How highly should you prioritize running back receptions in PPR leagues? Obviously, catches matter, especially in full-point PPR formats, but if the yards and TDs aren’t there, too, they only matter so much. Conversely, even if a guy doesn’t get many catches, he can still have significant value — assuming he gets into the end zone. That creates more potential sleepers and busts, which means our 2021 fantasy RB PPR rankings are even more volatile than our standard edition. 

The differences start at the top. Derrick Henry is our top overall player in standard leagues, but he falls to fifth in PPR formats. Last season, he finished third among RBs in PPR leagues behind Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook. The (hopefully) healthy returns of Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley will further move him down the list. However, if Henry once again leads the league in rushing and rushing TDs, which he has two years in a row, he should be no worse than a top-five PPR back (which he has also been two years in a row).

Nick Chubb is another notable dropper after catching just 16 passes in 12 games last year. Still, you might be surprised to know he finished 11th among RBs in PPR scoring, proving once again that if you score and rack up yards on the ground, you can be a stud. Kenyan Drake (16th ranked), Ronald Jones II (20), Miles Sanders (23), and JK Dobbins (24) also finished as RB2s despite all having fewer than 30 catches on the season. Sanders, who caught 50 passes as a rookie, is a prime candidate to greatly improve on an already solid finish, and Drake will likely go back to more of a receiving-back role (with fewer TDs) now that’s the backup in Vegas.

On the flip side, several backs make big jumps in PPR thanks to their pass-catching prowess. Nyheim Hines and J.D. McKissic combined for 745 rushing yards and 10 total TDs (four on the ground), but they were both top-17 PPR RBs thanks to 63 and 80 catches, respectively. We’re not ranking them that highly heading into this year, largely because both play behind stud sophomore backs who are no slouches themselves when it comes to catching passes, but it’s clear they have a lot of upside. James White and Tarik Cohen also fit this mold, with Austin Ekeler being the gold standard because he also gets a good amount of carries.

Ekeler might be a little too good to solely be considered a «receiving back,» and players like that are usually undervalued studs in PPR leagues. Going into this season, Myles Gaskin, Kareem Hunt, Chase Edmonds, Travis Etienne, Devin Singletary, and possibly Leonard Fournette fit that bill. With the exception of Hunt, all could be their teams’ primary backs in addition to getting 40-plus catches. That could result in top-15 seasons if everything breaks right (see Mike Davis’s No. 12 PPR ranking last year). At the very least, they should rack up catches and get at least 115 carries (likely more) and work as flexes.

The biggest PPR breakout candidates this year are Joe Mixon (no Giovani Bernard), D’Andre Swift (46 catches in 13 games last year, should get significantly more carries), and Najee Davis (43 catches his final year at Alabama). Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Antonio Gibson were good pass-catchers in college and could also be primed for more receiving work in their second seasons, while Michael Carter and Javonte Williams (25 catches apiece while splitting time at North Carolina last year) both have the potential to catch a decent amount passes. 

Touchdowns will always matter most in fantasy, whether it’s a standard, half-point PPR, or full-point PPR league, so don’t overvalue catches early in your PPR drafts. However, in the middle and late rounds, taking chances on players expected to see a good amount of targets is the way to go. That’s more reliable than hoping your mid-tier RBs gets lucky and scores a lot.

We’ll be adjusting these RB PPR rankings and providing further analysis from now until Week 1, so check back for updates!

2021 Fantasy RB PPR Rankings

Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring formats

• #1

  Christian McCaffrey, Panthers

  McCaffrey dealt with three separate injuries (quad, thigh, ankle) that caused him to miss 13 games in 2020. It’s fair to wonder if durability will continue to be an issue, but if he’s healthy, he could easily approach or surpass 2,000 total yards, 100 catches, and 15-plus TDs. Last season in just three injury-riddled games, he posted 374 total yards, 17 catches, and six touchdowns. McCaffrey is our No. 1 back in PPR formats, but Henry’s durability and TD reliability nets him the top spot in standard leagues.

