Fantasy Football Week 18 Running Back Rankings

The 2021-22 NFL season has only one week left. Bye weeks have been over and the fantasy leagues that are still active are in their fantasy championship. This time of year COVID-19 is running rampant which makes it important to have backup options on your fantasy roster. Also since a majority of teams have clinched their playoff spots teams will rest their starters this week. On top of all of that, 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 18 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	Jonathan Taylor	vs Jacksonville Jaguars	RB1
Must Start	Dalvin Cook	vs Chicago Bears	RB2
Must Start	Austin Ekeler	vs Las Vegas Raiders	RB3
Starting RB1	Najee Harris	vs Baltimore Ravens	RB4
Starting RB1	David Montgomery	vs Minnesota Vikings	RB5
Starting RB1	Alvin Kamara	vs Atlanta Falcons	RB6
Starting RB1	Josh Jacobs*	vs Los Angeles Chargers	RB7
Starting RB1	Antonio Gibson*	vs New York Giants	RB8
High-End RB2	Ezekiel Elliott	vs Philadelphia Eagles	RB9
High-End RB2	Nick Chubb*	vs Cincinnati Bengals	RB10
Starting RB2	Devin Singletary	vs New York Jets	RB11
Starting RB2	Elijah Mitchell*	vs Los Angeles Rams	RB12
Starting RB2	Darrel Williams	vs Denver Broncos	RB13
Starting RB2	D’Onta Foreman	vs Houston Texans	RB14
Starting RB2	Javonte Williams	vs Kansas City Chiefs	RB15
Starting RB2	Sony Michel	vs San Francisco 49ers	RB16
Starting RB2	Rashaad Penny	vs Arizona Cardinals	RB17
Low RB2	D’Andre Swift	vs Green Bay Packers	RB18
Low RB2	Saquon Barkley	vs Washington Football Team	RB19
Low RB2	Samaje Perine	vs Cleveland Browns	RB20
Low RB2	Chase Edmonds*	vs Seattle Seahawks	RB21
Flex	Damien Harris*	vs Miami Dolphins	RB22
Flex	Michael Carter	vs Buffalo Bills	RB23
Flex	James Conner*	vs Seattle Seahawks	RB24
Flex	Devonta Freeman	vs Pittsburgh Steelers	RB25
Flex	Dare Ogunbowale	vs Indianapolis Colts	RB26
Flex	Ronald Jones*	vs Carolina Panthers	RB27
Flex	Melvin Gordon	vs Kansas City Chiefs	RB28
Flex	Aaron Jones*	vs Detroit Lions	RB29
Flex	Boston Scott*	vs Dallas Cowboys	RB30
Deep League Flex	Tony Pollard	vs Philadelphia Eagles	RB31
Deep League Flex	Cordarrelle Patterson	vs New Orleans Saints	RB32
Deep League Flex	A.J. Dillon	vs Detroit Lions	RB33
Deep League Flex	Devontae Booker	vs Washington Football Team	RB34
Deep League Flex	Duke Johnson Jr.	vs New England Patriots	RB35
Deep League Flex	Justin Jackson	vs Las Vegas Raiders	RB36
Deep League Flex	Kareem Hunt*	vs Cincinnati Bengals	RB37
Deep League Flex	Rhamondre Stevenson	vs Miami Dolphins	RB38
Deep League Flex	Jamaal Williams	vs Green Bay Packers	RB39
Deep League Flex	Dontrell Hilliard	vs Houston Texans	RB40
Deep League Flex	Chuba Hubbard	vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers	RB41
Deep League Flex	Rex Burkhead	vs Tennessee Titans	RB42
Deep League Flex	Ke’Shawn Vaughn	vs Carolina Panthers	RB43
Leave on the Bench	Chris Evans	vs Cleveland Browns	RB44
Leave on the Bench	Ameer Abdullah	vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers	RB45
Leave on the Bench	Jordan Howard*	vs Dallas Cowboys	RB46
Leave on the Bench	Nyheim Himes	vs Jacksonville Jaguars	RB47
Leave on the Bench	Mike Davis	vs New Orleans Saints	RB48
Leave on the Bench	Latavius Murray	vs Pittsburgh Steelers	RB49
Leave on the Bench	Brandon Bolden	vs Miami Dolphins	RB50
Leave on the Bench	Zack Moss	vs New York Jets	RB51
Leave on the Bench	Derrick Gore	vs Denver Broncos	RB52
Leave on the Bench	Jaret Patterson	vs New York Giants	RB53
Leave on the Bench	Cam Akers*	vs San Francisco 49ers	RB54
Leave on the Bench	Myles Gaskin	vs New England Patriots	RB55
Leave on the Bench	Jeremy McNichols	vs Houston Texans	RB56
Leave on the Bench	Mark Ingram*	vs Atlanta Falcons	RB57
Leave on the Bench	Alexander Mattison	vs Chicago Bears	RB58
Leave on the Bench	Le’Veon Bell	vs Carolina Panthers	RB59
Leave on the Bench	Kyle Juszczyk	vs Los Angeles Rams	RB60
Leave on the Bench	Craig Reynolds	vs Green Bay Packers	RB61
Leave on the Bench	Tevin Coleman	vs Buffalo Bills	RB62
Leave on the Bench	Peyton Barber	vs Los Angeles Chargers	RB63
Leave on the Bench	David Johnson	vs Tennessee Titans	RB64
Leave on the Bench	Kenneth Gainwell	vs Dallas Cowboys	RB65
Leave on the Bench	Phillip Lindsay	vs New England Patriots	RB66
Leave on the Bench	DeeJay Dallas	vs Arizona Cardinals	RB67
Leave on the Bench	Jeff Wilson Jr.	vs Los Angeles Rams	RB68
Leave on the Bench	Austin Walter	vs Buffalo Bills	RB69

