The 2021-22 NFL season has only two weeks left. Bye weeks are over and most leagues are now at their championship game. At this point it is important to have backup options on your fantasy roster because injuries are continuing to mount up. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 17 running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and causes a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB1 |
| Must Start | Saquon Barkley | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB2 |
| Must Start | Austin Ekeler | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | James Conner | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Dalvin Cook | vs Green Bay Packers | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Derrick Henry* | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Miami Dolphins | RB7 |
| Starting RB1 | Joe Mixon | vs Buffalo Bills | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Houston Texans | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Alvin Kamara | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | Josh Jacobs | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | Tony Pollard* | vs Tennessee Titans | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | Miles Sanders | vs New Orleans Saints | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | Cam Akers | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Aaron Jones* | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Leonard Fournette | vs Carolina Panthers | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | David Montgomery | vs Detroit Lions | RB17 |
| Starting RB2 | AJ Dillon | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB18 |
| Starting RB2 | Kenneth Walker III | vs New York Jets | RB19 |
| Starting RB2 | Nick Chubb | vs Washington Commanders | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs Cleveland Browns | RB21 |
| Low RB2 | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Tennessee Titans | RB22 |
| Low RB2 | Najee Harris | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB23 |
| Low RB2 | Tyler Allgeier | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB24 |
| Low RB2 | Isiah Pacheco | vs Denver Broncos | RB25 |
| Flex | Zonovan “Bam” Knight | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB26 |
| Flex | Jerick McKinnon | vs Denver Broncos | RB27 |
| Flex | D’Andre Swift | vs Chicago Bears | RB28 |
| Flex | Rachaad White | vs Carolina Panthers | RB29 |
| Flex | Latavius Murray | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB30 |
| Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Zack Moss | vs New York Giants | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Jamaal Williams* | vs Chicago Bears | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | J.K. Dobbins | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Chuba Hubbard | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | Cordarrelle Patterson | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs New England Patriots | RB37 |
| Deep League Flex | D’Onta Foreman | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB38 |
| Deep League Flex | Michael Carter | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Raheem Mostert | vs New England Patriots | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Deon Jackson | vs New York Giants | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Royce Freeman | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Damien Harris* | vs Miami Dolphins | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Gus Edwards | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Antonio Gibson* | vs Cleveland Browns | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Buffalo Bills | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | James Cook | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs New Orleans Saints | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Chase Edmonds | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dare Ogunbowale | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kareem Hunt | vs Washington Commanders | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jordan Mason | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Hassan Haskins | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | DeeJay Dallas | vs New York Jets | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Green Bay Packers | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Marlon Mack | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | Raheem Blackshear | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Justin Jackson | vs Chicago Bears | RB60 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB6 Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday because of a hip injury. There is speculation Henry may sit out this week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys to rest for Tennessee’s Week 18 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC South. If Henry misses this game Hassan Haskins moves up to RB35 between Chuba Hubbard and Cordarrelle Patterson.
RB12 Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Tony Pollard missed practice on Tuesday with a thigh injury. If he misses this week’s game against the Tennessee Titans Ezekiel Elliott moves up to RB19 between Kenneth Walker III and Nick Chubb. Malik Davis becomes the RB55 between DeeJay Dallas and Alexander Mattison.
RB15 Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones suffered an ankle injury last week against the Miami Dolphins. If he cannot play this week against the Minnesota Vikings A.J. Dillon moves up to RB5 between James Conner and Dalvin Cook.
RB33 Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions
Jamaal Williams suffered a leg injury last week against the Carolina Panthers. If Williams was to miss this week’s game against the Chicago Bears D’Andre Swift moves up to RB21 between Brian Robinson Jr. and Ezekiel Elliott. Justin Jackson moves up to RB39 between Michael Carter and Raheem Mostert.
RB43 Damien Harris, New England Patriots
Damien Harris has missed the past four games with a thigh injury. If Harris doesn’t play this week against the Miami Dolphins Pierre Strong Jr. becomes the RB56 between Alexander Mattison and Marlon Mack.
RB45 Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
Antonio Gibson is dealing with an undisclosed sprain according to Washington’s head coach Ron Rivera. If Gibson doesn’t play this week against the Cleveland Browns Jonathan Williams would be expected to backup Brian Robinson Jr.
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