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2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs for NFL Week 17

Joe Mixon is being used increasingly in the Bengals’ passing game.

Syndication: The Enquirer Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Before we get into the running back rankings, here are a few notes for Week 17 of fantasy football...

  • Tampa Bay vs. New York Jets should feature a fair amount of running.
  • Keep an eye on Injuries to Austin Ekeler, Eli Mitchell, James Conner, D’Andre Swift, and Kareem Hunt.
  • My gut feeling tells me Los Angeles, Buffalo, Jacksonville, and Indianapolis go run-heavy this week.
  • We should see some tandem work with Nick Chubb/areem Hunt, Melvin Gordon III/Javonte Williams, Ezekiel Elliott/Tony Pollard, and Aaron Jones/AJ Dillon

Week 17 Running Back Rankings

Rank Player Team Opponent Notes
Rank Player Team Opponent Notes
1 Jonathan Taylor Ind vs LV Hitting the point where 108 yards is just so-so for this allstar
2 Joe Mixon Cin vs KC This is a RB friendly matchup for Cincinnati; Mixon is being used out wide a fair amount
3 Najee Harris Pit vs Cle A 90 yard; 20 reception yard weekly candidate
4 Dalvin Cook Min @ GB Return from injury and he will likely be used heavily in this matchup
5 Austin Ekeler LAC vs Den Five rushing TDs in last five games
6 D'Andre Swift Det @ Sea This is a RB friendly matchup for Detroit
7 David Montgomery Chi vs NYG 4th most reception yards last week (61) across 7 receptions; also had a rush TD
8 Chase Edmonds Ari @ Dal Got a rush TD! And he got 71 reception yards across 9 targets and 8 receptions
9 Alvin Kamara NO vs Car Tough Matchup for New Orleans
10 Nick Chubb Cle @ Pit It's safe to say the top 10 RB of Chubb is back in form; but Kareem is back too
11 Sony Michel LAR @ Bal Becoming a very strong rushing option for Rams with continued Henderson injury
12 Josh Jacobs LV @ Ind Finally got his first 100 yard game this season
13 Ronald Jones II TB @ NYJ This is a RB friendly matchup for Tampa Bay; got 20 carries last week once they were up big
14 Aaron Jones GB vs Min Jones is an RB 2 at this point with about 50 yards on a given week & 20 reception yards
15 Rashaad Penny Sea vs Det 70% owned; good candidate for final push in the playoffs
16 Antonio Gibson Was vs Phi Rush yards are almost equaling reception yards
17 Ezekiel Elliott Dal vs Ari TDs in back to back games; yardage still isn't there though
18 Eli Mitchell SF vs Hou Questionable - a lot hinges on his ability to play; if he can; he's a top 15 candidate
19 Kareem Hunt Cle @ Pit Back after a few weeks of injuries; split carries with Chubb will be what to watch
20 Devin Singletary Buf vs Atl Getting more nods at receptions lately; 14 total across last 3 games
21 Cordarrelle Patterson Atl @ Buf Not a RB friendly Matchup for Atlanta; yards are going down; TDs only thing keeping him going
22 Michael Carter NYJ vs TB Very low floor and high ceiling remains; a lot of risk
23 Tony Pollard Dal vs Ari Splitting carries with Ezekiel these days
24 Dare Ogunbowale Jax @ NE This is a RB friendly matchup for Jacksonville; did well with Robinson out, one of the coolest fantasy names
25 Rhamondre Stevenson NE vs Jax Out with Covid and Damien filled in quite well
26 Damien Harris NE vs Jax Typical NE, Rhamondre is out and Harris gets 3 TDs and 100 yards, can never predict who will be next
27 Derrick Gore KC @ Cin Is it possible Gore is the best RB option these days for KC?
28 Saquon Barkley NYG @ Chi I'm not trusting him as anythign above RB3
29 AJ Dillon GB vs Min He will get you 30-50 yards each week
30 Justin Jackson LAC vs Den Led all RB last week with 98 Rec Yards; Ekeler out is good for him
31 Rex Burkhead Hou @ SF Looking at this season; last weeks 2 TD; 149 yard performance was likely an anomaly
32 Melvin Gordon III Den @ LAC Not a RB friendly Matchup for Denver
33 Myles Gaskin Mia @ Ten Splitting carries with Phillip Lindsay and Duke Johnson
34 Darrel Williams KC @ Cin Following the KC rushing circle is tough
35 Brandon Bolden NE vs Jax I'm saying Bolden won't be used but it's the Patriots so…
36 Javonte Williams Den @ LAC Not a RB friendly Matchup for Denver; yardage and carries down three straight weeks
37 Jeff Wilson Jr. SF vs Hou Not a RB friendly Matchup for San Francisco; respectible output last week
38 James Conner Ari @ Dal Questionable - Heel injury is tough on him
39 Dontrell Hilliard Ten vs Mia Not really trusting Titans running game
40 Nyheim Hines Ind vs LV Just 6 TOTAL carries across last three games
41 Devonta Freeman Bal vs LAR Carries and Yardage down - TD Dependent
42 Jordan Howard Phi @ Was With Miles out - here is an option; but it's not electric
43 Boston Scott Phi @ Was With Miles out - here is an option; but it's not electric
44 Duke Johnson Mia @ Ten Splitting carries three ways
45 Mark Ingram II NO vs Car Not a RB friendly Matchup for New Orleans; nothing to see here
46 D'Onta Foreman Ten vs Mia Not really trusting Titans running game
47 Latavius Murray Bal vs LAR Handful of carries potentially
48 Chuba Hubbard Car @ NO Handful of carries potentially