Jump to ...
As a position group, running backs matter. They've always mattered. They're huge components of Fantasy in that they're highly productive thanks to their workloads, they're the best trade currency out there and there are enough good ones to go around.
That means Fantasy owners have plenty of strategies when it comes to drafting them, and your league's scoring system will play a huge role in what strategy you go with.
Once you know your lineup requirements and scoring system, you can answer these questions:
- Are you willing to take risks?
- Does running back injury history matter to you?
- Do you believe in handcuffing non-elite running backs?
- Do you enjoy being active on waivers?
The first two questions are meant to help you determine how deep the running back talent pool is for you. The more chances you're willing to take and the more injuries you're willing to overlook, the more running backs you'll happily put in your starting lineup.
The second two questions are designed to get an idea of how you should attack your running back depth. There are plenty of cases where getting the real-life backup to one of your ball carriers is wise. And if you're lazy about waivers, you might prefer to build serious running back depth on Draft Day.
Because of the depth at receiver and the lack of "safe" running backs once you're through Round 4, it's probably in your best interests to lean toward grabbing reception-heavy running backs early and often. That's a breeze in Round 1, especially if you're picking in the top-4. Round 2 doesn't offer quite as much, but there will be a run in Round 3. As you'll see, there are enough running backs to propel you through Round 3 unless you rule out some based on injury concern (Todd Gurley, Devonta Freeman) or a lack of experience (Damien Williams, Josh Jacobs). The more running backs you refuse to draft, the more certain it is you'll force yourself to fill up on the position in Rounds 1 and 2.
In non-PPR, expect most people to begin taking one running back and one wide receiver/tight end to kick off their teams. If running backs mean anything to you at all, taking three within the first five rounds -- and two in the first four -- should set you up nicely for a well-built roster.
Is Zero RB still a thing? It is, and it's not a bad way to go if you're picking late in Round 1/early in Round 2 in full PPR or are in a smaller league (10 or fewer teams). You could kick off a team with DeAndre Hopkins, Travis Kelce and Julian Edelman and still find Tier 3 running backs later on. This plan is a lot less appealing in non-PPR due to receptions becoming meaningless, and it's straight-up insanity to do it when there's an elite-tier running back staring you in the face, so rule it out if you have an early first-round pick.
The other key is to select unpopular backs who will at least start the season in a prominent role (Lamar Miller, Jordan Howard, maybe Peyton Barber). You'll squeeze points out of them before replacing them for whatever hotness comes to you off waivers. You must be willing to be active in finding running backs on waivers in order to skip running backs early.
Because running backs are so vital to Fantasy Football success, I still recommend getting a lot of them. If you have six bench spots, aim for at least five. Seven or eight bench spots, aim for six. Remember, each running back you take represents potential, even the ones who begin the season as backups. Never draft a running back you're not excited about, and never draft a running back who you'd probably drop after one or two dud games to begin the year. My favorite backs to be patient with can be found in Tier 6.
S. Barkley
PHI
|
A. Kamara
NO
|
C. McCaffrey
SF
|
E. Elliott
DAL
|
D. Johnson
NO
|
J. Conner
ARI
|
N. Chubb
CLE
|
L. Bell
TB
|
J. Mixon
HOU
|
L. Fournette
BUF
|
K. Johnson
PHI
|
D. Cook
DAL
|
T. Gurley
ATL
|
J. Jacobs
GB
|
C. Carson
SEA
|
D. Freeman
BAL
|
A. Jones
MIN
|
M. Mack
ARI
|
M. Ingram
NO
|
T. Coleman
SF
|
D. Montgomery
DET
|
D. Williams
ARI
|
S. Michel
LAR
|
M. Gordon
BAL
|
J. White
NE
|
P. Lindsay
IND
|
D. Henry
BAL
|
A. Ekeler
WAS
|
L. Miller
NO
|
K. Drake
GB
|
T. Cohen
NYJ
|
L. Murray
BUF
|
R. Penny
CAR
|
M. Sanders
CAR
|
P. Barber
LV
|
R. Jones
DAL
|
J. Howard
NO
|
D. Henderson Jr.
LAR
|
R. Freeman
CLE
|
C. Hyde
JAC
|
J. Jackson
DET
|
K. Ballage
PIT
|
D. Thompson
LV
|
D. Guice
WAS
|
D. Harris
BUF
|
D. Johnson
BUF
|
J. Samuels
ARI
|
D. Singletary
NYG
|
L. McCoy
TB
|
T. Pollard
TEN
|
D. Lewis
NYG
|
J. Hill
BAL
|
A. Mattison
LV
|
M. Breida
SF
|
C. Thompson
CHI
|
C. Anderson
DET
|
J. Williams
NO
|
A. Peterson
SEA
|
K. Hunt
KC
|
N. Hines
CLE
|
M. Davis
BAL
|
J. Richard
LV
|
M. Brown
LAR
|
D. Hilliard
TEN
|
T. Riddick
LV
|
S. Barkley
PHI
|
A. Kamara
NO
|
C. McCaffrey
SF
|
E. Elliott
DAL
|
D. Johnson
NO
|
J. Conner
ARI
|
N. Chubb
CLE
|
L. Bell
TB
|
J. Mixon
HOU
|
L. Fournette
BUF
|
K. Johnson
PHI
|
D. Cook
DAL
|
T. Gurley
ATL
|
C. Carson
SEA
|
J. Jacobs
GB
|
M. Mack
ARI
|
D. Freeman
BAL
|
M. Ingram
NO
|
A. Jones
MIN
|
S. Michel
LAR
|
T. Coleman
SF
|
D. Montgomery
DET
|
D. Williams
ARI
|
D. Henry
BAL
|
P. Lindsay
IND
|
M. Gordon
BAL
|
L. Miller
NO
|
A. Ekeler
WAS
|
J. White
NE
|
M. Sanders
CAR
|
L. Murray
BUF
|
K. Drake
GB
|
T. Cohen
NYJ
|
R. Penny
CAR
|
J. Howard
NO
|
P. Barber
LV
|
R. Jones
DAL
|
D. Henderson Jr.
LAR
|
C. Hyde
JAC
|
R. Freeman
CLE
|
J. Jackson
DET
|
K. Ballage
PIT
|
D. Guice
WAS
|
D. Harris
BUF
|
D. Thompson
LV
|
J. Samuels
ARI
|
D. Singletary
NYG
|
L. McCoy
TB
|
T. Pollard
TEN
|
D. Guice
WAS
|
A. Mattison
LV
|
D. Johnson
BUF
|
M. Breida
SF
|
J. Hill
BAL
|
D. Lewis
NYG
|
C. Anderson
DET
|
K. Hunt
KC
|
J. Williams
NO
|
A. Peterson
SEA
|
M. Davis
BAL
|
M. Brown
LAR
|
D. Hilliard
TEN
|
R. Armstead
JAC
|
T. Montgomery
NE
|
So what 2019 Fantasy football sleepers should you snatch in your draft? And which RB1 candidate can you wait on until late? Visit SportsLine now to get 2019 Fantasy Football cheat sheets from the model that called Matt Breida's huge season, and find out.