Fantasy football owners have been saying it ad nauseam for years: Running back is the most important position in fantasy. That often means that the biggest RB names see their auction prices skyrocket on draft day. The onus is on fantasy owners to prioritize RB but also maximize value, so having a game plan and reliable set of 2023 fantasy RB auction values going into draft day can make a world of a difference.
We always recommend reading Fantasy Pros’ auction values to get a sense of a fair valuation for each player. Understanding these projected auction values can help deter you from overextending on a single player. Maintaining your budget and pouncing on values throughout your auction can separate you from the rest of the competition in your league.
Strategic nominating can help you crush auction draft day in a major way, too. By nominating running backs you don’t value as much as the rest of the fantasy public — maybe a regression candidate like James Conner or an injury risk like a JK Dobbins — you assure that another owner is spending a good chunk of his money while also satisfying one his RB slots. That puts a dent on that owner’s spending power while also decreasing the likelihood that he will engage in too many bidding wars with you going forward.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2023 Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Consider nominating upper-tier running backs like Josh Jacobs and Aaron Jones early but only bidding up to $20-30 and then letting your leaguemates fight for them. Jacobs finished as RB1 last season and seems like a prime candidate for regression, as does Jones ahead of his first full year without four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. These backs could realistically take a combined $100 off other owners’ budgets while not even taking a target off your big board.
2023 AUCTION VALUES (Standard & PPR):QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Overall
We snagged Jacobs in multiple auctions last year, but that was at $20, not his current average draft cost of $40-plus. It’s all about value, or how much bang for your buck a player will get you. You want to pinpoint the RB who will be this year’s version of the 2022 Jacobs, not overspend for ’23 Jacobs in a point-chasing haste.
2023 STANDARD RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP
Auctions provide you with ample opportunities to grab a couple of backs within the top few tiers and plenty of sleepers. You’re not waiting on the back end of a snake round wishing your next targeted player doesn’t get drafted before you. You have a chance to compete for every player on your wish list. With RBs, you should have at least a dozen players in the $1-$20 range targeted.
2023 PPR RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP
The best fantasy squads year in and year out seem to be deep at the RB position. That’s not because they spent one-third of their auction budget on the position; it’s because they drafted a stud, a couple of breakouts, and some sleepers and wound up with the most value of all the RB depth charts in the league.
2023 FANTASY SLEEPERSQBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Each Team
Of course, that doesn’t mean you should grab Derrick Henry at $50 and then load up on $1 RBs the rest of the way. It’s all about balance. Your RB1 and RB2 should be dependable, high-floor guys in good health. Your RB3 can be a potential breakout candidate like Jacobs last year. Your bench RBs can be high-ceiling guys like Isiah Pacheco and Rachaad White in 2022.
2023 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST
The more sleeper RBs you hit on, the more leverage you will have in the trade market — and the better equipped you’ll be to handle injuries, tough RB1/RB2 matchups, and start/sit decisions at your flex position.
We’ll continue updating these RB auction values until Week 1, so check back periodically for updates.
To get customized dollar values tailored to your league settings, check out FantasyPros’ premium Auction Calculator. For customized mock auctions that you can do in minutes, check out FantasyPros’ premium Salary Cap Simulator.
Fantasy Football RB Auction Values 2023: Running back dollar projections for standard leagues
Dollar values courtesy of FantasyPros and based on 12-team leagues with $200 budgets.
Scoring based on standard, non-PPR formats.