• #2

  Saquon Barkley, Giants

  Barkley missed 14 games due to a torn right ACL last year, and while he’s tentatively expected to ready for Week 1, it’s possible the Giants ease him back into action early on. There are always worries with a player coming off a serious injury, but given Barkley’s age (24) and talent, we expect him to produce at a high level. It’s worth noting that his receiving numbers noticeably dropped from his rookie season (5.7 receptions/game, 45.1 yards/game) to his sophomore season (4.0 receptions/game, 33.7 yards/game), but an improved overall Giants offense should lead to even more scoring chances.

• Kamara was a touchdown machine last year, scoring 21 times, but with no Drew Brees, it’s entirely possible New Orleans’ offense as a whole is slowed down. Kamara will still challenge for the league lead in receptions among RBs, making him a top-flight PPR play, but the Saints’ uncertainty under center is enough to drop him slightly in standard leagues.

• Cook isn’t a picture of health, but he’s played 14 games in each of the past two seasons, which should help quell at least some of his durability concerns. Cook isn’t a huge pass-catcher, but he’s far from a zero in that category, giving him roughly the same value in standard and PPR leagues, and with a career 4.8 yards-per-carry average, Cook will produce even if he sees a slightly reduced workload this year.

• Henry has led the league in attempts, rushing yards, and rushing TDs in each of the past two seasons. Can he make it three years in a row in all three categories? That won’t be easy, especially after his sky-high workload last year (378 attempts), but Henry has proven to be a consistent beast after an up-and-down start to his career. He’s the best bet to lead the league in TDs, if nothing else, and even with limited work in the receiving game, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see finish in the top three in total yards among RBs.

• #6

  Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys

  Zeke got paid last year…and promptly had by far the worst season of his career. Does that mean he can’t bounce back? Of course not. At just 26, he shouldn’t be worn out, and after getting just 16.2 carries per game — by far the lowest of his career — he should be somewhat fresher heading into this season. Most important will be the return of a healthy Dak Prescott and (hopefully) healthy Zack Martin and Tyron Smith along the o-line. No one should be surprised if Elliott challenges for the top RB ranking, even with Tony Pollard commanding more of a snap share.

• Like all Packers skill players, Jones’ outlook is somewhat dependent on whether Aaron Rodgers is under center. He has upside either way, but obviously his touchdown potential figures to be significantly higher playing with Rodgers than Jordan Love. Jones has averaged 5.5 yards/carry in three of his four seasons, showing his ability to do a lot with a little.

• #8

  Antonio Gibson, Washington

  Offseason reports have suggested Gibson will be more involved in the receiving game this year, but with J.D. McKissic still around, it seems unlikely he’ll be a full-time three-down back. That said, he showed enough in his rookie season (4.7 yards per carry, 11 TDs) for us to expect a big jump as a sophomore. Gibson has the size (6-2, 220 pounds) and versatility to dominate between the 20s and around the goal line. Washington’s offense figures to be a bit more explosive with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, which should only mean good things for Gibson.

• #9

  Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs

  CEH didn’t quite living up to the hype last year, but he still totaled 1,100 yards and five TDs in 13 games. The opportunity was there for more, as Edwards-Helaire scored just once on nine rushing attempts inside the five-yard line (and 15 attempts inside the 10). Perhaps that’s a sign that he is a bad short-yardage runner and won’t get as many opportunities, but it might also be a fluky stat that will correct itself this year, resulting in double-digit touchdowns. Either way, a highly skilled RB on the league’s best offense is usually a worthwhile investment.

• #10

  Austin Ekeler, Chargers

  Ekeler was off to a hot start last year before a left hamstring injury sidelined him for six games. He returned in Week 12 and was decent the rest of the way, but after scoring just three touchdowns, fantasy owners might be wondering if he can really produce at an RB1 level. The good news for Ekeler is the Chargers didn’t make any significant RB moves in the offseason aside from drafting Larry Rountree III in the sixth round. Both Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley failed to impress last year, so Ekeler should once again be the unquestioned lead back. If you take away the game in which he got hurt, Ekeler averaged 102.1 total yards per game. He’ll need more touchdowns to live up to this ranking, but the potential is there, especially in PPR leagues.

• Kareem Hunt will continue to be an issue, but Chubb is an elite runner who has never averaged below 5.0 yards/carry in a season. It would be nice if Chubb dominated the goal-line touches (two more carries than Hunt inside the five-yard line; four more carries inside the 10), but he still gets more than enough to produce at a top-five level in standard leagues. His value takes a noticeable hit in PPR leagues, but even there he’s a high-level RB2.

