Fantasy Football Running Back Who Should I Draft? Bijan Robinson, James Cook and More

With fantasy football draft season heating up, those who have ignored much of the preseason hype train are finally jumping on, catching up on months of moves, injuries, and rumors. In kind, our FantasySP “Who Should I Draft?” tool has been hit with the same wave of owners trying to decide between similar players.

Let's go through some of the most commonly compared running backs on that tool to see who fantasy owners are most interested in and which players are the hottest topics heading into drafts.

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Top Three Running Backs

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons vs. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

The good news here is that you really can't go wrong no matter which direction you go. The consensus top three running backs in fantasy football can go in any order without much of an argument from anyone, so it comes down to personal preference. That's not what you came here for, though, so let's dig a little deeper.

Robinson had a good rookie season, but he really came on last year: 304 carries, 1,456 rushing yards (4.8 per attempt), 14 rushing touchdowns, 61 receptions on 72 targets for 431 yards, and another score. That added up to a top-five RB finish in both standard and PPR scoring formats.

The prevailing thought is that he will continue to improve, but it's probably better to look at last year's numbers as where he'll end up again rather than expecting a jump; those are really good stats! Atlanta's offensive line was close to an average unit in 2024, ranking 18th in pass blocking and 20th in run blocking (according to ESPN). They return most of the same players, though center Drew Dalman signed with the Bears as a free agent. Dalman was a very good run blocker last season, so the offense could feel the effects of losing a solid man in the middle.

Robinson will also be playing with a young quarterback in Michael Penix who played a few games last season but will really be stepping in as a starter for the first time. While Kirk Cousins had his ups and downs in 2024, it's likely that Penix won't play as well as him this year, so teams might be able to focus on Robinson a little more to make the “rookie” beat them with his arm.

I see Robinson looking much the same as last season. Another top-five fantasy RB finish is likely as long as he stays healthy, making Robinson a strong pick at the top of your draft.

Barkley was king of the running back castle last season, running for over 2,000 yards and adding nearly 300 more receiving while scoring 15 total touchdowns in 16 games. He was RB1 in standard scoring, though Gibbs topped him in PPR.

I tabbed Barkley as my favorite to finish as the top running back in 2024 because he was a supremely talented player joining one of the best situations for an RB in the league. Turns out that was a good bet! It didn't exactly take rocket science to put that together, but Barkley has dealt with injuries most of his career, so there is risk, even after he played every game except for a meaningless Week 18 last year.

I'm betting on another strong year. I feel like he is more likely to play through minor maladies on a Super Bowl contender than he was on the perpetually losing Giants, and the team isn't afraid to feed him touches after 345 carries last year and 33 receptions. Philadelphia is also likely to be winning a lot, and they will look to pound the ball to kill the clock if that is the case.

Philly was sixth in pass blocking and ninth in run blocking in 2024 and return many of the same pieces. Right guard Mekhi Becton left for the Chargers after one good year, but Tyler Steen is a more-than-capable replacement. Left guard Landon Dickerson suffered an injury in the preseason, but he could be back for Week 1. This offensive line is likely to be a top-10 unit again, a benefit to Barkley.

The only real downside is Jalen Hurts stealing touchdowns. While a running quarterback often helps open things up for the running back, Hurts has scored double-digit touchdowns in each of the past four seasons. That's a real concern, but this is likely to be a really good offense again, and there is enough to go around. Barkley still scored 15 times even with Hurts getting into the end zone 14 times himself, and I'm betting on the same dynamic being available again.

Gibbs might have the most question marks of this group because he lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, one of the most innovative and sought-after offensive minds in the game. This season will be a good control test for how much had to do with Johnson's play calling and how much was the players, who are high-level guys.

I'm betting on the players meaning more, especially the offensive line that was 12th in pass blocking and 16th in run blocking. There is some reshuffling on the inside, as guard Kevin Zeitler left for the Titans and center Frank Ragnow retired, but the tackles are top notch, and this team is primed again to have an above-average offense.

Gibbs ran for over 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024 while adding more than 500 receiving yards and four more scores through the air. David Montgomery is still around, and I expect him to be involved after nearly 1,800 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Gibbs is likely to lead the way, though, and will get the ball both in the run and pass games.

He's another guy who is probably more likely to approach last year's numbers than to make another big jump, but that would make him an easy top-five fantasy back. Injury seems like the only thing that can slow down Gibbs.

Who Should You Draft?

