GOD TIER RUNNING BACK
Christian McCaffrey – San Francisco
NOTES: In McCaffrey’s last three games against Seattle, he has had 30.9, 21.6 and 25.8 PPR Points.
NEAR GOD TIER RUNNING BACK
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans
NOTES: Carolina has allowed the third-most Fantasy Points to Running Backs in the entire league.
Alvin Kamara is on pace to be the 6th RB ever to start his career with 1,300 yards from scrimmage for 7 straight years. The list:
Eric Dickerson
Barry Sanders
Curtis Martin
LaDainian Tomlinson
Matt Forte (!)— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) December 5, 2023
Kamara scored 28.9 PPR Points last week- the second most of any Running Back.
HIGH-END RUNNING BACKS – Week Winning Potential/Locked in RB1s
Kyren Williams – Los Angeles Rams
NOTES: Williams is nearing NEAR GOD TIER RUNNING BACK land. His volume and production are locked in.
Bijan Robinson – Atlanta
Rachaad White – Tampa Bay
Zack Moss – Indianapolis
NOTES: Moss had poor production in Week 13, finishing with only 51 rushing yards and catching two passes for minimal yardage, but the usage numbers were staggering.
Moss played almost 100-percent of snaps, had every single RB carry, and ran a route on 68-percent of Gardner Minshew’s drop backs. He has had four RB1 finishes this season. Look for him to make it five on Sunday against Cincinnati.
Josh Jacobs – Las Vegas
NOTES: Look for the Raiders to try and pound the rock with Jacobs all game long. Jacobs has 20 or more carries in three of his last four games.
Tony Pollard – Dallas
NOTES: Highest total on the board, and a potential shootout. After a number of disappointing weeks, Pollard has three straight RB1 finishes.
PROBABLY A HIGH END RUNNING BACK, WITH AN ASTERISK
Saquon Barkley – New York Giants
NOTES: A tilting game for Barkley managers. Green Bay has allowed the third-most rushing yards in football. Barkley should have a smash game, with the Giants coming off a Bye Week.
I have some apprehension, with Barkley posting less than eight PPR points in two of his last three games.
INJURED RUNNING BACK TIER
Isiah Pacheco – Kansas City
NOTES: Pacheco is a smash play if he goes, but he has missed multiple practices this week with a shoulder injury.
MUST ADD RUNNING BACK
Jerick McKinnon – Kansas City
NOTES: Look for McKinnon to see a high amount of high volume touches if Pacheco misses time. Stop what you are doing and add him right now if he is available in your league.
IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY TOUCHES, IT IS ACHANE SEASON RUNNING BACK TIER (A ONE-MAN TIER)
De’Von Achane – Miami
NOTES: Will Achane have as much touch volume as the running back listed ahead of him? Maybe, maybe not. Will it matter? Nope. Achane is a touchdown machine. He is up to four top-five running back weeks on the season.
I AM SCARED TO DEATH OF USING HIM RUNNING BACK, BUT HE CAN BE AN RB1
Austin Ekeler – Los Angeles
Ekeler is averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry, and he has failed to put up more than 9.4 PPR points since Week 10.
Reminder: there are only 32 NFL teams.
Austin Ekeler ranks:
36th in Rushing Yards.
57th in YPC (3.5).With an unfathomable -14.49 EPA (🤯📉) from rush attempts this yr.
Reminder: He is often referred to as an "elite weapon" for Justin Herbert, by ppl who don't pay attention.
— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) December 5, 2023
Brandon Staley has suggested that there is now a running back competition, with Joshua Kelley a threat for more carries.
POTENTIAL RB1/HIGH RB2 RUNNING BACK TIER
Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit
Javonte Williams – Denver
Joe Mixon – Cincinnati
IF YOU BENCH HIM HE WILL SCORE TWO TDS RUNNING BACK TIER
David Montgomery – Detroit
Raheem Mostert – Miami
MATCHUP BASED UPGRADE RB2 THAT COULD BE RB1 WITH RISK RUNNING BACK TIER
James Cook – Buffalo
NOTES: Post-Bye Week, look for some self-scouting in a must win game. Cook is the most explosive Bills running back and the best receiver out of the backfield. I am bumping him up this week.
RB2s – LOWER CEILINGS DUE TO OFFENSE OR BAD MATCHUP RUNNING BACK TIER
Breece Hall – New York Jets
D’Andre Swift – Philadelphia
Travis Etienne – Jacksonville
Zach Charbonnet – Seattle
LOW END RB2/HIGH END RB3 FLEX RUNNING BACK TIER
Keaton Mitchell – Baltimore
NOTES: I am bullish on Mitchell coming off a Bye Week. Look for increased usage. He could be a rest of the way RB2.
Jerome Ford – Cleveland
FLEX RUNNING BACK TIER
Chuba Hubbard – Carolina
AJ Dillon – Green Bay
NOTES: Volume and usage are there for Dillon, and Green Bay are favorites against New York.
