Running to daylight

By: Josh Frey-Sam

Fantasy football is deep at running back this season, but there aren’t many players who look like they could finish at the top of the mountain.

The name power of some players will trick us, but there are a lot of guys with question marks near the top of rankings.

Was Breece Hall a one-hit wonder? Can we expect Jonathan Taylor to begin 2025 the same way he ended 2024? Can we trust smaller backs like De’Von Achane and Bucky Irving not to get injured?

Listen, I’m not saying don’t draft any of these guys. I think many of them project as rock-solid fantasy options this season.

But today we’re looking for those who have the highest ceiling. The league winners, with the potential to be the RB1 overall when it’s all said and done.

There aren’t many, in my opinion, so let’s get into it.

Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Shocker, right?

Last year’s RB1 is easily the favourite to do it again this season.

I mean, there just wasn’t much to gripe about when it came to Saquon in 2024. He was consistent, he had a high floor and his pop weeks were absolutely sensational.

He only had three weeks where he finished with less than double digits in PPR leagues.

There’s no reason not to expect more of the same from No. 26 this season. The Eagles rewarded Saquon with a fresh new contract extension this off-season, and the club returns much of the same offence from last year. The only difference is a new right guard, but we know Jeff Stoutland will get the most out of whoever lines up there (likely Kenyon Green).

Saquon easily provides the highest floor of any RB — and maybe any player — in fantasy, and his projected utilization suggets he will be in the mix for the RB1 crown again.

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

As good as Bijan was last year, he might be better this season.

He’s finally in an offence that recognizes they are at their best when 7 has the ball in his hands.

He was the RB4 last year, but that was mostly due to him not having as many pop weeks as the three RBs ahead of him.

Bijan was incredibly consistent, however. Not once did he have a week with less than double-digits in PPR leagues, and from Week 6, he only had less than 20 points twice.

Indeed, it was finally nice to be a Bijan owner.

Here’s why I think he’s poised for an even bigger year: As the game’s got more important, Bijan touched the ball more.

In the last six weeks of 2024, he touched the ball 25.5 times per game on average. The last three weeks of the season, with Michael Penix at the helm, he averaged 24 touches per contest.

By all measures, Penix is still a rookie this season. I think it would behoove the Falcons to use their best player as much as possible to take the weight off their young quarterback.

Again, they know their best chance at winning is when he has the ball in his hands. And I couldn’t be less worried about Tyler Allgeier.

I believe we could see some more pop weeks in store with an increased workload.

Now, the only reason for concern with Bijan is that the Falcons must adjust to life without center Drew Dalman. Losing the brains of the offensive line can be huge, so hopefully the Falcons can figure that out and hit the ground running.

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

Before I lose my audience, let me just remind you of who and what CMC is.

In his eight seasons, he’s finished as the RB1 overall twice. When he’s been healthy for an entire season (five times), he’s never not finished outside of the top 10, and he’s finished top-two four times.

Is there a risk in drafting CMC? Absolutely. Maybe the most risk out of any player you’ll draft inside the top two rounds.

But the upside is as great as any player in football.

In the 37 games he’s been a 49er, CMC has scored 34 times. He’s also averaged 4.69 yards per carry and 4.5 receptions per game.

Your next question is something like: “But won’t the Niners be cautious with him?”

Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak has already confirmed that the plan is to "get (CMC) the ball as much as we can" and that he is a "central player on offence".

Not to mention, the value could be incredible. He’s going late-2nd to early-3rd round right now.

You play to win the game.

If you’ve got the cojones, pull the trigger.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh