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Dynasty Leagues

Long-term running backs

Bijan looks like the Next Big Thing at running back

Bijan Robinson sure looks like the real deal. He runs, he catches, and it looks like he’s going to be very good for a long time.

In each of his first two years, there have been plays where he’s made moves that me you sit up in your seat, aware that we’re seeing something special – on the touchdown in the opener, and on a couple of his plays against the Packers. He’s special.

With his dual-threat game, he’s put up 255 yards from scrimmage in the first two weeks. In the 32-team era, only four running backs have produced more yards in their first two games.

200 YARDS IN FIRST TWO GAMES
YearPlayerTmTouchYards
2017Kareem HuntK.C.38355
2007Adrian PetersonMin.44281
2005Cadillac WilliamsT.B.51276
2010Jahvid BestDet.45268
2023Bijan RobinsonAtl.39255
2008Matt ForteChi.52254
2011Ben TateHou.51251
2008Chris JohnsonTen.39248
2011Daniel ThomasMia.45239
2018Saquon BarkleyNYG45236
2008Darren McFaddenOak.32230
2002James MungroInd.52227
2022Zonovan KnightNYJ37221
2018Phillip LindsayDen.32213
2019Josh JacobsOak.36212
2020James RobinsonJac.36210
2020Clyde Edwards-HelaireK.C.41208
2017Dalvin CookMin.39201

Pretty cool stuff. If we’re in a dynasty league, with teams allowed to hold players indefinitely, I think Robinson is the first running back most would select. Christian McCaffrey might be better now, but Robinson is 6 years younger.

It’s in the No. 3 spot where the decision-making gets difficult. I went with Josh Jacobs, but he’s struggled the first two weeks and plays for a lesser team. He’s also in a contract year, with the potential to play elsewhere next year. (Which I guess could be a good thing.)

Other guys I thought about include Jonathan Taylor, who’s in a contract standoff with the Colts but is a talented 24-year-old. He’ll return to prominence at sometime somewhere. And while Breece Hall is sharing time with Dalvin Cook right now, he’s going to be super-elite at some point in the near future.

The following list assumes PPR scoring, with fantasy franchises holding the rights to players indefinitely (so I’m looking at not just this year but upcoming seasons). Unlike our other rankings, these aren’t numerically driven. These are put together by hand, with me playing with the list until he feels right not. Rookies tagged with black dots.

Each Saturday during the regular season I turn my attention to dynasty leagues, rotating between the four notable positions. To see other positions from previous weeks, use the “Past Issues” navigation tools on this page.

Last week: Quarterbacks

Next week: wide receivers

DYNASTY RUNNING BACKS
RkTmPlayerAge
1.ATL• Bijan Robinson21.6
2.SFChristian McCaffrey27.3
3.LVJosh Jacobs25.6
4.INDJonathan Taylor24.7
5.NYJBreece Hall22.3
6.JACTravis Etienne24.7
7.LACAustin Ekeler28.4
8.NYGSaquon Barkley26.6
9.DALTony Pollard26.4
10.SEAKenneth Walker22.9
11.DET• Jahmyr Gibbs21.5
12.NERhamondre Stevenson25.6
13.WASBrian Robinson24.5
14.KCIsiah Pacheco24.6
15.HOUDameon Pierce23.6
16.CARMiles Sanders26.4
17.CINJoe Mixon27.2
18.NOAlvin Kamara28.2
19.DENJavonte Williams23.4
20.PITNajee Harris25.5
21.BUFJames Cook24.0
22.DETDavid Montgomery26.3
23.TENDerrick Henry29.7
24.PHID'Andre Swift24.7
25.ARIJames Conner28.4
26.LARKyren Williams23.1
27.TBRachaad White24.7
28.GBAaron Jones28.8
29.MINAlexander Mattison25.3
30.ATLTyler Allgeier23.4
31.CLEJerome Ford24.0
32.BALGus Edwards28.4
33.NYJDalvin Cook28.1
34.CHIKhalil Herbert25.4
35.PITJaylen Warren24.9
36.TEN• Tyjae Spears22.3
37.SEA• Zach Charbonnet22.7
38.MIARaheem Mostert31.5
39.JAC• Tank Bigsby22.1
40.CHI• Roschon Johnson22.6
41.INDZack Moss25.8
42.GBAJ Dillon25.4
43.CLEKareem Hunt28.1
44.SFElijah Mitchell25.4
45.PHIKenneth Gainwell24.5
46.LACJoshua Kelley25.8
47.DENSamaje Perine28.0
48.BALJustice Hill25.9
49.CARChuba Hubbard24.3
50.MINCam Akers24.3
51.CLENick Chubb27.7
52.KCJerick McKinnon31.4
53.LVZamir White24.0
54.WASAntonio Gibson25.2
55.KCClyde Edwards-Helaire24.4
56.NO• Kendre Miller21.3
57.MIAJeff Wilson27.9
58.PHIBoston Scott28.4
59.MIA• DeVon Achane21.9
60.NEEzekiel Elliott28.2
61.BUFDamien Harris26.6
62.DAL• Deuce Vaughn21.9
63.HOUDevin Singletary26.1
64.PHIRashaad Penny27.6
65.TB• Sean Tucker21.9
66.NYJ• Israel Abanikanda21.0
67.GB• Emanuel Wilson24.4
68.DETCraig Reynolds27.3
69.NOJamaal Williams28.5
70.CHID'Onta Foreman27.4
71.WAS• Chris Rodriguez23.0
72.LAC• Elijah Dotson24.7
73.SFJordan Mason24.3
74.BUFLatavius Murray33.7
75.ARIKeontay Ingram23.9
76.MIASalvon Ahmed24.7
77.DALRico Dowdle123.7
78.JACD'Ernest Johnson27.6
79.BALJ.K. Dobbins24.8
80.CINChris Evans26.0

—Ian Allan

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