All players not listed are valued at $0
Rank Player Proj. Value1 Christian McCaffrey, SF $512 Bijan Robinson, ATL $483 Austin Ekeler, LAC $484 Nick Chubb, CLE $465 Derrick Henry, TEN $466 Tony Pollard, DAL $427 Josh Jacobs, LV $428 Saquon Barkley, NYG $419 Jonathan Taylor, IND $3910 Joe Mixon, CIN $3311 Aaron Jones, GB $3112 Najee Harris, PIT $2913 Travis Etienne Jr., JAC $2814 Kenneth Walker III, SEA $2715 Alexander Mattison, MIN $2716 Rhamondre Stevenson, NE $2617 James Conner, ARI $2518 Dameon Pierce, HOU $2419 Jahmyr Gibbs, DET $2220 Breece Hall, NYJ $2221 Miles Sanders, CAR $2122 J.K. Dobbins, BAL $2023 Cam Akers, LAR $2024 Isiah Pacheco, KC $1925 Rachaad White, TB $1826 James Cook, BUF $1727 David Montgomery, DET $1728 Javonte Williams, DEN $1429 Alvin Kamara, NOS $1430 Khalil Herbert, CHI $1331 AJ Dillon, GB $1232 Brian Robinson Jr., WAS $1233 Dalvin Cook, NYJ $1234 D’Andre Swift, PHI $1135 Samaje Perine, DEN $1036 Antonio Gibson, WAS $837 Jeff Wilson Jr., MIA $838 Jamaal Williams, NO $739 Rashaad Penny, PHI $740 Raheem Mostert, MIA $641 Elijah Mitchell, SF $642 Tyler Allgeier, ATL $643 Zach Charbonnet, SEA $544 Ezekiel Elliott, NE $545 Jaylen Warren, PIT $546 Damien Harris, BUF $447 Chuba Hubbard, CAR $448 D’Onta Foreman, CHI $449 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI $450 Devin Singletary, HOU $451 Jerick McKinnon, KC $452 De’Von Achane, MIA $353 Gus Edwards, BAL $354 Tank Bigsby, JAC $355 Roschon Johnson, CHI $256 Leonard Fournette, $257 Tyjae Spears, TEN $158 Joshua Kelley, LAC $159 Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL $160 Kyren Williams, LAR $1
For full standard RB rankings, click here.
Fantasy Football RB PPR Auction Values 2023: Running back dollar projections
Dollar values courtesy of FantasyPros and based on 12-team leagues with $200 budgets.
Scoring based on full-point PPR formats.
All players not listed are valued at $0
Rank Player Proj. Value1 Christian McCaffrey, SF $522 Austin Ekeler, LAC $503 Bijan Robinson, ATL $444 Saquon Barkley, NYG $385 Tony Pollard, DAL $376 Derrick Henry, TEN $367 Josh Jacobs, LV $358 Nick Chubb, CLE $359 Joe Mixon, CIN $3210 Jonathan Taylor, IND $3111 Aaron Jones, GB $3012 Rhamondre Stevenson, NE $2613 Najee Harris, PIT $2514 Travis Etienne Jr., JAC $2415 James Conner, ARI $2316 Alexander Mattison, MIN $2217 Jahmyr Gibbs, DET $2218 Rachaad White, TB $2019 Kenneth Walker III, SEA $2020 Dameon Pierce, HOU $2021 Breece Hall, NYJ $2022 Miles Sanders, CAR $1723 James Cook, BUF $1524 J.K. Dobbins, BAL $1425 David Montgomery, DET $1426 Cam Akers, LAR $1427 Isiah Pacheco, KC $1428 Alvin Kamara, NOS $1429 Javonte Williams, DEN $1230 D’Andre Swift, PHI $1131 Antonio Gibson, WAS $1032 Dalvin Cook, NYJINJ $933 Samaje Perine, DEN $934 AJ Dillon, GB $935 Khalil Herbert, CHI $936 Brian Robinson Jr., WAS $737 Jeff Wilson Jr., MIA $638 Raheem Mostert, MIA $539 Jamaal Williams, NO $540 Jerick McKinnon, KC $541 Zach Charbonnet, SEA $442 Jaylen Warren, PIT $443 Rashaad Penny, PHI $444 Elijah Mitchell, SF $445 Tyler Allgeier, ATL $446 Ezekiel Elliott, NE $447 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI $348 Devin Singletary, HOU $349 Chuba Hubbard, CAR $350 Damien Harris, BUF $351 De’Von Achane, MIA $352 Leonard Fournette, $253 Tank Bigsby, JAC $254 D’Onta Foreman, CHI $255 Gus Edwards, BAL $156 Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL $1
For full RB PPR rankings, click here.