These 2020 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings will be updated often throughout the spring and summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. Also, be sure to check out my other Fantasy Football Rankings articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2020 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2020 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs (Sept. 9):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-40 | 41-75
Other Positions: QB | WR | TE | Top 250 | Sleepers | Busts
-
Derrick Henry, RB, Titans. Bye: 7. 
JULY 16 UPDATE: I’m not a fan of Derrick Henry this year – he’s currently high on my 2020 Fantasy Football Busts page – but I’ll admit that his stock got a bit of an uptick in the wake of his new contract. There’s no longer a chance that Henry will hold out, so that’s one reason not to hate him this year.
Derrick Henry was unstoppable during the Titans’ playoff run. This, however, will cause him to be overdrafted. Henry doesn’t catch passes, so he needs to be ahead to see a healthy workload. He also shouldered more carries than any other running back in the NFL last season, which has a dubious history attached to it. The Titans also lost talented right tackle Jack Conklin, too. These are all reasons I’m way down on Henry heading into 2020.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 1,230 rushing yards. 21 catches. 180 receiving yards. 14 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 225.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 246.
-
Leonard Fournette, RB, Buccaneers. Bye: 13.
SEPT. 3 UPDATE: Leonard Fournette signing with the Buccaneers definitely bolsters his fantasy stock. He’ll catch tons of passes from Tom Brady, who tends to lean on running backs in the passing game, and he’ll be in position to score many more touchdowns than he would have in Jacksonville.
AUG. 31 UPDATE: Leonard Fournette’s stock is neutral at the moment. He’s not on a team right now after the Jaguars released him, but he could sign with a franchise that would give him a better chance to be more productive. If he signs with the Buccaneers or Steelers, his value will skyrocket.
Leonard Fournette saw a monster workload last year. The 265 carries don’t stand out, but he received 100 targets, catching 76 of them for 522 receiving yards. Fournette is currently on the trade block, which is good news for his fantasy outlook because Jacksonville has one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 1,050 rushing yards. 56 catches. 410 receiving yards. 13 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 224.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 280.
-
Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles. Bye: 9.
JUNE 18 UPDATE: The Eagles lost Brandon Brooks for the entire season. This is a huge blow for the offense, and that includes Miles Sanders because the blocking will be much worse without the stud guard.
Miles Sanders split the workload with Jordan Howard in the first half of the year, but eventually took over as the main back and awarded the Eagles with his explosive play. Sanders rushed for 818 yards and caught 50 passes despite not handling more than 13 carries or catching more than four passes in any game until Week 13.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 1,020 rushing yards. 65 catches. 610 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 223.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 288.
-
Devin Singletary, RB, Bills. Bye: 11.
JULY 2 UPDATE: Devin Singletary’s reception totals are expected to rise, as the coaching staff wants to involve him more in the passing game, according to team reporter Joe Buscaglia. I figured this to be the case, but it’s nice to hear some confirmation.
I loved Devin Singletary as a sleeper heading into last season, even before LeSean McCoy was moved. It took Singletary a while to get going because he got injured, but he flashed some major potential down the stretch. He projects as a potential RB2 in 2020, as he’ll handle most of the workload in his second year.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 1,160 rushing yards. 52 catches. 440 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 220.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 272.
-
Melvin Gordon, RB, Broncos. Bye: 8.
Melvin Gordon held out the first four weeks of the season and then never looked like quite himself upon his return. He didn’t look like he was quite in shape for a while, then was running behind an offensive line missing three starters. I was hoping Gordon would land in a good situation, but he didn’t, as he’ll split some of the workload with Phillip Lindsay.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 1,090 rushing yards. 47 catches. 390 receiving yards. 11 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 214.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 261.
-
Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks. Bye: 6.
Chris Carson was having a solid season – 1,230 rushing yards, 37 catches, 266 receiving yards, nine touchdowns – before suffering a season-ending hip injury in Week 16. With Rashaad Penny coming off a late-season torn ACL, Carson should retain the starting job. I’d like his outlook more if the Seahawks bolstered their offensive line, which they didn’t do outside of a mid-round pick.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 1,210 rushing yards. 34 catches. 240 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 205.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 239.
-
Todd Gurley, RB, Falcons. Bye: 10. 
JULY 24 UPDATE: Todd Gurley has threatened to sit out the 2020 season if the NFL doesn’t develop a Coronavirus plan that’s “structured right.” It’s a shame that Gurley is misinformed and doesn’t seem to understand that he’s more likely to be struck by lightning than to die of Coronavirus. Hopefully he’ll learn the truth soon enough. I don’t think Gurley will actually sit out the season, but it’s something to keep in mind if you plan on drafting him late second, early third round.
