Chris Thomas’ Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings for Week 11

This year more than ever it has been difficult to make decisions about fantasy football lineups because of injuries, byes, and Covid-19 concerns. This week running backs like Jerick McKinnon, Devonta Freeman and David Montgomery have byes. It could be difficult to decide who is the best streamer to replace one of them in your lineup. Your roster could also have two running backs with similar value. Deciding between the two could be the difference between winning and losing this week.

With so little time left during the fantasy football regular season every game that’s left is more important than the last to guarantee yourself a spot in your league’s fantasy football playoffs. Here are my running back rankings for Week 11 of the 2020 NFL Season

*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 category.

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 cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deeper 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.

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

RB8 Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks

For a couple of weeks, Chris Carson has been dealing with a mid-foot sprain. Since the Seahawks’ next game is early on a Thursday it might not be wise to rush Carson back from the injury. Rather than they they should and will likely rest Carson and give him the rest of this week and next week to get him ready for Week 12. DeeJay Dallas, Travis Homer, and Alex Collins have split the Seahawks backfield. However now that Carlos Hyde is back as a full participant in practice, he will likely take over most of the Seahawks running back snaps and carries. If that is the case Hyde will be bumped up to RB20 for this week and will make him a capable RB2 in a majority of lineups.

RB10 Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon has also been dealing with a foot issue the past couple of weeks and it is unclear whether he will be active for Week 11 or not. The Bengals are planning for Mixon to return this week but are prepared if he was not to play. Giovanni Bernard scored 20+ fantasy points in two of his three starts this year. The only exception was last week against one of the league’s best-run defenses the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Mixon were to miss another week Bernard would become RB16 between Todd Gurley and Kareem Hunt this week against a defense who was carved up by D’Andre Swift last week in Washington.

RB21 Salvon Ahmed, Miami Dolphins

Last week Salvon Ahmed played extremely well as the Dolphins starting running back against the Los Angeles Chargers. If the Dolphins running back remains the same Ahmed will likely see similar production again this week against the Denver Broncos. However if Matt Breida were to return this upcoming week Ahmed would likely split carries with Breida in some capacity. If so Ahmed would move down to RB31 between Rex Burkhead and Brian Hill making him a potential flex option in deeper leagues.

RB25 Damien Harris, New England Patriots

Believe it or not but Patriots running back Damien Harris is on pace for over 1,200 yards this season. That being said the Patriot’s backfield has never been predictable and with the potential of Sony Michel returning in the near future as soon as this week Harris’ production could decrease. If Michel were inserted back into the Patriot’s backfield this week Harris would get bumped down to RB 29 between Ronald Jones and Le’Veon Bell this week.

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