Best Ball, Best Strategy (RB)

Volume 2

Running Backs

A comprehensive guide on how to draft running backs in a best ball fantasy league. Rankings Via DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports

The more backs you draft the merrier, you SHOULD double dip on the position:

With running backs it’s almost always a no brainer to select a top end one in the top 25 picks. In this range this year you are looking at Gibbs, Bijan, Achane, and Bucky Irving. You could also throw King Henry, McCaffrey, and Saquon into that equation, but for me the injury risk and historical volatility that comes with age at the position steers me away from the first two guys. It would also be incredibly hard for Saquon to replicate what he did last year, especially with his injury history. He’s still a great pick, just not one I’m making this year. Running backs are more unique than wide receivers because there are elite handicaps, unknown backfields, frequent injuries, and an odd case where top running backs on a bad team go nuclear. What you are looking for is diversity. First you get those bell cow anchors on your fantasy team. Then you look towards RB2’s who threaten their team’s top back. Another good idea would be to take a rookie back on a bad football team. Just for the usage. Backups like Tyjae Spears can also be nice if you don’t have three good backs by pick 116. Lastly you take a handicap with a throwaway pick.

The four running back tiers are: Elite backs who are free from limitation, usage warriors, Threatening RB2’s, and then handicaps.

Elite backs free from limitation: All these players have no threat to their usage and are elite fantasy producers. You’ll want at least one hopefully two of these players.

Devon Achane at pick 15:

This is one of the few running backs you can look at and say he checks every box. He has such an unbelievable burst that’s almost unrivaled by any other back in football. He’s an exceptional playmaker each time he touches the ball and is one of, if not, the best pass catching back in all of football. Achane is the only shot that the Dolphins have at getting into the postseason. Tua Tagovailoa always slumps against the good defenses in the NFL and Mike McDaniel and Tagovailoa are fighting for their job security moving forward. This may cause McDaniel to peel away from the protective usage Achane has had. Jonnu Smith’s departure puts a lot of red zone opportunities back on the table as well. Behind Achane it’s abominable. Jaylen Wright might be the most inefficient backup I have ever laid eyes on, while Ollie Gordon is a solid handicap if Achane was to go down. He’s the riskiest back in this tier with injury concerns being formidable given his small frame and odd usage that suggests the team may be wary of him going down. His upside is easily a top five fantasy running back.

Bijan Robinson at pick 2:

Bijan is regarded by peers as the best running back in all of football. Saquon himself has said that there’s no one close to him when it comes to making cuts or stopping on a dime to change direction and throw off defenders. Robinson just came off an exceptional year with less than ideal circumstances. Imagine Bijan in a top 10 offense or a top 7 offense. That’s what could happen this year with Michael Penix taking the reins. Penix has everything at his disposal to have a breakout year that most don’t necessarily anticipate. An elite high end WR1 with Drake London’s insanely linear positive progression, one of the best WR2’s Darnell Mooney, and a more than serviceable WR3 with Ray Ray Mcleod’s surprising output turning some heads last year. Even in a role that he was unexpectedly thrust into. The culmination of Bijan Robinson’s pass catching being phenomenal, the Falcons making more redzone trips, and the idea that Bijan is due for a COLASSAL career year makes him potentially the BEST elite running back. He easily could wind up being RB1 overall this year. No one would be surprised. Even if Penix has woes that just means the team would give Bijan 25-30+ touches a game. A completely foolproof pick.

Jahmyr Gibbs at pick 5:

Besides Saquon Barkley there was no one within the stratosphere of Jahmyr Gibbs’ end to 2024. Dusting defenders to the tune of about seven yards per carry. He made his running mate David Montgomery look average. And that is truly saying something. Moving forward his usage likely will far exceed Montgomery, which hasn’t been the case in his first two seasons. You also have to tack on the fact that Montgomery had a significant injury last season. The Lions have a rigorous schedule against the league’s juggernauts that’s mostly on the road, which means he’ll be leaned on far more than he was when the Lions were dogwalking their opponents. Another idea to ponder is that the Lions will likely come out with a more simplified gameplan in Ben Johnson’s absence. Gibbs will be peppered in the passing and rushing game that will lead to the most touches he’s ever taken in a season to date. There’s too many weapons on the Lions offense to be concerned about regression and Gibbs is easily their most precious chess piece at the skill position. It’s a toss up between Gibbs and Bijan for who will be 2025’s RB1 overall.

