Running backs are arguably the most important position in fantasy lineups. Even though it is rare for running backs in the NFL nowadays to get over 300 carries a year like they used to, the position has evolved into a heavy pass-catching role to balance out the drop in rushing attempts. And while many backfields are now by-committee, there are still a select few running backs who you can and should hitch your fantasy team to.
- Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (Bye Week: 13)
If you have the number one pick in your league’s fantasy draft, Christian McCaffrey should be your first pick without question. Last season, McCaffrey put up 150 more fantasy points than the next closest running back. His ability as a pass-catcher elevates him above all others at the running back position.
McCaffrey might have to get used to new signal caller Teddy Bridgewater and new head coach Matt Rhule calling the plays, but with his talent I would not expect McCaffrey to miss a beat. Also, during Teddy Bridgewater’s stint as a starter last season, he ranked in the top-five in passing attempts and completions to the running back position. Some of Alvin Kamara’s best games came with Bridgewater under center, not Drew Brees. This bodes well for those who have the opportunity to take McCaffrey first overall.
- SaQuon Barkley, New York Giants (Bye Week: 11)
After finishing as the top ranked running back in fantasy football as a rookie, Barkley took a step back his sophomore year. His touchdown total fell from 15 to 8, he missed three games with an ankle injury, and he was not as relied on in the passing game as he was his rookie season. All of these factors led to him finishing as the tenth ranked back in fantasy his second year in the league.
Do not be so quick to sell your stock on SaQuon just yet. The Giants revamped their offensive line in the offseason, adding Andrew Thomas in the first round of the draft and Matt Pearl in the third round. Running lanes should be easier to find for Barkley in the 2020 season than they have been. The fact that SaQuon also has no competition in the backfield for touches also bodes well for his 2020 fantasy outlook. Barkley is one of the most talented rushers we have seen in the last decade, do not let his semi-disappointing season from a year ago weigh down your decision making. Barkley can carry your fantasy team on his back.
- Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (Bye Week: 10)
2019 was the first season in Elliott’s career in which he did not lead the league in rushing yards per game. His touchdown total got him to the RB5 position, but last year’s Zeke did not look like the one football fans had grown so accustomed to.
The Cowboys replaced head coach Jason Garrett with Mike McCarthy in the offseason while retaining offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. The offense is primed to be focused a lot more on the passing game this year than it has been in years past. This change in scheme combined with the team’s investment in CeeDee Lamb in the first round of the draft has many people thinking that Zeke’s workload could decrease in 2020.
However, Zeke’s workload is so big to start with that decreasing it a little does not affect his value too much. It is why I put SaQuon ahead of him on this list, but Elliott will certainly remain a top-three running back this season. He is primed for another 300 carry season, which is quite uncommon these days. Also, the Cowboys are set to possibly have the highest scoring offense in the league this year, so we could see a lot of runs from Zeke in the second half of games when the Cowboys are up big. At the end of the day, Elliott will prove to be a great fantasy pick for you in the first round.
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (Bye Week: 6)
To put in perspective how valuable Alvin Kamara is in fantasy, here’s a fun stat from last season: Kamara missed two games last season, went nine straight appearances without scoring a touchdown, and still finished as a top 15 fantasy running back. Kamara is definitely poised for an improved year in 2020. The Saints bolstered their offensive line in the offseason, resigning starting guard Andrus Peat and drafting center Cesar Ruiz in the first round.
When you look at his stats, Kamara had very similar numbers to his previous two seasons in 2019. The only thing that dropped was his touchdowns scored. His redzone usage is one of the highest in the league throughout his career. I believe it would be accurate to call Kamara’s lack of touchdowns in 2019 a fluke. Expect him to finish in the top five running backs this year.
- Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (Bye Week: 7)
Yesterday, Dalvin Cook reported to the Vikings’ camp after it was rumored that he would hold out. By reporting on time, Cook will not lose credit for the 2020 season, which would have made him a restricted free agent in 2021 instead of an unrestricted free agent.
Last season injuries got in the way of what would have been a monster year for Cook. He averaged just over 20 carries and 4 targets in the first ten games of the season before a shoulder injury started to nag at him. The Vikings offense will look a lot different in 2020 than it did in 2019. Star receiver Steffon Diggs has a new home in Buffalo and offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski left for the head coaching job in Cleveland. Veteran coach Gary Kubiak will take over for Stefanski calling plays on offense. Kubiak has a long history of leaning towards run-heavy offenses and has had the opportunity to guide some pretty successful running backs in both Houston and Denver.
The Vikings will have to rely on Cook to get their offense going this season. The loss of Diggs at wide receiver means that defenses will get to focus all their energy on Adam Theilen. And while Kirk Cousins is serviceable at quarterback, there’s no way he will be able to carry the team to victories like a star quarterback could. It will have to be Cook that gets the offense rolling, and I expect he will.
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