Conner should get the first shot at major work, but Darrel Williams is looming to hamper his ceiling potentially. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. If you draft either of these players, you should almost certainly draft their handcuffs (Chuba Hubbard/D'Onta Foreman for McCaffrey and Alexander Mattison). Williams has top-five upside, but can he reach it with Melvin Gordon in the mix? 1 pick, Commanders rip 'blatantly false' team sale report, Richardson logs colossal measurements at combine, Top QB in draft has one team he doesn't want to play for. 2022 RANKINGS TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs. Hall is also a very talented three-down back, but as a rookie in a team expected to struggle to win games, his touches could be controlled. Among rushers w/ 125 or ^ rushing attempts (per @FTNData), 76.5% of his rushing yds have come after contact pic.twitter.com/uxFU4uiSPy, Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) January 13, 2022, Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio. Sometimes running backs have to do more with less, and no one knows this better than Mixon. Pierce, who looks like the Texans No. His sheer all-purpose yardage numbers and TD volume make him a cant-miss pick, especially considering his age (23) and his health (he played all 17 games last season). For a franchise that has always prided themselves on establishing the run, 2020 was abysmal. Austin Ekeler, Chargers Najee Harris, Steelers Derrick Henry, Titans. Flex: RB Najee Harris, Steelers ($9,400) So, you're probably thinking there is one or two honorable mentions (listed below) who deserve this spot over Jones, but if I agreed with you, they'd be in this spot. That's a pretty standard Hero-RB-ish build, which is my preferred strategy at this point. And his good luck continued in the second round, as Najee Harris tumbled to the 17th overall pick nearly a round later than his 6.84 ADP in NFC drafts, though over the past week, Harris' price has fallen to 8.41, so it might not be as outlandish as it seems. Whether on the ground or through the air, JT has proven hes the most all-around dominant player at the position. The remaining names in this tier all rank inside the top 15 overall in our consensus 2022 PPR fantasy rankings. When it comes to Taylor, we are just scratching the surface on what he is capable of in . Taylor netted 5.5 yards per carry last season, tying Chubb for the most efficient average of backs with 120 or more rushing attempts. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers 14. An immobile Ben Roethlisberger was a check-down target machine to Harris in 2021 which may not be the case in 2022. 2, get a good pair of noise-canceling headphones to block out the unlimited heckling your leaguemates will subject you with throughout the season. Can't. And with Matt Ryan now replacing Wentz, it's likely Taylor might terrorize the NFL yet again in 2022. Indys offensive line helped the young stud a great deal and should be strong again this year despite losing two starters. How do PFN's fantasy football RB tiers for 2022 shape up as fantasy managers head into their drafts over the coming weeks? 10, while FantasyPros grades Indys schedule as a three out of five. 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. Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com It makes sense JT was the best RB last year, and King Henry dominated the previous two seasons before breaking a bone in his right foot last Halloween. He added one catch for 10 . He caught just 19-of-31 targets in 2019 and averaged only six yards per reception. All Rights Reserved. At just 23, he was the focal point of the Steelers otherwise-dreadful offense, garnering 307 rushing attempts (second) and 94 targets (tied for first among all RBs). The others on this list are all talented, but workload questions are prevalent. J.K. DobbinsCordarrelle PattersonElijah MitchellChase EdmondsMiles SandersTony PollardDevin SingletaryKareem HuntAntonio Gibson. Check out the full list: Like we said this time last year, Henry will get the ball early and often, but he will really be turning on the afterburners as we get closer to fantasy playoff time. After scoring a combined 33 TDs through his 1st two seasons, Taylor scored just four rushing TDs in 2022. 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. This tier spans just over 10 spots in our overall PPR rankings. 9:54 am ET. Harris carried the ball 23 times for 84 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-14 win over the Browns. Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Najee Harris is my No. Hes younger, healthier, and has a better offensive line. Taylor played all 17 regular-season games in 21 and looked fine despite the massive usage. . 1 RB in standard leagues. You will rarely see Ekeler being taken above the other two, but if you have the third selection in drafts, hes a strong player to start your draft with. discount code "SPORTING" to become a RotoBaller subscriber. Dillon saw an increase in usage down the stretch last season, especially in the red zone. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business! section: | slug: ranking-nfls-top-10-rbs-for-2022-christian-mccaffrey-plummets-with-injury-concerns-jonathan-taylor-soars | sport: football | route: article_single.us | We should expect something closer to his 332 rush, 1811 rushing yards, 18 TD season in the next few years. Najee Harris Highlights (2020)alabama heisman running back college football jukes trucks hits So, if you miss out on a particular player you can see others on his tier. Jonathan Taylor Nick Chubb Rhamondre Stevenson 1. Chubb should remain the pounder in the Browns offense, but hell lose touches to Kareem Hunt in a shared backfield. Fournette is set to be a three-down back for the Buccaneers in 2022, but there are growing concerns around the strength of Tampa Bays offensive line. Because the Steelers did not practice on Tuesday, they issued an estimated injury report, and Harris (hip) was listed as a limited participant. Given Henrys importance to the Titans offense and Tennessees shot at contending it would be somewhat surprising to see him garner another touch count in the 330-370 range. Taylor is not just the No. Get insight into every teams' depth chart to see all the backups and sleepers you need to know with our 2022 RB . Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Top Quarterbacks: Comparing Player Props With ADP and Rankings, Pete Carroll Is Still Going Strong and Setting the Seahawks Culture. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Meanwhile, McCaffrey is the most prolific fantasy RB since LaDainian Tomlinson. PRO CAREER. Pittsburgh has clear issues at QB (moving from retired Big Ben Roethlisberger to either Mitchell Trubisky or Kenny Pickett) and offensive line (ranked the third-worst line by PFF). All five of these running backs could finish the season in Tier 2, but for now theyre all being selected as mid-RB1s in most drafts. tool, which they've made available to SN Fantasy readers forfree. Harris was not an efficient back last year, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry and 5.5 yards receiving behind one a weak offensive line. Its also imperative to pay attention to injury risks and the age factor. Matt Brandon Oct 6th 5:45 PM EDT. Only Jonathan Taylor of the Colts had more carries (332) than Harris (307) last season, and the Steelers sophomore is expected to carry a heavy workload again in 2022. He has a pre-athletic testing score of a 96.5 overall prospect score RBs who had a 90 or above in past years: Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Breece Hall, Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, Derrick Henry, Zeke, Fournette. Najee Harris or Jonathan Taylor: Who Should Rich Eisen Take at #9 in His Fantasy Football Draft? No matter what team build approach you choose, you're going to be making some kind of sacrifices. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Barkley has high RB1 potential, but hes failed to meet expectations the past few years. He enters his . Taylor Made (Jonathan Taylor) Hot Chubb Time Machine (Nick Chubb) Best fantasy team names for top wide receivers. 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. The biggest difference between Taylor and Henry, besides health and age lies in the passing game. So, that worked out nicely for Jamey from the No. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: fantasynews | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | King Henry could easily be the rushing champ again before his reign ends, but dont waste a top PPR pick on a volume-dependent back with little receiving pedigree less than nine months removed from a foot injury. David MontgomeryBreece HallTravis EtienneCam AkersAJ DillonJosh Jacobs. Im projecting Foreman as the top handcuff for CMC, but Chuba Hubbard is also in the mix for the Panthers. Regardless of format, you should be pretty pleased if you land Henry in the middle of the first round. Jonathan TaylorChristian McCaffreyAustin Ekeler. However, it still makes sense because you must be rigid with only selecting the running backs who can anchor the RB1 spot while maintaining flexibility within the first two rounds to avoid missing elite receivers. I side with . Najee Harris, Pit (RB5) -- Karabell 8. Watch the NFL all season long with fuboTV. in 2020. Quite simply, he combined superior talent with opportunity. Facebook; Twitter; . 1 in PPRs with just 30-40 catches. The case for Jonathan Taylor over Nick Chubb. But it is unclear who,. 47. . Najee Harris Is A Very Talented Player To be a first-round pick, it is obviously imperative that you produce at a high level in college, especially at a position that isn't valued significantly. Najee Harris. Last season, he was 27th in snaps at just 49% amongst RBs a number that will undoubtedly increase in 2021. $48 Jonathan Taylor ($50) $46 Christian McCaffrey ($41) . This week the 3-7 Pittsburgh Steelers go on the road to take on the 4-6-1 Indianapolis Colts. I went the opposite direction, locking in more guaranteed high-end production with my tight end and quarterback. Workload might be an issue for the freight train in shoulder pads, but hes still a high-end runner in all fantasy leagues. Harris was inefficient but was utilized heavily in the run and passing game, which should remain. