The whole season comes down to this, and fantasy football's most important position has never been more important. Having the right running backs -- whether they're studs you've been riding all year or sleepers you picked up off the waiver wire last week -- is key to taking home a championship. Our Week 17 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues can help you discern between the contenders and pretenders.As has been the case for the past few weeks, it's all about the players with the best matchups. The player's name doesn't matter, nor where you drafted him last August.
Billy Sims Jersey That was a long time ago, and we've learned a lot since then. Injuries have taken some players out of commi sion and opened the door for others, and we saw a few such instances of that last weekend (Isiah Pacheco being the most notable), creating more unlikely Week 17 heroes (Clyde Edwards-Helaire, anyone?).Let's get into it and break down our Week 17 RB rankings so you can take home a championship. Christian McCaffrey (@ Commanders in Week 17) once again tops our list, and he's followed Kyren Williams (@ Giants), Travis Etienne (vs. Panthers), Jonathan Taylor (vs. Raiders), and Kenneth Walker III (vs. Steelers), all of whom are facing defenses that entered last week in the top 12 in fantasy points allowed to RBs.WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | Raheem Mostert (vs. Ravens), Austin Ekeler (@ Broncos), Josh Jacobs (@ Colts), Saquon Barkley (vs. Rams), and D'Andre Swift (vs. Cardinals) round out the top 10. Ekeler bounced back with 18 touches last
Michael Brockers Jersey week and 86 total yards last week, and he has the second-best RB matchup po sible, so even though there are concerns about L.A.'s offense, he should have succe s this week. We're also banking on Jacobs (quad) returning to his usual high-volume ways against a Colts' defense that was just decimated on the ground by the Falcons.WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS: | | | | | Ty Chandler (vs. Packers) and Jerome Ford (vs. Jets) are both committee backs who are always on the start-sit bubble, but with top-10 matchups this week, they both deserve starting spots in 12-team leagues. The same goes for both Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris (@ Seahawks), who face Seattle's bottom-five RB defense.Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Bengals) could see 20-plus touches with Isiah Pacheco in concu sion protocol and Jerick McKinnon (groin) on IR. CEH is a must-start in all formats. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (vs. 49ers) isn't quite at that level because of his matchup, but he's a solid deep-league plug-and-play if he's over his ankle injury and Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) remains out.Going deeper, "change-of-pace" backs Tyjae Spears (@ Texans), Kenneth Gainwell (vs. Cardinals), Tyler Allgeier (@ Bears), and Kareem Hunt (vs. Jets) all have favorable matchups this week and could be worth using as deep-league flexes. Gainwell is particularly interesting in the best po sible RB matchup, as he's been seeing over 40 percent of snaps over the past month.WEEK 17 FANTASY ADVICE: | | | It's tough to sit guys like Tony Pollard (vs. Lions), Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery (@ Cowboys), De'Von Achane (vs. Ravens), Gus Edwards and Justice Hill (vs. Dolphins), Aaron Jones (@ Vikings), and James Conner (@ Eagles) in championship matchups, but all have matchups against defenses that entered last week in the bottom 12 for fantasy points allowed to RBs. All still have high ceilings, especially Gibbs, but their floors are lower than usual, especially since most share carries. In deep leagues, most are likely still must-starts, but in shallow leagues, you might be able to do better.Chicago's RBs (vs. Falcons) will be tough to trust no matter how deep your league and no matter what your format is. The matchup is brutal, and the usage is simply too unpredictable if D'Onta Foreman (personal) returns.WEEK 17 DFS: | | Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) and Josh Jacobs (quad) mi sed their second straight games last week, and Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) mi sed
Shane Zylstra Jersey his third straight contest. At this point in the season, it seems unlikely that either Robinson Jr. or Stevenson will return, but they both bear monitoring in practice. Jacobs was reportedly a legit game-time decision last week, and with the Raiders still technically in the playoff hunt, we think he'll return this week.Isiah Pacheco (concu sion) and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (ankle) both exited their games early. Pacheco could have a tough time clearing protocol on a short week, and with Jerick McKinnon (groin) already on the IR, Clyde Edwards-Helaire would dominate touches against Cincinnati.We'll be updating these standard RB rankings all week, so check back for the latest player movement.Rank Player1
