Way Too Early Fantasy Football Rankings – Runnings Backs

Way Too Early My Guy RBs for 2024

Here we go! This is my first round of RB rankings, but I’ll be updating these throughout the off-season. Bookmark this page to keep tabs on my rankings. These rankings are for RB only and based on PPR settings. Some players are not yet included in my Top 24 that will most likely land there due to their uncertainty of free agency, player options, returning from injury, etc. Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Nick Chubb are among those. 

Which RBs am I too high on? Comment below and we’ll discuss in the chat.

Remember to check in with the @RazzballNFL team of writers as we host our Tuesday evening show, where we hit on all things offseason fantasy football.  Join Bobby LaMarco @BobbyLaMarco, Matt Stiles @stiles08, The Lineup Builder @Derek_Favret, and me, Sky Guasco @SkyGuasco at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST for the show as we answer all your questions thus keeping you engaged for the 2024 season while looking back at what coulda, shoulda, woulda been in 2023. Come for the analysis, and stay for the laughs!

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• Player: Jahmyr Gibbs
• Team: Detroit Lions
• My Ranking: RB2 (ECR RB6)

Gibbs could end as the RB1 overall. I know backfield-mate David Montgomery finished RB17, but Gibbs has a gear DMont doesn’t possess. Gibbs had 1,233 total yards and 10 TDs. After a relatively mediocre start for the rookie, he caught his stride. From Week 7 on, he was Top 3 in PPR in six of his 10 games scoring all of his TDs between weeks 7-16. For me, Gibbs is the “new Kamara”.

OC Ben Johnson returns to an offense that played in the NFC Championship Game. His receiving chops alone give his Top 10 upside. His rushing burst and big play potential sets him apart from Montgomery. We saw Gibbs score 27+ PPR points in back-to-back games DMont missed. If Gibbs hauls in 80 receptions with 1,000 yards rushing and double-digit scores, he’ll be fighting for RB1 overall; definitely Top 3. 

• Player: De’Von Achane
• Team: Miami Dolphins
• My Ranking: RB3 (ECR RB9)

Achane might be the riskiest ranking for me so far this off-season, but he also may have the most upside. He was tied for 3rd w/ teammate Raheem Mostert with the 4th most RB PPRPPG. Achane earned 963 total yards and 10 TDs in just 10 games. The rookie had the most 20+ yard runs (20)… in 10 games. He has elite speed, and Mostert will be 32 heading into 2024.

If the latter should see his workload diminish or experience injury, Achane could be a league-winner. Even if Mostert retains the starting role, Achane showed he has Top 5 potential per game. I think the sky’s the limit, and will reach for Achane.

• Player: Alvin Kamara 
• Team: New Orleans Saints
• My Ranking: RB6 (ECR RB20)

I can’t wait to get massive value on Kamara again this summer after drafting him everywhere in the 6th-7th Round as my RB3 last draft season. He was being faded by drafters due to his three-game suspension. Once he was in the starting lineup, he was as good as ever. AK41 led RBs in rec w/ 75 and missed 3 games.

He started his career with three consecutive seasons of exactly 81 receptions. He would have blown that out of the water had he not missed time. Kamara was RB3 in PPRPPG w/ just 6 TDs. He has double-digit TDs in multiple seasons over his career. That should level up. Folks forget he had 1,160 yards. Kamara listed as the RB20 right now, is criminal. I obviously won’t need to draft him as the RB6, but even if I reach for him as RB15, I feel I’m getting massive value in what should be another great season for Kamara in 2024.

• Player: James Cook
• Team: Buffalo Bills
• My Ranking: RB10 (ECR RB13)

Cook broke out by doubling his workload and output in his second season. Lil’ Dalvin was fourth in rushing yards and ninth in carries, but lacked explosive plays, which he grew to love by his brother in Minnesota. Yung Cook took just 10 of his 237 carries more than 20 yards. Of the 23 RBs that saw at least 200 carries, J. Cook scored the fewest rushing touchdowns with only two. He was buoyed by his receiving work, earning the eighth-most receiving yards among RBs. Of the 46 RBs that saw at least 30 targets, Cook had the highest yards per receptions with 10.1.

If there’s ever a time that the Bills don’t use Josh Allen as the goal line back or bring in two washed veterans (Latavius Murray and Leonard Fournette) to take the remainder of the short-yardage, Cook has a chance to be a Top-5 fantasy RB. His touchdowns should go up by default next season. Assuming he retains the same opportunities otherwise, he’ll be Top 10 once again. 

• Player: Aaron Jones
• Team: Green Bay Packers
• My Ranking: RB17 (ECR RB23)

Jones was the RB1 overall in PPR Week 1 with/ 26 fantasy points. He stuttered thereafter, missing six games and portions of two more. He was RB37 in PPR overall on the season but RB26 in PPRPPG. Through the fantasy playoffs, though, Jones was RB10, averaging 14.6 PPRPPG. He only had three total touchdowns, which hurt his overall numbers, but he was a factor in the NFL Playoffs for the Packers, who upset the Cowboys before losing a nailbiter to the NFC Champion 49ers. Jones was still very efficient running the ball going for 4.6 yards per carry. He also had the 2nd-most yards per route run among RBs at 1.85.

Jordan Love proved to be legit in the second half and playoffs for Green Bay. Assuming Jones returns to Lambeau, he should return as a Top 12 RB in fantasy. He’s a backend RB2 in ECR right now. I have him a few slots higher. My only hesitation is AJ Dillon’s status and what they do with this budding youthful receiving corps. I can see Jones rising in my rankings as the summer approaches. 

For more from Sky and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @skyguasco.