We live in an era where the majority of the teams in the NFL are pass-first, but the crazy thing is; the top 5* passing teams didn’t make the playoffs and the top 5* rushing teams did. The running back position doesn’t last forever with repetitive hits over and over again. Therefore, in dynasty leagues, it is essential to target young backs with loads of potential.

Finally, we crack into the Top 30! We are finally getting to players that are studs on our fantasy teams. Within my 30-21 RB, I included 3 rookie RB that have the potential to become dynasty stars if they land on the right teams this offseason. The RB in this article are capable of being the #1 RB on most dynasty teams, however to own as many RB in the Top 30 is a great strategy in dynasty leagues. Most RB are very consistent week-to-week and finding a RB that gets passing work is even more rewarding. As I break into the Top 30 be prepared as there will be tons information and lots of value in dynasty leagues.

Read who I have ranked at RB: 70-61; 60-51; 50-41;40-31

Don’t forget to check out where I ranked my dynasty QB (Post Combine):1-25; 26-44

J.K. Dobbins averaged 6.7 yards a carry in 2019 at Ohio State. Dobbins is a tough physical runner which will help him transition well into the NFL. He has great size and strength but also possesses the ability to break off long runs. It is likely than we won’t see Dobbins’ name called on Day 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft. However, he will land somewhere he can make an immediate impact on Day 2.

I can see him replacing Melvin Gordon on the Los Angeles Chargers, as they look to rebuild their team. Austin Ekeler is capable of handling the full load but would the Chargers would love to see a 1-2 punch as they had with Gordon and Ekeler. I see Dobbins becoming a 1B style of RB on whatever team selects him. I would grab Dobbins in dynasty drafts due to his elite breakaway runs and his powerful downhill running style.

Kerryon Johnson is a name that fantasy owners having been hoping and praying for to become an elite RB for their fantasy teams. Johnson was selected in the 2nd round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Auburn. The Lions believed at the time that had found their next franchise back. Johnson has shown that he can be elite as he broke a 70-game drought of not having a 100-yard rusher in a game. However, in 2 years, Johnson has only appeared in 18 total games.

Johnson suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the latter half of the 2019 season. Bo Scarbrough and Ty Johnson split the carries and didn’t provide much together to the Lions backfield. Johnson will be the clear cut favorite to get the majority of the carries in 2020, barring no major pickups in the draft or free agency. There is a risk of taking Johnson in dynasty drafts because of his injury history. As an owner, if you are willing to take that shot, Johnson may able able to pay off tremendously.

Jonathan Taylor ran through the heart of many Big 10 teams in 2019. Over the 2019 season, Taylor carried the ball for 2,003 yards and 21 TD. He also added 26 catches for 252 yards and 5 TD. There was no doubt about who was behind the offensive success of the Wisconsin Badgers in 2019. It was unsure of how well of a pass catcher he was going into last season, but his 2019 campaign has helped his draft stock. Taylor will be a Top 3 back selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

I can see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers bringing him in to be the young star and help Jameis Winston move the offense easier. The Bucs never seemed to be able to get the running game going in 2019 and Arians doesn’t seem committed to Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber. The Bucs may look to bring in Melvin Gordon in free agency, however, if not, I can see them selecting Taylor. Taylor would become a fantasy stud under their Arians, similar to what we saw in David Johnson in 2017-2018. Taylor would be a must grab in dynasty if he lands on the right squad. The right team will make him their Day 1 starter.

D’Andre Swift appears to be the clear cut #1 running back in the 2020 NFL Draft. Swift has been a stud at Georgia ever since his freshman year where he even cut into the carries of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Swift appears to have everything needed to be an NFL back. He can be a 3-down starter and will make an immediate impact for whatever team selects him. Swift has a great build and can burst in the open lanes of the defense and then it is off to the races. Swift has elusive speed and many would say that he is quicker than Nick Chubb, who ran a 4.53 40 at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.

I believe that the Miami Dolphins will use one of their 3 1st-round picks on Swift. I would assume Swift would be joining Tua Tagovailoa in Miami. These two young studs would propel Miami’s offense greatly. Swift would be the main attraction for Miami in 2020 as Tua may sit his rookie year to heal from the season-ending hip injury he suffered at Alabama. Swift will be the 1.01 in Dynasty Rookie Drafts and is a target of mine to own.