Bucky Irving at pick 22:

When looking at Bucky Irving he was a handicap back to start 2024. His talent shined so brightly that in just a few touches per game to begin his rookie year he always broke off a homerun play. He forced Tampa’s hand in naming him the lead back. Last year it was a theme. Whenever the Buccaneers needed a spark they put the ball in Irving’s hands. You’d be hard pressed to find a rookie running back who played about 50% off snaps and put up 1,100 yards on immaculate efficiency. That list might only have Bucky’s name on it. The gap between him and the backups on Tampa Bay’s roster is laughable. Rachaad White has consistently been one of the least efficient rushers in the entire NFL and his role was slashed during Bucky’s late season emergence. From week 10 on he was one of the best bell cow running backs in the league and he also has a repertoire for leaking out of the backfield to make dynamite plays in the receiving game. Such a complete player that is reminiscent of Ray Rice before shit hit the fan. He might not kill you with his speed, but he is a powerful and decisive rusher who knows how to find the hole and fight through tacklers. The questions around the Buccaneers passing game loom large. Chris Godwin had a second surgery in the spring to address his horrific leg injury that could directly equate to Bucky Irving having an expanded role. His floor is the highest of any running back selected in the teens and onward.

One of these four should be your RB1. They all exceed their draft position value and have solid offensive lines in front of them to ensure they are safe picks. Saquon should be on this list too. Just too scared of injury potential because of his insane usage. King Henry is not a bad option in a few leagues as well because he’ll always find the end zone and works as a relief option for Lamar. It would be very hard for Henry to replicate his 2024 season though, while these four guys all could exceed their 2024 performances. Ideally you want a backfield of Bijan/Gibbs alongside Bucky Irving. If you don’t get a top five pick though don’t worry there’s plenty of options.

Usage Warriors: Backs who are at the top end of the expected usage spectrum. They generally play for bad teams, but surely will get plenty of touches both rushing and in the passing game. You need two of these players if you don’t get two of the elite backs.

Breece Hall at pick 37:

With Justin Fields entering the fold it’s quite obvious what identity the Jets are going to assume in 2025. They’re going to run the ball down your throat. The recipe Fields needs to succeed. The game plan is to keep other teams honest with Breece Hall to strike with Garrett Wilson down the field. Wilson’s usage will be otherworldly. Breece Hall is the healthiest he has been heading into a season, the Jets organization isn’t extending him until he cements himself once again, and Breece has a significantly better run blocking offensive line to start 2025. All positives considering he has the motivation of wanting to bounce back from a hideous 2024 campaign marred by Aaron Rodgers being a statue. The defense folded like a lawn chair after Robert Saleh was fired making the team beyond non competitive. Hall has proved he’s in the upper echelon of receiving backs. Plenty of ridiculous catches down the field along with creating big time plays on checkdowns. This isn't Kyle Pitts in terms of running backs. Hall has everything at his disposal to bounce back with ease. Braelon Allen is nowhere near being a starting back either who some suggest is a threat to Breece. Breece will feast, do not be wary of him.

Kenneth Walker at pick 43:

Honestly K9 is in a similar situation to Breece Hall considering he’s been held back by some of the worst offensive line play in the league and he’s looking to prove he’s worthy of a contract extension. The thing with K9 though is that he’s an unreal, can’t miss value pick. The Seahawks new OC Klint Kubiak centers his offenses around the running back position above all else. Kubiak has indicated how badly he wants to unlock Walker’s best season as a pass catcher and rusher. K9 is a cyborg prototype of an RB. A jacked bruiser who also happens to have some of the most unreal contact balance, vision, cutting, and burst. The narrative that has been spun about how Charbonnet has been more efficient is a misleading concept. Charbonnet was just pounding the ball up the gut while K9 was often running zone concepts against loaded boxes and blitzes that stifled him behind the line. Walker has some of the most ridiculous plays ever seen by a running back even when he loses yards. This offense is set to be a better unit with the best interior lineman in the draft Grey Zabel coming to town and their two offensive tackles finally being healthy to start a season. Behind K9’s work on the ground the Seahawks are looking to stun the Rams and take down the NFC West.

