Fantasy football rankings: The top standard (non-PPR) running backs in 2021 fantasy football

The NFL season is fast approaching. Below you will find our overall Standard (non-PPR) fantasy football rankings. Many default settings on fantasy football platforms are no longer non-PPR, but it is still an often used scoring type. Pass-catching backs take a back seat in non-PPR but it all comes down to yards and touchdowns. That usually means every-down running backs remain the top picks while those that rely on receptions drop somewhat in the rankings. But there are no hard and fast rules, as a purely receiving back can still have value if he is getting those precious yards and touchdowns.

Last season Alvin Kamara had a whopping 21 touchdowns, but wasn’t given any fantasy points for his 83 receptions while Derrick Henry went over 2,000 yards rushing. Henry had “only” 17 touchdowns, but more overall yards and ended up leading all running backs in standard fantasy points.

Kamara and Henry didn’t have Christian McCaffrey or Saquon Barkley to compete with and both should be near the top this season if they can stay healthy. Let’s hope for healthy seasons from our top running backs this year, but we know that is nearly impossible. We’ll need to make good picks up and down the draft board to stave off those likely injuries once again.