We’re over halfway through the season, and I don’t think we’re any closer to knowing with any certainty which of the rookie running backs will have the best career. There are eight, I think, that could wind up being that guy.

Most recently, I’ve been liking D’Andre Swift more. He’s really outstanding in the passing game, and he’s been coming on as a runner. Teammate Adrian Peterson says he noticed Swift’s talent early on (and was surprised they didn’t move him into a more featured role sooner). Swift (concussion) won’t play this week, but he’s looking like he’ll be a successful back.

Neither Clyde Edwards-Helaire nor Jonathan Taylor has had a great rookie season, but I’m not giving up on either guy. They’re both on good teams, and I think both will get better with more experience.

Similarly, J.K. Dobbins hasn’t lit it up in his first year, but the talent is apparent. I think he’ll bubble to the surface of Baltimore’s backfield – he’s 9 years younger than Mark Ingram.

James Robinson wasn’t even drafted, but he’s got more yards in his first season than all of those guys. He doesn’t have elite-level speed, quickness or power, but he runs hard. Doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving the starting lineup in Jacksonville anytime soon.

Antonio Gibson has more than met expectations for Washington. I think he’ll be their starting running back next year, and that’s a coaching staff that really knows how to feature a tailback. Will be no surprise if he puts up top-10 numbers in 2021.

I am also warming up to Zack Moss. The dude runs hard; he’s strong below the waist. He seems to have more juice than their other young running back, Devin Singletary, and seems to be moving up in that backfield.

And finally, I will include Cam Akers among the eight rookie running backs with some chance of being the Best of Class. Akers hasn’t done much yet, but if he can take charge of the backfield for the Rams, that’s an offense that can make a running back looking really good. Sean McVay likes calling run plays around the goal line.

Two other rookie running backs are worth a mention. Something less than those top 8, but guys who could make some noise next year: AJ Dillon and Salvon Ahmed.

The rankings below show how I would select the running backs if walking into a dynasty draft today. Dynasty as in long-term, with teams allowed to keep players for as long as they want. You draft D’Andre Swift, and you get him not only for 2020 but also 2021, 2022 and all of his other remaining seasons. So when in doubt in this kind of league, the tendency is to go with the younger players.

I’m assuming PPR scoring, and rookies are tagged with black dots. The final column (“Prev”) shows where the player ranked when I did running backs last time four weeks ago.

For dynasty leagues, I address a different position each week, rotating between RB-RB-TE-WR. To see previous weeks use the “Past Issues” navigation tools on the right side of the page.

Last week: Quarterbacks.

Next week: Tight ends.

DYNASTY RUNNING BACKS
RkTmPlayerAgePrev
1.MINDalvin Cook255
2.CARChristian McCaffrey241
3.NOAlvin Kamara253
4.LVJosh Jacobs 227
5.NYGSaquon Barkley2310
6.TENDerrick Henry266
7.DALEzekiel Elliott252
8.CLENick Chubb2413
9.CINJoe Mixon249
10.GBAaron Jones2511
11.DET• D'Andre Swift2114
12.LACAustin Ekeler2517
13.KC• Clyde Edwards-Helaire214
14.PHIMiles Sanders 2312
15.IND• Jonathan Taylor218
16.BAL• J.K. Dobbins2115
17.JAC• James Robinson2225
18.SEAChris Carson2616
19.SFRaheem Mostert2819
20.WAS• Antonio Gibson2227
21.CLEKareem Hunt2521
22.CHIDavid Montgomery 2318
23.TBRonald Jones2322
24.PITJames Conner2520
25.BUF• Zack Moss2242
26.ARIKenyan Drake2626
27.LAR• Cam Akers2139
28.DENMelvin Gordon2724
29.LARDarrell Henderson 2323
30.ATLTodd Gurley2634
31.DENPhillip Lindsay2631
32.ARIChase Edmonds2429
33.PITBenny Snell 2232
34.MIAMyles Gaskin 2328
35.NEDamien Harris 2345
36.GB• AJ Dillon2235
37.MINAlexander Mattison 2233
38.TBLeonard Fournette2537
39.INDNyheim Hines2458
40.MIA• Salvon Ahmed21--
41.BALGus Edwards2554
42.NOLatavius Murray3041
43.KCLeVeon Bell2830
44.LACKalen Ballage24--
45.NYGWayne Gallman2656
46.CARMike Davis2748
47.BUFDevin Singletary 2336
48.DALTony Pollard 2352
49.HOUDavid Johnson2838
50.BALMark Ingram3043
51.PHIBoston Scott2547
52.SEARashaad Penny2457
53.NEJames White2840
54.LVDevontae Booker2886
55.HOUDuke Johnson2749
56.CINGiovani Bernard2955
57.NYJ• LaMical Perine2268
58.GBJamaal Williams2560
59.NESony Michel2550
60.SEACarlos Hyde2951
61.WASJ.D. McKissic2769
62.INDMarlon Mack2461
63.CHITarik Cohen2553
64.KCDamien Williams2874
65.NERex Burkhead3073
66.SFJaMycal Hasty2446
67.LARMalcolm Brown2771
68.TB• KeShawn Vaughn2367
69.LACJustin Jackson2444
70.SFJerick McKinnon2862
71.ATLBrian Hill2565
72.DETKerryon Johnson2376
73.LAC• Joshua Kelley2359
74.SEA• DeeJay Dallas2284
75.SFTevin Coleman2766
76.INDJordan Wilkins2679
77.NYGDevonta Freeman2863
78.TENJeremy McNichols2482
79.NYJTy Johnson 2372
80.PIT• Anthony McFarland2178
81.MIAMatt Breida2570
82.CINSamaje Perine25--
83.LACTroymaine Pope26--
84.TEN• Darrynton Evans2277
85.PHI• Jason Huntley2289
86.DETAdrian Peterson3564
87.LVJalen Richard2780
88.GBTyler Ervin2787
89.ATLQadree Ollison 24--
90.SEATravis Homer 2298
91.MINMike Boone2583
92.ARI• Eno Benjamin2190
93.WASBryce Love 2399
94.DENRoyce Freeman2493
95.BALJustice Hill 2394
96.NYJFrank Gore3781
97.NOTy Montgomery2785
98.JACChris Thompson3075
99.CLED'Ernest Johnson2488
100.KCDarrel Williams2592

—Ian Allan