Christian McCaffrey might miss a month with a hamstring injury, but as best I can tell, he’s still the first running back you would select in a dynasty draft. He’s only 25, and he’s that much better than everyone else at the position, with his dual-threat production as a runner and a pass catcher.

Staying healthy, I think, is the only real concern, but that’s an issue with of the best players at the game’s most punishing position.

McCaffrey has been heavily used, with seasons with over 2,000 combined yards at both the college and pro levels. The Panthers would be wise to start thinking about dialing back how often they slam him between the tackles – use him more like the Saints use Alvin Kamara (who’s never had a 1,000-yard rushing season). If the Panthers were willing to sacrifice some McCaffrey runs, it might allow them to enjoy more years of him creating mismatches as a receiver out of the backfield.

One per week, I shift the focus to dynasty leagues, looking not just at 2021 but at how the running backs might rank if fantasy franchises were able to retain the rights to players indefinitely. I hit one position each Saturday, rotating between QB-RB-TE-WR.

McCaffrey, I’m thinking, is still the running back I would take first. Then I don’t see much difference between the next three options. Jonathan Taylor is the youngest of those guys, but he’s not as proven. Derrick Henry has been the game’s most durable running back, which is a persuasive selling point, but at 27 is in the back half of his career as an uber-elite player. Dalvin Cook is really productive, but he’s 26 and has also had durability issues (he didn’t practice all this week, for example, making him iffy for Week 3).

Inside the top 20 Ezekiel Elliott and D’Andre Swift are the most notable movers (relative to where I ranked them before the season started). Elliott has fallen 6 spots, while Swift has moved up 7.

In the list below, players who improved by at least 10 spots are in bold. Players who fell by at least 10 spots have a black dot next to their name.

On the rankings below, I’m assuming PPR scoring, with 12 teams each starting about two running backs per week (and maybe another as a flex). Teams are allowed to keep players indefinitely, so when you get into the 40s, it’s reasonable to start thinking about backups who’ll be starters one day and players who are out for the year with injuries.

Last week: Quarterbacks

Next week: Tight ends.

DYNASTY LEAGUES: RUNNING BACKS
RkTmPlayerAge
1.CARChristian McCaffrey25
2.INDJonathan Taylor22
3.TENDerrick Henry27
4.MINDalvin Cook26
5.NOAlvin Kamara26
6.CLENick Chubb25
7.PITNajee Harris23
8.NYGSaquon Barkley24
9.DALEzekiel Elliott26
10.WASAntonio Gibson23
11.GBAaron Jones26
12.LACAustin Ekeler26
13.DENJavonte Williams21
14.DETD'Andre Swift22
15.KCClyde Edwards-Helaire22
16.CINJoe Mixon25
17.CHIDavid Montgomery 24
18.LVJosh Jacobs 23
19.JACJames Robinson23
20.SEAChris Carson27
21.MIAMyles Gaskin 24
22.NEDamien Harris 24
23.LARDarrell Henderson 24
24.PHIMiles Sanders 24
25.CLEKareem Hunt26
26.BUFDevin Singletary 24
27.SFElijah Mitchell23
28.GBAJ Dillon23
29.ARIChase Edmonds25
30.BUFZack Moss23
31.NERhamondre Stevenson23
32.NEJames White29
33.TBLeonard Fournette26
34.SFTrey Sermon22
35.DALTony Pollard 24
36.DENMelvin Gordon28
37.ATLMike Davis28
38.ARIJames Conner26
39.DETJamaal Williams26
40.INDNyheim Hines24
41.NYJMichael Carter22
42.LVKenyan Drake27
43.CARChuba Hubbard22
44.TB• Ronald Jones24
45.MINAlexander Mattison 23
46.NOTony Jones23
47.BALJ.K. Dobbins22
48.LARSony Michel26
49.PHIKenneth Gainwell22
50.JACTravis Etienne22
51.WASJ.D. McKissic28
52.BALTy'Son Williams25
53.SFJaMycal Hasty25
54.NYJTy Johnson 24
55.HOUMark Ingram31
56.KCDarrel Williams26
57.ATLCordarrelle Patterson30
58.LACLarry Rountree23
59.NYG• Devontae Booker29
60.MIA• Salvon Ahmed22
61.LACJustin Jackson25
62.BAL• Gus Edwards26
63.NYJ• Tevin Coleman28
64.CHIDamien Williams29
65.CINSamaje Perine26
66.SEADeeJay Dallas23
67.HOU• David Johnson29
68.NEJ.J. Taylor23
69.HOU• Phillip Lindsay27
70.BALLatavius Murray31
71.SF• Raheem Mostert29
72.LARCam Akers22
73.PITAnthony McFarland22
74.JACCarlos Hyde30
75.INDMarlon Mack25
76.SEAAlex Collins27
77.TENDarrynton Evans23
78.PHIBoston Scott26
79.TBGiovani Bernard29
80.KCJerick McKinnon29

—Ian Allan