All of these backs will likely be in committees in 2022, making it tough to trust them as more than flex options. He also took Kupp in the fourth round of that one, and he very well could end up with a similarly productive duo this time around. Tier 5 High RB2sNick Chubb, BrownsJames Conner, CardinalsEzekiel Elliott, Cowboys. That December, when the weather got colder and defenses started wearing down, he bumped up to 5.9 yards per carry. Furthermore, the former BYU star had 13 career rushing touchdowns entering the year. Mixon averaged 18 ppg last year, but there is talk of a further reduction in his third-down role, which limits his ceiling. Indys offensive line helped the young stud a great deal and should be strong again this year despite losing two starters. Hero RB Strategy & Targets: Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, Najee Harris (2022 Fantasy Football) | FantasyPros Draft Wizard My Playbook Premium Log In NFL Home Tools In-Season My. Henry was on pace to rush for over 1,990 yards last season before going down with an injured foot. His average yards per carry sits at 5.1 and he has toted the ball 756 times. Barkley is sort of hovering between the two tiers, and given the glimpse of the old Barkley that we saw in the first week of the preseason, he could even sneak up into the tier above by Labor Day weekend. Taylor netted 5.5 yards per carry last season, tying Chubb for the most efficient average of backs with 120 or more rushing attempts. Fantasy football draft season is upon us, and the predominant top-two picks in most standard drafts have been Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry. McCaffrey averaged 26 fantasy points per game. Big plays have never been part of Harris' game and that doesn't . For all of the hubbub about Tony Pollard, a justifiable nod to the potential of the Cowboys backup, it's still Elliott's throne in Dallas and for good reason. His streak of consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons ended at two, but 1,190 total yards with 10 touchdowns in 15 starts is nothing to shake a stick at. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK, Austin Ekeler, ChargersNajee Harris, SteelersDerrick Henry, Titans. Please check your email for a confirmation. He will be healthier in 2023. Thats the reason hes not among my RB1s heading into drafts. Has played in 34 regular-season games (34 starts) Has recorded 2,234 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 579 attempts and added 115 catches for 696 yards and six receiving touchdowns. He has run for 4 touchdowns this year with a long carry of 66 yds. Since the age of running backs really isnt a factor in redraft, more of them are viable to be your Hero RB. We dont doubt that Harris will enjoy another volume-heavy campaign we just remain skeptical of his ability to capitalize on his touches. The tiers below are formed from a consensus ranking between PFNs Fantasy Football Director Ben Rolfe, Senior Fantasy Analyst Tommy Garrett, and Fantasy Analyst Jason Katz. The others on this list are all talented, but workload questions are prevalent. Kamara appears to be safe from an NFL suspension, at least for 2022, so his value is rising. 10 RB Najee Harris PIT 9 $29. The Colts celebrates Jonathan Taylor's touchdown against the Steelers on Dec. 27, 2020, at Heinz Field. We are inching closer to the start of the 2022 NFL season, and with that were seeing an obvious increase in the number of fantasy drafts. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. 2. The Dawg-turned-Dawg has been a dynamo since landing in Cleveland by way of Georgia, being the steady hand for a roller coaster of a ride with former first overall pick Baker Mayfield and, in the absences of Mayfield due to injury, whomever else took the QB reins in the moment. Kamara is truly lightning in a bottle and, without him, the Saints' offense wouldn't have been worth any conversation in 2021. At 5-10, 226 pounds, he might not have the size of the 6-3, 250-pound Henry, but he more than makes up for that with across-the-board skills, speed, hands, and volume. Tier 12 Low HandcuffsDamien Williams, FalconsMark Ingram, SaintsZamir White, RaidersD'Onta Foreman, PanthersBrian Robinson, Jr., CommandersTyler Allgeier, FalconsDontrell Hilliard, TitansJoshua Kelley, Chargers. In 2021, Taylor enjoyed a massive breakout. 1 or No. Najee Harris was the first running back drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft and he should be the first rookie drafted in 2021 redraft leagues, as early as the second round. There are expectations he will take a bigger role in the passing game, but could losing goal-line work to AJ Dillon offset that? When it comes to Taylor, we are just scratching the surface on what he is capable of in . 9,423 views Sep 7, 2021 101 Dislike Share The Rich Eisen Show 412K subscribers Rich Eisen. