Updated Fantasy Football RB Rankings 2024: Best running backs, top sleepers, and breakouts in PPR drafts

Running back is one of the most difficult positions to plan ahead for heading into your PPR drafts, especially if you don't know in advance what your draft position is going to be.

RBs used to fly off the draft boards fast and furiously in the first couple of rounds. With the rise of the WR position, that trend has dissipated, and as of Aug. 20, only three running backs are being drafted in the top-10 according to FantasyPros' Consensus ADP: Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, and Breece Hall. 

Things pick up at the position after that as five more RBs come off the board by the end of the second round, but back on Aug. 2, that number was actually seven. With more and more drafting data being collected, names like Kyren Williams, Isiah Pacheco and Derrick Henry are no longer being drafted in the first couple rounds. Panic setting in after missing out on an early RB target is a common trap for fantasy managers. Travis Etienne has an ADP of 20, but would I rather wait until the end of the third round and get De'Von Achane? Considering the alternative options to Etienne at other positions, the answer is likely going to be yes. 

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet

Similarly to that trap, there was a new term that caught fire in the fantasy football space called "Dead Zone Running Backs." These were running backs who possessed a mediocre skill set but were locked into starting RB workloads. When drafters missed out on the top crop of RBs, they would often settle for these Dead Zone Running Backs when they could have been drafting wide receivers with much higher ceilings — think Damien Harris in 2022 or Alexander Mattison in 2023.

Fantasy analysts far and wide suggested that you wait until the later rounds and take fliers on more talented backs who carried more big-play upside, like an Achane, or those who had a good chance of taking over a lead role later in the season, like a Blake Corum.

Well, apparently the public was listening. As more and more home leagues start drafting, these ADPs will continue to shift, but the current ADPs show that the dead zone doesn't really exist anymore. The more casual drafters are also catching on that there is better value to be had than an RB who might get 20 carries a game but average 3.5 yards per carry and can't catch a cold.

2024 PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | QB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K

While this means it may not be as easy to take advantage of managers falling for the Dead Zone trap, it also means you might have more RB options to consider when you're up on the clock. 

Fantasy football RB PPR rankings: Best running backs for 2024 drafts 

One of the early highlights on Hard Knocks this offseason was a peek behind the curtain of why the Giants decided to move on from Saquon Barkley and let him leave in free agency to their division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. The big concern was that historically, very few running backs see success that warrants the type of contract Barkley was looking for after they turn 27.

How old is Saquon? That's right, he's 27. The Eagles decided to roll the dice, but should fantasy managers? 

Running back is deep enough that you don't have to pounce on one in the first couple of rounds, but if you can snag one of the top five or six running backs, you can also wait on drafting your second one until much later.

2024 FANTASY AUCTION VALUES (PPR & STANDARD)
Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K

If you wait too long to take your first running back, you may have to take multiple backs in the middle rounds and miss out on a coveted wide receiver sleeper. These rankings should help you remain agile in your drafts. 

Notable changes in Running Back rankings

The most notable rankings change among the top-20 running backs saw Josh Jacobs moving up six spots to RB8. Jacobs had already been rising up the ranks as the bad taste from last season continued to wear off. Then, promising rookie Marshawn Lloyd missed much of the preseason. And lastly, AJ Dillon just landed on IR, ending his season. Jacobs looks primed now more than ever to take on a monster workload. 

Kenneth Walker moved up a couple more spots as all signs have pointed to an impressive camp. Jordan Mason soared up our rankings to RB42 after Elijah Mitchell landed on IR, making him the backup to Christian McCaffrey. If CMC misses any time, Mason will return tremendous value. Samaje Perine also gained additional relevance after being cut from the Broncos and landing on the Chiefs. And Trey Sermon moved up several spots towards the bottom of our rankings as he's now the clear backup to Jonathan Taylor. 

These running back rankings are based on scoring systems that award four points per TDs thrown and six points per rushing TD and have been adjusted to reflect teams cutting down to 53 players.

2024 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QB | RB | WR | TE