Earlier in this decade, the running back position in Fantasy Football saw a fairly sharp decline in importance. The following factors contributed to this decline:
- The steep rise in popularity of PPR and Half-PPR scoring formats, which also bred the Zero-RB Theory draft strategy
- An increase in season-ending injuries and/or lengthy contract negotiations/holdouts by top running backs
- The NFL’s overall transition to more backfields implementing a Running Back by Committee approach to the game
PPR and Half-PPR scoring really leveled the fantasy playing field between wide receivers/tight ends and running backs. It forced managers to take much harder looks at the top receivers and tight ends earlier in drafts. The higher point output for wide receivers/tight ends also led to managers implementing the Zero-RB theory draft strategy. For those not familiar with this theory, it simply means managers wait numerous rounds before drafting their first running back.
Alas, PPR and Half-PPR scoring eventually allowed pass-catching running backs to gain more value in fantasy leagues. This, again, widened the gap in scoring between running backs and wide receivers/tight ends. Fortunately, this return-to-glory for running backs has conversely led to less use of the zero-RB theory draft strategy. Although, this strategy has not completely disappeared…yet.
The second and third factors listed above actually go hand-and-hand with each other. More-frequent injuries to lead-backs and contract holdouts during the preseason necessitated running back committees to become the new norm. However, the emergence of more workhorse running backs in recent years has helped buck that trend. If anything, running back committees are typically only implemented during the season when major injuries occur to starters.
So, where does that leave us for 2019? Well, even with the apparent shift back to prominence, the running back position still carries a level of volatility. Because of this, fantasy football managers need to be more in-tune with running back depth charts. These charts track the starters and handcuffs to own for each NFL team. They also provide insight on specific teams that have transitioned into a committee. This is beneficial for both drafting, as well as in-season roster adjustments.
To remain up-to-date throughout the season, we are bringing you the 2019 Fantasy Six Pack Fantasy Football Running Back Depth Chart! Here is the explanation of our chart:
- Starter: These are the running backs who are most likely to start each game for their team. Please note that this does not always mean that running back will get the most touches.
- Handcuff(s): These are players who are likely to take over if the starter comes out of the game for any reason. They are especially valuable to target if a starter suffers a major injury.
- Passing-Down Back(s): These are the players who are likely to get the bulk of the work in the passing game. These backs are good to stash in PPR/Half-PPR leagues.
- Goal Line Back(s): These players are likely to get the bulk of the carries near the goal line.
- RBBC: If the touches will be split between multiple running backs, we will mark the Running Back by Committee box.
2019 Fantasy Football Running Back Depth Chart
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| Team | Starter | Handcuff(s) | Passing-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 he holds almost no standalone value. | |
| Atlanta Falcons | Devonta Freeman | Ito Smith | - Ito Smith - Kenjon Barner | Devonta Freeman | Devonta Freeman returns to the feature role in Atlanta, and should see the bulk of the work with Tevin Coleman now in San Francisco. | |
| Baltimore Ravens | Mark Ingram | - Gus Edwards - Kenneth Dixon | Kenneth Dixon | - Mark Ingram - Gus Edwards | Between Lamar Jackson and newly-acquired Mark Ingram, Baltimore is going to be a run-heavy offense in 2019. | |
| Buffalo Bills | LeSean McCoy | Frank Gore | T.J. Yeldon | LeSean McCoy | This backfield still belongs to McCoy, but Buffalo brought in veterans Frank Gore and T.J. Yeldon in the offseason. | |
| Carolina Panthers | Christian McCaffrey | Cameron Artis-Payne | Christian McCaffrey | Christian McCaffrey | CMC was a beast in 2018, finishing as the third overall running back in standard scoring. I see more of the same in 2019. | |
| Chicago Bears | David Montgomery | - Tarik Cohen - Mike Davis | Tarik Cohen | David Montgomery | The Bears drafted David Montgomery out of Iowa in 2019, and brought in Mike Davis from Seattle, after losing Jordan Howard to the Eagles. I think Cohen is still the best back to own, but this could turn into a committee early in 2019. | |
| Cincinatti Bengals | Joe Mixon | Giovani Bernard | Giovani Bernard | Joe Mixon | Mixon is really all you care about here. He is a trendy break-out pick for 2019, too, after finishing 2018 as the ninth overall running back in standard scoring. | |
| Cleveland Browns | Nick Chubb | - Duke Johnson - Kareem Hunt (NA) | Duke Johnson | Nick Chubb | Nick Chubb really hit his stride in the second half of 2018, and he enters 2019 as the lead back for a revamped Browns offense that also has Kareem Hunt on the roster. | |
| Dallas Cowboys | Ezekiel Elliott | - Tony Pollard - Darius Jackson | Ezekiel Elliott | Ezekiel Elliott | This one is easy. Zeke, Zeke, and more Zeke. | |
| Denver Broncos | Phillip Lindsay | - Royce Freeman - Devontae Booker | Phillip Lindsay | - Phillip Lindsay - Royce Freeman | Lindsay is the clear front-runner from the Denver backfield, but he could lose some goal line looks to Royce Freeman. | |
| Detroit Lions | Kerryon Johnson | - C.J. Anderson - Theo Riddick | Theo Riddick | - Kerryon Johnson - C.J. Anderson | Kerryon Johnson looks to pick-up where he left off prior to suffering a season-ending injury in Week 11. | |