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Of course, nobody will call you a donkey for opting instead for King Henry. 1 running back, has seen his stock rise substantially. You can see stats, bowl records, awards and more. The Chargers let Melvin Gordon walk because of their belief in Ekeler, and it was well-founded. 2022 PPR RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Top 200 | Superflex, Dont get cute. He is rushing for 78.3 yds on the ground per contest. Everyone loves upside and potential steals, but there seems like way too much potential downside to grabbing CMC before No. Hes so utterly dominant on the ground that he could finish No. Our ESPN draft analysts all selected Harris as the top running back, with Kiper . He should lead the backfield in touches, but there are too many talented backs in that room, all of whom could steal touches, especially around the goal line. Elevating Ekeler to the starting role has paid off like gangbusters in tandem with the drafting of Justin Herbert, and his dual-threat ability that also allows him to be an effective receiver out of the backfield truly does take defensive pressure off of wide receiver Mike Williams. Despite being drafted in the first round of fantasy football, Jonathan Taylor, Alvin Kamara, Najee Harris, and Dalvin Cook have all struggled substantially. Hes locked into massive volume behind one of the best run-blocking offensive lines in the league. You don't currently have any notifications. 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. For when it comes to assessing the best in the NFL at the position, you're hard-pressed to keep that argument going, knowing full well not everyone can do what they do, when/if given the chance. While the ceilings not as high anymore, he should have the volume to be a borderline top-12 RB this year. There are expectations he will take a bigger role in the passing game, but could losing goal-line work to AJ Dillon offset that? Tier 1 The EliteJonathan Taylor, ColtsChristian McCaffrey, Panthers. Gainwell could even push Sanders for touches, and Mostert would see more work if Edmonds were to go down, but he's clearly in the top two in Miami's backfield rotation. Even before he got hurt last season, Henry was averaging fewer yards per carry (4.3 to JTs 5.5) and yards per catch (8.6 to 9.0). Hes rushed for 33 touchdowns with the longest carry being for 62 yds. Singletary looks like the leader in the Bills backfield, making him a viable middle-round flex starter. Hes easily one of the best receiving backs in football, as evidenced by his 70 receptions for 647 yards and eight TDs through the air. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Cast your vote and tell us who you have winning this one. Jonathan Taylor is 'hottest back in the NFL,' feels good despite leading league in touches . When healthy, hes easily the best player in all of fantasy football. They have each been complete busts through four weeks of the NFL season. 1 in standard leagues before getting into whether any other RB -- maybe Austin Ekeler or Najee Harris -- should go over Taylor in PPR formats. Fantasy football running back tiers: Ranking the best RBs from Jonathan Taylor to Saquon Barkley and more. He was on pace for 90 catches and 1,906 scrimmage yards before the injury bug once again reared its ugly head. Kamara is truly lightning in a bottle and, without him, the Saints' offense wouldn't have been worth any conversation in 2021. In standard leagues, these two are the creme de la creme. 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. Williams ceiling got lowered with the return of Melvin Gordon. Mixon was a very good receiver out of the backfield in college, and in 2021, he will finally get more opportunities to display his pass-catching abilities. Kamara appears to be safe from an NFL suspension, at least for 2022, so his value is rising. For any redraft strategy, a manager must maintain fluid rigidity. Yes, its an oxymoron. He's been able to not only produce at a high level, but to do so in an offense that features Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, which is a nod to just how productive he is when his number is called. By Gene Clemons. He has been placed on IR and won't return in 2022. He did haul in 18-of-20 targets last season before getting hurt, but thats still a pretty small pre-injury sample size. Montgomery will lead a run-based attack in Chicago, though Khalil Herbert could earn more touches. Translation: They matter, and in a major way. 2 overall, and things mostly continued the way you expect for the next few picks, with one exception; Cooper Kupp kept falling. However, Elliott is still expected to take the majority of carries, limiting Pollards upside. 1 PPR back. Tier 3 Mid RB1sDalvin Cook, VikingsJoe Mixon, BengalsAlvin Kamara, SaintsD'Andre Swift, LionsLeonard Fournette, Buccaneers. 11 RB Joe Mixon CIN 10 $27 . 