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Dynasty Leagues

Long-term RB rankings

Youth rules at the running back position

The Seahawks have floundered of late, particularly their running game. But I have seen enough of Kenneth Walker that I am high on him going into future seasons. He looks like the real deal.

Playing against a really good San Francisco defense, Walker didn’t have a standout game last night. But there was one play where he was able to get around the corner for a nice gain. It was the kind of play where most backs wouldn’t have been able to get around the edge.

If we put on our dynasty league hats for a moment (as we do on Saturdays during the regular season) I would rather have a 22-year-old Kenneth Walker, rather than a 27-year-old back like Nick Chubb, Dalvin Cook or Austin Ekeler.

I think we’re going to see a bunch of good seasons from Walker. He’s got a lot more quality seasons left in him than those guys.

When I’m stacking the board at running back for a dynasty format, I tend to favor the younger guys. If two players are similar in value, go for the younger one. All but three of the players in my top 10, in fact, are younger than 25 years old. Two of the older guys aren’t traditional tailbacks but pass catchers (Ekeler and Christian McCaffrey). The other exception is 25-year-old Saquon Barkley.

The rankings below are crafted by hand. They assume PPR scoring and a 12-team league, with franchises holding the rights to players indefinitely. Rookies tagged with black dots.

I turn my attention to dynasty leagues every Saturday during the regular season, rotating between the four notable positions. To see past installments, use the “past issues” navigation tools.

Last week: Quarterbacks

Next week: Tight ends

DYNASTY RUNNING BACKS
RkTmPlayerAge
1.INDJonathan Taylor23.9
2.NYJ• Breece Hall21.5
3.SEA• Kenneth Walker22.2
4.JACTravis Etienne23.9
5.SFChristian McCaffrey26.5
6.NYGSaquon Barkley25.8
7.LACAustin Ekeler27.6
8.DENJavonte Williams22.6
9.LVJosh Jacobs24.8
10.HOU• Dameon Pierce22.8
11.CINJoe Mixon26.4
12.PITNajee Harris24.8
13.CLENick Chubb27.0
14.MINDalvin Cook27.4
15.NERhamondre Stevenson24.8
16.TENDerrick Henry28.9
17.TB• Rachaad White23.9
18.DALTony Pollard25.6
19.KC• Isiah Pacheco23.8
20.PHIMiles Sanders25.6
21.WAS• Brian Robinson23.7
22.GBAaron Jones28.0
23.CHIDavid Montgomery25.5
24.DETD'Andre Swift23.9
25.BALJ.K. Dobbins24.0
26.CARD'Onta Foreman26.6
27.ARIJames Conner27.6
28.NOAlvin Kamara27.4
29.ATL• Tyler Allgeier22.7
30.CHIKhalil Herbert24.7
31.BUFDevin Singletary25.3
32.DALEzekiel Elliott27.4
33.NE• Pierre Strong24.0
34.BUF• James Cook23.2
35.MIAJeff Wilson27.1
36.CLEKareem Hunt27.4
37.GBAJ Dillon24.6
38.NYJ• Zonovan Knight21.7
39.NEDamien Harris25.8
40.ATLCordarrelle Patterson31.8
41.TBLeonard Fournette27.9
42.PIT• Jaylen Warren24.1
43.MINAlexander Mattison24.5
44.PHIKenneth Gainwell23.8
45.CLE• Jerome Ford23.3
46.WASAntonio Gibson24.5
47.SFElijah Mitchell24.6
48.MIARaheem Mostert30.7
49.LARCam Akers23.5
50.CARChuba Hubbard23.5
51.LV• Zamir White23.2
52.BALGus Edwards27.7
53.DETJamaal Williams27.7
54.LACJoshua Kelley25.1
55.NYJMichael Carter23.6
56.KCJerick McKinnon30.6
57.SFJordan Mason23.6
58.CLED'Ernest Johnson26.8
59.KCClyde Edwards-Helaire23.7
60.ATL• Caleb Huntley24.3
61.INDDeon Jackson23.8
62.LAC• Isaiah Spiller21.4
63.SEARashaad Penny26.9
64.MIN• Ty Chandler24.6
65.TEN• Hassan Haskins23.1
66.SF• Tyrion Davis-Price22.1
67.LAR• Kyren Williams22.3
68.NYJJames Robinson24.4
69.ARI• Keontay Ingram23.1
70.BUFNyheim Hines26.1
71.INDZack Moss25.0
72.CINSamaje Perine27.2
73.WASJ.D. McKissic29.3
74.PHITrey Sermon23.9
75.BALKenyan Drake28.9
76.DETCraig Reynolds26.5
77.GBKylin Hill24.3
78.BALJustice Hill25.1
79.NYGGary Brightwell23.8
80.DENLatavius Murray32.9

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index