The 2021-22 NFL season is just past its halfway point. Bye weeks have been taking place the past few weeks. This means that running backs like Darrell Henderson and Melvin Gordon will be out this week. On top of that injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. 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 11 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 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 | Christian McCaffrey | vs Washington Football Team | RB1 |
| Must Start | Najee Harris | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB2 |
| Must Start | Dalvin Cook | vs Green Bay Packers | RB3 |
| Must Start | Alvin Kamara* | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | D’Andre Swift | vs Cleveland Browns | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Joe Mixon | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Nick Chubb* | vs Detriot Lions | RB7 |
| Starting RB1 | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB8 |
| Starting RB1 | James Conner | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB9 |
| Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Buffalo Bills | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | James Robinson* | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | Austin Ekeler | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | A.J. Dillon | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | Michael Carter | vs Miami Dolphins | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Leonard Fournette | vs New York Giants | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | David Montgomery | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | Damien Harris | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB17 |
| Low RB2 | Elijah Mitchell* | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB18 |
| Low RB2 | Saquon Barkley* | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Josh Jacobs | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Myles Gaskin | vs New York Jets | RB21 |
| Low RB2 | Cordarrelle Patterson* | vs New England Patriots | RB22 |
| Flex | Chris Carson* | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB23 |
| Flex | Antonio Gibson | vs Carolina Panthers | RB24 |
| Flex | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB25 |
| Flex | Clyde Edwards-Helaire* | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB26 |
| Deep League Flex | D’Onta Foreman | vs Houston Texans | RB27 |
| Deep League Flex | Kenyan Drake | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB28 |
| Deep League Flex | Zack Moss | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Adrian Peterson | vs Houston Texans | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | D’Ernest Johnson | vs Detriot Lions | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Miles Sanders | vs New Orleans Saints | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Darrel Williams | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Ty Johnson | vs Miami Dolphins | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Mark Ingram | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | Tony Pollard | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | Jeremy McNichols | vs Houston Texans | RB37 |
| Deep League Flex | Latavius Murray* | vs Chicago Bears | RB38 |
| Deep League Flex | Brandon Bolden* | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB39 |
| Deep League Flex | Jamaal Williams* | vs Cleveland Browns | RB40 |
| Deep League Flex | J.D. McKissic | vs Carolina Panthers | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | David Johnson | vs Tennessee Titans | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Chuba Hubbard | vs Washington Football Team | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Eno Benjamin | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ameer Abdullah | vs Washington Football Team | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jordan Howard | vs New Orleans Saints | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devonta Freeman | vs Chicago Bears | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Mike Davis | vs New England Patriots | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devin Singletary | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Nyheim Hines | vs Buffalo Bills | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | JaMycal Hasty* | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Alex Collins | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Khalil Herbert | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Boston Scott | vs New Orleans Saints | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Salvon Ahmed | vs New York Jets | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devontae Booker | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | Wayne Gallman | vs New England Patriots | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Phillip Lindsay | vs Tennessee Titans | RB60 |
| Leave on the Bench | Matt Breida | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB61 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jermar Jefferson | vs Cleveland Browns | RB62 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rex Burkhead | vs Tennessee Titans | RB63 |
| Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Green Bay Packers | RB64 |
| Leave on the Bench | Larry Rountree III | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB65 |
| Leave on the Bench | J.J. Taylor | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB66 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs New Orleans Saints | RB67 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB68 |
| Leave on the Bench | C.J. Ham | vs Green Bay Packers | RB69 |
| Leave on the Bench | Giovanni Bernard | vs New York Giants | RB70 |
| Leave on the Bench | Godwin Igwebuike | vs Cleveland Browns | RB71 |
| Leave on the Bench | Travis Homer | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB72 |
| Leave on the Bench | Derrick Gore | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB73 |
| Leave on the Bench | Trey Sermon | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB74 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB4 Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara was held out of last week’s game knee injury. If Kamara doesn’t play this week against the Philadelphia Eagles then Mark Ingram moves up to RB16 between David Montgomery and Damien Harris.
