While prepping for your fantasy football drafts, it’s important to research every position thoroughly. Running back is arguably the most important position in fantasy football. So it’s important to have a sound strategy and to hone in on targets well before your draft.
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Yahoo analysts Matt Harmon, Ray Garvin and Scott Pianowski joined us today to discuss the running back position and hopefully answer some important questions for you before your draft. Below is a recap of our RB roundtable where the analysts provide their insight into the position.
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What are you doing with Saquon Barkley and CMC in drafts?
Matt Harmon: While still well aware of the risks that Barkley’s 480-plus touch 2024 workload brings over into this season, I still can’t rank him outside the top-three backs this season. He’s a special back in a uniquely efficient rushing ecosystem. As for Christian McCaffrey, as long as he continues to operate without an injury heading into Week 1, he’s a first-round pick. Even ranking him eighth overall, as I do, is giving you a discount. From 2022 to 2023, he led all running backs with 19.6% target share and lapped the field with 671.7 half PPR points. Derrick Henry was second with 518.9. If CMC pops up with an injury in the next few weeks, we dock him. For now, this is where it stands.
Scott Pianowski: I’m probably out on Barkley because I want to target youth at running back, which leads to Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round (or a wideout). Barkley absorbing 482 touches last year has me nervous. I’m more likely to take McCaffrey if my league is uber-competitive — in those instances, the heck with floor, let’s just try to find the most simplistic yet plausible path to winning. In a league with less competition, I’d prefer not to take on CMC’s risk in Round 1.
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Ray Garvin: Saquon’s 2024 with the Eagles was nothing short of historic. This offensive line is dominant, the WR core is loaded, and the defense will create scoring chances. I’ll draft Barkley without hesitation, even with a heavy workload. If he breaks down, I can live with that — I’d rather go down swinging than watch him carry someone else. McCaffrey is in a far different spot: an average 49ers line, no WRs to take the heat off, and little backfield depth. That’s a recipe for defensive focus and wear. In 2025 redraft, I’m comfortably in on Barkley and much cooler on CMC.
Which back do you like the most for a Zero-RB build?
Pianowski: I probably won’t lean into Zero-RB this year, but if I waited at the position, I’d be targeting options like Tony Pollard, RJ Harvey or TreVeyon Henderson. Soon after that I’d try to find a hit in a nebulous backfield, perhaps Tank Bigsby or Bhayshul Tuten in Jacksonville, or one of the Dallas running backs (though I still think the Cowboys will eventually junk the run and become a carnival offense).
Garvin: Zero-RB isn’t my preferred strategy, but if you double or triple up on elite outcome WRs, a top TE, and an elite QB early, it can work. Late Round 6, I’d consider a rookie like TreVeyon Henderson, then pair him in Rounds 8-9 with Tyrone Tracy Jr.. Jordan Mason (ADP 93) should see early work. Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins could provide strong value in Round 8 now that news is reporting he will not face criminal charges. Rookie Woody Marks brings late-round receiving juice in Houston. With many fading Zero-RB and top backs overpriced, this might be the year to zig while everyone else zags and still build an RB room with opportunity.
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Harmon: Just like Scott, I don’t find myself interested in Zero-RB this year. There’s too much receiver depth in Rounds 5-8 and the running-back landscape falls off a cliff quickly. If I do wait on running backs until Round 8 or later — that’s a bare minimum true Zero-RB build to me — then I’m targeting rookies in ambiguous backfields. Bhayshul Tuten and Jaydon Blue are the top options. I’d also make sure to stack my team with guys like Zach Charbonnet, who have shown themselves to be capable of starting and offering strong play, but the fantasy community has decided they’re not even a 1B behind the top back on the depth chart. Set yourself up to benefit from chaos, which could hit any backfield, rather than write in pen, “I am targeting this guy late,” when executing Zero-RB.
Which RB2 is ready to move into RB1 territory?
Garvin: Alvin Kamara. Age in redraft doesn’t bother me especially for a back who wins through the air. Kamara still has elite receiving chops, with 68 catches last season in a bad New Orleans offense. The QB play is suspect, the O-line has holes, and yet this attack still flows through AK41. He’s game-script proof and racks up points in the most valuable way for fantasy managers: receptions and red-zone touches. This is a volume bet with proven efficiency. I’m confident Kamara can push into RB1 territory again in 2025, regardless of how ugly things might look for the Saints.
Harmon: Many of my peers seem to be out on Chuba Hubbard but I find his sub-40th overall ADP to be reasonable. Maybe I’m the fool. Hubbard played on 68.7% of the Panthers’ snaps last year, despite not participating in the full season after a late injury cut his time short. So he has room to let another back like Rico Dowdle get some run and still be a the primary option. He maintained a 10.4% target share, so he’s not useless in the passing game. Overall, this Panthers offense is one I believe to be on the upswing with a strong offensive line. It’s a unit I want to bet on.
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Pianowski: Even with the Rashawn Slater injury, it looks like wheels up for Omarion Hampton in Los Angeles. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hampton creeps into the RB1 draft cutoff before the season starts. Tony Pollard is more of a sleeper pick for this question, especially with Tyjae Spears suffering a setback. Cam Ward might not be a star right away, but he should be better than the spotty quarterbacks the Titans used last season. Look for better octane from the Tennessee offense this year.
Who will be the third best rookie RB? (after Jeanty/Hampton)
Garvin: RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos. Don’t let the RB5 depth chart label fool you — Sean Payton’s been using him as the No. 2 in camp behind J.K. Dobbins. Harvey’s college production at UCF was explosive: over 50 runs of 10+ yards in 2024, with an FBS-best 23.3% of carries going for double-digit gains. He’s built to create chunk plays in any role. Even if Denver opens with a committee, Harvey’s burst and vision make him one injury or hot-hand stretch away from being a weekly fantasy star. That’s exactly the type of profile that pops earlier than the market expects.
Harmon: I have RJ Harvey ranked as the RB20 and atop my fifth tier of running backs. So I’m leaving some room for risk of a slow start while J.K. Dobbins gets veteran deference early on and perhaps inherits grinder carries all season. I’m willing to be patient and lenient towards a committee approach in a backfield that needed juice. The Broncos were top-10 in yards before contact on their running back runs last year but 28th in yards after contact per rush. Harvey brings both explosive run potential and utility in the screen game.
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Pianowski: I think the Browns picked the wrong Ohio State running back — lucky for the Patriots. Although Rhamondre Stevenson will still have a role, TreVeyon Henderson is a splash play waiting to happen and should take over this backfield quickly. I also love the Patriots rehiring OC Josh McDaniels — McDaniels is one of those coaches who is miscast as a head man, but a perfect fit as a play-designer.
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