JUNE 10 UPDATE: Todd Gurley has passed his physical with the Falcons, which is obviously a good thing. Unfortunately, the arthritis in the knees remains a huge concern for Gurley, who would be a top fantasy pick if he were completely healthy. It’s difficult to trust Gurley, but I’d be willing to spend a third-round pick on him because of his touchdown upside in Atlanta’s offense.
MAY 21 UPDATE: The Falcons have said that they don’t know what Todd Gurley’s health status is. Maybe they should have figured this out when they obtained him this offseason? Gurley has nice upside in 2020, but his floor is extremely low. Proceed with caution if you draft him.
I hope you took my warning last year and stayed away from Todd Gurley. Predictably, Gurley was a bust. He was limited to 857 rushing yards and caught 31 passes. Gurley scored 14 times, keeping him relevant, but not nearly as good as his ADP said he’d be. Gurley has arthritic knees, so his workload will have to be monitored throughout the duration of his career, which is unfortunate. Gurley will be playing behind a better offensive line than he did last year, which is a plus.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 980 rushing yards. 42 catches. 340 receiving yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 204.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 246.
-
Kenyan Drake, RB, Cardinals. Bye: 8. 
Kenyan Drake took over as Arizona’s primary running back down the stretch when it was evident that he was the most explosive player at the position on Arizona’s roster. I don’t think this was a fluke; Drake’s lack of production beforehand can be attributed to Adam Gase’s incompetence. Drake, like DaVante Parker, will continue to post monster numbers without his former buffoon coach. With David Johnson gone, the sky is the limit for Drake in 2020.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 1,060 rushing yards. 46 catches. 350 receiving yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 195.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 241.
-
Le’Veon Bell, RB, Jets. Bye: 11.
AUG. 29 UPDATE: One day after a Jets reporter claimed that Frank Gore was the top running back in training camp, another Jets reporter, Brian Costello of the New York Post, cited that Bell doesn’t look like the “centerpiece of the offense” after a lackluster training camp. It’s not clear if Bell is mailing it in, or if Adam Gase is just being dumb, but either way, Bell looks like someone to avoid in fantasy drafts this year. If you’ve already drafted him, you’ll have to hope that the Jets trade him.
AUG. 28 UPDATE: Frank Gore has been the best running back in Jets’ training camp, according to Connor Hughes of the Athletic. Yes, Frank Gore. Not Le’Veon Bell. Apparently, Bell is not finding the hole and is failing to be productive. Jacob and I speculated in our recent 2020 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft that Bell could mail it in after seeing Jamal Adams traded and C.J. Mosley quit on his team. I liked Bell a lot earlier in the summer, but I’m down on him now.
JULY 31 UPDATE: I’ve been bullish on Le’Veon Bell this summer, but I’m not so sure amid the Jamal Adams trade. There’s a decent chance the Jets will fall apart, which would obviously mean bad news for Bell.
JULY 3 UPDATE: Le’Veon Bell has been working out like a “mad man,” according to Connor Hughes of the Athletic. This is nice to hear, as Bell is coming off a disappointing year. Being in better shape and having improved blocking can only help Bell in 2020.
Le’Veon Bell has been the subject of trade rumors. Let’s hope that he’s dealt because he’ll continue to disappoint while with the Jets. Adam Gase has proven that he has no idea what he’s doing, as evidenced by the fact that Bell received more than 18 carries just three times in 2019.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 980 rushing yards. 56 catches. 490 receiving yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 189.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 245.
-
Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers. Bye: 10.
Austin Ekeler was a PPR monster last year, catching 92 passes despite Melvin Gordon also getting plenty of receptions out of the backfield once he returned from his holdout. Ekeler will return to the Chargers next year, while Gordon is gone. This is a major positive, but Ekeler’s touchdown count will plummet because Philip Rivers is gone.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Stats: 650 rushing yards. 92 catches. 860 receiving yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2020 Fantasy Points: 187.
Projected 2020 PPR Fantasy Points: 279.
2020 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs (Sept. 9):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-40 | 41-75
Other Positions: QB | WR | TE | Top 250 | Sleepers | Busts
More 2021 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/19 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/9 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 5/2 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 5/2 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2021 Fantasy Football Articles:
NFL Picks - Dec. 11
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
|
|
Injured/injury risk
|
|
Potential bust
|
|
Potential sleeper
|
|
Rank higher in touchdown leagues
|
|
Rank lower in touchdown leagues
|
||
|
|
Rank higher in PPR (points per reception) leagues
|
|
Rank lower in PPR leagues
|
