2024 Fantasy Football RB tiers: Kyren Williams' stock dips, little hope for Ezekiel Elliott

Ranking the 2024 running backs for fantasy football in tiers is the smartest way for you to learn to draft appropriately. Don’t get stuck reaching for a player while several other equal options are available. Conversely, using draft tiers also lets you know when a position is drying up and you should attack with your next pick. These rankings are for points per reception (PPR) leagues.

2024 Fantasy Football RB Tiers

Fantasy Football Tier 1 RBs

1. Christian McCaffrey – SF
2. Bijan Robinson - ATL
3. Breece Hall – NYJ
4. Jonathan Taylor – IND

If I have the 1.01 pick, I’ll be taking McCaffrey. He’s a player and a half. Last season, he scored more than 100 PPR fantasy points than the next closest back. If Bijan Robinson falls to you in the middle of the first round, do a happy dance. Possibly the most gifted runner in the NFL, he will finally be deployed as the workhorse he is. The talk about “CMC usage” should make every fantasy player's mouth water.

Fantasy Football Tier 2 RBs

1. Jahmyr Gibbs – DET
2. Derrick Henry – BAL
3. Saquon Barkley - PHI
4. Travis Etienne – JAX
5. Kyren Williams – LAR

Gibbs is electric but still in a timeshare. I love Henry on the Ravens, who will run out of pistol and shotgun formations, which over the last two seasons have netted Henry over a full yard better per carry than runs from under center. Barkley will play behind the best line of his career and doesn’t have to be the focal point. He could score 12-15 touchdowns. Williams would be a top-5 pick if not for the Blake Corum selection by the Rams. If he retains his alpha role, he’s a league winner.

Fantasy Football Tier 3 RBs

1. Rachaad White – TB
2. Josh Jacobs – GB
3. De’Von Achane – MIA
4. James Cook – BUF
5. Joe Mixon – HOU
6. Isiah Pacheco – KC
7. David Montgomery – DET
8. Aaron Jones – MIN

White was one of the most inefficient runners in the NFL last season, but his 64 receptions helped him finish as the RB 4 in PPR leagues. I’d expect more of the same, but know that he’s not a talented runner and you’re simply buying on pass game volume. I’m not a huge De’Von Achane guy. This incredible efficiency is unsustainable. His 1.47 fantasy points per touch was tops among all backs. I think he’ll be fine, but he’s being over-drafted. James Cook stands to be the beneficiary of the Bills' more run-centric approach. He’s an adequate pass catcher as well, his downfall though is Josh Allen stealing goal line carries.

Fantasy Football Tier 4 RBs

1. Alvin Kamara – NO
2. Rhamondre Stevenson - NE
3. Najee Harris – PIT
4. Raheem Mostert – MIA
5. Devin Singletary – NYG
6. Zamir White – LV
7. Zack Moss – CIN

Can Raheem Mostert really score 18 touchdowns again? Doubtful. But, if healthy, he’s going to play a ton in Miami’s high-powered offense. I like Najee Harris getting a ton of work with Arthur Smith, who is now calling the plays in Pittsburgh. It wouldn’t shock me if the Steelers led the NFL in rushing attempts. Devin Singletary has a better career yards per carry average than Saquon Barkley, and now he’s replacing him for Big Blue. I’m in at his discounted price.

Fantasy Football Tier 5 RBs

1. TyJae Spears – TEN
2. D’Andre Swift – CHI
3. Kenneth Walker – SEA
4. Jaylen Warren – PIT
5. James Conner – ARI
6. Gus Edwards – LAC
7. Ezekiel Elliott – DAL
8. Brian Robinson Jr. – WAS
9. Javonte Williams – DEN

This is a tier with a lot of holes in it. Kenneth Walker is someone I’ve never been high on, but he likely outperforms my ranking because he’s talented, and the new offense will run more plays. If you want a post-hype sleeper, try Javonte Williams on for size. He was once a top-24 pick in drafts. Now, he’s easily had in the middle to late rounds with no real competition around him.

Fantasy Football Tier 6 RBs

1. Jerome Ford – CLE
2. Kendre Miller – NO
3. Austin Ekeler – WAS
4. Jonathan Brooks – CAR
5. Tony Pollard – TEN
6. Chuba Hubbard – CAR
7. Blake Corum – LAR

Jerome Ford is the likely starter for the Cleveland Browns for at least half of the season. Don’t forget that he finished as RB 16 in PPR last season in place of Nick Chubb. He’s no slouch. Johnathan Brooks could be a late-round league winner in Carolina if his surgically repaired ACL is healed.

Fantasy Football Tier 7 RBs

1. Chase Brown – CIN
2. D’Onta Foreman – CLE
3. Nick Chubb – CLE
4. Rico Dowdle – DAL
5. Trey Benson – ARI

Chase Brown could see most of the Bengals’ passing down work. He’s a late-round flier I love to take. Nick Chubb had a brutal knee injury, and I do not count on him at all for the 2024 season. Let someone else be a hero. Trey Benson could easily see meaningful carries in Arizona as James Conner rarely stays healthy. He’s a sleeper, and you should be drafting in every league.