You can rank the three backs any way you want, and I wouldn't be able to disagree. My own personal ranking is Barkley, Robinson, then Gibbs, but the difference is razor thin. If health holds, the most likely outcome is all three guys finishing among the top five fantasy running backs. The trick is picking the one who comes in first; good luck!

James Cook vs. The World

Cook is showing up more than any other running back on the draft tool, matched up in comparisons against guys like Kyren Williams, Chuba Hubbard, and Kenneth Walker. There was real consternation over Cook's status earlier in the preseason, as he was holding in while angling for a new contract. He got his wish and will take his spot in the starting backfield with Josh Allen in Week 1.

It was always likely that Cook was going to be in the lineup even without the contract extension; guys don't make money by sitting out. With everything wrapped up, though, there is no question who will handle the bulk of the carries.

Like Barkley, Cook's owners have to worry about his quarterback stealing rushing touchdowns. Allen is one of the best running quarterbacks in the league, able to use both his speed and his immense size to run around and over defenders. Especially near the goal line, that size is a major weapon that allows Allen to do things not many other players can do, as he powers into the end zone.

Over the past two seasons, Cook ran for 2,131 yards on 4.8 yards per attempt. He ran for 16 touchdowns last year, caught 32 passes for 258 yards, and scored twice more through the air. It all added up to a top-eight RB finish in both standard and PPR. Can he repeat that performance?

Cook had very similar numbers in 2023 with more yards but only six total touchdowns; that put him among the top 12 RBs in both formats, still very good but not quite to the same level. The most likely outcome is finding that same level and ending up close to the RB10 ranking.

Cook vs. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Williams and Cook are both being drafted between RB12-RB15, within a few picks of each other. Williams was a top-10 fantasy back each of the past two seasons, combining for 2,443 rushing yards, 388 receiving yards, and 31 total touchdowns. He is going to be back in the same situation again this year with no real competition at running back and a top offensive play caller at the helm.

Williams also doesn't have a quarterback next to him who will steal touches or run in touchdowns, so he has a little advantage there. Throw in his slightly better production the past two seasons, and I'm leaning toward Williams in this one. I'd be happy with either Cook or Williams on my fantasy team, as both are clear lead backs who will get plenty of touches, but down to the two, I'm going for Williams.

Verdict: Draft Kyren Williams over James Cook, but it's close

Cook vs. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

Hubbard was at risk of being replaced by last year's second-round pick Jonathon Brooks in Carolina, but Brooks barely made his return from a torn ACL before suffering the same injury and going back on the shelf. Brooks will likely miss this entire season, and Hubbard signed a contract extension, so the veteran's spot is safe at least for 2025.

The Panthers did sign Rico Dowdle, but he only got a modest one-year deal, and Hubbard will almost certainly take the lead role. Hubbard had a career season in 2024, setting career highs with 250 carries, 1,195 rushing yards (at 4.8 yards per attempt), and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 43 passes but gained just 171 yards, seeing volume but with poor efficiency in that area.

Carolina took steps to upgrade the offensive line before last season and finished 10th in run blocking. They are likely to be at least average in that area again, setting up Hubbard for possible success.

While they might be better, the Panthers won't have the level of offense that the Bills do, likely setting up fewer scoring opportunities and less chances to run out the clock late in the game. Hubbard is being taken closer to RB20, and I prefer following that ranking and taking Cook over Hubbard.

Verdict: Draft James Cook over Chuba Hubbard

Cook vs. Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks

Walker is near that same RB20 level in ADP, generally going a round or more after Cook. That would seem to make Cook the easy call, but it's never that simple. So much more goes into evaluating players than what the consensus says (even if those rankings often reflect reality).

The Seahawks made a huge change in going from Geno Smith to Sam Darnold at quarterback, so they might have a different look on offense. I see the move as a downgrade; Smith isn't spectacular or explosive, but he has been an average quarterback for several seasons, and Darnold's only good year came with a phenomenal offensive mind running things in Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell. Darnold was below average every season before 2024.

That could mean more running if Darnold struggles, something that would help Walker. Walker played in just 12 games last season, missing time with injury, and he was a below-average player when he was on the field. After averaging a very middling 4.4 yards per carry in his first two seasons, Walker was all the way down to 3.7 in 2024. He added 300 receiving yards and scored eight total touchdowns, but Walker had a disappointing year.

He could definitely bounce back, but I don't see his ceiling or floor getting to Cook's level. This is a pretty easy one for me: I'm favoring Cook over Walker (and Hubbard over Walker, for that matter).

Verdict: Draft James Cook over Kenneth Walker