devonta Freeman (Falcons) – Freeman is an ol head nowadays. His nose for the endzone, second year in this offense and receiving abilities keep him in the top 15.
15. LeSean McCoy (Bills) – Might lead the team in targets along with rushes. Unfortunately the Bills offensive line is horrible and the offense in general stinks. Shady may check out mid way through the season with all the hits he’ll take, offensive woes and cold weather in Buffalo.
16. Alex Collins (Ravens) – Collins will be a workhorse on 1st and 2nd down. Javorius Allen on 3rd down limits Collins upside to the elite. I love the improvements of the offensive line. The additions of Crabtree, Snead, John Brown, Andrews and Hurst give this offense a brand new mindset. Collins will be relied upon to run the clock out with their potent defense. Solid low end rb 1 with upside.
17. Kenyan Drake (Dolphins) – Adam Gase is on the hot seat and Ryan Tannehill is back. Drake’s big play capability and Gase needing to utilize him if he wants to keep his job makes sense. Frank Gore will see 160 touches/targets which limits Drake’s upside. The talent is there, just not a perfect situation for Drake to crack the top rb 1 conversation. Low end rb 1 at best with upside.
18. Derrick Henry (Titans) – On the outside looking in. Henry is a viable rb 2 who will produce rb 1 stats per matchup.
19. Royce Freeman (Broncos)

    

    Vance Joseph says Booker is the starter? Common sense tells us Royce will be the man in Denver. Trust in the process and get Royce on your team.

20. Marshawn Lynch (Raiders) – Touchdown upside!
21. Sony Michel (Patriots) – Sony may go bonkers and ranking him 22 is cautious in my mind because I’m a huge proponent of Belichick utilizing him as the bell cow by mid season.
22. Mark Ingram (Saints)
23. Lamar Miller (Texans)
24. Carlos Hyde (Browns)
25. Kerryon Johnson (Lions)
26. Peyton Barber (Buccaneers)
27. Chris Carson (Seahawks)
28. Rashaad Penny (Seahawks)
29. Dion Lewis (Titans)
30. Jay Ajayi (Eagles) – Injury risk too high for me.
31. Jamaal Williams (Packers) – Aaron Jones and Ty Montgomery will all produce good weeks.
32. Marlon Mack (Colts) – Is he healthy?
33. Tevin Coleman (Falcons)
34. Isaiah Crowell (Jets)
35. Aaron Jones (Packers) – Draft him when your league lets him drop to the late rounds.
36. Latavius Murray (Vikings)
37. Alfred Morris (49ers)
38. Frank Gore (Miami)
39. Bilal Powell (Jets)
40. Matt Breida (49ers)
41. C.J. Anderson (Panthers)
42. Rex Burkehead (Patriots) – Injured already, uggg!
43. Corey Clement (Eagles)
44. Chris Thompson (Redskins)
45. Duke Johnson (Browns)
46. Ty Montgomery (Packers)
47. Adrian Peterson (Redskins)
48. Ronald Jones II (Buccaneers)
49. Gio Benard (Bengals)
50. Jordan Wilkins (Colts)
51. Jeremy Hill (Patriots)
52. LeGarrette Blount (Lions)
53. Javorius Allen (Ravens)
54. James White (Patriots)
55. Tarik Cohen (Bears)
56. Austin Ekeler (Chargers)
57. Devontae Booker (Broncos)
58. T.J. Yeldon (Jaguars)
59. Boston Scott (Saints)
60. Doug Martin (Raiders)
61. Spencer Ware (Chiefs)
62. Nick Chubb (Browns)
63. Theo Riddick (Lions)
64. Ameer Abdullah (Lions)
65. Nyheim Hines (Colts)
66. Darren Sproles (Eagles)
67. Mike Gillislee (Saints)
68. D’Onta Foreman (Texans)
69. James Connor (Steelers)
70. Chris Ivory (Bills)
71. Wayne Gallman (Giants)
72. Phillip Lyndsay (Broncos)
73. Alfred Blue (Texans)
74. John Kelly (Rams)
75. Chase Edmomds (Cardinals)
76. C.J. Prosise (Seahawks)
77. Kalen Ballage (Dolphins)
78. Rod Smith (Cowboys)
79. Jalen Richard (Raiders)
80. Kenneth Dixon (Ravens)
81. Rob Kelley (Redskins)
82. Corey Grant (Jaguars)
83. Jonathan Stewart (Giants)
84. Samaje Perine (Redskins)
85. Jacquizz Rodgers (Buccaneers)
86. Ito Smith (Falcons)
87. Wendall Smallwood (Eagles)
88. Justin Jackson (Chargers)
89. Orleans Darkwa (Free Agent)
90. Marcus Murphy (Bills)
91. Jaylen Samuels (Steelers)
92. Malcolm Brown (Rams)
93. T.J. Logan (Cardinals)
94. Senorise Perry (Dolphins)
95. Christine Michael (Colts)
96. Mike Boone (Vikings)
97. Benny Cunningham (Bears)
98. Roc Thomas (Vikings)
99. Trenton Cannon (Jets)
100. Mark Walton (Bengals)
101. Elijah McGuire (Jets)

As Always,

(Teams Going Off + Thoughts Flexed In) = Combination Lineups

May the Fantasy Force Be With You.

Follow Moon Man on Twitter @FFPmoonman

Need Sleepers at the wide receiver position? Check out this article:

https://ffphilosophy.com/2018/08/23/deep-sleepers-wide-receiver-rankings-full-point-ppr/