Run-only backs - Pass-catching key for running backs in PPR format

Admittedly, it’s ridiculously early. But I’ve got three running backs that I think will be overdrafted in a lot of leagues: Marlon Mack, Sony Michel and Carlos Hyde.

They’re all credible players. They all ran for around 1,000 yards last year. And they’ll probably all be expected to lead their teams in rushing touchdowns. They were expected to get most of the goal-line carries with their teams on most Sundays last year.

But most fantasy scoring systems include a pass-catching component, and these backs have been ridiculously poor in that arena. They’re not particularly good in that capacity, and their teams realize it, not tending to use them much at all in the passing game. Mack last year caught only 14 passes in his 14 games. Both Michel and Hyde averaged less than a catch per game.

Among running backs who played at least half of last year, 53 averaged at least 6 receiving yards per game last year. Mack, Michel (pictured) and Hyde weren’t in that group. (Hyde didn’t even average 3 yards per game).

Here’s where they rank, using PPR scoring (1 for every 10 yards, plus 1 for each catch). In this chart, I’ve got designations on running backs who were used primarily on third downs or in change-of-pace roles.

RECEIVING PRODUCTION, RUNNING BACKS
Rk	Player	St	No	Rec	Points
1.	Christian McCaffrey, Car.	16	7.3	62.8	13.5
2.	Austin Ekeler (C), LAC	12	5.7	60.3	11.7
3.	Alvin Kamara, N.O.	14	5.8	38.1	9.6
4.	James White (3rd), N.E.	15	4.8	43.0	9.1
5.	Leonard Fournette, Jac.	15	5.1	34.8	8.5
6.	Kareem Hunt (C), Cle.	8	4.6	35.6	8.2
7.	David Johnson, Ariz.	8	3.9	40.4	7.9
8.	Tarik Cohen (3rd), Chi.	16	4.9	28.5	7.8
9.	Dalvin Cook, Min.	14	3.8	37.1	7.5
10.	LeVeon Bell, NYJ	15	4.4	30.7	7.5
11.	Saquon Barkley, NYG	13	4.0	33.7	7.4
12.	Chris Thompson (3rd), Was.	11	3.8	34.4	7.3
13.	Devonta Freeman, Atl.	14	4.2	29.3	7.1
14.	Miles Sanders, Phil.	16	3.1	31.8	6.3
15.	Aaron Jones, G.B.	16	3.1	29.6	6.0
16.	Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.	16	3.4	26.3	6.0
17.	Melvin Gordon, LAC	12	3.5	24.7	6.0
18.	James Conner, Pitt.	10	3.4	25.1	5.9
19.	Kenyan Drake, Ariz.	8	3.5	21.4	5.6
20.	Jaylen Samuels (3rd), Pitt.	14	3.4	21.8	5.5
21.	Duke Johnson (3rd), Hou.	16	2.8	25.6	5.3
22.	Devin Singletary, Buff.	10	2.9	19.4	4.8
23.	Nyheim Hines (3rd), Ind.	16	2.8	20.0	4.8
24.	Damien Williams, K.C.	11	2.7	19.4	4.7
25.	Jamaal Williams (C), G.B.	14	2.8	18.1	4.6
26.	Royce Freeman (C), Den.	16	2.7	16.0	4.3
27.	Jalen Richard (3rd), Oak.	16	2.3	20.2	4.3
28.	Chris Carson, Sea.	15	2.5	17.7	4.2
29.	Rex Burkhead (C), N.E.	13	2.1	21.5	4.2
30.	Nick Chubb, Cle.	16	2.3	17.4	4.0
31.	Joe Mixon, Cin.	16	2.2	17.9	4.0
32.	Dare Ogunbowale (3rd), T.B.	16	2.2	17.9	4.0
33.	Ronald Jones, T.B.	16	1.9	19.3	3.9
34.	LeSean McCoy (C), K.C.	13	2.2	13.9	3.5
35.	Todd Gurley, LAR	15	2.1	13.8	3.4
36.	Phillip Lindsay, Den.	16	2.2	12.3	3.4
37.	Mark Ingram, Balt.	15	1.7	16.5	3.4
38.	Giovani Bernard (3rd), Cin.	16	1.9	14.6	3.3
39.	Raheem Mostert, S.F.	9	1.3	19.2	3.3
40.	Matt Breida, S.F.	9	1.8	12.2	3.0
41.	Kerryon Johnson, Det.	8	1.3	15.9	2.8
42.	Josh Jacobs, Oak.	13	1.5	12.8	2.8
43.	Tevin Coleman (C), S.F.	14	1.5	12.9	2.8
44.	David Montgomery, Chi.	16	1.6	11.6	2.7
45.	Derrick Henry, Ten.	15	1.2	13.7	2.6
46.	Dion Lewis (3rd), Ten.	15	1.6	9.7	2.6
47.	Latavius Murray (C), N.O.	14	1.4	10.6	2.5
48.	Adrian Peterson, Was.	15	1.1	9.5	2.1
49.	Jordan Howard, Phil.	9	1.1	7.7	1.9
50.	Peyton Barber, T.B.	16	1.0	7.2	1.7
51.	Tony Pollard (C), Dall.	15	1.0	7.1	1.7
52.	Rashaad Penny (C), Sea.	10	.8	8.3	1.6
53.	Marlon Mack, Ind.	14	1.0	5.9	1.6
54.	Alexander Mattison (C), Min.	13	.8	6.3	1.4
55.	Sony Michel, N.E.	16	.8	5.9	1.3
56.	Carlos Hyde, Hou.	16	.6	2.6	.9
57.	Gus Edwards (C), Balt.	15	.4	2.9	.7

