Fantasy Football Top 30 Running Back Rankings: Christian McCaffrey Tops List, Isiah Pacheco Lands in Top 10 and More

On Thursday, I started a new series offering up my official fantasy football rankings for the 2024 season. 

I started with quarterbacks and will now discuss running backs. I’ll cover my top 30 fantasy options, which covers standard league starting options and a flex player. I’m approaching things from a PPR league standard. Let’s get right to it!

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1. Christian McCaffrey

He’s been not only my top fantasy back, but overall top fantasy player all year. At some point, McCaffrey will slow down, but I don’t think it’s this season. Even if he regresses a bit, he still should be the top fantasy back in the game.

2. Bijan Robinson

I absolutely love Robinson this season, and think he’s a true breakout star in his second NFL season. He should be more involved in the offense than a season ago, and having a legit quarterback on the team should only open up running lanes for him. He’s the only back who I think could overtake McCaffrey this season.

3. Breece Hall

Hall is sort of in a similar situation going into his third NFL season. He’ll have a legit quarterback on his team for the first time, and should be a workhorse. The only thing I worry about is him getting less checkdowns from a season ago - since Aaron Rodgers can actually complete some passes down the field. 

4. Jahmyr Gibbs

Gibbs is sort of like Robinson in that I think his workload expands in his second NFL season. The Lions have a better No. 2 (David Montgomery) than the Falcons (Tyler Allgeier), so that’s why Gibbs shows up a few slots lower. If Montgomery were to be out an extended period, Gibbs has a chance to push for fantasy RB1.

5. Derrick Henry

I’m extremely high on Henry as he goes into his first season with the Ravens. Baltimore loves to run the ball, and Henry is the team’s best back in awhile. Henry is a draft steal at his ADP, and could lead the league in rushing touchdowns.

6. Saquon Barkley 

Barkley is in a great situation with his new team, and would be inside the top five for me if not for injury concerns. I’m also a touch worried about Jalen Hurts stealing a lot of touchdowns, and with more offensive playmakers in Philly, that might hurt Barkley’s fantasy stock.

7. Kyren Williams

Williams had a fantastic season in 2023, and even though the team drafted Blake Corum this offseason, I see that working in Williams’ favor. He can give up a few snaps and touches a game, but it might mean he gets through the season healthy and fairly fresh. 

8. Jonathan Taylor

I’m a bit lower on Taylor than most. Similar to Barkley, Taylor has some injury concerns over the past several seasons, and a quarterback (Anthony Richardson) who can run the ball and steal some touchdowns. If he stays healthy though, Taylor has top-five potential.

9. Isiah Pacheco

I like Pacheco more than a lot of people this season. Yes, he’s on a loaded Chiefs’ offense with Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball to Travis Kelce and a greatly improved WR room, but Pacheco is the clear lead back on a high-flying offense, and if he’s healthy, should be a top-10 fantasy finisher at the position. 

10. Travis Etienne

I knocked Etienne back a couple spots from his ADP ranking because he was less efficient as a ball carrier in his sophomore season. He did score six more touchdowns, but I expect a little regression there. He’s still a top-10 option for me though, so he’s a starter every week.

11. Josh Jacobs

Jacobs is right behind Etienne for me, and I originally had Jacobs above Etienne. I think Jacobs is going to thrive in Green Bay - he should be the clear No. 1 option on a high-powered offense, and that’s always a good thing for a fantasy back.

12. Alvin Kamara

Kamara is ranked 16th among PPR fantasy backs in ADP, but I think that’s a steal. He’s going to catch a ton of passes, which will make up for less rushing yards than all the backs ranked around him. The only thing that scares me is health, but a fully healthy season from Kamara, along with a decent touchdown output, could be a top eight fantasy finish.

13. Rachaad White

I feel like White gets overlooked quite a bit as a fantasy player. He went over 1,500 total yards and had nine touchdowns last season. The Bucs drafted Bucky Irving, but I still expect White to be the workhorse. 

14. Joe Mixon

Another player I feel is overlooked is Mixon. He’s on an offense full of playmakers now, which might take away some touches, but also should open up more opportunities to excel and chances to score.

15. James Cook

I wanted to put Cook higher, but the lack of pass catchers in Buffalo scares me a touch. The team also drafted Ray Davis, who may take away more looks. Oh, and Josh Allen is going to steal some touchdowns away… Maybe this ranking is actually perfect for Cook?

16. De'Von Achane

I think Achane is being drafted far too early right now. Raheem Mostert is still around, and the Dolphins love to utilize all their RBs. There’s also injury concerns, but his upside is off the charts, so I can’t pass on him any longer. 

17. Kenneth Walker III

Walker took a little step back in his second NFL season, so that’s why I have him ranked 17th. He still should be the workhorse, and if he can stay healthy, has upside to maybe be a top-10 back.

18. D'Andre Swift

I also am higher on Swift than most. The Bears’ passing game is stealing all the headlines, but they need someone to carry the ball, and Swift was brought in to be RB1. As long as Caleb Williams doesn’t struggle mightily in his rookie season, Swift should be a startable fantasy back most weeks.

19. David Montgomery

I think Montgomery takes on a reduced role this season, but he’ll still get enough touches and scores to be a starting option every week in fantasy leagues. If Gibbs were to go down with an injury, he’s got a chance to finish in the top 10.

20. Aaron Jones

I struggled to rank the next several players, but took Jones here because he’s the clear RB1 for his team and has a history of success. Injuries scare me, as does Sam Darnold being his quarterback, but a healthy Jones could thrive in PPR leagues as a top checkdown option.

21. James Conner

Conner was fantastic last season when he was on the field. Injury concerns and the team drafting Trey Benson has me thinking Conner takes a slight step back this season.

22. Zamir White

White really could go several spots higher, but I haven’t seen enough out of him yet, and any member of the Raiders’ offense feels like a shaky option given the quarterbacks that will be leading the way.

23. Raheem Mostert

Like Montgomery, I see Mostert regressing a bit this season, but in that high-flying offense, he’ll still rack up enough yards and touchdowns to be worth a starting spot just about every week. 

24. Rhamondre Stevenson

Stevenson is a bounceback candidate for me, but he falls to No. 24 after some injury issues and because Antonio Gibson is now his top backup. The unresolved QB situation is another concern.

25. Najee Harris

I struggled mightily to rank the top two Pittsburgh RBs. Harris appears to still be the lead back (by a slim margin), and even though he’s not a huge pass-catching threat, I like him more than Warren.

26. Brian Robinson Jr.

I honestly could have flip-flopped Robinson and Austin Ekeler, but I went with Robinson because he’s younger and been healthier of late. His pass-catching ability is what puts him in the top 30.

27. Jaylen Warren

Warren falls just a couple spots after Harris. He’s the bigger pass-catching threat, and could jump several of the backs in front of him if Russell Wilson or Justin Fields is even average at quarterback.

28. Devin Singletary

I have Singletary here because I don’t like any of the other Giants’ backs this season, and a full workload means more fantasy points. If New York gets better play out of Daniel Jones, Singletary could rocket way up the final rankings.

29. Zack Moss

For as much as I like Chase Brown, I think Zack Moss is going to pretty easily be the top option in Cincinnati. Moss showed last season that he could be a good weekly fantasy option, and now in a better offense, he could really take off.

30. Tony Pollard

Pollard struggled last season, but still put up over 1,300 total yards. Tyjae Spears has more upside, but the Titans didn’t sign Pollard to have him back up Spears. Pollard should be on the start/sit line most of the season.