FANTASY FOOTBALL: A post-camp update of the NFL's top 70 PPR tailbacks for 2020

TOP 70 PPR TAILBACKS

Christian McCaffrey, Panthers
Dalvin Cook, Vikings
Saquon Barkley, Giants
Aaron Jones, Packers
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Alvin Kamara, Saints
Josh Jacobs, Raiders
Derrick Henry, Titans
Austin Ekeler, Chargers
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs
Chris Carson, Seahawks
Joe Mixon, Bengals
Nick Chubb, Browns
Kenyan Drake, Cardinals
Miles Sanders, Eagles
Raheem Mostert, 49ers
James Conner, Steelers
Le’Veon Bell, Jets
Todd Gurley, Falcons
Melvin Gordon, Broncos
Devin Singletary, Bills
Mark Ingram, Ravens
D’Andre Swift, Lions
David Johnson, Texans
Cam Akers, Rams
Ronald Jones, Buccaneers
Kareem Hunt, Browns
Marlon Mack, Colts
James White, Patriots
Phillip Lindsay, Broncos
Tevin Coleman, 49ers
Matt Breida, Dolphins
Adrian Peterson, Washington Football Team
Jonathan Taylor, Colts
Sony Michel, Patriots
Ryquell Armstead, Jaguars
David Montgomery, Bears
Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers
Kerryon Johnson, Lions
Jordan Howard, Dolphins
J.K. Dobbins, Ravens
Darwin Thompson, Chiefs
Tarik Cohen, Bears
Alexander Mattison, Vikings
Latavius Murray, Saints
Boston Scott, Eagles
Duke Johnson, Texans
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers
Damien Harris, Patriots
Chase Edmonds, Cardinals
Tony Pollard, Cowboys
Ito Smith, Falcons
Nyheim Hines, Colts
Zack Moss, Bills
A.J. Dillon, Packers
Carlos Hyde, Seahawks
Darrell Henderson, Rams
Justin Jackson, Chargers
Darrynton Evans, Titans
Jerick McKinnon, 49ers
Bryce Love, Washington Football Team
Jalen Richard, Raiders
Devine Ozigbo, Jaguars
Brian Hill, Falcons
Joshua Kelley, Chargers
Anthony McFarland Jr., Steelers
Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
Gio Bernard, Bengals
Bo Scarbrough, Lions

BREAKDOWN

a) Christian McCaffrey was the runaway choice for Fantasy MVP honors last year, the happy result of 2,392 scrimmage yards, 19 touchdowns and 116 receptions — the NFL single-season record for tailback catches.

McCaffrey’s fortuitous owners, many of whom scooped C-Mac up at picks 4-6 in Round 1, supremely benefited from his otherworldly production and bedrock consistency, accounting for 130 total yards and/or one touchdown 14 times.

Put it all together, and McCaffrey should be the No. 1 overall pick in 99.9 percent of 2020 drafts.

Of course, with the Panthers undergoing a regime change at the top (head coach Matt Rhule, offensive coordinator Joe Brady), there’s no guarantee of McCaffrey matching last season’s tallies with catches, targets (142) or receiving yards (1,005).

In fact, it’s implausible to believe McCaffrey will eclipse his scorching averages of 9.7 receptions/11.8 targets from the final seven regular-season outings.

Especially with receiver DJ Moore seemingly ready for a greater workload.

So, prepare yourself to be somewhat underwhelmed, compared to the massive numbers of 2019.

b) From a totality perspective, Saquon Barkley (1,441 total yards, 8 TDs last year) fell short of the sky-high expectations reserved for a No. 1 overall draft choice.

However, when extrapolating his per-game averages of 111 total yards and 0.62 touchdowns over a full season, it shakes out to 1,776 total yards and 10 TDs; and that includes Barkley leaving the Buccaneers game in the first half with a gruesome ankle injury.

All told, we’re talking about top-five numbers (among tailbacks) for a physical freak who should be a yearly candidate for 2,000 total yards and double-digit touchdowns.

