Fantasy Football: 2020 RB rankings (1-20) with projections

Y’all ready for some running back rankings?

Whoa, it’s July. How did that happen? Anyway, it’s that time of year to start (or keep) prepping for your 2020 drafts. If you want wide receiver rankings, click here: 1-25, 26-50. If you’re looking for running backs, stick around. I’m ranking them in a PPR format, but I’ll include the half-PPR and the *ugh* standard rankings along with the projections. Seriously stop playing in standard leagues; you could be having so much more fun.

With that being said, let’s get into it!

Tier 1

You can’t replace the value of an elite running back on your team. Don’t think about drafting a wide receiver over any of them (except Michael Thomas over Dalvin Cook). Tier 1 includes the studs that will give you elite production every week and barring injury, are basically guaranteed to finish as RB1s.

Rushing: 268 carries, 1268 rushing yds, 11 rushing TDs

Receiving: 126 targets, 102 receptions, 827 receiving yds, 3 receiving TDs

Scoring: 397.3 PPR points, Half-PPR rank 1, standard rank 1

Drafting 1.01 seems like an unfair advantage if you expect CMC to produce even 75% of the numbers he did last year. No fantasy running back has repeated as the RB1 with PPR scoring in back to back years since Priest Holmes in 2002-03, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pick Christian McCaffrey #1 overall. You aren’t betting on CMC vs. the field, you’re betting that CMC is the most likely player to finish as the top dog. This absolute unit averaged 29.5 PPR points per game last year; the next highest was Dalvin Cook with 20.9.

Rushing: 267 carries, 1308 rushing yds, 10 rushing TDs

Receiving: 86 targets, 63 receptions, 510 receiving yds, 3 receiving TDs

Scoring: 322.8 PPR points, Half-PPR rank 2, standard rank 2

Saquon Barkley has the best shot at dethroning McCaffrey this year. He could be the most exciting back in the league to watch, as his talent screams “draft me.” The Giants hired former Cowboys offensive line coach Mark Colombo and drafted tackle Andrew Thomas 4th overall in the draft. Expect another big season out of the man who can squat 650 pounds.

Rushing: 300 carries, 1380 rushing yds, 12 rushing TDs

Receiving: 65 targets, 50 receptions, 390 receiving yds, 2 receiving TDs

Scoring: 309 PPR points, Half-PPR rank 3, standard rank  3

Ezekiel Elliott has finished no worse than the RB6 in points per game in his four-year career. The Cowboys have grown a good passing game to spread the defense out, but Zeke is still the focal point, receiving the second-highest amount of snaps among running backs last year, including 83% of snaps among Cowboys running backs. It’s hard to call a player bust-proof, but if anyone were, it would be him.

Rushing: 208 carries, 957 rushing yds, 8 rushing TDs

Receiving: 99 targets, 80 receptions, 680 receiving yds, 4 receiving TDs

Scoring: 315.7 PPR points, Half-PPR rank 4, standard rank 4

Yes, I’m projecting more points for Kamara than Zeke, but that doesn’t mean he’s the better draft pick. I would expect “peak” Alvin Kamara to slightly outscore “peak” Elliott, but that upside isn’t worth the security that Zeke provides. Kamara had an off year in 2019, due to playing through knee, ankle and back injuries. I do expect him to enter 2020 fully healthy, as he claims, but if two players are basically even on my draft board, I’m taking the player with the less colorful injury history.

14 games

Rushing: 240 carries, 1104 rushing yds, 10 rushing TDs

Receiving: 66 targets, 56 receptions, 476 receiving yds, 1 receiving TD

Scoring: 272 PPR points, Half-PPR rank 5, standard rank 6

Dalvin Cook holds no leverage in his hold out negotiations. He will be heavily fined and lose an accrued season towards free agency under new CBA rules this season. Expect the situation to resolve more like either the Ezekiel Elliott and Melvin Gordon hold outs last year rather than the Le’Veon Bell holdout in 2018. Cook’s contract situation plus his injury history suggests a high chance of missing some time this year, so drafting Alexander Mattison as a handcuff is crucial for Cook owners. I’d much rather draft the handcuff than fade Cook for someone with less proven on-field production.