Where does Saquon Barkley rank among his peers?
While there is certainly no lack of options when it comes to running backs for fantasy football in the 2018 season much of the attention surrounds the new kid on the block. Saquon Barkley was the second overall pick of the draft and the expectations for him are as high (if not higher) than any rookie RB to come along in recent seasons.
The recent track record for rookies has been pretty good, highlighted by Ezekiel Elliott, who led the NFL in rushing as a rookie in 2016, but it doesn't minimize the risk in relying on someone who has yet to play a down as a professional. Fortunately there are plenty of established options outside of Barkley, led by the quartet of Todd Gurley, Le'Veon Bell, David Johnson and Elliott.
And for those who don't wish to spend an early pick on a rookie like Barkley (or Rashaad Penny, Derrius Guice or Ronald Jones II), the class of 2017 is impressive is in its own right with Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette, Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook and Christian McCaffrey leading the way.
One thing is for sure, running backs, including Barkley, will go early in fantasy drafts and quite a few will be taken before all is said and done. Maybe these rankings will help you prepare for draft day.
2018 Positional Rankings: QB I RB I WR I TE I DST I K
2018 Running Back Rankings
| Rank | Player | Team | Bye |
| 1 | Todd Gurley | LAR | 12 |
| 2 | Le'Veon Bell | PIT | 7 |
| 3 | Ezekiel Elliott | DAL | 8 |
| 4 | David Johnson | ARI | 9 |
| 5 | Saquon Barkley | NYG | 9 |
| 6 | Kareem Hunt | KC | 12 |
| 7 | Leonard Fournette | JAC | 9 |
| 8 | Melvin Gordon | LAC | 8 |
| 9 | Alvin Kamara | NO | 6 |
| 10 | Dalvin Cook | MIN | 10 |
| 11 | LeSean McCoy | BUF | 11 |
| 12 | Devonta Freeman | ATL | 8 |
| 13 | Christian McCaffrey | CAR | 4 |
| 14 | Joe Mixon | CIN | 9 |
| 15 | Rashaad Penny | SEA | 7 |
| 16 | Jerick McKinnon | SF | 11 |
| 17 | Derrius Guice | WAS | 4 |
| 18 | Dion Lewis | TEN | 8 |
| 19 | Alex Collins | BAL | 10 |
| 20 | Kenyan Drake | MIA | 11 |
| 21 | Ronald Jones II | TB | 5 |
| 22 | Mark Ingram | NO | 6 |
| 23 | Jordan Howard | CHI | 5 |
| 24 | Jay Ajayi | PHI | 9 |
| 25 | Sony Michel | NE | 11 |
| 26 | Derrick Henry | TEN | 8 |
| 27 | Royce Freeman | DEN | 10 |
| 28 | Lamar Miller | HOU | 10 |
| 29 | Jamaal Williams | GB | 7 |
| 30 | Duke Johnson | CLE | 11 |
| 31 | Tarik Cohen | CHI | 5 |
| 32 | Nick Chubb | CLE | 11 |
| 33 | Chris Thompson | WAS | 4 |
| 34 | Rex Burkhead | NE | 11 |
| 35 | Isaiah Crowell | NYJ | 11 |
| 36 | Marshawn Lynch | OAK | 7 |
| 37 | Kerryon Johnson | DET | 6 |
| 38 | Tevin Coleman | ATL | 8 |
| 39 | Marlon Mack | IND | 9 |
| 40 | C.J. Anderson | CAR | 4 |
| 41 | Theo Riddick | DET | 6 |
| 42 | D'Onta Foreman | HOU | 10 |
| 43 | James White | NE | 11 |
| 44 | Devontae Booker | DEN | 10 |
| 45 | Carlos Hyde | CLE | 11 |
| 46 | Giovani Bernard | CIN | 9 |
| 47 | Ty Montgomery | GB | 7 |
| 48 | Nyheim Hines | IND | 9 |
| 49 | Darren Sproles | PHI | 9 |
| 50 | Bilal Powell | NYJ | 11 |
| 51 | Aaron Jones | GB | 7 |
| 52 | LeGarrette Blount | DET | 6 |
| 53 | Chris Ivory | BUF | 11 |
| 54 | Latavius Murray | MIN | 10 |
| 55 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | 8 |
| 56 | Kenneth Dixon | BAL | 10 |
| 57 | Frank Gore | MIA | 11 |
| 58 | Doug Martin | OAK | 7 |
| 59 | Samaje Perine | WAS | 4 |
| 60 | Matt Breida | SF | 11 |
| 61 | Spencer Ware | KC | 12 |
| 62 | Corey Clement | PHI | 9 |
| 63 | Chris Carson | SEA | 7 |
| 64 | Charles Sims | TB | 5 |
| 65 | Jonathan Stewart | NYG | 9 |
| 66 | Peyton Barber | TB | 5 |
| 67 | Javorius Allen | BAL | 10 |
| 68 | T.J. Yeldon | JAC | 9 |
| 69 | Kalen Ballage | MIA | 11 |
| 70 | C.J. Prosise | SEA | 7 |
| 71 | Jeremy Hill | NE | 11 |
| 72 | Jordan Wilkins | IND | 9 |
| 73 | Mark Walton | CIN | 9 |
| 74 | Ameer Abdullah | DET | 6 |
| 75 | Wayne Gallman | NYG | 9 |
| 76 | Jonathan Williams | NO | 6 |
| 77 | John Kelly | LAR | 12 |
| 78 | Rod Smith | DAL | 8 |
| 79 | Tavon Austin | DAL | 8 |
| 80 | Cameron Artis-Payne | CAR | 4 |
And don’t forget to pick up your copy of Athlon Sports’ 2018 Fantasy Football magazine, available for purchase online and at newsstands everywhere.
(Top photo courtesy of www.giants.com)