• #12

  Jonathan Taylor, Colts

  Taylor impressed as a rookie, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and scoring 12 times while catching all but three of the 39 passes thrown his way. The Colts still boast one of the league’s best offensive lines, but the change from Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz is a major wild card. Taylor will get plenty of carries either way, but if the Colts offense struggles to sustain drives, his overall upside will be limited. The return of Marlon Mack (Achilles’) could also factor in.

• #13

  David Montgomery, Bears

  Montgomery noticeably improved across the board last year, totaling 1,508 yards, 54 receptions, and 10 TDs. However, because he averaged just 4.3 yards/carry and plays on a mediocre offense, he’s not considered an exciting fantasy option. The upside is there for much more, though it’s worth noting that his role in the receiving game could be reduced with Tarik Cohen back from a torn right ACL and Damien Williams joining the backfield.

• #14

  Miles Sanders, Eagles

  Sanders missed four games last year due to various injuries, but he still managed 1,064 total yards and six TDs. With a new set of coaches (and QB) in Philadelphia, it wouldn’t be a surprise to once again see Sanders featured in the receiving game like he was as a rookie (50 receptions). With a career 4.9 yards/carry average, Sanders has proven to be explosive. All he needs is more stability around him to break out.

• It was tough to figure out what the Lions were doing with their RBs last year. Swift was clearly the most explosive option, but he split time (or operated behind) Kerryon Johnson and Adrian Peterson for much of the season. Swift still impressed with 878 total yards, 46 catches, and 10 TDs in just 13 games. Detroit’s offensive line is solid on paper, and with a new coaching regime, it’s possible the Lions finally remembers how to run. Even with Jamaal Williams now in the backfield, Swift should see the bulk of the carries and has the potential to be a top-10 receiving back. Detroit doesn’t have (m)any other offensive weapons, which could cause defenses to key on Swift, but if everything goes well, he could finish as a top-10 back in standard and top five in PPR.

• #16

  Najee Harris, Steelers

  We know the Steelers like to heavily feature their starting RBs, and after selecting Harris in the first round of this year’s draft, it’s safe to assume he’ll average north of 18 touches per game — likely in the 20-22 range like James Conner averaged in his 2018 Pro Bowl season. Harris is a skilled runner and solid receiver, so he should fit perfectly in the Steelers’ scheme. The only issue is Pittsburgh’s subpar o-lilne, which «paved the way» for a league-low 3.6 yards/carry last year. Harris’s presence should improve that, but he could still be more of a volume play, at least in standard leagues.

• Mixon hasn’t quite broken out the way many have hoped he would, and he also doesn’t catch quite as many passes as people seem to think he will (though that might change with Giovani Bernard gone). Enterting his fifth season, it’s tough to say what his ceiling truly is, but with an average of 95.9 total yards/game over the past three years, it seems clear that Mixon is at least a dependable RB2 when he’s healthy. The Bengals have playmakers all over the field, which should only help Mixon get more scoring opportunities. If he can stay in one piece, he could finally have that elite season fantasy owners have been waiting for.

• It was a slow start for Dobbins last year, but when he started getting consistent double-digit carries around Week 7, he produced. That includes ending the season on a six-game scoring streak. Baltimore’s offense will continue to be run-heavy, and with Mark Ingram gone, Dobbins will only be splitting time with Gus Edwards. Both backs have a lot of upside, but Dobbins figures to be the leader in this backfield, which should result in 1,000-plus rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns.

• #19

  Myles Gaskin, Dolphins

  A knee injury and COVID caused Gaskin to miss six games last year after he had established himself as Miami’s lead back. In Weeks 3-15 (seven games), Gaskin averaged 20.9 touches, 106.7 total yards, and 3.9 receptions per game. That’s RB1-level production, at least in PPR leagues. A lack of TDs (four in that span) held him down, but if Gaskin has the same role this year, he’ll pay off handsomely for fantasy owners. Salvon Ahmed, who flourished in Gaskin’s absence before suffering an injury of his own, and newcomer Malcolm Brown will challenge for touches, so this is an unpredictable situation, but clearly the Dolphins thought they found something with Gaskin last year. They will likely give him every chance to keep the starting job this season.