RB7 Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb could be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list before the Browns play the Lions this week. However, if Chubb is not activated in time then D’Ernest Johnson moves up to RB13 between A.J. Dillon and Michael Carter.
RB11 James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
James Robinson did not practice Wednesday because of both a heel and knee issue. If Robinson does not play this week against the San Francisco 49ers then Carlos Hyde would join the list at RB25 between Rhamondre Stevenson and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
San Francisco 49ers Running Backs: RB18 Elijah Mitchell & RB53 JaMycal Hasty
Elijah Mitchell is dealing with a finger fracture that held him out of practice Wednesday. JaMycal Hasty was unable to play last week with an ankle issue. Mitchell is expected to play while Hasty’s status is uncertain. If both are inactive then Jeff Wilson Jr. moves up to RB16 between Leonard Fournette and David Montgomery. Kyle Juszczyk would take Hasty’s spot at RB53 and Trey Sermon would move up to RB61 between Phillip Lindsay and Matt Breida.
If Mitchell is inactive but Hasty plays then Jeff Wilson Jr. moves up to RB20 between Josh Jacobs and Myles Gaskin. Then JaMycal Hasty would move up to RB43 between David Johnson and Chuba Hubbard. Trey Sermon would then move up to RB70 between C.J. Ham and Giovanni Bernard.
If Mitchell is active and Hasty is inactive then Mitchell retains his value. Jeff Wilson Jr. would move up to RB43 between Chuba Hubbard and Eno Benjamin. Trey Sermon would move up to RB71 between Giovanni Bernard and Godwin Igwebuike.
RB19 Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
There is a feeling that Saquon Barkley could return from his ankle issue for the New York Giants game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday. However, if Barkley does not return then Devontae Booker moves up to RB24 between Antonio Gibson and Rhamondre Stevenson.
RB22 Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
Cordarrelle Patterson is going to be a game-time decision for Thursday’s game against the New England Patriots because of an ankle sprain. If Patterson does not play then Mike Davis moves up to RB29 between Zack Moss and Adrian Peterson. Wayne Gallman would then take Mike Davis’ spot at RB50.
RB23 Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Chris Carson’s neck injury had held him out of multiple games this season. It is uncertain when he will return for the Seahawks if he will return at all. If Carson is out this week against the Arizona Cardinals then Alex Collins will move up to RB28 between Kenyan Drake and Zack Moss. Travis Homer would move up to RB56 between Khalil Herbert and Boston Scott.
RB26 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire was activated off of IR last week and could make his return this week. However, if he doesn’t suit up against the Dallas Cowboys then Darrel Williams will jump up to RB21 between Myles Gaskin and Cordarrelle Patterson. Derrick Gore would move up to RB65 between Alexander Mattison and Larry Rountree.
RB32 Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
Miles Sanders could make his return off of Injured Reserve this week against the New Orleans Saints. If Sanders is not activated then Jordan Howard would move up to RB36 between Tony Pollard and Jeremy McNichols. Boston Scott would move up to RB53 between Nyheim Hines and JaMychal Hasty. Kenneth Gainwell would move up to RB64 between Rex Burkhead and Alexander Mattison.
RB38 Latavius Murray, Baltimore Ravens
Latavius Murray has missed Baltimore’s last three games with an ankle issue. Murray could return this week against the Chicago Bears. However, if he does not return then Devonta Freeman moves up to RB33 between Miles Sanders and Darrel Williams.
RB39 Brandon Bolden, New England Patriots
Brandon Bolden is questionable for Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons with a hip issue. If Bolden does not play expect Rhamondre Stevenson to take over Bolden’s passing game work and J.J. Taylor to have a role against Atlanta.
Detriot Lions Running Backs: RB40 Jamaal Williams, & RB62 Jermar Jefferson
For Detriot’s past two games, Jamaal Williams has been inactive with a thigh injury. If Williams is inactive D’Andre Swift confirms his status at RB5. Jermar Jefferson would move up to RB45 between Ameer Abdullah and Jordan Howard. If Jefferson is inactive due to his ankle issue then Godwin Igwebuike would then be RB45 between Ameer Abdullah and Jordan Howard.
