The running back position has seemingly been forsaken in fantasy football over recent years, but it still remains a position that can give you a major advantage in your league if you know which players to draft!
With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at my RB fantasy football rankings for the 2023 NFL season!
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2023 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
1) Christian McCaffrey | SF
2) Bijan Robinson | ATL
3) Austin Ekeler | LAC
4) Nick Chubb | CLE
5) Saquon Barkley | NYG
6) Josh Jacobs | LV
7) Tony Pollard | DAL
8) Derrick Henry | LV
9) Joe Mixon | CIN
10) Najee Harris | PIT
11) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX
12) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE
13) Dameon Pierce | HOU
14) Aaron Jones | GB
15) Kenneth Walker III | SEA
16) Breece Hall | NYJ
17) Miles Sanders | PHI
18) David Montgomery | DET
19) D’Andre Swift | PHI
20) Cam Akers | LAR
MORE: Positional PFN Consensus Rankings — QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | K
21) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET
22) J.K. Dobbins | BAL
23) Alvin Kamara | NO
24) Javonte Williams | DEN
25) Jonathan Taylor | IND
26) James Cook | BUF
27) Khalil Herbert | CHI
28) James Conner | ARI
29) Isiah Pacheco | KC
30) Rachaad White | TB
31) Alexander Mattison | MIN
32) Dalvin Cook | NYJ
33) Raheem Mostert | SF
34) AJ Dillon | GB
35) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS
36) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI
37) Roschon Johnson | CHI
38) Jamaal Williams | NO
39) Antonio Gibson | WAS
40) Zach Charbonnet | SEA
41) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC
42) Damien Harris | BUF
43) Samaje Perine | CIN
44) Elijah Mitchell | SF
45) De’Von Achane | MIA
46) Deuce Vaughn | DAL
47) Sean Tucker | TB
48) Evan Hull | IND
49) Tank Bigsby | JAX
50) Jaylen Warren | PIT
51) Gus Edwards | BAL
52) Jerome Ford | CLE
53) Zach Evans | LAR
54) Jerick McKinnon | KC
55) Jeff Wilson Jr. | MIA
56) Ty Chandler | MIN
57) Devin Singletary | HOU
58) Tyjae Spears | TEN
59) Rashaad Penny | PHI
60) Ezekiel Elliott | NE
61) Tyler Allgeier | ATL
62) D’Onta Foreman | CHI
63) Michael Carter | NYJ
64) Leonard Fournette | FA
65) Kareem Hunt | FA
66) Chuba Hubbard | CAR
67) Joshua Kelley | LAC
68) Pierre Strong Jr. | CLE
69) Isaiah Spiller | LAC
70) Cordarrelle Patterson | ATL
71) D’Ernest Johnson | JAX
72) Kendre Miller | NO
73) Ke’Shawn Vaughn | TB
74) Chase Brown | CIN
75) Zamir White | LV
76) James Robinson | JAX
77) Israel Abanikanda | NYJ
78) Boston Scott | PHI
79) Kyren Williams | LAR
80) Zack Moss | IND
81) Zonovan Knight | NYJ
82) JaMycal Hasty | JAX
83) Malik Davis | DAL
84) Chase Edmonds | TB
85) Jordan Mason | SF
86) Matt Breida | NYG
87) Hassan Haskins | TEN
88) Tyrion Davis-Price | SF
89) Latavius Murray | BUF
90) Ronald Jones II | DAL
91) Chris Evans | CIN
92) DeWayne McBride | MIN
93) Salvon Ahmed | MIA
94) DeeJay Dallas | SEA
95) Melvin Gordon III | BAL
96) J.D. McKissic | FA
97) Kenyan Drake | IND
98) Myles Gaskin | MIA
99) Eric Gray | NYG
100) Keaontay Ingram | ARI
Which RBs Should You Draft in 2023?
David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions’ offense generated 23 rushing touchdowns last season. All three players who accounted for those 23 rushing scores are no longer on the Lions’ roster.
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are the two players expected to compete for the lead role in this productive backfield. While Gibbs is the more dynamic playmaker of the two, he never saw 200+ total touches during his collegiate career.
More Rankings From Derek: QB | WR | TE | K | D/ST
On the other hand, Montgomery has seen 200+ carries every season of his four-year career, and thus, more suited for 200+ carries and short-yardage work.
In what should be a productive committee, Montgomery is the cheaper fantasy draft option but will likely be the back who finishes the season with the most total touches and fantasy points in 2023.
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Trusting a rookie with your first-round fantasy pick isn’t something I normally recommend, but Bijan Robinson is an exception to the rule.
Robinson is joining a Falcons team that ran the ball more than any other squad in 2022. He’s a dynamic, three-down running back who will be the featured player in a run-heavy offense.
To me, it’s not unrealistic to expect Robinson to see north of 300 total touches this season.
There were eight running backs who saw 300+ total touches in 2022. Do you know how many of them finished outside of the top 15 RBs in PPR formats? Zero.
A great example would be Najee Harris back in 2021. As a rookie, Harris was particularly efficient with a 3.9 yards-per-carry average in his rookie season, but his overwhelming 381 total touches generated 1,667 total yards and an RB3 finish in PPR formats.
If you give a player of Robinson’s caliber that many touches…then you can expect him to be in the mix for a top-five RB finish in 2023.