2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs

Christian McCaffrey should be considered the top fantasy player in PPR formats, and you could argue that he’s the best player in standard formats as well. McCaffrey barely played last year, but he should bounce back in 2021.

Other 2021 Fantasy Football Ranking articles of note: 2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers | 2021 Fantasy Football Busts

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 1,360 rushing yards. 107 catches. 990 receiving yards. 15 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 325.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 432.

There’s a good argument for Dalvin Cook to be the top pick in 2021 fantasy leagues. Cook is a terrific talent and plays in an offense that gives him as many carries as possible. He’s also heavily utilized in the passing attack and scores tons of touchdowns. His durability is the only concern.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 1,550 rushing yards. 56 catches. 540 receiving yards. 17 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 311.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 367.

JUNE 6 UPDATE: Derrick Henry will stand to benefit from the Julio Jones trade. Opposing teams will have to focus on Jones in addition to A.J. Brown, so Henry will confront fewer defenders in the box.

If Derrick Henry did more in the passing game, he would be the consensus No. 1 pick. That, unfortunately, is not the case, but he’ll continue to be an RB1 because of his great running talent and offensive line.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 1,800 rushing yards. 23 catches. 170 receiving yards. 18 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 305.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 328.

Alvin Kamara was seen as an MVP candidate at one point in 2020, as he carried the team when Michael Thomas was injured. Kamara would be a huge part of the offense as long as Drew Brees were on the roster, but Brees’ career is finished. Kamara didn’t fare as well with Taysom Hill, the presumed starter for 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 940 rushing yards. 89 catches. 780 receiving yards. 19 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 286.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 375.

SEPT. 6 UPDATE: Zack Martin will be out for Week 1. This isn’t a huge blow for Elliott’s entire season, but it just makes the difficult Week 1 matchup even tougher.

SEPT. 4 UPDATE: Pro Bowl right tackle La’el Collins could miss the season opener because he’s still recovering from hip surgery. Uh oh, here we go again! Dallas’ offensive line was ravaged by injury last year, and Ezekiel Elliott will certainly miss Collins if he’s out for a while.

AUG. 21 UPDATE: Adam Schefter said that Dak Prescott isn’t “fully back,” and he believes he may not be 100 percent “all season long.” Prescott is coming off an ankle injury, and he’s had issues with his shoulder as well. He’s being overdrafted, and if Schefter is correct, his play-makers are as well.

Multiple people in the Cowboys’ organization have praised Ezekiel Elliott this offseason. Dak Prescott said that Elliott is in the “best shape of his life,” while running backs coach Josh Hicks noted that Elliott is “way quicker and elusive” than he was in 2020. Elliott was out of shape last year and struggled as a result, but it sounds like he’s poised to rebound in 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 1,380 rushing yards. 58 catches. 460 receiving yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 256.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 314.

Nick Chubb has the luxury of running behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, but as long as Kareem Hunt is healthy, Chubb won’t be any sort of factor in the passing game.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 1,560 rushing yards. 12 catches. 120 receiving yards. 14 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 252.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 264.

Kyle Allen told reporters that the Redskins plan on using Antonio Gibson like Christian McCaffrey. It’s unclear if this is true because Gibson wasn’t on the field on third down in the preseason opener, but perhaps things will change in the regular season.

Antonio Gibson won’t be able to handle 25 carries per week or anything, but he’s efficient whenever he has the ball. He can play all three downs, and he’s used at the goal line.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 1,180 rushing yards. 62 catches. 490 receiving yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 233.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 283.

AUG. 14 UPDATE: The Chargers will use a variety of running backs this year, according to head coach Brandon Staley. This is obviously bad news for Austin Ekeler, though he’ll still be a PPR monster.

It’s a shame that Austin Ekeler missed about half of 2020; otherwise, he would have approached 100 receptions, as Justin Herbert relied on him heavily. That should continue to be the case in 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 820 rushing yards. 115 catches. 1,020 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 232.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 347.

JULY 28 UPDATE: After vowing to never play for the Packers again, Aaron Rodgers has changed his mind. Rodgers has reported to the Packers, as Green Bay’s front office made a deal with him so that he can leave after this season. All of Green Bay’s skill-position players will get a huge bump.

Aaron Jones is a huge factor in Green Bay’s passing attack. He also used to be a touchdown machine. However, Jones’ touchdown potential will plummet in the wake of Aaron Rodgers’ expected departure.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 1,130 rushing yards. 57 catches. 490 receiving yards. 11 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 228.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 285.

SEPT. 5 UPDATE: Saquon Barley is not expected to have a full workload in Week 1, according to the Athletic. This isn’t a surprise, given that Barkley has barely been able to practice this summer.

AUG. 2 UPDATE: Saquon Barkley still isn’t practicing. There are reports about him making “strides” and “tangible progress,” but this act is growing tiresome. With the Giants re-signing Alfred Morris today, I’m leaning toward avoiding Barkley entirely in the first round.

JULY 16 UPDATE: Saquon Barkley refused to say if he’ll be ready for Week 1, offering no timetable of a return to action. This is a concern, though Barkley got hurt early enough last year that there’s a good chance he’ll return by September.

Saquon Barkley suffered an injury in Week 2 of 2020 that caused him to miss most of the year. Condolences to anyone who drafted him, including me. Barkley should bounce back with a strong 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 1,180 rushing yards. 60 catches. 490 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 227.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 289.