Here are my latest dynasty rookie draft rankings and tiers for 2023’s class of running backs. You can find my full write-ups on all dynasty rookie wide receivers in our Dynasty Rookie Draft Primer series.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Quarterback Primer
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Running Back Primer
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Wide Receiver Primer
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Tight End Primer
- Erickson’s top Dynasty Rookie Wide Receivers
- Erickson’s top Dynasty Rookie Running Backs
More Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice
- Dynasty Trade Value Chart
- How to Prepare for Your Dynasty Rookie Draft
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Pick Trade Strategy & Advice
- Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
Dynasty Rookie Draft Primer
I’ll run through each skill position (QB, RB, WR, TE), laying out draft strategy, tiers, statistical analysis, and scouting reports. Let’s dive into this exciting rookie class.
How to Approach Running Backs in Dynasty Rookie Drafts
The approach with running backs in the different formats is unchanged. The only difference is in SuperFlex. Running backs will get pushed down the board, some with quarterbacks going early and ahead of them sometimes. Bijan Robinson (the locked-in 1.01) and Jahmyr Gibbs will each be gone within the top ten picks in each format. Each back in tier 3 should be gone by the end of the second round of drafts. I love picking up a ton of running backs to round out my dynasty rosters that could fall into volume during the season with one or two injuries on a depth chart. That’s exactly the thought process when looking through tier 4 and my honorable mentions.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Positional Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Analysis: Bijian Robinson is a three-down workhorse from Day 1. He could easily roll up 250-300 touches in his rookie season.
Tier 2
Analysis: Gibbs surprisingly went in the first round of the NFL Draft, and while consensus might not agree with Detroit selecting Gibbs 12th overall, he should, at his baseline, be a Swift clone with the upside for more.
Tier 3
Analysis: This is the upside tier of this rookie running back class. These backs were selected anywhere from the second round to the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Charbonnet could be a league winner if anything happened to Ken Walker. Roschon Johnson could be the Bears’ Week 1 starter if he blows up in camp. Miller and Achane could both be committee leads in their rookie season, depending on how their depth charts shake out. Spears is a high-upside handcuff to Derrick Henry, who could inherit the backfield if the team moves on from him after this season.
Tier 4
Analysis: None of these running backs received higher than fifth-round draft capital, but their skillsets and raw talent make them awesome darts to toss in rookie drafts.
Honorable Mention:
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*All data utilized in this article is courtesy of PFF, Football Outsiders, and Playerprofiler.com unless otherwise specified.*