Receiving production isn’t everything, of course. But it count. When you blend the receiving and rushing production together, none of those running backs ranked in the top-25 in per-game PPR production. Hyde and Michel didn’t even rank in the top 35.

I’m not promising all of these backs will be ranked outside my preseason top 25 at the position. Let’s see what happens in free agency and the draft. But my hunch is I’ll have these running backs ranked lower than where most are expecting.

PER-GAME PPR PRODUCTION, RUNNING BACKS
Rk	Player	St	Run	Rec	ToYds	TD	PPR
1.	Christian McCaffrey, Car.	16	86.7	62.8	149.5	1.21	29.5
2.	Dalvin Cook, Min.	14	81.1	37.1	118.1	.93	21.2
3.	Derrick Henry, Ten.	15	102.7	13.7	116.4	1.20	20.0
4.	Kenyan Drake, Ariz.	8	80.4	21.4	101.8	1.04	19.9
5.	Aaron Jones, G.B.	16	67.8	29.6	97.4	1.19	19.9
6.	Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.	16	84.8	26.3	111.1	.88	19.7
7.	Saquon Barkley, NYG	13	77.2	33.7	110.8	.62	18.8
8.	Austin Ekeler (C), LAC	12	28.1	60.3	88.3	.58	18.0
9.	Alvin Kamara, N.O.	14	56.9	38.1	95.0	.43	17.9
10.	Leonard Fournette, Jac.	15	76.8	34.8	111.6	.20	17.4
11.	Mark Ingram, Balt.	15	67.9	16.5	84.3	1.04	16.4
12.	Nick Chubb, Cle.	16	93.4	17.4	110.8	.50	16.3
13.	Chris Carson, Sea.	15	82.0	17.7	99.7	.60	16.0
14.	Raheem Mostert, S.F.	9	66.6	19.2	85.8	1.00	15.9
15.	Melvin Gordon, LAC	12	51.0	24.7	75.7	.75	15.6
16.	David Johnson, Ariz.	8	37.8	40.4	78.1	.63	15.4
17.	Todd Gurley, LAR	15	57.1	13.8	70.9	.96	14.9
18.	Josh Jacobs, Oak.	13	88.5	12.8	101.2	.54	14.9
19.	James Conner, Pitt.	10	46.4	25.1	71.5	.70	14.8
20.	LeVeon Bell, NYJ	15	52.6	30.7	83.3	.29	14.5
21.	Devonta Freeman, Atl.	14	46.9	29.3	76.1	.43	14.4
22.	Devin Singletary, Buff.	10	69.2	19.4	88.6	.40	14.2
23.	Joe Mixon, Cin.	16	71.1	17.9	89.0	.50	14.1
24.	Miles Sanders, Phil.	16	51.1	31.8	82.9	.40	13.8
25.	James White (3rd), N.E.	15	17.5	43.0	60.5	.42	13.4
26.	Damien Williams, K.C.	11	45.3	19.4	64.6	.64	13.0
27.	Marlon Mack, Ind.	14	77.9	5.9	83.8	.60	13.0
28.	Kareem Hunt (C), Cle.	8	22.4	35.6	58.0	.38	12.7
29.	Jordan Howard, Phil.	9	58.3	7.7	66.0	.78	12.4
30.	Phillip Lindsay, Den.	16	63.2	12.3	75.4	.44	12.4
31.	David Montgomery, Chi.	16	55.6	11.6	67.1	.44	10.9
32.	Kerryon Johnson, Det.	8	50.4	15.9	66.3	.50	10.9
33.	Ronald Jones, T.B.	16	45.3	19.3	64.6	.38	10.6
34.	Jamaal Williams (C), G.B.	14	32.9	18.1	50.9	.43	10.5
35.	Matt Breida, S.F.	9	60.2	12.2	72.4	.22	10.4
36.	Tarik Cohen (3rd), Chi.	16	13.3	28.5	41.8	.19	10.2
37.	Adrian Peterson, Was.	15	59.9	9.5	69.3	.33	10.1
38.	Carlos Hyde, Hou.	16	66.9	2.6	69.5	.38	9.8
39.	Duke Johnson (3rd), Hou.	16	25.6	25.6	51.3	.31	9.8
40.	Tevin Coleman (C), S.F.	14	38.9	12.9	51.7	.50	9.7
41.	Sony Michel, N.E.	16	57.0	5.9	62.9	.44	9.7
42.	LeSean McCoy (C), K.C.	13	35.8	13.9	49.7	.38	9.4
43.	Royce Freeman (C), Den.	16	31.0	16.0	47.0	.25	8.9
44.	Chris Thompson (3rd), Was.	11	12.5	34.4	46.9	.00	8.5
45.	Rex Burkhead (C), N.E.	13	23.2	21.5	44.7	.23	7.9
46.	Rashaad Penny (C), Sea.	10	37.0	8.3	45.3	.40	7.7
47.	Jaylen Samuels (3rd), Pitt.	14	12.5	21.8	34.3	.14	7.6
48.	Nyheim Hines (3rd), Ind.	16	12.4	20.0	32.4	.25	7.5
49.	Peyton Barber, T.B.	16	29.4	7.2	36.6	.46	7.4
50.	Latavius Murray (C), N.O.	14	29.7	10.6	40.4	.14	6.3
51.	Tony Pollard (C), Dall.	15	30.3	7.1	37.5	.22	6.1
52.	Alexander Mattison (C), Min.	13	35.5	6.3	41.8	.08	5.4
53.	Gus Edwards (C), Balt.	15	38.7	2.9	41.6	.13	5.4
54.	Jalen Richard (3rd), Oak.	16	9.1	20.2	29.3	.00	5.2
55.	Dare Ogunbowale (3rd), T.B.	16	1.1	17.9	18.9	.13	4.8
56.	Giovani Bernard (3rd), Cin.	16	10.6	14.6	25.3	.00	4.4
57.	Dion Lewis (3rd), Ten.	15	9.4	9.7	19.1	.07	3.9