Kaleb Johnson at pick 71:

This is rookie Najee Harris 2.0 from a fantasy perspective. This offense is going to be one of the most diabolically putrid offenses ever seen. That being said Aaron Rodgers will check the ball down to Kaleb SO many times. Just last year Aaron Rodgers checked the ball down almost every play behind an offensive line that was either on par with or better than the Pittsburgh Steelers oline. You know the Steelers are going to be bad when THE highlight from their training camp was a fade ball to DK Metcalf where he made an incredible catch 20 yards out of bounds while Rodgers legitimately got sacked from both sides at once. Kaleb Johnson is the only player that a fantasy manager should touch on this offense because he’ll get targeted frequently and was electric on the ground for Iowa. It makes no sense how he slides so far in fantasy drafts because he benefits so much from the situation in the Steel City. His backups both can’t handle a workload while Kaleb has been and will continue to be a bell cow guy. The Steelers would be silly to make their running back room a platoon. Johnson might not be a superstar, but he’s a surefire high end RB2 from receiving alone. 

Threatening RB2’s: Players who could easily end up being the RB1 on their team although their fantasy value doesn’t reflect it. Just take Mason here. Stevenson is a nice sleeper, but Mason has a clear path to taking his backfield over.

Jordan Mason at pick 88:

The message has been made clear in this running back room. Mason and Aaron Jones are 1A and 1B. This indicates that Mason could surpass Jones and take over the lead role at any point which is highly likely. Jones has been steadily regressing on the ground and is held together by pins, needles, and athletic tape so his body can hold up. Another issue with Jones is that he is utterly allergic to finding the endzone on the ground. This could translate to Mason scoring most of the Vikings rushing touchdowns in 2025. Mason is such a good talent in a spectacular situation with a beefed up offensive line that just signed two of the best run blocking lineman at center and guard. Mason carried the 49ers in CMAC’s absence, which earned him the shot he has now. An eerily similar contract to the one David Montgomery signed with the Lions, yet he is looking to be THE guy in Minnesota for the foreseeable future. He is easily the best pick at running back. It’s not even debatable. 

Rhamondre Stevenson at pick 128:

This running back isn’t nearly as much of a threat to his team’s starting running back role as Jordan Mason is, but he does pose a serious threat still. TreVeyon Henderson has been a dynamic playmaker and a well rounded back, but he’s been injured. A lot. Henderson struggled to make it through a full season without splitting reps throughout college, which is why Stevenson could be an incredibly sneaky pick here. He just came off the worst year of his career BY FAR and now has pieces along the offensive line as well as playmakers that can bring this offense into relevancy once again. Stevenson is an adequate pass catcher and a bruiser with the football in his hands. His rookie season he was turning heads on one of the league’s worst offensive units. He’s not a sexy pick by any means, but with Henderson’s chance of injury, more touchdown upside, and a skillset that allows for him to be an RB1, I'm taking Stevenson. Especially in drafts where RB depth is needed. You never want to have the RB position be thin on your best ball rosters. 

Handicaps: Backup backs who could explode if a star was to go down in front of them or who are talented enough to overtake their backfield. It’s honestly up to you if you want to invest throwaway picks into handicaps, enticing young wideouts, or tight ends who are criminally undervalued.

Ollie Gordon at pick 360 (off boards): 

Ollie Gordon is a solid stash in case Devon Achane were to go down. Devon Achane with more reps may lead to more injury risk as well. Achane just feels like a safer pick when you take Gordon in preparation for the worst. Gordon dominated college football and was seemingly a first round pick at one point. Alexander Mattison no longer has any juice and both him and Jaylen Wright are guaranteed to be lackluster.

Devin Neal at pick 283 (off boards):

Neal could be a much bigger part of the Saints offense than people envision currently. Kamara is getting older. This team isn’t going to be in contention for anything. And last but not least Neal is a guy who can assume a large workload immediately, which is huge for the team. The Saints backfield probably won’t be as dominated by Alvin Kamara as it was last year because Neal is a substantially better talent than Kendre Miller.

Dylan Sampson at pick 144:

It’s no longer a secret. Dylan Sampson is an unbelievably juicy value pick as a handicap back. He’s in the later range of the draft, yet he has a significant chance of taking over this backfield immediately. With fellow rookie running back Quinshon Judkins awaiting disciplinary measures for his domestic violence offense Cleveland’s running back room is a two man race. Sampson or Jerome Ford is slated to start day 1 for the Dog Pound. Judkins isn’t even signed by Cleveland yet. Sampson was an uber efficient back in his expanded usage at Tennessee and carried an offense that was putrid in the passing department. He was so good at Tennessee that he dragged the team into the playoffs. It’s an easy selection to make in best ball when you’re picking a guy who’s only 20 years old, had 400 carries over three seasons which equates to little tread on his tires, and whose competition is a back who was slated to be the organization’s third guy at the position. Don’t think too hard about it.