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 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 | 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. No surprises here, as Jonathan Taylor was the No. No team will mortgage their short-term playoff success or long-term outlook by overusing a stud back coming off a major injury sustained less than one year ago. Najee Harris should be a top-ten pick in all formats, and he should be considered one of the safest options across the board. Kamara is one of the halfbacks on this list who recently landed his bag, but it hasn't altered his approach to the game. Harris tallied 954 yards rushing, 219 yards receiving, and 9 TDs in the fantasy season. Andrew Erickson, I have seen Najee Harris slander on the timeline in recent weeks. However, with Jones still expected to be a major part of the backfield in Green Bay, Dillons opportunity to be a top-15 running back is severely hampered. This game could come down to which rushing offense steps up.. Weve already seen Sanders saying he doesnt get enough usage this offseason. 2. DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2022 fantasy cheat sheet. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) Round 1 1. Running back rankings for 2022 dynasty fantasy football leagues . As the future of Ryan Tannehill begins to come into question in Nashville, and with Pro Bowl receiver A.J. 1 pick. All of these backs will likely be in committees in 2022, making it tough to trust them as more than flex options. Najee Harris, PIT ADP 8.08. Swifts upside is hampered by the continued presence of Jamaal Williams. 2022 FANTASY SLEEPERS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | One from each team. 2022 FANTASY DRAFT STRATEGY:Snake drafts | Auctions | Dynasty | Best ball | IDP. Henry was on pace to rush for over 1,990 yards last season before going down with an injured foot. If you draft either No. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts . As our rankings show, we give Taylor the edge as the No. But I'd expect a bounce-back effort from Taylor in 2023. You don't currently have any notifications, Get custom advice with our Draft Assistant. 2 overall seems like a damn good option, and it's tough to blame anyone who ranks Pittsburghs back over Ekeler. 36 catches) as Indianapolis heads into the bye week, although Pittsburgh's Najee Harris (274 . . The fact the Colts laid an egg in a win-and-get-in against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars last season was much more attributable to the ghastly play of the now-traded (again) Carson Wentz and not Taylor, who was the heart and soul of the team's offense the entire season. Cook has been an elite fantasy back and he could see more chances as a pass catcher under new coach Kevin OConnell. Cuff options: Jonathan Taylor, Jordan Wilkins, Marlon Mack Review: The Colts' line is among the best when healthy, and early injuries worries have been somewhat abated. Jonathan Taylor or Najee Harris | Who Should I Draft in Dynasty? If Henry is healthy, his volume pushes him to the top of this tier, but hes now 28 with a heavy volume history. Tier 8 High RB3s/FlexTony Pollard, CowboysRhamondre Stevenson, PatriotsClyde Edwards-Helaire, ChiefsAntonio Gibson, CommandersCordarrelle Patterson, FalconsJ.K. Jonathan Taylor Injury Update Taylor was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain following Saturday's loss to the Vikings. Please check your email for a confirmation. At No. - Super Bowl VIEW ADVICE Start Over | Edit Players Summary Game Log Stats Projections Points Targets Notes Expert Voting Can't Decide? Hey, remember this guy? Dillon, Packers. Similarly, a back with elite pass-catching ability also has more opportunities to score TDs. Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Perhaps Jonathan Taylor has lost a step after enduring a heavy workload last season. He's also coming off a season where he scored just six times. Thats the $100,000 question in Denvers backfield. 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. The former Volunteer is continually volunteering to punch defenses in their mouths, but with what can only be described as an electric finesse. Are you looking to contact Customer Support about a subscription or account related question? In one fewer game Henry had 46 more carries and averaged almost 20 more rushing yards per game (126.7). As our rankings show, we give Taylor the edge as the No. Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. This is an intriguing mixed group of volume-based floor and huge talent upside. From Weeks 11 to 17, Taylor was the RB3 with 24.3 fantasy points per game. So, who should go 1-2-3 out of the top tier of RBs in PPR drafts? Hunt will continue to see work in Cleveland behind Chubb in a Browns offense that will be run heavy until Deshaun Watson returns. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers 13. You don't currently have any notifications, See if your team wins or loses with this trade View Trade Analyzer. There's a reason he won this league last year. Derrick HenryDalvin CookJoe MixonNajee HarrisLeonard FournetteDAndre SwiftAlvin Kamara.