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

RB7 Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

Josh Jacobs was limited in practice Thursday with a rib injury. If Jacobs was to miss this weekend’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers then Peyton Barber would move up to RB20 between Samaje Perine and Chase Edmonds.

RB8 Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team

Antonio Gibson missed last week’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles because he was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. He has also dealt with a hip injury that caused him to be limited in practice Thursday. If he doesn’t play this week against the New York Giants then Jaret Patterson would then move up to RB22 between Damien Harris and Michael Carter.

Cleveland Browns Running Backs: RB10 Nick Chubb & RB37 Kareem Hunt

Nick Chubb was limited in practice Thursday with both a chest injury and an injury to his ribs. Kareem Hunt last week’s game because of an ankle injury. He missed the game before that because he was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list If both Chubb and Hunt were to miss this week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals then D’Ernest Johnson would become the RB19 between Saquon Barkley and Samaje Perine.

If Chubb was to miss this week’s game and Hunt was to be active then Kareem Hunt would become the RB11 between Devin Singletary and Elijah Mitchell. D’Ernest Johnson would then join the list at RB45 between Ameer Abdullah and Jordan Howard.

 If Hunt is to miss this week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals then Nick Chubb would retain his ranking and D’Ernest Johnson would join the list at RB45 between Ameer Abdullah and Jordan Howard.

RB12 Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers

Elijah Mitchell was limited Thursday with a knee injury. Even though Mitchell made his return last week the knee injury is still bothering him. If Mitchell was to miss this week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams then Jeff Wilson Jr. would move up to RB20 between Samaje Perine and Chase Edmonds.

Arizona Cardinals Running Backs: RB21 Chase Edmonds & RB24 James Conner

James Conner the past two games against the Indianapolis Colts with a heel injury. Now Chase Edmond missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with both a rib and toe injury. Conner was limited in practice Thursday with his heel injury. If both were to miss this week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks then Eno Benjamin would become the RB30 between Tony Pollard and Cordarrelle Patterson.

But if Conner was to miss this week’s game and Chase Edmonds was to play then Edmonds would move up to RB12 between Devin Singletary and Elijah Mitchell.

If Edmonds was to miss this week’s game and James Conner was to play then Conner would move up to RB9 between Antonio Gibson and Ezekiel Elliott.

RB27 Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ronald Jones missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle injury. If he doesn’t play this week against the Carolina Panthers then Ke’Shawn Vaughn would move up to RB30 between Boston Scott and Tony Pollard. Le’Veon Bell would move up to RB54 between Cam Akers and Myles Gaskin.

RB29 Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Aaron Jones was limited in practice Thursday with a knee injury. Green Bay will likely rest their starters during this game but could opt to make Jones inactive. If he was to be inactive then A.J. Dillon would move up to RB29 where Jones occupies and the next man up for the Packers would be Patrick Taylor who shold be nothing more than a DFS play this week.

Philadelphia Eagles Running Backs: RB30 Boston Scott RB46 Jordan Howard

Miles Sanders has already been ruled out this week because of his hand injury. Both Boston Scott and Jordan Howard were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If both Howard and Scott were to miss this week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys then Kenneth Gainwell would move up to RB26 between Devonta Smith and Dare Ogunbowale.

 If Scott were to miss this week’s game and Howard was to be active then Jordan Howard would move up to RB30 where Scott currently slots in.

If Howard was to miss this week’s game and Scott was to be active then Boston Scott would move up to RB26 between Devonta Smith and Dare Ogunbowale.

RB54 Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams

Now that Darrell Henderson has been placed on Injured Reserve Cam Akers has the opportunity to return this week from his Achilles tear. It would be bold to play Akers this week considering this is his first action since the Summer and he will likely be on a pitch count. If the Rams were to hold Akers out this week against the San Francisco 49ers  then Jake Funk would slot in at RB66 between Phillip Lindsay and DeeJay Dallas.

RB57 Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints

Mark Ingram missed last week’s game with a knee injury. He missed practice Thursday because of that injury after being limited in practice Wednesday. If Ingram misses this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons then Tony Jones Jr. and Ty Montgomery would split his snaps behind Alvin Kamara.