The 2021-22 NFL season has already been extremely entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that quarterbacks like Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, and Austin Ekeler 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 7 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 | Derrick Henry | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB1 |
| Must Start | Alvin Kamara | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB2 |
| Must Start | Jonathan Taylor | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB3 |
| Must Start | Aaron Jones | vs Washington Football Team | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Darrell Henderson | vs Detriot Lions | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Cordarrelle Patterson | vs Miami Dolphins | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | D’Andre Swift | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB7 |
| Starting RB1 | Joe Mixon | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Saquon Barkley* | vs Carolina Panthers | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Josh Jacobs | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | Leonard Fournette | vs Chicago Bears | RB11 |
| Starting RB2 | Chuba Hubbard | vs New York Giants | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | Chase Edmonds | vs Houston Texans | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | Darrel Williams | vs Tennessee Titans | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Damien Harris | vs New York Jets | RB15 |
| Low RB2 | Antonio Gibson* | vs Green Bay Packers | RB16 |
| Low RB2 | Mike Davis | vs Miami Dolphins | RB17 |
| Flex | Elijah Mitchell | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB18 |
| Flex | D’Ernest Johnson | vs Denver Broncos | RB19 |
| Flex | Miles Sanders | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB20 |
| Flex | Alex Collins* | vs New Orleans Saints | RB21 |
| Flex | Latavius Murray* | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB22 |
| Deep League Flex | Myles Gaskin | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB23 |
| Deep League Flex | James Conner | vs Houston Texans | RB24 |
| Deep League Flex | J.D. McKissic | vs Green Bay Packers | RB25 |
| Deep League Flex | Melvin Gordon | vs Cleveland Browns | RB26 |
| Deep League Flex | Kenyan Drake | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB27 |
| Deep League Flex | A.J. Dillon | vs Washington Football Team | RB28 |
| Deep League Flex | Michael Carter | vs New England Patriots | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Cleveland Browns | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | Damien Williams* | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs New York Jets | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Khalil Herbert | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Jamaal Williams | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Brandon Bolden* | vs New York Jets | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | Demetric Felton | vs Denver Broncos | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | Mark Ingram | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB37 |
| Deep League Flex | Sony Michel* | vs Detriot Lions | RB38 |
| Leave on the Bench | Nyheim Hines | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Salvon Ahmed | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Marlon Mack | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devonta Freeman | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Giovanni Bernard | vs Chicago Bears | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ty Johnson | vs New England Patriots | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeremy McNichols* | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | DeeJay Dallas | vs New Orleans Saints | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | David Johnson | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon | vs Tennessee Titans | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Trey Sermon | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Travis Homer | vs New Orleans Saints | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine* | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Malcolm Brown* | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devontae Booker | vs Carolina Panthers | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ronald Jones | vs Cleveland Browns | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Le’Veon Bell | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Chris Evans | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ty’Son Williams | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Phillip Lindsay | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB60 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jaret Patterson | vs Green Bay Packers | RB61 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tevin Coleman | vs New England Patriots | RB62 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB9 Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley missed last week’s game after spraining his ankle the week before against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants haven’t been clear on when they expect Barkley to return. If he doesn’t return this week Devonte Booker moves up to RB16 between Elijah Mitchell and D’Ernest Johnson.
RB16 Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
Washington running back Antonio Gibson missed time during last week’s game because of the shin injury he has dealt with for a majority of the season. Gibson received an MRI on Monday to see how the team will proceed with him. He did not practice Wednesday. If Gibson misses this week against the Green Bay Packers J.D. McKissic would move up to RB13 between Chuba Hubbard and Chase Edmonds. Jaret Patterson would go up to RB39 between Sony Michel and Nyheim Hines.
RB21 Alex Collins, Seattle Seahawks
During last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Alex Collins sustained hip and glute injuries. This has put doubt on whether he will be active for Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints. If Collins is out DeeJay Dallas moves up to RB22 between Latavius Murray and Myles Gaskin. It also puts Travis Homer at RB43 between Devonta Freeman and Giovanni Bernard. Another player that could have a role for Seattle’s offense if Collins is out is former first-round pick Rashaad Penny. Key an eye out for him in deeper leagues if Collins is out.
RB22 Latavius Murray, Baltimore Ravens
Latavius Murray left the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers with an ankle injury. It is unclear if he will be active for the Ravens game against the Bengals this weekend. Murray did miss practice on Wednesday. If Murray is out Devonta Freeman moves up to RB29 between A.J. Dillon and Michael Carter. Then Le’Veon Bell moves up to RB55 between Malcolm Brown and Devontae Booker. Also, Ty’Son Williams becomes RB58 between Ronald Jones and Chris Evans.
RB31 Damien Williams, Chicago Bears
Bears running back Damien Williams missed last week due to being put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If Williams is not activated by Sunday Khalil Herbert will become the RB26 between J.D. McKissic and Melvin Gordon in a tough matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
RB35 Brandon Bolden, New England Patriots
Patriots running back Brandon Bolden was limited in practice Wednesday with a thigh injury. If he was to miss this week against the Jets J.J. Taylor would likely take his passing down work and slot in at RB43 between Giovanni Bernard and Kenneth Gainwell.
RB46 Jeremy McNichols, Tennessee Titans
Jeremy McNichols reinjured his ankle Monday night against the Buffalo Bills. If he was to miss this week Khari Blasingame would be the primary replacement for McNichols as the change of pace back behind Derrick Henry.
Cincinnati Bengals Running Backs: RB53 Samaje Perine & RB58 Chris Evans
Bengals running back Samaje Perine was added to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday last week after testing positive for COVID-19. If Perine doesn’t play for the second week in a row Chris Evans could be the Bengals’ change of pace back if he is healthy this weekend and boost up to RB54 between Malcolm Brown and Devontae Booker. If Evans isn’t healthy then Trayveon Williams will likely get brought up from the practice squad to replace him.
RB54 Malcolm Brown, Miami Dolphins
Dolphins running back Malcolm Brown was limited in practice Wednesday because of a rib injury. If Brown misses time if confirms Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmeds rankings this week in a great matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.