Fantasy Football: Top 15 Running Backs to Target in 2019
By Cullen Jekel
With the NFL’s regular season just around the corner, it’s time to start (or continue) diving into which players will produce in fantasy football. For 2019, there should numerous solid options at the running back position.
The NFL continues being a league all about the scoring. While in recent seasons passing numbers have exploded, running backs have taken advantage as teams shift to prioritizing a player out of the backfield who can both run and catch. That extends to fantasy football.
In 2018, nine players topped 1,000 yards rushing while ten running backs had at least 1,300 total yards from scrimmage (rushing plus receiving yards). Last season, 13 players scored ten or more touchdowns, and nine of them were running backs.
It’s safe to say, then, that running backs are still important cogs on NFL teams, as well as your fantasy football team.
In the following slides, I’m going to go through the top 15 running backs you should target in your drafts. Before we get to those top 15, though, I’m going to recognize five running backs who just missed the cut.
Honorable Mention
20. Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
Between 2015-2017, Freeman had at least 1,182 yards from scrimmage while scoring a total of 35 touchdowns, 29 of which came on the ground. Last year was cut short by injury as Freeman appeared in just two games. He’s a name to keep an eye on for Comeback Player of the Year.
19. Devin Singletary (R), Buffalo Bills
The only rookie to make the list falls just outside the top 15. Singletary, a third-round pick out of Florida Atlantic, scored 67 for the Owls across three seasons. If he develops an early rapport with quarterback Josh Allen, ranking him this low will look foolish.
18. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Entering his third season, Jones needs a breakout season to salvage the back-end of Aaron Rodgers‘ career. With more starts, Jones should build on his overall numbers, especially if stays close to his 2018 league-leading 5.5 yards per carry.
17. Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts
First of all, this is a hell of a football name, especially for a running back. In just ten starts last season, Mack scored ten total touchdowns. He had better receiving numbers in 2017 than 2018. If he gets on the field in more than 12 games in 2019, he’ll put up decent fantasy numbers.
16. Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions
Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Johnson finished as a top-ten fantasy running back in 2019, but I’m playing it cautious here. He missed quite a bit of time last season, his rookie year, and finished with only four total touchdowns. Expect that number to jump.