Home » Chris Thomas’ Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings for Week 17

Chris Thomas’ Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings for Week 17

Publish Date: January 1, 2021

This year more than ever it has been difficult to make decisions about fantasy football lineups because of injuries, byes, and Covid-19 concerns. With players like Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffery/Mike Davis, Alvin Kamara, and Miles Sanders sitting out this week championship fantasy teams could be largely affected and could force teams to start emergency options.

This week is the second week of championship week in a majority of leagues so owners may have a few running backs on their roster that they have been flipping between all season. Deciding between them could be the difference between winning and losing. For owners who have to stream a running back this week, it may be difficult to choose who to put into the lineup.

Here are my running back rankings for Week 17 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 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 Derrick Henry vs Houston Texans RB1
Inactive Alvin Kamara vs Carolina Panthers OUT
Must Start Nick Chubb vs Pittsburgh Steelers RB2
Must Start Jonathan Taylor vs Jacksonville Jaguars RB3
Must Start David Montgomery vs Green Bay Packer RB4
Starting RB1 Austin Ekeler vs Kansas City Chiefs RB5
Starting RB1 Myles Gaskin vs Buffalo Bills RB6
Starting RB1 D’Andre Swift vs Minnesota Vikings RB7
Inactive Miles Sanders vs Washington Football Team OUT
Starting RB1 David Johnson vs Tennessee Titans RB8
High End RB2 Jeff Wilson Jr. vs Seattle Seahawks RB9
Starting RB2 Alexander Mattison vs Detroit Lions RB10
Starting RB2 Aaron Jones vs Chicago Bears RB11
Starting RB2 J.K. Dobbins vs Cincinnati Bengals RB12
Starting RB2 Melvin Gordon vs Las Vegas Raiders RB13
Starting RB2 Chris Carson vs San Francisco 49ers RB14
Starting RB2 Josh Jacobs vs Denver Broncos RB15
Low RB2 Antonio Gibson vs Philadelphia Eagles RB16
Low RB2 Ronald Jones vs Atlanta Falcons RB17
Low RB2 Ezekiel Elliot vs New York Giants RB18
Low RB2 Kenyan Drake vs Los Angeles Rams RB19
Flex Wayne Gallman vs Dallas Cowboys RB20
Flex Gus Edwards vs Cincinnati Bengals RB21
Flex Nyheim Hines vs Pittsburgh Steelers RB22
Flex Malcolm Brown* vs Arizona Cardinals RB23
Flex J.D. McKissic vs Philadelphia Eagles RB24
Flex Dare Ogunbowale vs Indianapolis Colts RB25
Flex Zack Moss vs Miami Dolphins RB26
Flex James Conner vs Cleveland Browns RB27
Flex Giovanni Bernard vs Baltimore Ravens RB28
Inactive Damien Harris* vs New York Jets OUT
 Flex Ty Montgomery  vs Carolina Panthers RB29
Deep League Flex  A.J. Dillon vs Chicago Bears RB30
Deep League Flex Ty Johnson vs New England Patriots RB31
Deep League Flex  Boston Scott vs Washington Football Team RB32
Deep League Flex Kareem Hunt vs Pittsburgh Steelers RB33
Deep League Flex Sony Michel vs New York Jets RB34
Deep League Flex Darrel Williams vs Los Angles Chargers RB35
Inactive Latavius Murray vs Carolina Panthers OUT
Deep League Flex Rodney Smith vs New Orleans Saints RB36
Deep League Flex Devin Singletary vs Miami Dolphins RB37
Deep League Flex Ito Smith vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB38
Deep League Flex Tony Pollard vs New York Giants RB39
Deep League Flex Mike Boone vs Detroit Lions RB40
Deep League Flex Duke Johnson Jr.* vs Tennessee Titans RB41
Deep League Flex Josh Adams vs New England Patriots RB42
Deep League Flex Samaje Perine vs Baltimore Ravens RB43
Deep League Flex Adrian Peterson vs Minnesota Vikings RB44
Deep League Flex Benny Snell vs Cleveland Browns RB45
Leave on the Bench Leonard Fournette vs Atlanta Falcons RB46
Leave on the Bench James White vs New York Jets RB47
Leave on the Bench Chase Edmonds vs Los Angeles Rams RB48
Leave on the Bench Kalen Ballage vs Kansas City Chiefs RB49
Leave on the Bench Salvon Ahmed vs Buffalo Bills RB50
Leave on the Bench Devonta Freeman vs Dallas Cowboys RB51
Leave on the Bench Le’Veon Bell* vs Los Angeles Chargers RB53
Leave on the Bench Devontae Booker vs Denver Broncos RB54
Leave on the Bench Jerick McKinnon vs Seattle Seahawks RB55
Leave on the Bench Todd Gurley vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB56
Leave on the Bench Carlos Hyde vs San Fransisco 49ers RB57
Leave on the Bench Royce Freeman vs Las Vegas Raiders RB58
Leave on the Bench Jamaal Williams vs Chicago Bears RB59

