Fantasy football rankings: Eric Karabell's running back tiers

Fantasy football drafts are all about value, supply and demand and, to some degree, just plain going with your gut. Anyone can see the raw stats from last season, project ahead and make those numbers tell the story they desire, but there must be something more that separates how we choose the players. Relying in part on a positional tiered system can be of the utmost help during those pressurized moments in a draft when the clock is ticking and the seconds are winding down. Checking the tiers by position aids in decision-making.

Rankings are everywhere, of course, in our game and others, and everyone and their mail carrier can do them, but a tiered system takes the process further, allowing you to further clarify remaining value at a certain position and evaluate depth. Round 4 comes around and you're focused, as you should be, on the best available players. Say you don't have a quarterback yet -- it's the smart move -- but you've already invested in several flex-eligible players. Well, check your tiers for available options. The answers are there.

For example, perhaps you see four available quarterbacks in the highest tier, negligible difference between them. Pass. Pass for a while. There's also quite the crew of wide receivers clumped together. Pass again. There's ample wide receiver depth. You can wait. Then there are one or two running backs alone in a tier and, in your opinion, a significant jump in production compared to the next section. There -- thanks to a tiered system -- is the answer. Reduce your stress, crave efficiency. As the saying goes, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

Anyway, fantasy managers should rank, project and tier players themselves, for their league format, using analysts as a guide to help construct their opinions. Then do what you want! The fantasy teams are yours. If you do not agree with the tiers below, well, good, you shouldn't! Follow your own advice, your gut and build the teams you want. Below are one analyst's tiers for running backs (standard league, PPR), but again, make your own. You will be pleased you did.

Tier 1: First overall pick

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Notes: The first pick in PPR leagues combines statistical excellence with durability. Each of those matter.

Tier 2: Round 1

Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

Notes: Perhaps there are mild question marks with each of the first four options in this tier, but those pale in comparison to those of McCaffrey, whom many still view as the No. 1 or 2 overall pick. McCaffrey played in 10 games the past two seasons. Sure, he was awesome in those games, but 10 games out of 33 is hardly enough to satiate a fantasy investor. Perhaps he won't be around later in Round 1, and perhaps that's not such a bad thing for the cautious fantasy manager.

Tier 3: Round 2

Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Notes: The back end of the top 10 of running backs provides a strong foundation at the position, with upside. Remember, the "R" in PPR formats is for receptions, and Kamara and Swift sure do catch passes.

Tier 4: Rounds 3-4

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Notes: The start of the tier features accomplished veterans who have teammates vying for touches in the backfield. Conner will surely score fewer touchdowns than last season. Etienne isn't technically a rookie, but he hasn't registered a regular-season snap; however, his pass-catching upside is significant.

Tier 5: Rounds 4-5

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Notes: Welcome to the list, NFC East participants! Elliott and Barkley have proved themselves as fantasy building blocks, but not recently. Be careful in assuming either returns to prior greatness.

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Tier 6: Rounds 5-6

Breece Hall, New York Jets
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens

Notes: By this point in drafts, fantasy managers might start to wish they had better fortified the position with earlier selections. Hall and Pierce might be great right away, but they are rookies and potentially sharing the backfield. Dobbins might also be great, but he remains on the mend from a serious knee injury. Questions abound for everyone in between, as well.

Tier 7: Rounds 7-8

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles

Notes: Here we see several starting running backs, but in offenses in which the quarterback offers such a high percentage of the team's offense that it might be difficult for the ball carriers to truly thrive. Sanders, for example, scored nary a touchdown a season ago. These are complementary fantasy options, not reliable RB2 choices.

Tier 8: Rounds 8-9

Damien Harris, New England Patriots
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos
AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers
Chase Edmonds, Miami Dolphins

Notes: Pollard, Gordon and Dillon are productive players working in tandem with starters, but if they only saw greater opportunity, watch out. What an intriguing tier this is.

Tier 9: Rounds 9-10

James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks
Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
Michael Carter, New York Jets

Notes: This is a significant tier, in that it's perhaps the final one in which a fantasy manager can find starters and reliable production. Penny is the healthy Seahawk and should emerge. Patterson remains a key Falcon, even on modest volume. Robinson starred two seasons ago and might again.

Tier 10: Rounds 11-12

Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions
Darrell Henderson Jr., Los Angeles Rams
Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts
J.D. McKissic, Washington Commanders
Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins

Notes: Hines and McKissic are valuable because they catch passes, and many fantasy managers might not realize the impact they can have. McKissic caught 80 passes two seasons ago and was a strong RB3. Hines has 40 or more receptions in each season of his underrated career.

Tier 11: Rounds 12-13

Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Isaiah Spiller, Los Angeles Chargers
Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

Notes: We love the rookies! Each member of this trio possesses major upside if given the chance, but there is also the possibility -- if not likelihood -- they contribute little in September and fantasy investors cut bait. Try to be patient.

Tier 12: Rounds 13-15

Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
Ronald Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Kenyan Drake, Baltimore Ravens
Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
Damien Williams, Atlanta Falcons
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens
Mark Ingram II, New Orleans Saints
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
Rex Burkhead, Houston Texans
Mike Davis, Baltimore Ravens
Hassan Haskins, Tennessee Titans
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders
Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles

Notes: Some interesting backups remain on the board later in drafts, and it might be wise to reach a bit for them if you've already secured their more productive teammates. Mattison, for prime example, has proved a must-play when Dalvin Cook misses games. Even the older veterans here have produced quite a bit in the past.

Tier 13: Round 15 or undrafted

Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
D'Onta Foreman, Carolina Panthers

Notes: There might be no more important backup in fantasy than one of these fellows, unless you believe McCaffrey returns to full durability -- which we hope happens. If not, either Hubbard or Foreman will become really valuable. Consider taking one or both of them earlier, but note that McCaffrey is healthy today, so patience is warranted.