Running Backs in Fantasy Football are becoming more important again, as proven by the scoring leaders from 2017.
The zero-RB theory strategy is becoming less and less utilized, but not completely disregarded by everybody. This is because the running back position is still a very volatile one. It is prone to injuries and busts more than just about any position on the field.
The volatility requires you to stay on top of the depth charts so you know who the next man up is when the starter goes down. You also want to know who is in that dreaded committee so you can draft/plan accordingly.
To stay in the know use our Fantasy Football Running Back Depth Chart.
Table explanation:
- RBBC: If the touches will be split roughly 60/40 or less, this is marked as a running back by committee.
- Starter: The running back who is most likely to start each game. This does not always mean they will get the most touches.
- Handcuff(s): Player(s) who are likely to take over if the starter comes out of the game. In some cases, it is not 100% determined yet.
- Third-Down Back(s): Player(s) who are likely to get the bulk of the passing down work.
- Goal Line Back(s): Player(s) who are likely to get the bulk of the workload near the goal line.
Fantasy Football Running Back Depth Chart
| Team | Starter | Handcuff(s) | Third-Down Back(s) | Goal Line Back(s) | RBBC | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | David Johnson | Chase Edmonds | David Johnson | David Johnson | This is David Johnson's backfield. Chase Edmonds is the handcuff here, but holds almost no standalone value. | |
| Atlanta Falcons | Tevin Coleman | - Ito Smith - Devonta Freeman (INJ) | - Tevin Coleman | - Tevin Coleman | X | Freeman is injured and now it is the Tevin Coleman show until he returns. Ito Smith will get some |
| Baltimore Ravens | Alex Collins | Javorius Allen | Javorius Allen | - Javorius Allen - Alex Collins | X | This is turning out to be more of a shared backfield than we thought it would be. With Allen right now being more productive in Fantasy. |
| Buffalo Bills | LeSean McCoy | Chris Ivory | LeSean McCoy | LeSean McCoy | The entire Bills team is one to avoid, even LeSean McCoy. | |
| Carolina Panthers | Christian McCaffrey | C.J. Anderson | Christian McCaffrey | C.J. Anderson | CMC is getting tons of work and its leading to plenty of Fantasy points especially in PPR. | |
| Chicago Bears | Jordan Howard | Tarik Cohen | Tarik Cohen | Jordan Howard | X | Howard is still the lead back here but Cohen is getting plenty of work as well still. |
| Cincinatti Bengals | Giovani Bernard | - Mark Walton - Joe Mixon (INJ) | - Giovani Bernard | - Giovani Bernard | X | Mixon is out for a couple weeks after getting surgery on his knee. Gio will get plenty of work while he is out. |
| Cleveland Browns | Carlos Hyde | - Nick Chubb - Duke Johnson Jr | Duke Johnson Jr. | Carlos Hyde | X | This is a crowded backfield for sure. Right now we've got Hyde as the starter with Chubb as the handcuff for injury and Johnson as the third down back and probably used more while Hyde is healthy. |
| Dallas Cowboys | Ezekiel Elliott | Rod Smith | Ezekiel Elliott | Ezekiel Elliott | This one is easy. Draft Zeke... that's it. | |
| Denver Broncos | Phillip Lindsay | Royce Freeman | Phillip Lindsay | Royce Freeman | X | Lindsay looked better again, although Freeman got the touchdown. The coaching staff said they will ride the hot hand. |
| Detroit Lions | Kerryon Johnson | - Theo Riddick - LeGarrette Blount | Theo Riddick | LeGarrette Blount | X | This running game is still struggling and it is in your best interest to stay away. |
| Green Bay Packers | Jamaal Williams | Aaron Jones | Ty Montgomery | Aaron Jones | X | Jones is activated from his suspension. I still expect Jones to take the main running downs, but it might take a couple weeks. |
| Houston Texans | Lamar Miller | - Alfred Blue - D'Onta Foreman (PUP) | Lamar Miller | Lamar Miller D'Onta Foreman (PUP) | Foreman starting the year on the PUP list make Miller very safe now. This is the Lamar Miller show with Alfred Blue filling in. | |
