Set aside 2019 for a moment and look more long term. Looking at the next, 3-7 years, would you rather have Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey or Dalvin Cook? I don’t think it’s an easy call.

When we look at how they’ve played this year, Barkley definitely falls down into the No. 3 spot. He hasn’t been healthy, and the offense around him hasn’t been as good. If you select Barkley, the hope is that he’ll get healthy and start playing more like McCaffrey and Cook are playing right now.

Barkley also has the issue with sometimes forgetting how big and strong he is – trying to juke and dance his way into big plays when he could just be finishing runs strong for an extra 3-4 yards. He’s trying to run like he’s Barry Sanders, when he’s built like Bo Jackson.

I don’t have a strong preference between McCaffrey and Cook. They’re both great. Cook has had more issues with durability. He’s also on a team where they’ve got another really good running back, so I think he’ll be spelled more. With McCaffrey, they tend to just leave him out there for every down; I don’t think there’s a back in the league who’s been on the field for more of his team’s plays.

Those are my top 3. If I were walking into a start-up dynasty league, I would be happy with any of them.

Notice that I’m not including Ezekiel Elliott in the top tier. He doesn’t seem to be as good as those super-elite backs. He hasn’t been as explosive this year. I’m not sure if he’s a little overweight or if he’s wearing down, but he hasn’t broken as many long runs. Those 60-plus yard touchdowns that McCaffrey and Cook have scored are tending to be 15- and 20-yard runs for Elliott.

So I’ve got Elliott in the second tier, along with Alvin Kamara, Josh Jacobs, Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry. Kamara hasn’t scored many touchdowns this year, and he doesn’t pile up the rushing production like the guys ahead of him. But I’m assuming PPR scoring here, so when you’ve got a featured runner who’ll also catch 80-plus balls, that’s a very solid option.

I’m not ready to start putting Jacobs ahead of those top backs, but he’s had a very solid rookie year for the Raiders.

With Chubb, he’s been excellent, but the Browns might also have another one of the league’s top 15 backs. I’m assuming they’ll re-sign Kareem Hunt and go with a one-two punch backfield next year. That should reduce Chubb’s touches, especially in the passing game.

David Montgomery hasn’t had a great rookie year, but there have been times that he’s looked really good. There have been times that I’ve thought he’s better than Jacobs. Montgomery is a run-catch guy, and I’m going to assume they’re going to get a lot of their offensive issues figured out next year. Aaron Jones is putting up better numbers this year, but I think Montgomery is a better talent and will be more productive in future seasons.

On this list, rookies are tagged with black dots. I went with Devin Singletary as the best of the remaining first-year backs – I’ve got him in my top 20. He’s played really well in the last month.

I wasn’t sure what to make of the Arizona backfield. Assuming they re-sign Kenyan Drake, he’ll probably be their featured guy and maybe put up top-15 numbers. I’ve got him 10 spots lower for now. With a big contract, David Johnson probably won’t be there, but I think he’ll be starting somewhere. I’ve got him at 27th.

Similarly, the Rams are tough to figure. They’ve got to get their offensive line fixed; then they might start putting up elite numbers. Todd Gurley is their starter right now, with Malcolm Brown as their backup. But with these being long-term rankings, I think I would rather select Darrell Henderson, who might be (probably will be?) starting ahead of both of those guys next year.

This is a young man's position. There are only two running backs older than 27 in my top 40. I've got 29-year-old Mark Ingram ranked 17th, and 28-year-old Carlos Hyde ranked 36th.

DYNASTY RUNNING BACKS
RkTmPlayerAge
1.CARChristian McCaffrey23
2.MINDalvin Cook24
3.NYGSaquon Barkley22
4.DALEzekiel Elliott24
5.NOAlvin Kamara24
6.OAK• Josh Jacobs 21
7.CLENick Chubb23
8.TENDerrick Henry25
9.CHI• David Montgomery 22
10.GBAaron Jones24
11.CINJoe Mixon23
12.INDMarlon Mack23
13.JACLeonard Fournette24
14.DENPhillip Lindsay25
15.LACMelvin Gordon26
16.BUF• Devin Singletary 22
17.BALMark Ingram29
18.PHI• Miles Sanders 22
19.NYJLeVeon Bell27
20.PITJames Conner24
21.NEJames White27
22.SEAChris Carson25
23.LACAustin Ekeler24
24.ATLDevonta Freeman27
25.ARIKenyan Drake25
26.NESony Michel24
27.ARIDavid Johnson27
28.CLEKareem Hunt24
29.TBRonald Jones22
30.LAR• Darrell Henderson 22
31.SFTevin Coleman26
32.LARTodd Gurley25
33.CHITarik Cohen24
34.GBJamaal Williams24
35.SEARashaad Penny23
36.HOUCarlos Hyde28
37.MIN• Alexander Mattison 21
38.PHIJordan Howard25
39.SFMatt Breida24
40.HOUDuke Johnson26
41.KCDamien Williams27
42.INDJonathan Williams25
43.PIT• Benny Snell 21
44.NOLatavius Murray29
45.DENRoyce Freeman23
46.WASDerrius Guice22
47.DETKerryon Johnson22
48.DAL• Tony Pollard 22
49.KCLeSean McCoy31
50.NE• Damien Harris 22
51.TBPeyton Barber25
52.PITJaylen Samuels23
53.INDNyheim Hines23
54.ARIChase Edmonds23
55.BAL• Justice Hill 22
56.CAR• Reggie Bonnafon23
57.JAC• Ryquell Armstead 23
58.NYGWayne Gallman25
59.CINGiovani Bernard28
60.NERex Burkhead29
61.PHIJay Ajayi26
62.BALGus Edwards24
63.LARMalcolm Brown26
64.DETBo Scarbrough23
65.ATL• Qadree Ollison 23
66.OAKDeAndre Washington26
67.TENDion Lewis29
68.KCDarrel Williams24
69.NYJTy Montgomery26
70.CIN• Trayveon Williams 22
71.WASChris Thompson29
72.OAKJalen Richard26
73.SFRaheem Mostert27
74.LACJustin Jackson23
75.INDJordan Wilkins25
76.ATLIto Smith24
77.PHIBoston Scott24
78.KC• Darwin Thompson 22
79.HOULamar Miller28
80.DET• Ty Johnson 22
81.GB• Dexter Williams 22
82.BUFT.J. Yeldon26
83.CAR• Jordan Scarlett 23
84.NYJJosh Adams23
85.CARMike Davis26
86.WASAdrian Peterson34
87.PIT• Kerrith Whyte 23
88.MIA• Patrick Laird24
89.ATLBrian Hill24
90.SFJeff Wilson24
91.DETJ.D. McKissic26
92.MIAKalen Ballage23
93.CLEDontrell Hilliard24
94.MIA• Myles Gaskin 22
95.NYJTrenton Cannon24
96.SFKyle Juszczyk28
97.WAS• Bryce Love 22
98.MINAmeer Abdullah26
99.SFJerick McKinnon27
100.WASWendell Smallwood25

—Ian Allan