The NFL draft is settled and the majority of fantasy-relevant free agents have found their new homes. Fantasy managers are left with a ton of time to prepare and strategize for their drafts coming up in late August or early September. It never hurts to be proactive, and before training camp hype videos and reports start coming out, let’s take a look at the WAY too early RB tier list for 2023.

S Tier – The Stud’s

Christian McCaffrey – When healthy, CMC is a locked and loaded top-three RB. He showcases elite pass-catching and rushing ability. San Fran is easily the best offensive system he’s ever played in. Still only 26 years old and finished as the RB2 in both PPR and STD last year.

Austin Ekeler – The RB1 in PPR last year despite a slow start. Contract issues can be a little concerning, but I think he stays put in LA. Coming in at 28 years old but with the Chargers high-powered offense I still have him finishing as a top-three RB.

A Tier – Dynamite RB1’s

Derrick Henry – The tried and true consistent top-five RB. He is a touchdown-scoring, workhorse machine. 1,400 yards are almost guaranteed every year. Rookie QB might affect his game, but nothing to cause much concern.

Saquon Barkley – I wanted to put him in the S tier but would like to see more consistent fantasy dominance from him first. Saquan looks like he will not sign the franchise tag and wants a big deal. Giants are left with the choice of dealing him or giving him what he wants. A top-five finish is almost guaranteed no matter where Barkley ends up.

Josh Jacobs – He signed the franchise tag and got Mr. Checkdown himself as his new QB. The Raiders shipped off Waller, so the offense will be led by Jacobs and Davantae. Look for the Raiders to squeeze everything they can out of Jacobs while they are only committed to him for one year. I predict a similar season to last year, with a slight regression.

B Tier – Middle to Lower RB1’s

Jonathan Taylor – He is far too talented to have him any lower, but the disappointing 2022 season is hard to ignore. Hopefully, it was just a dumpster fire year for the Colts and they regain some stability back in 2023. A new head coach and scheme should help Taylor return somewhat to form.

Nick Chubb – If only Chubb had more receiving upside he would be ranked higher. Regardless, 1,300 yards and 10+ touchdowns seem to be the standard for him. He is a rock-solid RB1 even without the receiving upside.

Rhamondre Stevenson – Huge potential for the RB7 in PPR last year. Top echelon receiving threat and absolutely electric with the ball in his hands. Bill O’Brien should be able to unlock even more from Stevenson in 2023. Don’t be surprised if he moves up a tier this time next year.

Bijan Robinson – Only thing standing in this young man’s way is the unknown. He joins a backfield that is run-heavy, but has a 1,000-yard rusher on the roster in Tyler Allgeier. Robinson possesses all the tools to be a dominant back in this league. Would not be surprised if Robinson spends much of his career in the S tier.

Breece Hall – Another running back with supreme upside. A nasty injury sidelined what was shaping up to be a very impressive season. Fantasy managers need to monitor how he looks coming off the injury for 2023, as well as his workload. Electric runner, pass catcher, and too talented to ignore, look to still grab “Breece Lightening” in the first three rounds.

Tony Pollard – Rounding out the B tier is another running back with home run potential every time he touches the ball. A threat on the ground as well as receiving, the big question mark is how he handles a true workhorse volume in 2023.

C Tier – Teetering Between RB1 and High-Value RB2

Travis Etienne – High upside back on an explosive offense and great offensive-minded head coach. Look for a solid season from Etiene barring any injury.

Najee Harris – I want to love Najee in fantasy, but he makes it difficult. Workhorse level volume, but incredibly inefficient. I need to see Najee break off bigger plays before I bump him up a tier.

J.K. Dobbins – Excellent runner who has been lacking workload in his young career. A new-look Ravens offense should only help Dobbins. Look for an improved year in 2023.

Aaron Jones – Still the lead back on this Packers team (for now) and his receiving upside really bolsters his fantasy impact. This might be the last year we have Jones this high.

Miles Sanders – Coming off a top-15 finish in 2022, Sanders looks to be the featured back of a young Carolina offense. Regression is certainly bound to happen, but Sanders should still fare well for fantasy purposes with his new squad.

Dalvin Cook – Put some respect on his name. Cook has been a fantasy staple for years and although somewhat out of nowhere, was a top-10 RB in 2022. He’s not getting any younger, but I’m not counting out Cook until I see it.

D Tier – RB2’s

Ken Walker – It pains me to have Walker in this tier, but drafting Zach Charbonet was no fluke. Now a committee backfield, Walker could see his snaps decrease in 2023.

D’Andre Swift – A change of scenery is the best thing to happen for Swift. The talent has always seemed to be there, but durability issues have plagued him for the entirety of his career. It’s tough to trust a back that can’t stay on the field, no matter how talented.

Dameon Pierce – One of my favorite sleeper backs. Bulldog with the ball in his hands and sneaky receiving upside. The only thing in Pierce’s way is how terrible the Texans will probably be in 2023.

Jahmyr Gibbs – Gibbs’s talent is through the roof and he has tremendous upside. However, the Lions did sign David Montgomery to a multi-year deal, and could vulture scores and points away from Gibbs.

Javonte Williams – Similar to Saquon in 2021, I need to see how Williams fares after a horrific injury. I believe Williams will have a better 2024 than 2023, given how historically challenging his injury has been for other backs the following year.

Joe Mixon – Volume is the only reason he is on this list. Utterly inefficient, with a whopping 55-point game inflating his fantasy stats. He is still the lead back in Cincinnati, so he does have fantasy relevance for 2023.

James Conner – Similar to Pierce, lack of talent is not what hinders Connor for 2023. The Cardinals will be bottom-barrel again in 2023, hurting Connor and his fantasy impact.

Running it Back

All running backs are not created equal, and tiers can be very helpful in preparing for your draft. Tiers help the drafter organize their thoughts and accumulate multiple picks for where they believe a player’s value is. Once tiers are complete, it comes down to personal preference on draft day. Whether it’s the high upside player, consistent value, or sleeper, this RB tier list can help simplify your decisions on the big day.

About the Author

Paul Orlando is a die-hard Ravens and Orioles fan and a fantasy football junkie. Paul is co-host of The Eye Test: A Fantasy Football Podcast on Youtube and has recently begun writing for Belly Up Sports. He gives expert advice in both Dynasty and Redraft settings, and loves finding the sleepers no one else talks about. Find all things fantasy football on Belly Up Fantasy Sports.