RB Rankings, Sleepers, and Tiers. Plus, the Hot QB Rankings, No. 5-8.

Gibson is mentioned as a proven first-round pick where you know what he can do based on past performance.

Robinson is the consensus tier-one pick alongside Jameer Gibbs and was the most common running back on championship teams last year according to Tristan Cockroft's annual analysis. He is 24 years old and has already been a league-winning running back. However, the Falcons brought in Brian Robinson Jr. to replace Tyler Algier, and the team's quarterback situation is less stable than Detroit's: Tua and Michael Penix are both lefties and stylistically different, and both are considered fragile. The Falcons are projected to score the 25th-most points in the NFL this season, compared to the Lions' third-most. While Robinson could have a Hall of Fame season, the Lions' easier schedule, easier rushing schedule, and more consistent quarterback situation with Jared Goff give Gibbs the edge.

Bill Simmons notes that despite ongoing speculation about Corum losing his job to Kyron Williams, he has not actually lost carries. Simmons attributes this to the fact that coaches love Corum and running backs that coaches favor do not simply lose their jobs, especially when the team is performing well. The Rams are great, so there is no reason to make a change unless Corum proves to be undeniably superior.

Breece Hall is grouped in a tier of lead backs with multiple questions about them; speaker notes the tier is starting to get icky and there's a clean top 12 at running back before concerns mount.

Robinson Jr. was brought in by the Falcons to replace Tyler Algier and is considered more capable than Isaiah Pacheco, whom the Lions brought in to replace David Montgomery. This makes the Falcons' backfield situation more secure than Detroit's from a replacement-back perspective, though the Lions' overall offensive environment is still superior.

Bill Simmons describes Bucky Irving as an impossible decision with two competing narratives. Irving had a dominant rookie year with 1,500 yards and eight touchdowns as a fourth-round pick, but last year was plagued by shoulder and foot injuries, offensive line injuries, and personal issues. The Buccaneers signed Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million deal, raising questions about Irving's passing and goal-line work. However, Irving still averaged 20 touches per game (fourth in NFL) despite playing only 10 games. His rookie advanced stats were elite, but his second-year advanced stats were among the worst in the NFL. Simmons believes Irving is probably somewhere in the middle and could bounce back closer to his rookie form, but there is genuine uncertainty about whether he will be phased out of important touches.

Brown is grouped in the early-round-two tier of running backs with obvious league-winning upside but asterisks holding them back. He is part of a funny grouping that includes Hall of Famers like Saquon and Derrick Henry alongside unproven prospects. There is no world in which you're taking Chase Brown over Saquon, indicating he belongs in a lower tier.

Chase Brown is ranked in the late-round-two tier of running backs, below Saquon Barkley and other early-round-two targets; Bill Simmons indicates there is no world in which you'd take Brown over Saquon, positioning him as a secondary option in that tier.

When playing with Joe Burrow, Chase Brown is a top-five running back; in 2025 he played six games with Burrow and finished as RB2 in fantasy with 20 touches per game and eight touchdowns in six games; in 2024 he played eight games with Burrow and finished as RB5 over that stretch, showing consistent elite production whenever he starts and finishes a game with Burrow.

Chase Brown is going 15th overall but should be ranked ahead of Devon Achane; there is no discount for him despite being underrated in reputation versus production—nobody talks about him, but he quietly had over 300 touches last year and was the RB2 with Burrow; Bill Simmons says 'I think I got to take Chase Brown over Devon HN' and 'I think I got to switch it,' indicating a preference for Brown over Achane at their respective ADP positions.

Chase Brown faces minimal defensive attention compared to Jamar Chase, Joe Burrow, and Tee Higgins; defenses prioritize those three threats, leaving Brown as a fourth option, which allows him to operate with little competition and contributes to his elite production when Burrow is healthy.

Bill Simmons notes that the Bengals clearly view Chase Brown as their lead back, with the team retaining only Samaj Perine (age 30) and Taj Brooks as backup options; this signals the Bengals' confidence in Brown as their primary running back.

Chase Brown is a second-round running back going at a price that feels a little weird for his profile; speaker notes a blind spot with him. The core argument: if Brown had won the Heisman at Ohio State and been a first-round pick with the exact same first three years of career statistics and situation on the Bengals, he'd likely be an eighth-overall or higher fantasy draft pick. Because he didn't win the Heisman, his current draft price reflects environment rather than pure skill, suggesting his value may be inflated relative to his actual talent.

McCaffrey is a polarizing tier-two candidate whose fantasy value is binary: he either destroys your season or single-handedly drags you to the semifinals with nothing in between. He led the league in touches last year with 413 in the regular season (over 450 in the playoffs). The concern is that the other two times he exceeded 413 touches, he played only four games the next year. While this is not a definitive pattern, it raises hesitation about assuming McCaffrey's durability. Additionally, his efficiency metrics were cut off last year, which was a broader issue for the 49ers offense. The risk-reward calculation is unfavorable at his current draft position, and the questioner is hesitant to assume he will repeat his workload without injury.