Jessie Lemonier Jersey Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Commanders2 Kyren Williams, Rams @ Giants3 Travis Etienne, Jaguars vs. Panthers4 Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. Raiders5 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Steelers6 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Broncos7 Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Rams8 D'Andre Swift, Eagles vs. Cardinals9 Breece Hall, Jets @ Browns10 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Bengals11 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots @ Bills12 Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Chargers13 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Buccaneers14 Bijan Robinson, Falcons @ Bears15 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Saints16 Zamir White, Raiders @ Colts17 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Texans18 Ty Chandler, Vikings vs. Packers19 De'Von Achane, Dolphins @ Ravens20 Devin Singletary, Texans vs. Titans21 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Chiefs22 James Cook, Bills vs. Patriots23 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Seahawks24 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions @ Cowboys25 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Jaguars26 Jerome Ford, Browns vs. Jets27 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Seahawks28 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Lions29 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Vikings30 David Montgomery,
Alex Anzalone Jersey Lions @ Cowboys31 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Dolphins32 James Conner, Cardinals @ Eagles33 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. 49ers34 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Cardinals35 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Bengals36 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Bears37 Tyjae Spears, Titans @ Texans38 Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. Falcons39 Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Dolphins40 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins @ Raiders41 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Jets42 Chase Brown, Bengals @ Chiefs43 Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. 49ers44 Elijah Mitchell, 49ers @ Commanders45 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Vikings46 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Packers47 Joshua Kelley, Chargers @ Broncos48 D'Onta Foreman, Bears vs. Falcons49 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks vs. Steelers50 Isaiah Spiller, Chargers @ Broncos51 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Titans52 Miles Sanders, Panthers @ Jaguars53 Chase Edmonds, Buccaneers vs. Saints54 Roschon Johnson, Bears vs. Falcons55 Dalvin Cook, Jets @ Browns56 Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos vs. Chargers57 Deuce Vaughn, Cowboys vs. Lions58 Jamaal Williams, Saints @ Buccaneers59 Trey Sermon, Colts vs. Raiders60 Kevin Harris, Patriots @ Bills61 Samaje Perine, Broncos vs. Chargers62 Leonard Fournette, Bills vs. Patriots63 Ronnie Rivers, Rams @ Giants64 Ameer Abdullah, Raiders @ Colts65 D'Ernest Johnson, Jaguars vs. Panthers66 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons @ Bears67 Matt Breida, Giants vs. Rams68 Boston Scott, Eagles vs. Cardinals
The whole season comes down to this, and fantasy football's most important position has never been more important. Having the right running backs -- whether they're studs you've been riding all year or sleepers you picked up off the waiver wire last week -- is key to taking home a championship. Our Week 17 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues can help you discern between the contenders and pretenders.As has been the case for the past few weeks, it's all about the players with the best matchups. The player's name doesn't matter, nor where you drafted him last August. Billy Sims Jersey That was a long time ago, and we've learned a lot since then. Injuries have taken some players out of commi sion and opened the door for others, and we saw a few such instances of that last weekend (Isiah Pacheco being the most notable), creating more unlikely Week 17 heroes (Clyde Edwards-Helaire, anyone?).Let's get into it and break down our Week 17 RB rankings so you can take home a championship. Christian McCaffrey (@ Commanders in Week 17) once again tops our list, and he's followed Kyren Williams (@ Giants), Travis Etienne (vs. Panthers), Jonathan Taylor (vs. Raiders), and Kenneth Walker III (vs. Steelers), all of whom are facing defenses that entered last week in the top 12 in fantasy points allowed to RBs.WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | Raheem Mostert (vs. Ravens), Austin Ekeler (@ Broncos), Josh Jacobs (@ Colts), Saquon Barkley (vs. Rams), and D'Andre Swift (vs. Cardinals) round out the top 10. Ekeler bounced back with 18 touches last Michael Brockers Jersey week and 86 total yards last week, and he has the second-best RB matchup po sible, so even though there are concerns about L.A.'s offense, he should have succe s this week. We're also banking on Jacobs (quad) returning to his usual high-volume ways against a Colts' defense that was just decimated on the ground by the Falcons.WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS: | | | | | Ty Chandler (vs. Packers) and Jerome Ford (vs. Jets) are both committee backs who are always on the start-sit bubble, but with top-10 matchups this week, they both deserve starting spots in 12-team leagues. The same goes for both Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris (@ Seahawks), who face Seattle's bottom-five RB defense.Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Bengals) could see 20-plus touches with Isiah Pacheco in concu sion protocol and Jerick McKinnon (groin) on IR. CEH is a must-start in all formats. