Fantasy Football Week 4 Running Back Rankings

The 2025-26 NFL season is underway which means we are in the thick of fantasy football season! The fantasy landscape has already changed since the preseason due to breakout players and major injuries across the league. This makes it the appropriate time of year to begin deferring from some of the players originally drafted to be starters and play some of the players that have over-performed this season as opposed to performing at their preseason expectation. It would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one that is ranked or projected to perform similarly. Here are fantasy football Week 4 running back rankings.

[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve 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 not be 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 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.

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.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Running Back Rankings

Players that are currently not expected to play

James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

James Conner will have ankle surgery that will end his 2025-26 season. He suffered the injury last week against the San Francisco 49ers. In Conner’s absence Trey Benson is expected to be the team’s primary and starting running back. Benson will have the opportunity to prove he is the player many thought he would be coming out of Florida State. Veteran Emari Demercado is expected to be the change of pace back for Arizona for the rest of the season.

Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings

Last week the Minnesota Vikings placed Aaron Jones on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury. Last week Jordan Mason started for the Vikings in Jones’ absence. Mason is expected to have a large role when Jones is healthy. If Mason continues to play like how he did in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals he could overtake Jones as the teams primary running back when Jones returns.

Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants

Tyrone Tracy suffered a dislocated shoulder last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. This will cause him to miss between 2 and 4 weeks of action.  While Tracy is out Cam Skattebo should see more work in New York’s backfield. Skattebo has already looked impressive in the opportunities he’s has been given splitting the backfield with Tracy. Veteran Devin Singletary will be the change-of-pace back for the Giants while Tracy is sidelined.

Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders

In Week 2 Austin Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles tendon which ended his 2025-26 season. Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt will start for the Commanders for the remainder of the season. However Washington will sprinkle in some Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols to spell Croskey-Merritt down the stretch.

Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers

Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles tendon last week against the Denver Broncos. This injury will end his 2025-26 season. This makes rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton the clear starting running back for the Los Angeles Chargers for the remainder of the year. Behind Hampton the Chargers do not have much proven depth. Hassan Haskins will backup Hampton for the remainder of the year. Harris will focus on getting healthy and earning an opportunity to be a part of another team’s backfield next season. The Chargers only signed Harris to a one-year deal last offseason. 

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