With six teams on bye weeks, the fantasy RB rankings can help you sort through the noise and feel good about your starting lineup. Here’s how I stack up the fantasy football running backs for the week ahead:
Which RB Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
MORE rankings from Soppe: QB | WR | TE | K | DST
1) Christian McCaffrey | SF (at PHI)
2) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (vs. CIN)
3) Austin Ekeler | LAC (at NE)
4) Alvin Kamara | NO (vs. DET)
5) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (at NO)
6) Tony Pollard | DAL (vs. SEA)
7) Isiah Pacheco | KC (at GB)
8) Derrick Henry | TEN (vs. IND)
9) Bijan Robinson | ATL (at NYJ)
10) Breece Hall | NYJ (vs. ATL)
11) Raheem Mostert | MIA (at WAS)
12) Rachaad White | TB (vs. CAR)
13) Kyren Williams | LAR (vs. CLE)
14) D’Andre Swift | PHI (vs. SF)
15) Zack Moss | IND (at TEN)
16) David Montgomery | DET (at NO)
17) Javonte Williams | DEN (at HOU)
18) James Conner | ARI (at PIT)
19) Jerome Ford | CLE (at LAR)
20) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE (vs. LAC)
21) De’Von Achane | MIA (at WAS)
22) Jaylen Warren | PIT (vs. ARI)
23) Joe Mixon | CIN (at JAX)
24) Najee Harris | PIT (vs. ARI)
25) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (vs. MIA)
26) AJ Dillon | GB (vs. KC)
27) David Montgomery | DET (at NO)
28) Devin Singletary | HOU (vs. DEN)
29) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (at TB)
30) Kareem Hunt | CLE (at LAR)
31) Dameon Pierce | HOU (vs. DEN)
32) Tyjae Spears | TEN (vs. IND)
33) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (at NYJ)
34) Miles Sanders | CAR (at TB)
35) Royce Freeman | LAR (vs. CLE)
36) Samaje Perine | DEN (at HOU)
37) Jamaal Williams | NO (vs. DET)
38) Ezekiel Elliott | NE (vs. LAC)
39) Jeff Wilson Jr. | MIA (at WAS)
40) D’Ernest Johnson | JAX (vs. CIN)
41) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (vs. SF)
42) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC (at GB)
43) Rico Dowdle | DAL (vs. SEA)
44) Antonio Gibson | WAS (vs. MIA)
45) Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN (at HOU)
46) Israel Abanikanda | NYJ (vs. ATL)
47) Jerick McKinnon | KC (at GB)
48) Chase Edmonds | TB (vs. CAR)
49) Joshua Kelley | LAC (at NE)
50) Elijah Mitchell | SF (at PHI)
51) Dalvin Cook | NYJ (vs. ATL)
52) Patrick Taylor Jr. | GB (vs. KC)
53) DeeJay Dallas | SEA (at DAL)
54) Trayveon Williams | CIN (at JAX)
55) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS (vs. MIA)
56) Cordarrelle Patterson | ATL (at NYJ)
57) Kyle Juszczyk | SF (at PHI)
58) Boston Scott | PHI (vs. SF)
59) Pierre Strong Jr. | CLE (at LAR)
60) Michael Carter | ARI (at PIT)
61) Alec Ingold | MIA (at WAS)
62) Emari Demercado | ARI (at PIT)
63) Tank Bigsby | JAX (vs. CIN)
64) Kenny McIntosh | SEA (at DAL)
65) Jordan Mason | SF (at PHI)
66) Craig Reynolds | DET (at NO)
67) Dare Ogunbowale | HOU (vs. DEN)
68) Hunter Luepke | DAL (vs. SEA)
69) La’Mical Perine | KC (at GB)
70) Darrynton Evans | CHI (BYE)
71) Tony Jones Jr. | ARI (at PIT)
72) Keith Smith | ATL (at NYJ)
73) Michael Burton | DEN (at HOU)
74) Sean Tucker | TB (vs. CAR)
The Top RBs To Start in Week 13
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
I’m not ready to bend the knee and say that Stevenson should be considered moving forward how he was viewed in August, but he’s certainly trending in that direction by finishing as an RB2 or better in five of his past six games (three top 10s).
The first step in that process is a lead role. Last week, he held a 53-15 snap edge over Ezekiel Elliott (25-5 advantage in routes run) and posted 20+ carries for the second straight game, bringing his season total to two such games.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
The other significant step for fantasy managers is that Stevenson has seen at least four targets in six straight games. The Charger’s run defense has been more vulnerable through the air than on the ground of late, but let’s not confuse this as some defensive front to fear.
I have Stevenson as my RB19 this week, with the thought being that New England continues to funnel their offense through him in what figures to be a close game; it’s the Chargers, and almost all games are like that.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers can label either of their RBs the “starter,” but with a 38-34 snap share (this week, it was in favor of Harris), this is as even a committee as we have. Harris has been an RB1 in three of his past four games — not bad for a player who opened the season finishing outside of the top 30 in four of five games.
The 20-yard run may look like an explosive play in the box score, but it was a two-yard dive up the middle that somehow resulted in an additional 18 yards. Harris’ game is far less visually appealing than Jaylen Warren’s, but we get points for production, and he’s offered that at a nice clip over the past month.
I continue to rank Warren over Harris due to the advantage in the ceiling, but both are starting RBs for me at the moment against the 26th-ranked per-carry run defense. The Cardinals also allow a league-high 4.5 red-zone trips per game, giving Harris the TD equity he needs to have access to if you’re like me and not willing to count on splash plays.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