| Green Bay Packers | Aaron Jones | Jamaal Williams | Jamaal Williams | Aaron Jones | Aaron Jones is set to return from a sprained MCL injury he suffered in Week 15 to lead the Packers backfield in 2019. | |
| Houston Texans | Lamar Miller | D'Onta Foreman | Lamar Miller | - Lamar Miller - D'Onta Foreman | Lamar Miller has proclaimed he wants to work more on his pass-catching abilities this offseason to enhance his value as an all-around back. | |
| Indianapolis Colts | Marlon Mack | - Nyheim Hines - Jordan Wilkins - Spencer Ware | Nyheim Hines | Marlon Mack | After playing in only one of Indy's first five games in 2018, Mack is looking to build upon his Top-20 scoring performance from last year. | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Leonard Fournette | - Alfred Blue - Ryquell Armstead | Alfred Blue | Leonard Fournette | Fournette needs to prove he can stay healthy in 2019. Otherwise, newly-acquired, Alfred Blue, and rookie, Ryquell Armstead, could get more opportunities early. | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Damien Williams | Carlos Hyde | Damien Williams | Damien Williams | Damien Williams is the go-to guy for K.C. to start 2019, with Kareem Hunt now in Cleveland, and Spencer Ware with Indianapolis. | |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Melvin Gordon | - Austin Ekeler - Justin Jackson | - Melvin Gordon - Austin Ekeler | Melvin Gordon | Gordon will reprise his role as the lead running back for San Diego this season. But, don't sleep on Austin Ekeler or Justin Jackson. | |
| Los Angeles Rams | Todd Gurley | Malcolm Brown | Todd Gurley | Todd Gurley | Gurley had his issues in the NFL Playoffs last season, but he he still finished the Fantasy season as the top-scoring running back, even while missing Weeks 16 and 17. | |
| Miami Dolphins | Kenyan Drake | Kalen Ballage | Kenyan Drake | Kalen Ballage | Frank Gore left for division rival, Buffalo, so this backfield is Drake's to lose. | |
| Minnesota Vikings | Dalvin Cook | Alexander Mattison | Dalvin Cook | Dalvin Cook | Dalvin Cook had a very up-and-down 2018, missing five games, and only scoring in double-digits in standard scoring in six games. He no longer has Latavius Murry lurking behind him, so he should see a heavy workload in 2019, assuming he stays healthy. | |
| New England Patriots | Sony Michel | - James White - Damien Harris - Rex Burkhead | James White | - Sony Michel - James White - Rex Burkhead | Sony Michel is the lead-back on paper, but we all know how New England likes to rotate backs on a near-weekly basis. | |
| New Orleans Saints | Alvin Kamara | Latavius Murray | - Alvin Kamara - Latavius Murray | Alvin Kamara | Kamara is the one to own in New Orleans, but he could still see some vulture action in 2019, this time from Latavius Murray, now that Mark Ingram II is with Baltimore. | |
| New York Giants | Saquon Barkley | Wayne Gallman | Saquon Barkley | Saquon Barkley | There is no doubt that Saquon Barkley owns this backfield. | |
| New York Jets | Le'Veon Bell | - Ty Montgomery - Elijah McGuire | Le'Veon Bell | Le'Veon Bell | Le'Veon Bell brings his talents to the Big Apple for 2019, and should be a near-every-down back for the Jets. | |
| Oakland Raiders | Josh Jacobs | - Jalen Richard - Doug Martin | - Jalen Richard | Josh Jacobs | Marshawn Lynch has retired again, so Oakland used its second-of-three draft picks on Josh Jacobs. He figures to be the early-down and goal line back for 2019. | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Jordan Howard | - Miles Sanders - Corey Clement | Corey Clement | - Jordan Howard - Miles Sanders | The Eagles acquired Jordan Howard in a trade with Chicago, and drafted Miles Sanders out of Penn State for 2019. Still unsure of the exact usage for them, but we're giving Howard the nod due to experience. | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | James Conner | Jaylen Samuels | - Jaylen Samuels - Benny Snell | James Conner | James Conner returns as the unquestioned lead-back for Pittsburgh in 2019. Expect plenty of touches for Conner. | |
| San Francisco 49ers | Tevin Coleman | - Matt Breida - Jerick McKinnon | Matt Breida | Matt Breida | After signing Jerick McKinnon to a lucrative deal starting in 2018, only to have him lost for the season with an ACL tear during the preseason, San Fran brought in Tevin Coleman this past offseason. All the while, still having a very productive Matt Breida on the roster. I smell committee early. | |
| Seattle Seahawks | Chris Carson | Rashaad Penny | Rashaad Penny | Chris Carson | Carson is the current lead-back in Seattle, but Rashaad Penny has been gaining momentum as a trendy break-out candidate for 2019. | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Peyton Barber | Ronald Jones | Ronald Jones | Peyton Barber | This backfield is not one I recommend looking at for your fantasy teams. Hopefully, they can prove me wrong. | |
| Tennessee Titans | Derrick Henry | Dion Lewis | - Dion Lewis - Derrick Henry | - Derrick Henry - Dion Lewis | Derrick Henry is the better back to own in this two-headed attack, as he was dominant for the Titans in their last five games of 2018. | |
| Washington Redskins | Derrius Guice | Adrian Peterson | Chris Thompson | - Adrian Peterson - Derrius Guice | Derrius Guice, who missed all of 2018 after tearing his ACL in the preseason opener, figures to be the lead guy in Washington for 2019. But, if he falters, veteran Adrian Peterson will be there to pick-up the slack. |
Visit the F6P Fantasy Football Page for more advice for the 2019 season.
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