After a strong showing in the 2018 playoffs for the New England Patriots, many believed, including myself that Michel would be the Patriots main back in 2019. The Patriots offense was at its all-time worst in 2019 and Michel only showed relevance when they were up by 3 TD against teams like the Dolphins, Jets, and Redskins. Michel is only 24 and comes out of the elite backfield of Georgia where he played with Nick Chubb, Todd Gurley, Elijah Holyfield, and D’Andre Swift.

The Patriots may be undergoing many changes within the next 2 years. However, I think the Michel will continue to be their best RB. He has the tangibles to be a starting RB that can produce in this league. Michel won’t be given much hype from others, but this will lower his draft position. This makes him a steal if you are willing to see how the Patriots will shake out. Michel is a buy-low candidate in dynasty and worth the risk.

Kenyan Drake is finally gone from the Miami organization and has revived his career in Arizona. Drake was a speedster coming out of Alabama. However, he didn’t get much help in his first 4.5 years from the Phins. Now, Kenyan’s raw talent can be used to fruition with his zone running traits and his catching ability in a spread air raid offense. Kenyan didn’t record a single touchdown through his first 6 games in 2019. Drake managed to get 8 touchdowns in the remaining 8 games he played in. Although inflated stats played a role for Drake, all this means is his ceiling is at an all-time high for him. For 2020, I expect Kingsbury to fully utilize Drake in this offense whether David Johnson is staying or leaving town. Drafting Kenyan Drake should be a priority for your dynasty drafts.

Phillip Lindsay was an undrafted back out of Colorado. Lindsay’s story is truly amazing and the player that he has become is fascinating. Lindsay shocked the fantasy world in 2018 when he emerged as the Broncos top back while most people were expecting Royce Freeman to be the stud. Lindsay has eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in his first 2 seasons in the NFL. He also registered 35 catches in 2018 and 2019. Lindsay has played behind inconsistent QB and the Broncos have found their play-caller for the future in Drew Lock.

I love Lindsay’s outlook with Lock and Courtland Sutton. Broncos should have a much better offense in 2020, and Lindsay will be the workhorse on this team. Lindsay is only 26 and I believe he will be a Bronco for years to come. Lindsay is one of my favorite dynasty targets with a great return for his current ADP. I will be finding ways to get Lindsay in all my dynasty leagues.

David Montgomery was a third-round draft pick in 2019 by the Chicago Bears. He had an up and down year where some games fantasy owners loved him and other games they hated him. David finished the year with 889 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. On paper isn’t all the bad, but when looking at the game log, the consistency isn’t there. David is one of the best at breaking tackles in the NFL, but if he doesn’t get o-line help in 2020 he might be looking at a similar stat line from the previous year. In Dynasty leagues, I would value David as a top 25 running back. I view this situation as optimistic as he has room to grow.

There is no doubt that the skill set Kareem Hunt possesses. He led the league in rushing in 2017 with 1,327 rushing yards. Hunt was taking the league by storm in 2018 until a video emerged of him kicking a woman in the middle of a hotel hallway. He was reinstated in 2019 and the Browns allowed him to prove himself again. Hunt didn’t look like himself on the field and in my opinion, he slowed down the Cleveland offense and hurt Nick Chubb’s production. It is unsure where Hunt will play next year because he is a restricted free agent and can match whatever money other teams are willing to pay for him.

Hunt lined up more often at fullback for the Browns and it truly was a waste of his potential and it would be a waste of the Browns cap space to pay Hunt to continue to fill that the role. Nick Chubb has shown that he is the best back in Cleveland. The Browns will continue to use him as such. Hunt will have people that will show interest in him this offseason but after another run-in with the law, Hunt remains a risky player to have. Hunt is young and has shown that he can be a premier running back, however, his off-the-field issues are too much for me. If willing to take the chance that he stays clean, you could take him in dynasty drafts, but he is off the table for me.

Nov 10, 2019; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) runs the ball into Buffalo Bills free safety Jordan Poyer (21) during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

James Conner had an unfortunate year in 2019 after suffering two injuries that ultimately left a bad taste for fantasy owners. Conner finished the year playing 10 games with 464 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 251 receiving yards and 3 TD. If Conner managed to play in all 16 games his stats would have projected to be 742 rushing yards and 6 TD and 401 receiving yards and 5 TD. Although the down year for Conner, it leaves a window open for positive regression in 2020. Tomlin likes what he has in him in for the run game and especially the passing game. For Dynasty purposes, I believe Conner still has high RB2 capability. If he can manage to stay healthy, he has the potential to finish in the top 12 in PPR leagues.

Read who I have ranked at RB: 70-61; 60-51; 50-41; 40-31

Also, check out my 2020 QB Dynasty Rankings 1-11;12-21; 22-34

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