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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 |