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

New Orleans Saints Running Backs: Alvin Kamara & Latavius Murray

Both Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray have landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list making them ineligible to play in Week 17. The Saints will likely deploy a committee led by flex player Ty Montgomery who could fill in for Kamara. The Saints are also expected to sign a running back off their practice squad. That running back can be Tony Jones Jr. Both Montgomery and Jones Jr. would be risky starts in a championship week. But if someone is forced to pick up Montgomery he ranks as RB29 on the week between Giovanni Bernard and A.J. Dillon.

Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are resting some of their starters for Week 17. One of those major starters is running back Miles Sanders who is listed with a knee injury. With Sanders out of the lineup, Boston Scott becomes RB32 between Ty Johnson and Kareem Hunt.

RB23 Malcolm Brown, Los Angeles Rams

Originally when the week started it seemed very clear that Malcolm Brown would be the Rams starting running back for Week 17. However, there is a slight chance that Cam Akers could return this week. If Akers returns he would become RB21 between Wayne Gallman and Gus Edwards. While Brown would move back to RB37 between Rodney Smith and Devin Singletary.

Damien Harris, New England Patriots

Damien Harris has missed the past two weeks with an ankle injury and will make it three in a row this week. Sony Michel will once again slide into Harris’ role on the offense and be RB34 between Kareem Hunt and Darrell Williams. Also, J.J. Taylor becomes an interesting name as a boom or bust play in deep leagues. He will see more work with Harris out. Taylor slides into the RB52 spot between Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell.

RB41 Duke Johnson Jr., Houston Texans

David Johnson has played extremely well during Duke Johnson’s absence. Duke Johnson has missed the past two weeks because of a neck injury. With not much to play for The Texans may keep David Johnson’s role the same if Duke was to return just to see what type of production they could get from his as a full-time work-horse back. David Johnson is still a great play regardless of Duke Johnson playing or not.

RB52 Le’Veon Bell, Kansas City Chiefs

Last week Le’Veon Bell did not look great and was out-snapped by Darrell Williams. Bell has not practiced Wednesday or Thursday because of a knee injury. Even if Bell is active he could be rested since the Chiefs are resting their starters. If that is the case Darwin Thompson could slide into Bell’s RB53 slot. If Darrel Williams was to be rested Sunday as well Thompson would jump into the RB38 spot in between Ito Smith and Tony Pollard.

You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers like Chris Thomas!

Leave A Reply

* required
Read Also
Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Rankings
The 2024-25 NFL season is about to begin which means fantasy football ...
Fantasy Football Week 1 Quarterback Rankings
The 2024-25 NFL season is about to begin which means fantasy football ...
Good Fantasy Football Team Names
Each year there is a struggle to not just field the best ...
Fantasy Football Week 5 Tight End Rankings
The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have ...
Fantasy Football Week 5 Wide Receiver Rankings
The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have ...
The Game Haus aims to bring unbiased, factually sound opinions to audiences across a range of mediums that are not readily accessible in the day-to-day media outlets. We cover the latest news in Gaming, Call of Duty, CS:GO, League of Legends, Dota 2, Fighting Games, NBA 2K, Halo, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Pokemon, Rocket League, Smite, Starcraft II, Fantasy Sports, MLS, EPL, MLB, NASCAR, NBA, NCAAB, NCAAF, NFL, NHL, and PGA.


Next to our unbiased coverage for esports and sports, have a look at our iGaming content. If you are looking for the most recommended Esports Betting Sites or Best Sports Betting Sites, look no further. We also cover the Best Sweepstakes Casinos in our free 2 play section and have a closer look at the Best DFS Sites out there. If you are looking for some real money options, check how we ranked the Best Online Casinos.


Follow us on Social Media for updates!
Sports: Facebook | Twitter
Esports: Facebook | Twitter

×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Play now