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers 14. McKissic, James Cook, Darrell Henderson, Alexander Mattison, Nyheim Hines, Tier 8:Jamaal Williams, Kenneth Gainwell, Isaiah Spiller, Mark Ingram, Darrel Williams, Rachaad White, Khalil Herbert, Brian Robinson, Gus Edwards, Tyler Allgeier, Marlon Mack, Tier 9:DOnta Foreman, Zamir White, Raheem Mostert, Isiah Pacheco, Dontrell Hilliard, Boston Scott, Samaje Perine, Kenyan Drake, Sony Michel, Hassan Haskins, Rex Burkhead, Matt Breida, Ronald Jones, Tyrion Davis-Price, Jerick McKinnon, Chuba Hubbard, Jeff Wilson, Tier 10: Chris Evans, Pierre Strong Jr., Giovani Bernard, Damien Williams, KeShawn Vaughn, DErnest Johnson, Myles Gaskin, Mike Davis, Tevin Coleman, Trey Sermon, Duke Johnson, Demetric Felton Jr., Eno Benjamin, Dynasty Rookie Sleepers 2023: Fantasy Targets Include Israel Abanikanda, Puka Nacua, and Nathaniel Dell, 2023 Dynasty Rookie RB Rankings: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Devon Achane, and Others, 2023 Dynasty Rookie WR Rankings: Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison, Rashee Rice, and More, Dynasty Fantasy Football Startup Draft Strategies, What is Dynasty Fantasy Football? (2022) | FantasyPros By accessing this site you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use. 1 Overall Pick, Anthony Richardson, Wide Receivers, Dynasty IDP Rookie Draft Profile: Drew Sanders (2023 Fantasy Football), No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form. And now, as Fields and Co. become acclimated to a new coaching staff, Montgomery will have to serve as the security blanket for the Bears' offense -- a role he's not entirely unfamiliar with -- providing impact as both a runner and a receiver. Taylor also led the NFL in red-zone touches (92), which was not that surprising considering he ranked fifth in that category as a rookie. Singletary looks like the leader in the Bills backfield, making him a viable middle-round flex starter. Harris was inefficient but was utilized heavily in the run and passing game, which should remain. In September of 20, he averaged a mere 3.9 yards per carry. Still, I think Jamey made out quite nicely with those two players falling coming off a championship in this league where he had Jonathan Taylor fall to the second round because of injuries to his quarterback and starting center around the time of the draft. Of course, taking a TE and QB early means I've got Allen Robinson as a somewhat weak WR2, with the hope that he breaks out in his new offense. That's a move you'll see a lot of this year, pairing upside with safety in that duo Derek Carr is another late-round QB target to consider pairing with Lance or Justin Fields. Despite his current ADP ranking below those of both Najee Harris and Jonathan Taylor, Gibson arguably presents the most upside of the three backs this season. As our rankings show, we give Taylor the edge as the No. 1 RB in standard leagues. If Henry is healthy, his volume pushes him to the top of this tier, but hes now 28 with a heavy volume history. 5. We are predicting the Steelers go into Lucas Oil Stadium ad come away with the upset in a low-scoring, physical battle. Jonathan Taylor Injury Update Taylor was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain following Saturday's loss to the Vikings. 2 RB Austin Ekeler LAC 8 $35 . Many Fantasy players prefer to not double-up on the QB/TE combo in the early rounds, and you can see the sacrifices you have to make in doing so by just looking at Jamey and I's teams next to each other. Compare Najee Harris and Jonathan Taylor careers through the years of your choosing. Harris should dominate. There are a number of ways to value players when deciding who to draft for fantasy football, but utilizing tiers has become a more common approach in the last 10 years. Dillon, Packers. Bijan Robinson is the number 1 rated RB - no surprise there. McKissic, CommandersNyheim Hines, ColtsMichael Carter, Jets. That said, there are enough obvious risks here to preclude Ekeler from going ahead of Taylor. Steelers 20, Buccaneers 18: Najee Harris wasn't overly impressive (with 49 total yards on 16 touches and a receiving TD), but consider the matchup. He added one catch for 10 . Pro Football Network, LLC. Facebook; Twitter; . He has good hands, catching nearly 85 percent of his 90 targets through his first two seasons. If you think he isnt elusive or breaking tackles youre crazy. It's a powerful aesthetic that translates very well on the field, and it feels like Ekeler is just getting started. At the age of 23 (this season), Taylor should remain a fantasy star. Compare Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor careers through the years of your choosing. Mattison, Williams and Gainwell are among the top options, and the latter two could have standalone flex value at times regardless. For any redraft strategy, a manager must maintain fluid rigidity. Yes, its an oxymoron. And he's primed for positive TD regression entering the final year of his rookie deal. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts . Fantasy football running back tiers: Ranking the best RBs from Jonathan Taylor to Saquon Barkley and more. Alternatively, if you want to chat with our analysts, be sure to join our completely free Discord server. Taylor played all 17 regular-season games in 21 and looked fine despite the massive usage. RBs perform a little better than their average vs CLE, The Good Old Boys Fantasy Football Podcast, No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form, Finally looked healthy down 2022 stretch, could be huge rebound candidate. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Brown) Mike Mike Mike Mike . 3:21 pm ET, a pick I've been advocating for the entire offseason, still think Kupp is the top WR on the board, I'm a firm believer in taking an early QB this season, evidence suggests early-round QBs are worth the investment, Quentin Johnston: Rookie scouting profile. 1 overall pick, as Eric Young took Christian McCaffrey instead of Jonathan Taylor a pick I've been advocating for the entire offseason, so maybe we're going to see it a bit more often over the final month of drafts. Dillon, but he should see more work as a pass catcher in a new-look Packers offense that no longer has Davante Adams. Hes young, healthy, super-skilled, and has very little competition for touches both on the ground and through the air. Cook has been an elite fantasy back and he could see more chances as a pass catcher under new coach Kevin OConnell. He has been placed on IR and won't return in 2022. I took Mark Andrews with the second pick of the third round, only because Josh Allen was taken a pick before me I'm a firm believer in taking an early QB this season, though if it's not Allen around the second/third-round turn, my preference is to wait a little longer for the next tier. It was Kamara who helped keep the Saints' offense relevant in 2021 -- absent All-Pro wideout Michael Thomas and any sort of consistent production at QB following a torn ACL suffered by Jameis Winston -- and it's neither the first nor last time he'll be tasked with being the bulk of the production. He's now amassed more than 3,700 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns in his three years with the team, and he's done it in spite of abysmal quarterback play that led to the Bears using a first-round pick on Justin Fields. DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2022 fantasy cheat sheet. For a franchise that has always prided themselves on establishing the run, 2020 was abysmal. Pairing Taylors elite red-zone usage with his ascending role as a receiver 11th in routes run and sixth in route participation in 2021 makes him worthy of the 1.01 pick across all fantasy formats. I went the opposite direction, locking in more guaranteed high-end production with my tight end and quarterback. He's also coming off a season where he scored just six times. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Day 2 Recap (Fantasy Football), NFL Free Agency Rumors & News: Tony Pollard, Tua Tagovailoa (2023 Fantasy Football), NFL Free Agency Rumors & News: Mac Jones, Josh Jacobs (2023 Fantasy Football), Dynasty Players to Give Up On (2023 Fantasy Football), 2023 NFL Draft Burning Questions: No. Jonathan Taylor Nick Chubb Rhamondre Stevenson 1. Flex: RB Najee Harris, Steelers ($9,400) 5 overall in PPR drafts. There's no guarantee any of those players would've come back to me if I passed in the fourth and fifth Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray were also drafted before my next pick in the sixth but one thing I've been trying to remind myself of during my mock drafts this year is that, while I think the evidence suggests early-round QBs are worth the investment, most of the people who talk about Fantasy Football for a living still view waiting at QB to be the optimal approach. . Are you looking to contact Customer Support about a subscription or account related question? For the Steelers this game marks his seventh career start as he continues to develop as Pittsburghs future franchise signal caller. 1 PPR back. 2, get a good pair of noise-canceling headphones to block out the unlimited heckling your leaguemates will subject you with throughout the season. Jonathan Taylor or Najee Harris | Who Should I Draft? Accept Draft Wizard My Playbook Premium Log. First running back in franchise history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. . And with Matt Ryan now replacing Wentz, it's likely Taylor might terrorize the NFL yet again in 2022. 