Who is your top running back in a normal fantasy league? Does your answer change for PPR leagues?
Jason Wood
This was one of those years where I could see quite a few rookie running backs ending up in key roles no later than next season. I have far less conviction on picking the top redraft rookie running back than I do at quarterback or wide receiver.
For now, Clyde Edwards-Helaire sits atop the list. Not only was he the first running back drafted, and the only first-rounder, but he landed on the defending Super Bowl champions. Edwards-Helaire isn't stepping into a situation with questions about his supporting cast or blockers; they're proven. The only question for Edwards-Helaire is whether the COVID-19 situation clouds his ability to displace Damien Williams atop the depth chart.
Edwards-Helaire is an ideal scheme fit for Andy Reid's multi-faceted system. The former LSU Tiger can handle RPOs with aplomb and should be instantly comfortable in Reid's complex zone schemes.
Jordan McNamara
I’ll echo what Jason said. This is a historic running back class. For dynasty leagues, it’s a great situation to restock your roster with talent for years to come. For this season, I think weekly production from Clyde Edwards-Helaire may be difficult to predict. Damien Williams is a pro and will not just go away. They also have role players in Darwin Thompson and Darrel Williams. Edwards-Helaire is the long-term play in the Kansas City backfield, but it could be difficult to forecast early in the season. I think Jonathan Taylor has the best floor and highest ceiling in 2020. He plays behind an elite offensive line and laps Marlon Mack in skill. While the passing numbers were low at Wisconsin, some advanced metrics, like yards per route run, signal opportunity for growth in the NFL.
Phil Alexander
I'm with Jordan. I fully expected Clyde Edwards-Helaire to be my top rookie back for 2020 but my first spin of (crude) projections have Jonathan Taylor leading all rookies in year one.
He lands in a crowded backfield on the surface, but Indianapolis doesn't trade up for Taylor in Round 2 if they were eager to ride with Marlon Mack as their lead runner. As Jordan suggested, Taylor is simply a better player than Mack and will relegate him to the bench. Taylor has it all - off the charts athleticism (a sub 4.4 forty at 226 lbs.) and top-shelf college production (his two-year rushing total was third-best in NCAA history).
Indianapolis is gearing up to be a run-first team behind one of the better offensive lines in football. Questions about Taylor's pass-catching ability may give Edwards-Helaire the higher ceiling but we shouldn't discount his association with new Colts quarterback, Philip Rivers, who remains one of the best screen-game passers in the league.
Overall, What Taylor cedes as a pass-catcher to Edwards-Helaire, he will make up for in rushing volume and lack of competition. For one year at least, Kansas City is unlikely to completely forget about Damien Williams, who can protect Patrick Mahomes II and was a key contributor in the Chiefs Super Bowl run.
Andy Hicks
For years we have seen running backs land in less than ideal situations in the draft. This draft class looks like one where we are spoiled for choice. You can make a case for every back taken in the first four rounds landing in a good spot.
- The fourth rounders in DeeJay Dallas, Anthony McFarland, LaMical Perine, and Joshua Kelly all land on rosters with backs of a similar pedigree or in the case of Perine where the starter LeVeon Bell is towards the back end of his career.
- In the third round, Darryton Evans is an almost certain backup to Derrick Henry, and with Henry on the franchise tag, things can quickly go south.
- Zach Moss is at the very least a strong complement to Devin Singletary and depending on the ability of Singletary to handle a load, Moss could easily usurp a large chunk of the pie.
- KeShawn Vaughn lands on a roster starved of a franchise back.
- Antonio Gibson is designated as a running back at this stage. Gibson, behind an aged Adrian Peterson and an injury-prone Derrius Guice, could easily eke out a role.
- A.J. Dillon has Aaron Jones coming off a career year, but the Packers probably won’t want to deal with an excessive free-agent contract for him so they could easily transition to Dillon.
- J.K. Dobbins looks like he gets a year to learn from an established veteran in Mark Ingram and should take over the backfield sooner rather than later.
- Cam Akers only has to beat out Darrell Henderson who was barely seen in his rookie season.
- Indianapolis has been crying out for a long term starter at running back after years of guys who are competent, but lack class. Jonathan Taylor should change that.
- Detroit is probably a bad spot for DAndre Swift if Kerryon Johnson is healthy, but as Johnson has missed 14 games in two years that is hypothetical.
Others have discussed the leading candidate for 2020 success in Clyde Edwards-Helaire and while Damien Williams is a pro, he is a system fit that was the third or fourth choice in an injury-plagued season in 2018 and didn’t take the role last year. Everyone on the team has gushed about Edwards-Helaire and providing he ticks the vital pass protection box should be the back everyone wants.
Long term I like J.K. Dobbins to do fantastic things with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
Chad Parsons
I expect a Nick Chubb type situation with the Colts backfield where Jonathan Taylor is overtly better than the incumbent (Marlon Mack) and cannot be kept off the field as the season progresses. With a strong offensive line, I see Taylor as a strong fantasy starter especially in the second half of the season. Clyde Edwards-Helaire will make his impact primarily through the passing game, which has its own set of hurdles for a rookie running back to see the field in enough optimal settings to get the volume high enough. Cam Akers is my other selection as I view him easily better than the two existing backs with the Rams (Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson) to be the starter early in the season and run (no pun intended) with the job.
Jeff Haseley
I agree that there are several good running backs in this draft class, but none have a clear-cut path to immediate playing time and volume. This is how I would rank this year's rookie class in terms of immediate production potential. Again, it's not a rookie ranking for dynasty purposes, but a ranking of rookie running back fantasy potential for 2020.
- Jonathan Taylor - He could earn the job outright by Week 1 and not look back, but then again the Colts may elect to roll with their experienced back, Marlon Mack...at least for a little while Taylor learns the ropes and earns his keep.
- Cam Akers - Akers may not be the best of the drafted running backs, but it appears that his path to increased playing time may be sooner than the others. He has Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown to beat out. Neither has cemented themselves as reliable backs with the Rams. If Akers comes out strong, he could assume the #1 role fast. Only Taylor's talent over Mack is keeping me from ranking Akers #1 in terms of immediate production potential.
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire - Like Taylor, Edwards-Helaire may need to earn his way to more volume. I believe he'll be a factor, but perhaps not a fulltime option.
- DAndre Swift - The Detroit running game hasn't been a dominant force since before Matthew Stafford came to town. Reggie Bush or Kevin Jones may be the last "really good" productive running back in Detroit. Swift is already behind the eight-ball in this situation where the running game takes a back seat in Detroit. Will the Lions lean on their rookie? If that answer is yes, Swift's fantasy value takes a leap.
- J.K. Dobbins - I am all for Dobbins as a fantasy running back and a fit with the Ravens, however, I don't think they are going to let Mark Ingram just fade away. They also have a capable and eager Justice Hill in the mix too.
- Antonio Gibson - I don't see Gibson as an all-purpose back, but he will fulfill a role with Washington. Ron Rivera sees him as a possible weapon in the Christian McCaffrey mold. Can he be as productive as him? Likely not, but that doesn't mean he won't see a ton of touches, especially as a receiver.