| Indianapolis Colts | Marlon Mack | - Jordan Wilkins - Nyheim Hines - Robert Turbin (SUSP) | Nyheim Hines | Marlon Mack | X | There is some doubt now that Mack will be ready for Week 1. Even if he is this will be a shared backfield among many with no clear cut favorites, even Christine Michael has a chance to have a role. |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Leonard Fournette | T.J. Yeldon | T.J. Yeldon | Leonard Fournette | Fournette, when healthy will get a very large majority of the carries. He does come off the field on passing downs, but that alone does not make Yeldon valuable. | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Kareem Hunt | Spencer Ware | - Kareem Hunt - Spencer Ware | - Kareem Hunt - Spencer Ware | Hunt bust on the scene last year when Ware got injured. Now Ware is back and does leave a little doubt that Hunt will repeat last years success. Still I only want him. | |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Melvin Gordon | Austin Ekeler | - Melvin Gordon - Austin Ekeler | Melvin Gordon | Gordon is the primary back here and should get enough third down work to be considered a workhorse back. | |
| Los Angeles Rams | Todd Gurley | John Kelly | Todd Gurley | Todd Gurley | Todd Gurley was the best player in fantasy last season and has the tools to repeat this season. | |
| Miami Dolphins | Kenyan Drake | - Frank Gore - Kalen Ballage | Kenyan Drake | Frank Gore | I'm removing the committee tag off this one as I'm starting to believe the coaching staff when they say they want to give Drake 20-30 touches carries a game. | |
| Minnesota Vikings | Dalvin Cook | Latavius Murray | Dalvin Cook | Dalvin Cook | Dalvin Cook is leading this backfield and it will stay this way unless their is an injury. | |
| New England Patriots | Rex Burkhead | - James White - Sony Michel | - James White - Rex Burkhead | James White | X | With all the injuries here James White might be the only one you want to own. If Michel can ever get on the field he might be worth a look. |
| New Orleans Saints | Alvin Kamara | - Mark Ingram (SUSP) - Terrance West | Alvin Kamara | Mark Ingram (SUSP) | X | When both Ingram and Kamara are in the lineup it is going to be an even split of touches between the two. Last year they proved they can both thrive in that situation. |
| New York Giants | Saquon Barkley | - Wayne Gallman - Jonathan Stewart | Saquon Barkley | Saquon Barkley | Barkley was drafted as the overall No. 2 pick in the draft and is going to get all he can handle in NY. | |
| New York Jets | Isaiah Crowell | - Bilal Powell - Elijah McGuire | Bilal Powell | Isaiah Crowell | X | Crowell is the starter here, but don't forget about how good Powell can be when given touches, especially in PPR formats. Overall though, this is not a backfield that is going to produce a lot. |
| Oakland Raiders | Marshawn Lynch | Doug Martin | Jalen Richard | Marshawn Lynch | X | Lynch returns but the Raiders brought in Martin to help carry the load. |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Jay Ajayi | Corey Clement | Darren Sproles | Jay Ajayi | X | Ajayi will get the bulk of the carries, but Clement will see his fair share too. Sproles, while healthy, will still get a lot of the passing down work. This is shaping up to be a three-headed committee, but still Ajayi is the man to own. |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | James Conner | James Conner - Le'Veon Bell (holdout) | James Conner | James Conner | Le'Veon Bell is still holding out, so i'm moving him to backup duties and James Conner is the man to own right now. | |
| San Francisco 49ers | Matt Breida | Alfred Morris | Matt Breida | Alfred Morris | X | Matt Breida looked much better in Week 2. This is still a committee. |
| Seattle Seahawks | Chris Carson | Rashaad Penny | C.J. Prosise | Chris Carson | X | Carson is the better back but this was a 50/50 split Week 1 and more of the same in Week 2. |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Peyton Barber | - Jacquizz Rodgers - Ronald Jones II | Jacquizz Rodgers | Peyton Barber | Ronald Jones is third on the depth chart and was a healthy scratch Week 1. Barber is the only one you want to own right no.w | |
| Tennessee Titans | Dion Lewis | Derrick Henry | - Dion Lewis - Derrick Henry | - Derrick Henry - Dion Lewis | X | Week 2 did not put give us much more hope that Derrick Henry is going to be the lead back here. |
| Washington Redskins | Adrian Peterson | - Samaje Perine | Chris Thompson | Adrian Peterson | Removed the committee tag. This is all Peterson's backfield at least on first and second down. Thompson holds plenty of value in PPR though. |
Visit the F6P Fantasy Football Draft Kit Page for more advice to prepare for the 2018 season.
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