McCaffrey is less reliant on pure ground volume than other elite running backs; he had 129 targets last year, almost 30 more than the next closest running back (B. John with 100), and averaged three more touches per game than any other RB. He has 100 catches in a season three times; every other running back in NFL history has done that four times combined. With 102 catches last year (sixth in the NFL, right behind Amon Ross St. Brown), he functions essentially as a pass-catching receiver who also gets 300 carries. Despite high injury risk, his potential value is worth the risk because he could win your league; he's been a top-three running back by points per game every year he's played more than seven games.

Bill Simmons jokes that Chuba Hubbard is ranked lower than Cam Scadaboo because Hubbard probably believes in asthma, implying that Hubbard lacks the aggressive, fearless mentality that Simmons values in Scadaboo. This is a humorous jab at Hubbard's perceived lack of intensity compared to Scadaboo's maniacal playing style.

Edwards-Helaire was a first-round pick in fantasy not long ago but is no longer in that conversation. He was not an athletic guy, and now Kenneth Walker is supposed to be the straw that stirs the drink in the Chiefs offense because everyone else is pretty limited.

DeAndre Swift is grouped in a tier of lead backs with multiple questions about them; speaker notes the tier is starting to get icky and there's a clean top 12 at running back before concerns mount.

Bill Simmons places DeAndre Swift in a tier of lead backs with significant question marks about their role and offensive line stability. For Swift with the Bears, the concern is whether the team can replicate last year's offensive line success and whether Kyle Monahan will take more goal-line work. Simmons suggests Swift is less certain than Kyron Williams, making him a riskier pick.

Montgomery has departed the Lions and is now on a new team (the Colts, where he was replaced by Isaiah Pacheco). His departure is cited as a key reason to prefer Jameer Gibbs in the Gibbs vs. Robinson debate, as Gibbs no longer has to share touches with a capable running back. Montgomery is 25 years old and was a touchdown-scoring back for Detroit.

David Montgomery is grouped in a tier of lead backs with multiple questions about them; speaker notes the tier is starting to get icky and there's a clean top 12 at running back before concerns mount.

Bill Simmons expresses concern about David Montgomery with the Texans, questioning whether the team can fix their offensive line issues and whether Montgomery can stay healthy as the primary back. These uncertainties place him in a tier of lead backs with significant question marks, making him less reliable than Kyron Williams.

Devon Achane is described as the sexiest running back imaginable with elite athleticism; he is the fastest running back in the NFL, a genuinely elite receiver, and possesses good running back fundamentals including vision and between-the-tackles ability despite his light weight of approximately 185 pounds.

Despite elite skill set—fastest running back in the NFL, genuinely elite receiver, good vision, good between the tackles for 185 pounds—Achane is hampered by playing on the absolute worst team imaginable; the Dolphins are favored to have the worst record in the NFL and accused of tanking, making him an elite player in the worst possible offensive environment.

Achane is going 13th overall in drafts; there is no discount for him despite the Dolphins' tanking situation and worst-record projection, making his ADP reflect his elite talent without accounting for the team environment downside.

Henry is a Hall of Fame former top-three fantasy pick still at the peak of his powers on a good team (Titans). He should be considered a perfectly fine end-of-first-round pick and belongs in a tier with Gentry and Saquon Barkley rather than below them.

Derrick Henry is mentioned as a round-two running back option, but Bill Simmons expresses skepticism about taking him at the top of round two, suggesting he can be acquired later in the draft.

Bill Simmons highlights the Ravens' Derrick Henry signing as creating a historically unique "thunder and lightning" backfield with Lamar Jackson, comparing it to the fastest quarterback paired with a unique running back talent; notes this is the coolest such pairing in NFL history.

Pacheco was brought in by the Lions to replace David Montgomery, but he is not as capable a running back as Montgomery was. This is cited as a reason to prefer Jameer Gibbs over Bijan Robinson, as the Lions' replacement back is inferior to the Falcons' replacement (Brian Robinson Jr.), making Gibbs' workload more secure.

James Conner is the Cardinals' preferred back according to coach Nate Hackett, who publicly expressed excitement about Conner getting into the offense, contrasting with his downplaying of rookie Jeremiah Love.

Cook is a tier-two candidate who deserves inclusion despite being perceived as boring and small. He has 32 touchdowns in the last 33 games, which is an elite touchdown rate. He came out of the NFL at 190 pounds (sub-200), which was part of the reason he did not go earlier in the draft. Cook is weirdly similar to Jonathan Taylor in that he gets a ton of carries and scores a ton of touchdowns when the offense is rolling, though he is not heavily involved in the passing game. However, he is a good pass catcher, which is ironic given his limited receiving usage.

Cook is a proven first-round pick where you know what he can do based on past performance. The question is whether Saquon and Derrick Henry should bump up to be in the same tier as Cook, suggesting he's a tier-one running back.

Javante Williams is grouped in a tier of lead backs with multiple questions about them; speaker notes the tier is starting to get icky and there's a clean top 12 at running back before concerns mount.

