Running Back Forecasts 2023

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.

Joshua Kelley 2023 Player Outlook: Strictly A Handcuff For Austin Ekeler

In his first two seasons in the NFL, Los Angeles Chargers running back Joshua Kelley didn't have much of a role, combining for 144 carries for 456 yards (3.2 yards per attempt) and just two rushing touchdowns in 24 games (zero starts). He added 28 receptions on 29 targets for 186 yards. The 25-year-old was much more efficient in his third year in 2022, finishing with 69 carries for 287 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) and two TDs while catching 14 of his 25 targets for 101 additional yards in 13 games (one start). He was second behind only Austin Ekeler in touches, yards and TDs among Chargers RBs. And he did it despite missing four games with a sprained MCL. The former fourth-rounder out of UCLA will have to hold off second-year back Isaiah Spiller in a new offensive scheme under Kellen Moore, but if he does, he should once again be Ekeler's primary backup for the Bolts. Kelley won't have standalone fantasy appeal in that role, but he'd become a plug-and-play option right away in the event Ekeler misses any time due to injury.

Saquon Barkley 2023 NFL Player 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 but recently reached a one-year pact that will enable him to earn incentives, ensuring he'll take the field in Week 1. The 2022 Pro Bowler remains their most deadly option, plus the ascension of quarterback Daniel Jones could result in more scoring opportunities. Currently ranked third in RotoBaller's rankings, Barkley has the potential to finish as the overall RB1 in 2023.

Nick Chubb 2023 Player Outlook: A Consistent and Underrated Producer

Nick Chubb continued to be one of the NFL's most consistent producers in 2022, quietly logging a career-high 1,525 rushing yards and a career-best 13 TDs. Chubb was unbothered by the presence of Kareem Hunt in the Cleveland backfield and his 302 rushing attempts were the third-most in the league last year. The 2022 campaign marked Chubb's fifth consecutive season averaging over five yards per carry. The future looks bright for the UGA product in 2023, as Deshaun Watson's full-time presence at the helm of the Browns offense should open things up for Chubb. He'll once again be the unquestioned alpha in the backfield and should get all the work he can handle, as Cleveland moved on from both Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson during the offseason with second-year running back Jerome Ford sitting behind Chubb on the depth chart. The 27-year-old certainly has limitations in the passing game that limits his PPR upside, but fantasy managers shouldn't sleep on Chubb's consistent high-end production if he starts falling down 2023 draft boards.