We see it every season, be it injuries, players getting older, or new players breaking out, but the Top 12 running backs in fantasy may be the most volatile position group in fantasy. Just looking at last season, we had seven RBs in the Top 12 that were not in the Top 12 the previous season. It’s April, and we all think we know how the season is going to play out. There are players no one is buying as a Top 12 back right now, but we all know that it’s entirely possible for an RB2 or RB3 to vault himself to the very top in any given year.
I asked the writers at GoingFor2 that exact question. Which running back currently ranked outside the Top 12 in FantasyPros rankings could finish as the No. 1 overall running back in 2021. Here were their answers…
Joe Mixon
2020 Joe Mixon was not Joe Mixon. People quickly forget that this guy put up 1,300+ yards and 8+ TDs in back-to-back years very recently. He’s a dynamic talent. Combine that with a (hopefully) healthy Joe Burrow and some extra help up front, and he should be in line for a big year. – @joshmkerr
Antonio Gibson
The Football Team is looking like a team that can compete for a run at the NFC Championship this season. Gibson showed that he can be a successful RB and I think this year he gets even more involved as a pass-catcher from his time as a WR at Memphis University. – @AMonty1507
James Robinson
Currently going around the RB15 range and came out of nowhere to finish last season as a top 10 RB. It’s very likely that they add depth behind him via the draft but that could help him the same as it could hurt. – @QuinnFloydG
Chris Carson
Carson just resigned with the Seahawks and there is minimal competition behind him. Hyde has left town so this opens up more opportunities for Carson in 2021. Injuries did plague his 2020 campaign but he still averaged over 15 PPR points a game (good for 13th in the league) when he was out there. I expect to see Carson benefit from the added carries and for him to build on his use in the passing game. With that happening and staying relatively healthy, he’s poised for a top 12 season in 2021! –@TheCommishFF
David Montgomery
Montgomery had a great finish to the 2020 season as he finished as RB4 after not even cracking the Top 20 in Weeks 1-9. Can that electric finish of 1,070 yards and an average of 20 plus PPR points per game continue into 2021? With Dalton at the helm and the offensive line healthy, I believe he can crack the Top 5 and possibly 1 overall. Coach Nagy must keep the ball in his hands and consistently find ways to keep him involved as the #1 offensive weapon, even though Robinson stayed in Chicago, Montgomery is the key to their winning. Feed Montgomery. – @luvtractor3
Miles SandersÂ
RPO for Days!!! – @EagleDanFF
Cam Akers
Once Sean McVay gave the keys to the offense starting in week 13 to Akers he did not disappoint. Akers turned in multiple games over 100 yards combined over the final weeks of the season and in the playoffs. Akers showcased his receiving ability and his ability to make defenders miss in the open field. With the Rams adding an upgrade at the quarterback position in Matthew Stafford, it should prevent defenses from being able to stack the box. Add all of this together and Akers is primed for a monster year with RB1 as a very plausible outcome. –@devindeal
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