Jeremiah Love is a rookie running back for the Cardinals facing skepticism from coach Nate Hackett, who publicly emphasized excitement about James Conner and downplayed Love's role by saying 'he's definitely a rookie.' Speaker notes people are already upset about Hackett's quotes. However, speaker also poses the question: is there any chance Love becomes the fifth-best running back in fantasy in the second half of the season? The answer is yes, but it depends on the Cardinals being better than expected and Mike LaFleur's coaching.

Taylor is a tier-two candidate alongside McCaffrey and James Cook. He was the best running back in fantasy last year when Daniel Jones was playing for the Colts, earning a spot in the elite tier. Taylor gets a ton of carries and scores a ton of touchdowns when the offense is rolling, though he is not heavily involved in the passing game. He is weirdly similar to James Cook in this regard—both are workhorse backs with limited pass-catching usage despite being capable receivers.

Taylor is a proven first-round pick (alongside McCaffrey and James Cook) where you know what he can do based on past performance, not projection.

Josh Jacobs is grouped in a tier of lead backs with multiple questions about them; speaker notes the tier is starting to get icky and there's a clean top 12 at running back before concerns mount.

Bill Simmons explains that the Buccaneers signed Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million deal primarily to provide pass-protection support for Baker Mayfield, not necessarily to replace Bucky Irving. Gainwell won Aaron Rodgers' trust with the Eagles and Steelers because he is reliable in pass protection, which is critical for a quarterback like Mayfield who takes punishment. However, Simmons notes that Mayfield's aggressive downfield passing style is the opposite of Aaron Rodgers' conservative approach, so Gainwell may not see the same volume of targets with the Buccaneers. Gainwell averaged seven targets per game with the Steelers and was on pace for 500 receiving yards last year.

Walker is a buy opportunity because people are bored of the Chiefs offense, but he has elite talent. Kansas City had the fewest touchdowns scored from outside the red zone last year (tied with Vikings), and Kansas City running backs have one touchdown from outside the red zone in the past three seasons combined—Walker alone has more than that. He is an explosive runner and tackle-breaking guy who can create big plays on the ground. His upside mirrors early-career Kareem Hunt (1,300 yards, 8 TDs in 2017), and Walker is faster than Hunt ever was. He ranked first in missed tackles forced last year and will get the vast majority of touches with minimal competition (Amari DiMarcado and others). If you take health out of it, he's more likely to be a top-five fantasy running back than fringe top-25. He's also an elite receiver for screens, which fits Andy Reid's design-pass philosophy.

Kyron Williams is grouped in a tier of lead backs with multiple questions about them; speaker notes the tier is starting to get icky and there's a clean top 12 at running back before concerns mount.

Bill Simmons argues that Kyron Williams should be ranked in a higher tier than previously discussed because he is a lead back on a winning team with job security. At 25 years old, Williams was extended by the Rams, and there is no reason to expect a significant change unless Blake Corum becomes undeniably elite. Simmons contends that you would not take DeAndre Swift or David Montgomery over Williams, making him a safer, more valuable pick than the next tier of committee backs with question marks.

Bill Simmons notes Malik Willis is the fastest quarterback in the NFL and is part of a Dolphins option-based backfield with Devon Henry, though he acknowledges this pairing is not as compelling as the Ravens' Lamar-Henry combination.

Bill Simmons places Quinshawn Judkins in a tier with Travion Henderson, Cam Scadaboo, and Rhamondre Stevenson, indicating these backs are similarly valued and interchangeable in draft strategy.

Bill Simmons places Rhamondre Stevenson in a tier with Travion Henderson, Quinshawn Judkins, and Cam Scadaboo, indicating these backs are similarly valued and interchangeable in draft strategy.

Barkley is a Hall of Fame former top-three fantasy pick still at the peak of his powers on a good team (Eagles). He should be considered an end-of-first-round pick, and there is a world where you're taking Saquon over James Cook, suggesting he belongs in a tier with Gentry and Derrick Henry rather than below them.

Saquon Barkley is positioned as a top-of-round-two running back target, with Bill Simmons noting there is a world in which you'd take Saquon over James Cook, elevating him above Cook in the draft hierarchy despite Cook being a first-round lock.

Bill Simmons identifies Sean Tucker as the Buccaneers' red-zone back, describing him as an old-school, physical runner who runs through people. Tucker was undrafted but would have been a fourth or fifth-round pick if not for a heart condition discovered before the draft. He is a hammer looking for a nail and will compete with Bucky Irving for goal-line touches.

Travis Etienne, formerly with Jacksonville, is now with the Saints and is grouped in a tier of lead backs with multiple questions about them; speaker notes the tier is starting to get icky and there's a clean top 12 at running back before concerns mount.

Bill Simmons expresses concern that Etienne's role will be diminished by Alvin Kamara's arrival; Kamara will likely handle third-down passing work and goal-line touches that were central to Etienne's fantasy value. Etienne had six receiving touchdowns last year, and if those evaporate due to Kamara's presence, it will significantly hurt his fantasy outlook. Simmons notes that taking Etienne in round four could result in him grinding out 85 yards with few catches, making him a risky pick despite his talent.