RB Forecasts

Christian McCaffrey 2023 NFL Player Outlook: Building On A Resurgent Season

Forget about reaching the 1,000-rushing-yard mark last season. More importantly, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is finally healthy. That milestone alone should give fantasy owners the confidence to consider adding him early. Since being dealt to the 49ers last October, the 26-year-old rushed for 984 yards on 199 attempts, caught 64 of 79 targets for 525 yards, and scored 13 total touchdowns in 14 games (including the playoffs). Before 2022, CMC had back-to-back injury-riddled seasons from 2020-21, as he was limited to 10 games due to ankle and hamstring injuries. Spending the offseason with the San Francisco 49ers will help his game. They play a style that suits his skill set, which sets him up for a dominant campaign. Learning more about Kyle Shanahan's offense will earn him Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. His passing ability can also catch opposing defenses off guard. Therefore, he will be a steady source of fantasy points through yards and receptions. Barring any injury, McCaffrey will be among the top 10 in rushing yards in 2023, especially when he plays behind one of the league's best offensive lines. He also allows San Francisco to fool opponents by having a wide receiver lined in the backfield. Meanwhile, his versatility makes them the top draw in fantasy football this year. Fantasy managers with the No. 1 pick in PPR leagues must select him immediately. Christian McCaffrey will be a difference-maker, regardless of format.

Austin Ekeler 2023 Outlook: Aims To Three-Peat As All-Purpose Touchdown King

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is entering his age-28 season with unrestricted free agency to follow in 2024. The elusive back notched an overall RB2 season in full-PPR fantasy leagues during 2021 and an overall RB1 finish most recently in 2022. Ekeler has amassed a whopping 38 touchdowns and 222 targets over the last two years, leading his position in both areas in this time. The pass-catching aficionado also earned the first 100-catch compilation of his career last campaign. Ekeler even led his position in routes run as well as red-zone touches in 2022. The former undrafted runner bookended the regular season by scoring less than 13 full-PPR fantasy points in those two outings, but he exceeded that threshold during 15 games in between. Ekeler logged a weekly positional finish as the overall RB5 or better in 10 of those 15 contests. The six-year ball carrier is yet to post a 1000-yard rushing season in his career, but Ekeler's versatile receiving role entrenches his floor as arguably the highest at his position. He should remain the most coveted fantasy running back outside of standard formats besides Christian McCaffrey in 2023. Ekeler represents a cinch pick in Round 1 with an elite blend of floor and ceiling potential.

Jonathan Taylor 2022 NFL Player Outlook: The Consensus No.1 Pick In Fantasy Drafts

This season will be running back Jonathan Taylor's third with the Indianapolis Colts and in the league. In his first season, there was a glimpse of promise. Last year that promise became a reality. In his rookie season, Taylor had 232 rushing attempts and 1,169 rushing yards while averaging five yards and gathering 11 touchdowns. On the receiving end, he had 39 targets with 36 receptions and 299 receiving yards. He also had one receiving touchdown. Last season Taylor increased his attempts by 100, his yards by 642, his yards per attempt by .5, and his rushing touchdowns by seven. Taylor finished the season as RB1 in standard fantasy football leagues. He rushed for 1,811 rushing yards, 5.5 average yards per attempt, four fumbles, 18 touchdowns, hauling in 40 receptions for 360 receiving yards, five drops, and two receiving touchdowns. Taylor finished the 2021 season RB1. He and his fantasy managers are looking for him to be the first running back to repeat as the overall number one in fantasy since Priest Holmes accomplished that feat in 2003. Let that sink in. It has been 18 years since an RB1 went -back-to-back. To return to RB1 prominence, you must have a few things, including opportunities. Taylor's rushing market share in Weeks 1-9 was 74%, which increased to 94% in Weeks 10-17. Taylor was one of the few running backs to touch the ball an average of 20 times a game. The least amount of rushing attempts in 2021, Week 3, 10 attempts against the Tennessee Titans. His most attempts were 32 in Weeks 11 and 13, against both the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Texans. Taylor isn't in a running back by committee situation. Nyheim Hines played 17 games in 2021 with 56 rushing attempts and a 31.3% snap share. His threat to Taylor's production is not in the running game but may exist in the passing game. There Taylor finished last season with 51 targets and 40 receptions for a 10.6% target share. Hines collected 57 targets and 40 receptions for an 11.4% target share. And yet, Taylor still finished as RB1 in standard fantasy leagues. Can he be played against any match-up? Last season against the Buffalo Bills, the Bills went into the game against Taylor, having given up the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. In the three games before Taylor, the Bills had only given up 42.9 combined points to running backs. The 23-year-old had 51.9 in half PPF fantasy points in the one game against the Bills. He finished the game with 32 rushing attempts, 185 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, and 204 receiving yards. So, yes, you can play him against anyone. And once he gets the ball? Per statmuse.com, in 2021 Taylor averaged 5.5 yards after contact (behind only Rashaad Penny 6.3, who only played 10 games). He also had 488 yards before contact, the most in the league. Is he durable? Yes, and that goes back to his college games. In his three years in college, Taylor ran for over 2000 yards from scrimmage and had over 300 rushing attempts. In his two years in the NFL, he has not missed a game (knock on wood). The Colts will play the AFC South twice: The Titans were first against the run game (83.5 rushing yards per game allowed), Jaguars were 22nd (125.1 rushing yards per game allowed), and the Texans were 31st (142.2 rushing yards per game allowed). Taylor has another big season in store for him and is the consensus No. 1 overall pick in upcoming fantasy drafts.

Saquon Barkley 2023 Outlook: Set To Carry The Offense Again

New York Giants superstar running back Saquon Barkley was the lynchpin of their offense in 2022, carrying them to the playoffs, including a wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The 26-year-old overcame questions about his health and durability, playing in 16 games en route to an RB6 finish with 295 carries for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, plus 57 receptions for 338 yards through the air. While his underlying metrics were average among starters, 16th in missed tackles forced, 18th in yards after contact per attempt, and 19th in efficiency, he was still explosive, accounting for the second-most breakaway (15-plus yards) runs and sixth-highest rushing yards over expectation. The team franchise tagged the Penn State product, positioning him as one of the few remaining workhorse backs. Furthermore, despite adding several new weapons, such as Darren Waller, Jalin Hyatt, Parris Campbell, and Jamison Crowder, the 2022 Pro Bowler remains their most deadly option. The ascension of quarterback Daniel Jones could also result in more scoring opportunities. Currently ranked third in RotoBaller's rankings, Barkley has the potential to finish as the overall RB1 in 2023.