• Hunt is considered more of a «PPR back,» but he averaged just 2.4 receptions per game last year. He’s more of a straight-up committee back with Nick Chubb, and while Chubb should continue to see more carries, Hunt is no slouch. He scored 11 times last year and posted 71.6 total yards per game, thanks in part to Chubb missing four games. This might be an aggressive ranking for him, as his ceiling is artificially limited as long as Chubb is healthy, but there are similar issues with all of the backs below him. Given what we know about Hunt’s talent and production level, he feels like a solid RB2 who could really take off if Chubb gets hurt again or starts catching more passes.

• Jacobs seemingly regressed last year, dropping from 4.8 yards/carry to 3.9 and 88.5 yards per game to 71.0. However, he improved slightly as a receiver and scored 12 touchdowns, thanks in part to leading the league in red-zone carries (64). The addition of Kenyan Drake is worrisome, especially for Jacobs’ budding role as a receiving, but Drake still figures to work in a complementary role. Jacobs will be somewhat touchdown dependent, but he’s shown the ability to be a steady RB2.

• #22

  Chase Edmonds, Cardinals

  Edmonds has more value in PPR leagues, shown by his 53 receptions last year while playing second fiddle to Kenyan Drake. With Drake gone, Edmonds should see a bigger role in the running game, but it’s unclear how much. James Conner is now in the desert, and it seems likely he’ll at least be used more along the goal line. Edmonds is a much safer pick in PPR leagues, but if he does hold off Conner, he’ll be solid RB2 in standard leagues, too.

• Davis impressed in a backup-turned-starter role with the Panthers last season. Despite averaging just 3.9 yards/carry, Davis had plenty of value thanks to 59 receptions and 24.9 receiving yards per game. Atlanta’s running back room is full of question marks, with Cordarrelle Patterson serving as the «backup» and a host of young, unproven backs rounding out the depth cart. If Davis stays in the starter’s role, he could post RB2-level stats thanks to volume — especially if he equals Todd Gurley’s 52 carries inside the 20 (fifth most) and 14 carries inside the five (seventh) from last year.

• #24

  Travis Etienne, Jaguars

  It surprised many that the Jaguars used a first-round pick on Etienne after James Robinson starred as a rookie, but clearly Urban Meyer and the rest of the coaching staff anticipates making full use of Etienne’s versatile skillset. While it’s tempting to think the bigger Robinson will handle the majority of the carries and the goal-line touches, one would have also thought Jacksonville would be fine with him as a receiving option after he caught 49 passes last year. Clearly, this situation is murky, and we’re banking on Etienne ultimately being the more productive. At the very least, he’s more explosive and will be a constant big-play threat, giving him slightly more upside if the split is close to equal.

• #25

  Darrell Henderson, Rams

  Cam Akers’ season-ending Achilles’ injury opens the door for Henderson. He’s had moderate levels of success in the past, such as averaging 4.5 yards/carry and scoring six times last year, but it’s anyone’s guess as to how he’ll handle being L.A.’s feature back. At 5-8, 208 pounds, it’s also unclear just how much of a workload the Rams will want to give him, but in Weeks 3-7 last year, he averaged 15.8 touches/game and had a 20-carry outing. L.A.’s offense figures to provide plenty of opportunities for yards and TDs, so if Henderson can hold onto the starting job, he has intriguing upside.

• #26

  Javonte Williams, Broncos

  Williams will be competing with veteran Melvin Gordon for touches, but even if the talented rookie isn’t starting in Week 1, he has more long-term potential because of his explosiveness. In his final season at North Carolina, Williams totaled 1,445 yards and 22 TDs while averaging 7.9 yards per touch. The Broncos offense has a lot of talent but also a lot of question marks. Williams can be a stabilizing force if the coaching staff lets him. It would be foolish to completely write off the 28-year-old Gordon, who posted 1,144 total yards, 4.6 yards/carry, and 10 TDs last year, but Denver drafted Williams early in the second round for a reason.

