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Melvin Gordon III has returned to elite running back status and is set to wreck box scores in Week 11 against the Chiefs. Josh Jacobs looks to solidify his status as an RB1, coming in as the overall RB7, preparing to demolish the hapless Bengals. Despite Devin Singletary’s poor Week 10 box score results, he rose in the rankings? Atlanta Falcons’ RB Brian Hill and Cincinnati Bengals RB Joe Mixon are suddenly high-end RB2s. The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots are set to square in Philly. Which of their respective committee backfields are the best start in Week 11? James White and Miles Sanders.
Teams on bye: Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, and the Tennessee Titans.
Week 11 Running Back Rankings
| Rank | Running Back | Team | Opponent | High Floor/High Ceilng RB1s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Running Back | Team | Opponent | High Floor/High Ceilng RB1s |
| 1 | Christian McCaffrey | CAR | ATL | CMC would've been the overall RB1 regarless of opponent. Against this Falcons' defense though -- look out. |
| 2 | Ezekiel Elliott | DAL | at DET | Detroit's run defense is shockingly bad. |
| 3 | Dalvin Cook | MIN | DEN | Denver's run defense has been up and down this year but Cook's box score production hasn't. |
| 4 | Melvin Gordon III | LAC | KC | Derrick Henry just ran roughshod all over the Chiefs' defense. Gordon could be a Top 3 finisher this week. |
| 5 | Leonard Fournette | JAX | at IND | Indy's run defense has been solid but Fournette's all-purpose, high-volume usage makes him a matchup-proof RB1. |
| 6 | Alvin Kamara | NO | at TB | Going back to Adam Levitan's info, the Bucs defense is very pass-funnel. Kamara could see 8-10 targets in this one, nicely setting the table for an RB1 finish. |
| 7 | Josh Jacobs | OAK | CIN | Serious erruption spot here. Cincinnati's defense is a fairy tale. Jacobs will run wild. |
| 8 | Le'Veon Bell | NYJ | at WAS | Despite Adam Gase's attempt to nuke this franchise, Bell's production should be buoyed by the glorious matchup. |
| 9 | James Conner | PIT | at CLE | Conner should be back for a full compliment of touches and snaps this week. |
| 10 | Marlon Mack | IND | JAX | Mack didn't produce like we'd hoped he would last week but there should be a fun Battle of the Backs on tap for this one. |
| 11 | Mark Ingram II | BAL | HOU | Houston run defense' box score results don't tell us the full story nowadays. JJ Watt's absence bodes well for Ingram's expected production. |
| 12 | Devin Singletary | BUF | at MIA | Although Singletary didn't get it done for us last week, he was targeted seven times. All-purpose usage like that, with albeit stinky box score results, is too much to pass up in such a great matchup. |
| High Floor/Capped Ceiling RB2s | ||||
| 13 | Nick Chubb | CLE | PIT | Chubb has the most solid of floors but his ceiling remains capped by Freddie Kitchens' play calling and arrogance, mixed with the installation of Kareem Hunt. |
| 14 | Kenyan Drake | ARI | at SF | With David Johnson clearly unhealthy and Chase Edmonds unlikely to play (hamstring), Kenyan Drake is in line to once again roast the Niners defense, as he did 2 weeks ago. |
| 15 | Damien Williams | KC | at LAC | This is Damien Williams' backfield. LeSean McCoy's just living in it. Smash spot for KC's bell cow. |
| 16 | Brian Hill | ATL | at CAR | Per Adam Levitan's and his research on Carolina's run-funnel defense, Brian Hill -- ATL's new starter at running back -- is set to pop off. (Link below.) |
| 17 | Joe Mixon | CIN | at OAK | In the Rotoworld Podcast episode Week 10 Roundup: Game-by-Game Review, they guys brought to light Mixon's outstanding usage, even while the game was far out of hand. Seeing 30 carries in a blowout is absurd, but if they're committing to him, he needs to be in your lineup -- especially in such a great matchup. |
| 18 | David Montgomery | CHI | at LAR | Montgomery should see 18 or so touches this week in an albeit tough matchup. |
| 19 | Ronald Jones II | TB | NO | 15+ touches should come his way. It's a tough matchup though and he fumbled last week, leading to a Peyton Barber touchdown. |
| 20 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | KC | Ekeler should feast too. This KC D is impossible bad against running backs. |
| 21 | Phillip Lindsay | DEN | at MIN | A moderately difficult matchup should allow Lindsay to retain RB2 startability. |
| 22 | Todd Gurley II | LAR | CHI | The matchup is right for Gurley to produce, even on limited touches. |
| 23 | James White | NE | at PHI | Philly's dominant run defense should lead to a bevvy of James White outlet passes. |
| 24 | Tevin Coleman | SF | ARI | Matt Breida's likely absence bodes well for Coleman's usage. |
| High Floor/Capped Ceiling RB3s | ||||
| 25 | Miles Sanders | PHI | NE | New England should have no issue jumping out to an early lead against the Eagles. Sanders should operate as the 1A this week in the Philly backfield. |
| 26 | Carlos Hyde | HOU | at BAL | Hyde's disgusting 20-expected carries keep him in the RB2/3 range. |
| 27 | JD McKissic | DET | DAL | McKissic is likely to see 15+ touches this week with Ty Johnson in the concussion protocol. |
| 28 | Adrian Peterson | WAS | NYJ | Peterson should see a healthy dosage of carries this week against a bad Jets defense. |
| 29 | Jordan Howard | PHI | NE | Howard should log 15 or so carries against recently maleable Patriots' run defense this week. |
| 30 | Sony Michel | NY | at PHI | Very tough matchup for the carry-only RB. |
| 31 | Royce Freeman | DEN | at MIN | Freeman should be flex worthy is a nominally scary matchup. |
| 32 | Derrius Guice | WAS | NYJ | Should his knee hold up, he should walk into 10 or so touches with an emphasis on the passing game. |
| 33 | Kareem Hunt | CLE | PIT | Hunt's should see 10 or more touches per game, making him relevant in .5PPR/PPR leagues. |
| 34 | Kalen Ballage | MIA | BUF | Ballage took over bell cow duties in Mark Walton's absence last week. Facing Buffalo in Week 11 does not bode well for his production though. |
| 35 | Duke Johnson Jr. | HOU | at BAL | Duke has been soundly outplaying Carlos Hyde, but the Hyde's workload is impenetrable. |
| 36 | David Johnson | ARI | at SF | I expect DJ to see the same For Emergency Use Only role he saw a couple weeks ago as he continues to try to regain full health. |