The Best Values at Running Back

Photo: Brad Rempel, USA Today Sports

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To close out August, we are looking for value. Over the next four days, we'll go position-by-position.

Here are the positions we have already covered: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receiver | Tight Ends

Next up is running back, and the question is simple.

Name a running back who you think will finish far higher than the consensus has them ranked. Why are you so high on them?

Here are the players who received multiple votes:

• Alvin Kamara

That's right - despite 10 running backs entering the discussion, just a single player got multiple mentions.

Check out all of the commentary.

Gary Davenport: Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers has an excellent chance of returning RB1 value at a mid-range (RB16) ADP. Last year, Jones topped 1,500 total yards and finished ninth in PPR points among running backs. The year before that, it was over 1,100 total yards, 10 touchdowns—and an RB9 PPR finish among running backs. The notion that Jones’ production is going to tail off considerably this year with Jordan Love under center doesn’t compute to me—if anything, I’d expect the Packers to rely that much more on Jones and A.J. Dillon. If you’re the type who wants to attack the WR position early or grab Travis Kelce, then Jones’ ADP of 43rd overall should be circled 13 times on your target list.

Joey Wright: Alvin Kamara finished outside the top ten running backs in PPR for the first time in his six-year career, and everyone is ready to give up on him. Kamara is currently being drafted as the RB30, which is just absurd. Sure, there was a suspension looming the entire offseason, but it has been settled to just three games. Kamara's value has moved very little since his suspension was finalized. Prior to last season, Kamara had never finished with less than 1300 total yards and six touchdowns. The arrival of Jamaal Williams does put a limit to his touchdown upside, but Kamara is still an integral part of this Saint's offense.

Ben Cummins: Breece Hall is my RB9, yet the Dalvin Cook signing has pushed his positional ADP toward around RB15, depending on where you look. Hall entered the league as an awesome prospect and immediately took the league by storm. He was the RB8 in half-point PPR fantasy points per game (15.1) in the seven games he played before injury as a rookie. He was fantastic, excelling in various ProFootballFocus metrics in 2022, ranking first in elusive rating, first in yards after contact per attempt (4.13), third in explosive run rate (19%), and second in yards per route run (2.00) among eligible running backs. What do those statistics mean? Hall was one of the best running backs in the league in shedding tackles, breaking tackles and gaining additional yardage, ripping off big play runs, and being an efficient route runner and pass catcher immediately upon entering the NFL. Hall will dust Cook over the second half of the season, and his dual-threat workload paired with Aaron Rodgers will help win leagues.

Jeff Haseley: Damien Harris is currently ranked as RB42. Many believe James Cook will be the biggest fantasy threat at running back for the Bills. That may be true. However, Harris won't be an afterthought in this offense. He'll see goal-line and short-yardage action and can take over a game independently if given the opportunity. At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Cook is not a three-down, high-volume back. He will share the load with Harris. Cook may be the trendy pick, but Harris could lead the team in rushing touchdowns and finish much higher than his 42nd ranking would indicate.