• #27

  Devin Singletary, Bills

  Singletary and Zack Moss make up a classic «thunder-and-lightning» duo, but unless one gets hurt, they’ll likely see similar workloads. Singletary will be used more in the receiving game, but Moss should get more goal-line touches. Last season, Moss had eight more red-zone carries, seven more carries inside the 10, and three more carries inside the five despite playing three fewer games. Again, that might be a clue that Moss will be more valuable, at least in standard leagues, but Singletary is more explosive and Josh Allen steals a lot of goal-line TDs anyway. If one gets hurt, the other will have a lot of value, but their overall outlooks heading into the season are essentially the same.

• #28

  Melvin Gordon, Broncos

• Carter is competing with Tevin Coleman and La’Mical Perine for carries, but it’s tough to trust either after they averaged 1.9 and 3.6 yards/carry last year, respectively. Carter posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at North Carolina and averaged a whopping 8.0 yards/carry in his final season. He’s the most explosive player in New York’s backfield and should eventually see the most touches.

• #30

  Raheem Mostert, 49ers

  Mostert is a classic «if he stays healthy…» guy. The well-traveled speedster has flashed big-time upside, shown by his 5.6 career yards/carry, but it doesn’t seem likely that he has the durability to be a full-time starter. That’s probably why the 49ers drafted Trey Sermon in the third round this year, and it’s why you can’t really trust Mostert with anything other than a early middle-round pick. We know the 49ers want to run a lot, so both Mostert and Sermond can be RB2s if they’re healthy, so if you draft Mostert, you’d be wise to also draft Sermon.

• #31

  David Johnson, Texans

• #33

  JD McKissic, Washington

• #34

  Damien Harris, Patriots

  Harris might be the biggest example of a «good in standard leagues, bad in PPR» RB. He caught just five-of-seven targets last year in 10 games, but he also averaged 13.7 carries/game and 5.0 yards/carry. The main thing that kept Harris down (aside from injuries) was a surprising lack of TDs. He scored just twice despite his beefy frame. Fantasy owners know they can’t trust a Patriots RB — especially with receiving back James White, 2018 first-round pick Sony Michel, and 2020 fourth-round pick Rhamondre Stevenson on the roster — but Harris is a legit talent and should have the upper hand on all of those players for carries. Stevenson might be the biggest threat to Harris’ fantasy value when you factor in his size (6-0, 246 pounds), but Harris earned at least some trust with last year’s performance.

• #35

  Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers

• #36

  Phillip Lindsay, Texans

  David Johnson had a surprise bounce-back season last year, posting 1,005 total yards and eight TDs while averaging a career high 4.7 yards/carry in 12 games. Even so, the Texans picked up Lindsay in the offseason, and fantasy owners shouldn’t ignore him. Lindsay started his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons before struggling in an injury-plagued 2020. Lindsay still has a career 4.8 yards/carry average, and despite his size (5-8 ,190 pounds), he’s a tough inside runner. Johnson might begin the season as Houston’s starter, but given his injury history and age (29), Lindsay could wind up outproducing him for the season.

• 37 James Robinson, Jaguars
  38 Ronald Jones II, Buccaneers
  39 Tarik Cohen, Bears
  40 Jamaal Williams, Lions
  41 Gus Edwards, Ravens
  42 Zack Moss, Bills
  43 James White, Patriots
  44 Latavius Murray, Saints
  45 Trey Sermon, 49ers
  46 James Conner, Cardinals
  47 AJ Dillon, Packers
  48 Tony Pollard, Cowboys
  49 Kenyan Drake, Raiders
  50 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles
  51 Alexander Mattison, Vikings
  52 Tevin Coleman, Jets
  53 Darrel Williams, Chiefs
  54 Justin Jackson, Chargers
  55 Malcolm Brown, Dolphins
  56 Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
  57 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons
  58 Devontae Booker, Giants
  59 Marlon Mack, Colts
  60 Benny Snell Jr., Steelers
  61 Kerryon Johnson, Eagles
  62 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
  63 Darrynton Evans, Titans
  64 Samaje Perine, Bengals
  65 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
  66 Damien Williams, Bears
  67 Salvon Ahmed, Dolphins
  68 La’Mical Perine, Jets
  69 Joshua Kelley, Chargers
  70 Mark Ingram, Texans
  71 Jeremy McNichols, Titans
  72 Anthony McFarland Jr., Steelers
  73 Javian Hawkins, Falcons
  74 Wayne Gallman, 49ers
  75 Caleb Huntley, Falcons