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (vs. 49ers) isn't quite at that level because of his matchup, but he's a solid deep-league plug-and-play if he's over his ankle injury and Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) remains out.Going deeper, "change-of-pace" backs Tyjae Spears (@ Texans), Kenneth Gainwell (vs. Cardinals), Tyler Allgeier (@ Bears), and Kareem Hunt (vs. Jets) all have favorable matchups this week and could be worth using as deep-league flexes. Gainwell is particularly interesting in the best po sible RB matchup, as he's been seeing over 40 percent of snaps over the past month.WEEK 17 FANTASY ADVICE: | | | It's tough to sit guys like Tony Pollard (vs. Lions), Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery (@ Cowboys), De'Von Achane (vs. Ravens), Gus Edwards and Justice Hill (vs. Dolphins), Aaron Jones (@ Vikings), and James Conner (@ Eagles) in championship matchups, but all have matchups against defenses that entered last week in the bottom 12 for fantasy points allowed to RBs. All still have high ceilings, especially Gibbs, but their floors are lower than usual, especially since most share carries. In deep leagues, most are likely still must-starts, but in shallow leagues, you might be able to do better.Chicago's RBs (vs. Falcons) will be tough to trust no matter how deep your league and no matter what your format is. The matchup is brutal, and the usage is simply too unpredictable if D'Onta Foreman (personal) returns.WEEK 17 DFS: | | Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) and Josh Jacobs (quad) mi sed their second straight games last week, and Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) mi sed Shane Zylstra Jersey his third straight contest. At this point in the season, it seems unlikely that either Robinson Jr. or Stevenson will return, but they both bear monitoring in practice. Jacobs was reportedly a legit game-time decision last week, and with the Raiders still technically in the playoff hunt, we think he'll return this week.Isiah Pacheco (concu sion) and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (ankle) both exited their games early. Pacheco could have a tough time clearing protocol on a short week, and with Jerick McKinnon (groin) already on the IR, Clyde Edwards-Helaire would dominate touches against Cincinnati.We'll be updating these standard RB rankings all week, so check back for the latest player movement.Rank Player1 Jessie Lemonier Jersey Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Commanders2 Kyren Williams, Rams @ Giants3 Travis Etienne, Jaguars vs. Panthers4 Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. Raiders5 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Steelers6 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Broncos7 Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Rams8 D'Andre Swift, Eagles vs. Cardinals9 Breece Hall, Jets @ Browns10 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Bengals11 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots @ Bills12 Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Chargers13 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Buccaneers14 Bijan Robinson, Falcons @ Bears15 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Saints16 Zamir White, Raiders @ Colts17 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Texans18 Ty Chandler, Vikings vs. Packers19 De'Von Achane, Dolphins @ Ravens20 Devin Singletary, Texans vs. Titans21 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Chiefs22 James Cook, Bills vs. Patriots23 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Seahawks24 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions @ Cowboys25 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Jaguars26 Jerome Ford, Browns vs. Jets27 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Seahawks28 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Lions29 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Vikings30 David Montgomery, Alex Anzalone Jersey Lions @ Cowboys31 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Dolphins32 James Conner, Cardinals @ Eagles33 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. 49ers34 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Cardinals35 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Bengals36 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Bears37 Tyjae Spears, Titans @ Texans38 Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. Falcons39 Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Dolphins40 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins @ Raiders41 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Jets42 Chase Brown, Bengals @ Chiefs43 Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. 49ers44 Elijah Mitchell, 49ers @ Commanders45 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Vikings46 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Packers47 Joshua Kelley, Chargers @ Broncos48 D'Onta Foreman, Bears vs. Falcons49 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks vs. Steelers50 Isaiah Spiller, Chargers @ Broncos51 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Titans52 Miles Sanders, Panthers @ Jaguars53 Chase Edmonds, Buccaneers vs. Saints54 Roschon Johnson, Bears vs. Falcons55 Dalvin Cook, Jets @ Browns56 Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos vs. Chargers57 Deuce Vaughn, Cowboys vs. Lions58 Jamaal Williams, Saints @ Buccaneers59 Trey Sermon, Colts vs. Raiders60 Kevin Harris, Patriots @ Bills61 Samaje Perine, Broncos vs. Chargers62 Leonard Fournette, Bills vs. Patriots63 Ronnie Rivers, Rams @ Giants64 Ameer Abdullah, Raiders @ Colts65 D'Ernest Johnson, Jaguars vs. Panthers66 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons @ Bears67 Matt Breida, Giants vs. Rams68 Boston Scott, Eagles vs. Cardinals
