Updated 2019 Fantasy PPR Rankings: RB

Matt Lutovsky

Updated 2019 Fantasy PPR Rankings: RB image

The difference in our standard RB rankings vs. our PPR RB rankings can be seen immediately. Ezekiel Elliott holds down the top spot in standard while Saquon Barkley is our No. 1 running back (and top overall player) in PPR. You can argue Barkley should be at the top of every cheat sheet for standard, too -- or that Christian McCaffrey should be ahead of him in PPR -- but either way, the bottom line is draft strategy, tiers, sleepers, and projections change.

Of course, even if the guys at the top move a couple spots, it's not going to affect your draft all that much. The big differences are seen with risers like Tarik Cohen, James White and Dion Lewis and fallers like Leonard Fournette, Sony Michel, and Derrick Henry. 

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2019 Fantasy Cheat Sheet

First-year PPR owners can overreact to the changes, especially in half-point PPR formats. Yards and touchdowns will still move the needle, but even just a few receptions per game makes a difference in PPR formats. Unfortunately, most "receiving backs" don't score much. Duke Johnson Jr. (3 TDs), Chris Thompson (one in 10 games), Theo Riddick (0), Giovani Bernard (3), Nyheim Hines (4), Jalen Richard (1), and Dion Lewis (2) combined for the same amount of TDs Melvin Gordon scored in 12 games. For a receiving back to vault into the RB2 conversation, they'll need at least eight TDs like Cohen (9) and White (12) scored last season.

2019 PPR RANKINGS:
Wide receiver | Tight end | Top 200

However, what receiving backs lack in ceiling, they make up for with some level of consistency. The catches are almost always there, regardless of the defenses they're facing, so their floors are slightly higher. Again, the studs are still the studs, but mid-tier backs can fluctuate dramatically based simply on touchdown luck.

2019 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running backWide Receiver | Tight End | D/ST | Kicker | Top 200

We'll continue to update our RB PPR rankings throughout the preseason, so check back for the latest adjustments. For individual player analysis, go here.

FANTASY SLEEPERS: 
8 QBs | 14 RBs | 11 WRs | 11 TEs | 6 D/STs | One from each team

LISTEN TO THE SN FANTASY RB PREVIEW PODCAST BELOW

Fantasy Football 2019: RB PPR rankings

Rankings based on standard scoring leagues

RankPlayerTeam
1Saquon BarkleyGiants
2Ezekiel ElliottCowboys
3Christian McCaffreyPanthers
4Alvin KamaraSaints
5Le'Veon BellJets
6James ConnerSteelers
7David JohnsonCardinals
8Todd GurleyRams
9Dalvin CookVikings
10Kerryon JohnsonLions
11Joe MixonBengals
12Tarik CohenBears
13Damien WilliamsChiefs
14James WhitePatriots
15Tevin Coleman49ers
16Leonard FournetteJaguars
17Aaron JonesPackers
18Mark IngramRavens
19Nick ChubbBrowns
20Phillip LindsayBroncos
21Devonta FreemanFalcons
22Melvin GordonChargers
23Kenyan DrakeDolphins
24Marlon MackColts
25Derrick HenryTitans
26Chris CarsonSeahawks
27Dion LewisTitans
28Nyheim HinesColts
29Duke Johnson Jr.Texans
30Austin EkelerChargers
31Matt Breida49ers
32Jalen RichardRaiders
33Derrius GuiceRedskins
34Sony MichelPatriots
35Josh JacobsRaiders
36David MontgomeryBears
37Devin SingletaryBills
38Royce FreemanBroncos
39Miles SandersEagles
40Justin JacksonChargers
41Jordan HowardEagles
42Ronald JonesBuccaneers
43Darwin ThompsonChiefs
44Justice HillRavens
45T.J. YeldonBills
46Ito SmithFalcons
47Latavius MurraySaints
48Peyton BarberBuccaneers
49Adrian PetersonRedskins
50Kalen BallageDolphins
51Chris ThompsonRedskins
52Ty MontgomeryJets
53Gus EdwardsRavens
54Giovani BernardBengals
55Jaylen SamuelsSteelers
56Rashaad PennySeahawks
57Damien HarrisPatriots
58Darrell HendersonRams
59Tony PollardCowboys
60Alexander MattisonVikings
61C.J. AndersonLions
62Carlos HydeTexans
63Kareem HuntBrowns
64Frank GoreBills
65LeSean McCoyChiefs
66Mike DavisBears
67Chase EdmondsCardinals
68Bilal PowellJets
69Darren SprolesEagles
70Jamaal WilliamsPackers
71Ryquell ArmsteadJaguars
72Jordan ScarlettPanthers
73Myles GaskinDolphins
74Wayne GallmanGiants
75Benny Snell, Jr.Steelers

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.