As for the No. 2 ranking, we’re putting a lot of stock into Barkley’s finishing kick for Weeks 15-17, enjoying otherworldly averages of 180 total yards and 1.7 TDs.

c) Fantasy owners can expect a variance with Cook rankings. I have the Florida State product at No. 2 … but others might have Dalvin barely holding down the fort in Round 1.

The primary knock here: Cook has yet to play a full season in the pros, with last year’s output of 14 games serving as the career high.

Personally speaking, there are minimal worries about Cook’s longevity or sustainability:

****For his first 13 games in 2019, Cook reached the elite-level threshold of 110 total yards and/or one touchdown 13 times; and against NFC North foes, the Vikings star owned stellar averages of 121 total yards and 1.3 TDs.

****Citing the NFL’s eight worst rushing defenses from last year, in terms of touchdowns allowed, the Vikings will encounter six of the unique opponents in 2020 (nine games total) — including two meetings apiece with the Packers, Bears and Lions.

d) The top-five battle of Aaron Jones vs. Ezekiel Elliott represents a virtual coin flip.

For 2019, Elliott enjoyed the head-to-head edge with carries (301), rushing yards (1,357), total yards (1,777), catches (54) and targets (71); whereas Jones prevailed with yards per carry (4.6), receiving yards (474), rushing touchdowns (16), receiving scores (3) and total touchdowns (19).

The tiebreaker for 2020: Similar to Dalvin Cook, Jones should greatly benefit from a schedule that includes the Panthers (NFL-worst 27 rushing TDs allowed last year), Jaguars (bottom-5 ranking with rushing yards/rushing TDs surrendered) and Lions (bottom-10 with rushing yards/rushing TDs allowed).

Two more bonus tracks:

****In his final six outings last season (including the playoffs), Jones posted supreme averages of 116 total yards and 1.5 touchdowns.

****Last season, Elliott nearly doubled Jones’ amount of red-zone carries (59-33 disparity); and yet, the latter finished with more rushing touchdowns inside the 20 (14-11 advantage).

e) Last summer, I took social-media flak for minimizing Josh Jacobs’ Year 1 potential with the Raiders, believing his Alabama teammate Damien Harris might have been placed into a better backfield situation (Patriots).

In hindsight, that was an incredibly stupid declaration on my part, a mistake that won’t be repeated in 2020.

In just 13 games last year, Jacobs rolled for 1,316 total yards (1,150 rushing) and seven touchdowns; and if we extrapolate these rock-solid numbers, it converts to a 16-game campaign of 1,526 total yards and eight scores.

Here’s another slice of fantasy goodness: According to Pro Football Reference, Jacobs missed three games last season … and still earned top-10 marks (among tailbacks) with red-zone rushing attempts (8th), red-zone rushing yards (5th) and red-zone rushing scores (10th).

f) It’ll be interesting to see how fantasy pundits gauge Raheem Mostert, moving forward.

On the down side, Mostert will likely remain embroiled in a time-share situation, divvying carries and touches among the likes of Tevin Coleman, Jeff Wilson Jr. or Jerick McKinnon, a lightning-fast asset who’s been plagued by major injuries for back-to-back seasons.

That said, it’s impossible to ignore Mostert’s absurd finishing kick to last season.

Citing his final nine games (including the playoffs), Mostert accounted for 13 total touchdowns … without toting more than 20 carries in a single outing.

And during that prolific span, Mostert held sublime averages of 95.4 total yards and 1.4 TDs.

g) I owned Joe Mixon in seven different leagues last season, happily investing a second- or third-round pick in every draft opportunity.

For September and most of October, this all-in endorsement had the makings of a disastrous decision; but things turned for the better, once the Bengals returned from a London game against the Rams.

For Cincinnati’s final seven outings, Mixon stealthily averaged 124 total yards and 0.62 TDs; and for his final nine games, Mixon eclipsed 100 total yards and/or one TD seven times.

TOP 70 PPR TAILBACKS

POSITIONAL RANKINGS

THE ANNUAL PPR SPECTACULAR

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

BREAKDOWN