2 overall seems like a damn good option, and it's tough to blame anyone who ranks Pittsburghs back over Ekeler. Steelers' Najee Harris: Overcomes early fumble Rotowire Jan 8, 2023 Harris carried the ball 23 times for 84 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-14 win over the Browns. Najee Harris definitely has upside in this offense, but other players being drafted around the same time as Harris, such as Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley, definitely bring more. We are predicting the Steelers go into Lucas Oil Stadium ad come away with the upset in. I'm unquestionably stronger at TE, and while Lance has incredible upside, Mahomes has already done it. Matt Brandon Oct 6th 5:45 PM EDT. The ultimate Jonathan Taylor 2019 HighlightsA two-time Doak Walker Award winner and two-time unanimous first-team All-American, Taylor will go down as one of. Mitchell could be a 1,000-yard back in San Francisco, but durability issues and the emergence of Trey Sermon in camp make him a risk-reward No. I've compared him to Nick Chubb since he was a rookie, but Taylor has the backfield to himself. Yet, we have limited knowledge of what this offense will look like or how Kamara will be utilized following Sean Paytons retirement. Hes rushed for 33 touchdowns with the longest carry being for 62 yds. ADP. He was on pace for 90 catches and 1,906 scrimmage yards before the injury bug once again reared its ugly head. If tiers are not your thing, then we also have our 2022 RB rankings available in list form, Additionally, if you want more information on the players listed below, then be sure to check out PFNs fantasy analysts Tommy Garrett and Jason Katz discussing all things fantasy football on the PFN Premier Fantasy Football Podcast. Kamara is one of the halfbacks on this list who recently landed his bag, but it hasn't altered his approach to the game. 1 in PPRs with just 30-40 catches. J.K. DobbinsCordarrelle PattersonElijah MitchellChase EdmondsMiles SandersTony PollardDevin SingletaryKareem HuntAntonio Gibson. Hes so utterly dominant on the ground that he could finish No. Any one of this quartet could push into Tier 3, but each comes with risk, too. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor can be a dynasty building block. 3. Biography. The 27-year-old played just 10 games in 20 and has been dinged up countless times throughout his three prior years as a pro. While 1.2 touchdowns per game over this stretch isn't sustainable, Taylor usually saw the field for 55-65% of the offensive snaps and handled the vast majority of the running back carries. Pierce, who looks like the Texans No. Workload might be an issue for the freight train in shoulder pads, but hes still a high-end runner in all fantasy leagues. Jonathan Taylor for Najee Harris (2022) Should I Trade. That appears set to be the same situation this year, plus Jalen Hurts should take touches out of that backfield. Are you looking to contact Customer Support about a subscription or account related question? Singletary and Gibson are both in intriguing situations. NFL Preview Preview Week 10 Running Back Rankings for Fantasy Football: Nick Chubb, Travis Etienne, Jonathan Taylor, Najee Harris After a flurry of running back injuries early in the. Thats the $100,000 question in Denvers backfield. Najee Harris or Jonathan Taylor Who Should I Start? Already a premium subscriber? Do Not Sell My Personal Information. With both expected to be ready for Week 1 in 2022, many fantasy owners have been wrestling with the decision of which top-tier RB to choose if they land the No. CMC has played just 10 total games over the past two seasons, while Cook has never played more than 14 games. That 126.7 per-game average trails just 10 players total throughout the history of the NFL. The FLEX League draft I took part in Saturday with CBS Sports' Jamey Eisenberg and 10 other analysts from around the industry was one draft that featured some pretty surprising early results. Compare that to the likes of other first-round backs in Jonathan Taylor (3.6%), Dalvin Cook (2.7%), and Saquon Barkley (2.6%). Damien Harris, PatriotsCam Akers, RamsMiles Sanders, EaglesDevin Singletary, BillsDarrell Henderson, Rams. Walker's (hernia) status for Week 1 is in question, but he's still very draftable as a No. He played in four games in 2021 with at least a 50% snap share and his PPR fantasy finishes were RB1, RB3, RB4 and RB3. Tier 11 High HandcuffsRaheem Mostert, DolphinsAlexander Mattison, VikingsJamaal Williams, LionsKenneth Gainwell, EaglesIsaih Pacheco, Chiefs Khalil Herbert, BearsRex Burkhead, TexansRachaad White, Buccaneers. If Jonathan Taylor were staring at me in the first round, I couldn't pass him up, but he might be the only one. After playing just a 70% snap share once in 2020, Jonathan Taylor surpassed that number in nine contests in 2021, including eight weeks during the teams last eight games. But as he works to do so, promising upstarts like the Harris Bros. (spoiler: they're not actually brothers) threaten to challenge the incumbents for supremacy going forward, as veterans like Conner and Jacobs threaten to find another gear to reach this coming season. Hey, remember this guy? Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com This is a 4 star matchup. The problem is hes never finished a season with 20. While Taylor proved his ability as a pass catcher out of the backfield last season, it remains to be seen if Henry will ever truly materialize as a stud receiving back. Taylor also scored 59.3 more fantasy points on the season than the second-best fantasy RB, Austin Ekeler. Taylor missed six games this year and finished under 5.0 yards per rush (4.5) for the first time in his 3-year career. He enters his . 99 TE Dawson Knox BUF 7 $7 . The volume he is going to see in 2022 will ensure he is one of the safest running backs available in fantasy football. The Chargers have a top-12 offensive line according to PFF and a top-five offense according to 21 stats (scoring and yardage), so the fantasy goodness should carry over to 22 as long as Professor Ek stays healthy. This has been a common theme over the course of his career and certainly during his 2,000-yard rushing season. Are you looking to contact Customer Support about a subscription or account related question? Will they use this as a rallying point and win a very winnable game or is there just no fight left? Williams has top-five upside, but can he reach it with Melvin Gordon in the mix? 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. At No. Jonathan Taylor has accumulated 3,841 yds on the ground in 43 games played in his career. At just 23, he was the focal point of the Steelers' otherwise-dreadful. Im projecting Foreman as the top handcuff for CMC, but Chuba Hubbard is also in the mix for the Panthers. window.PLAYERCARDS_CONFIG={affiliateCode:"fpros_cards"}; Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com You can't place a vote until you make a selection first. His longest run this season is 36 yds. 1 pick. 2022 CONSISTENCY RATINGS:Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end. If anything, it simply makes you wonder just how much more destructive he'd be if he was the only option out of the Browns' backfield. Montgomery will lead a run-based attack in Chicago, though Khalil Herbert could earn more touches. Harris tallied 954 yards rushing, 219 yards receiving, and 9 TDs in the fantasy season. He caught just 19-of-31 targets in 2019 and averaged only six yards per reception. 1 RB in PPR and standard leagues. Moving forward, Harris is a dynasty running back who should keep the fantasy points coming in for years. Najee Harris should be a top-ten pick in all formats, and he should be considered one of the safest options across the board. Like a bat out of the gates of hell, Taylor flies onto this 2022 list with flames dripping from his wings. He had higher grades on Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor and LSU's Clyde Edwards-Helaire last year than the 2021 class. Of course, the elephant in the room is going to be health. Taylor had the most elite skills, the gaudiest stats, the best health, and the highest usage last season. Jonathan Taylor is the better back but Najee Harris has shown steady improvement the last two weeks. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | Andrew Erickson, I have seen Najee Harris slander on the timeline in recent weeks. When healthy, hes easily the best player in all of fantasy football. 2022 RANKINGS TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs. Use this breakdown of the top fantasy running backs to make smart draft decisions. He has been placed on IR and won't return in 2022. #ForTheShoe @JayT23. My highest-graded team was team 7, who took Jonathan Taylor in the first round and ended up with another potential RB1 in Rhamondre Stevenson, to go along with an elite bounce-back candidate in Mark Andrews. Considering the extent of CMCs injuries have not resulted in major surgeries or completely torn ligaments, I like him bouncing back to form in 2022. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers 13. No quarterback targeted running backs more than new Colts quarterback Matt Ryan did in 2021 8.6 targets per game. Injuries are an inevitable part of fantasy football, especially at running back. Luckily, Harris accomplished just that, earning a PFF grade over 88.1 in his final three seasons at Alabama. Hunt is a good back, but as long as he is in Cleveland and playing a complementary role to Chubb, his ceiling will always be capped. No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form. Click here to confirm your accessLogin Now. Jonathan Taylor or Najee Harris | Who Should I Draft in Dynasty? So, who should go 1-2-3 out of the top tier of RBs in PPR drafts? Kamara, who has looked great in camp, should be a top-10 fantasy runner as long as he isnt faced with an in-season suspension for an off-field issue. 2022 PPR RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Top 200 | Superflex, Dont get cute. So, that worked out nicely for Jamey from the No. Lets dive right into the top five candidates. DOB Mar 9, 1998 Age 24.9. Henry is a cyborg, simply put, and can do it all -- from running around and through defenders with ease, to running past them with speed unnatural to his size, to catching the ball out of the backfield to throwing it.