—Ian Allan

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T.
Sparks, Nev.
You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B.
St. Charles, Mo.
I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L.
Mequon, Wisc.
The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S.
Olympia, Wash.
Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L.
Madison, Wis.
I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G.
Bartlett, Ill.
Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D.
Wellington, Fla.
Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C.
Tulsa, Okla.
A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M.
London, Ontario, Canada
I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C.
Fort Worth, Texas
Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M.
Imperial, Neb.
I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M.
Elma, N.Y.
I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W.
Holt, Mich.
I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M.
Lynnwood, Wash.
You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W.
Aylett, Va.
And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S.
Grand Junction, Colo.
This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.
I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R.
Queen Creek, Ariz.

Today's Trivia

Michigan last year went 15-0, winning college football’s national title, yet had only one player selected in the first round of the draft (J.J. McCarthy). In the NFL’s 32-team era (2002 to present) what is the only university that has won college football’s national title game but not had ANY players picked in the first round of the draft? This same school has actually done it twice (both teams included players who were eventually picked in the first round, but not until future years).

View Answer

Subscribe to Fantasy Football Index!

Get Fantasy Football Index delivered pronto!

Fantasy Index

Get In There!

Get In There!

Play!

Sign In

Not a Member? Join Today!

Fantasy Index Store

Secure Purchases

Order by Phone Available

Contact Support

General Contact

Fantasy Football Index

Customer Service

Operating Hours

Factoid

Run-only backs - Pass-catching key for running backs in PPR format

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Toolbox

Mailbag

Today's Trivia

Football

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

Store

All Products

Help & Support

Stay in the Loop

Subscribe to Fantasy Football Index!

Get Fantasy Football Index delivered pronto!

Fantasy Index

Get In There!

Get In There!

Play!

Sign In

Not a Member? Join Today!

Fantasy Index Store

Secure Purchases

Order by Phone Available

Contact Support

General Contact

Fantasy Football Index

Customer Service

Operating Hours

Factoid

Run-only backs - Pass-catching key for running backs in PPR format

Follow

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Toolbox

Mailbag

Today's Trivia

FREE Daily newsblast newsletter

Football

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

Store

All Products

Help & Support

Stay in the Loop