Fantasy Football RB Draft Guide: The First Round Draft Picks
Atlanta's Bijan Robinson is the consensus No. 2 overall pick in most leagues, because he is ticketed for a heavy workload on an offense that should feature the running game. Last season, Robinson caught 61 passes on 72 targets, so the versatility is also a considerable bonus. If he falls anywhere past the second pick in your draft, don't hesitate to click the "draft" button immediately.
Even though he shares some of the touches in the Detroit backfield, Jahmyr Gibbs may have the most upside of any RB in fantasy football. His current Average Draft Position is fifth overall on FantasyPros.com. It will be rare to see Gibbs drop much further than that in any draft, and most fantasy players who start out with Robinson or Gibbs in the first round might lean to taking a WR in the second.
If you draft in the top 5, you'll be faced with deciding between Robinson/Gibbs and a prime WR. I would not pass on Robinson at all based on potential volume, and if you want Gibbs, it will be a good approach to split the next two picks between RB and WR, depending on draft flow.
Saquan Barkley carries an ADP of third overall but is selected after Gibbs in many drafts. While rushing for 2,000 yards again is a lofty goal for any RB to accomplish again, his statistical floor is so high that he remains a surefire first rounder. Derrick Henry seems ageless, and getting a two-year extension from the Ravens is a signal that the front office is not expecting a drop-off in production, and you shouldn't either. Henry is a late first-round target.
Christian McCaffrey is the ultimate risk/reward pick in fantasy football. I have seen him picked anywhere from the second overall pick to the 11th in recent drafts. If you choose to gun for his upside, consider drafting an RB in the second round also, so you have another top-level RB as early round insurance. In Round Three, good wide receivers such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ladd McConkey and Terry McLaurin will be available to start the WR build.
Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty has an ADP of 12 overall. He is headed for a significant workload and is expected to be a focal point of the Raiders' offense right away. When drafting rookie running backs like Jeanty, you may get their very best production later in the season.