Week 17 Running Back Preview: Omarion Hampton Gets His Shot
Top Fantasy RBs for Week 17
Here are the top Week 17 running backs, with usage and matchup details that drive their positioning in the Week 17 RB rankings.
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1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
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McCaffrey went 21-117-0 on the ground and 6-29-2 through the air on 8 targets last week. He continues to be the top weapon for the 49ers' offense, hitting his third straight 100-yard rushing game. TE George Kittle could miss the gam,e which hurts CMC’s rushing potential but could give him more targets. McCaffrey is a stud and must be started in every format.
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
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Played on Thursday
3. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
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A showdown between Robinson and the Rams' top-ranked RB defense. Los Angeles has slumped a bit lately, though, ranking just 15th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs over the last five weeks. Robinson, meanwhile, has finished as a top-four PPR RB in three of his last four games. Bet on Bijan delivering again in Week 17.
4. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
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Cook should be in line for a strong workload against what's become a run-funnel Philadelphia defense. The Eagles arrive ranked fourth in pass DVOA vs. just 16th against the run. Add a foot issue for QB Josh Allen, and you only get more incentive for a ground-based Buffalo plan.
5. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
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Patient fantasy managers who prevailed through the ups and downs of an erratic rookie season were rewarded by Ashton Jeanty's smash performance last week against Houston's elite defense. Jeanty turned 25 touches into 188 yards and 2 TDs and should have no problems posting top-10 numbers against a soft Giants' defense that allows 26.9 PPR points per game to RBs -- third-most in the league.
6. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
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In QB Quinn Ewers' first pro start, Achane posted 81 yards and 1 score on 15 attempts. He saw only 3 targets for a 10% target share, but we’d expect his receiving work to increase against Tampa Bay. The Bucs have allowed the ninth-most catches to enemy RBs. Meanwhile, Achane entered Week 16 with nearly 5.7 targets per game. Keep expectations high for the third-year back.
7. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
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The Bills arrive ranked 13th in pass DVOA vs. just 31st against the run. That should mean a strong workload for Barkley. We'll see just how much it boosts the efficiency that's been poor all year.
8. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
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Taylor gets a tough matchup with Jacksonville, which has climbed to fourth in run-defense DVOA. The Jags have also allowed the second-fewest PPR points per game to RBs. Taylor averaged only 3.5 yards per carry in their Week 14 meeting. But he also scored and has added 3 catches each of the past two weeks. Taylor's not the high-upside play he was for most of the season, but we can't bench hiim at this point.
9. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
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Brown erupted for 33 PPR points in last Sunday's blowout win over Miami. Next up is an even better matchup vs. an Arizona unit that’s allowed 1.33 TDs per game to RBs.
10. RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
Played on Thursday
11. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
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Despite a nearly even backfield split with Blake Corum, Williams has averaged 90 total yards per game over his last three. His six targets last week were his second most of the season -- and it's probably not a coincidence that it came with WR Davante Adams out. Adams is out again for Week 17, so Williams should see plenty of work against the Falcons' 17th-ranked RB defense. The Rams are eight-point favorites with a big 28.75-point implied total.
12. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
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Played on Thursday
13. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
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TreVeyon Henderson's Week 16 concussion looks likely to keep him out this week, which should mean a strong workload for Stevenson. He played every snap after Henderson left last week's game.
14. Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Gainwell continues to produce in PPR leagues. Last week, he went 9-50-0 on the ground and 5-78-1 through the air on 7 targets. That puts Gainwell at three straight games with 7 targets. With DK Metcalf missing this week, Gainwell could see an even bigger uptick in targets. He should be started in PPR formats and still considered in Half-PPR as well.
15. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Etienne delivered a pair of TDs among 20 carries in a Week 14 win over the Colts. That marked one of four straight games now in which he has averaged 3.7 yards per carry or less. But Etienne has also scored in three straight and six of his past seven outings.
16. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
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Henry should be an even bigger focal point of Baltimore's offense with Tyler Huntley likely under center. He gets a Packers defense that already ranks 30th in pass rate over expected against. The sledding won't be easy, though. Green Bay ranks second in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs on the season and third over the last five weeks. Only five RBs have topped 15 PPR points against the Packers all season.
17. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Irving draws a Miami run defense that just allowed 45.7 PPR points to Cincy RBs. While he’s lost out on some goal-line work to Sean Tucker, Irving remains in the RB2 mix as a 5.5-point home favorite.
18. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
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The Houston defense presents a negative matchup for the Chargers' running game ... just not quite as negative as it does for the passing game. According to our adjusted fantasy points allowed, the Texans have sapped 32% from QB scoring to date and 24% from WR scoring, but just 11% from RBs. Hampton gets an upside boost to his workload potential from Kimani Vidal trending toward missing the game and his Chargers being slight favorites.
19. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
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Played on Thursday
20. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Warren went 14-143-2 with both of the TDs being long runs against the Lions. He continues to have pedestrian receiving numbers, though going 2-8-0 through the air. Kenneth Gainwell's emergence as a reliable receiving target puts a damper on Warren, but the Browns' run defense has massively regressed. They have allowed 7 RB TDs over the past 3 games. It is a decent spot to start Warren as an RB2 if needed.
21. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
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Swift went 13-58-0 on the ground and 2-12-0 through the air last week. He was stifled against the Packers. Swift continues to play ahead of Kyle Monangai, though, so there should be enough touches for a solid Swift floor. The 49ers have struggled against outside runs where Swift excels. This could be a sneaky spot for Swift as an RB2.
22. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
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Jacobs remained limited in practice all week with his knee and ankle ailments, but he was notably left off the final injury report. Perhaps he's ready for a bigger workload this week than he got last. There's still elevated risk here, but Jacobs has enough upside to use in most fantasy lineups. He racked up 46 total carries in QB Malik Willis' two starts last year.
23. Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals
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Carter wasn't a workhorse in Week 16. But he led the backfield in snap rate (54%), carry share (48%), and route rate (52%). He projects as the backfield leader again, this time against Cincy's bottom-barrel run defense.
24. Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
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It looked like the Giants were going to go to a committee backfield for a while, but since Week 10, Tracy has been in on 64% of the team's snaps, taken 54% of the backfield carries, and commanded a 10% target share. He's averaged 18 touches and 13.5 PPR points per game in those six games -- RB19 during the stretch. This week, he looks like a good bet for 16-20 touches and RB2/3 production against a Raiders defense that has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to RBs.
25. Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
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Dowdle has finished outside the top-30 in two of his last three games and could struggle to break out of that slump this week. Seattle has allowed the fifth-fewest schedule-adjusted fantasy points to RBs and leads the league, allowing just 3.5 yards per carry to RBs. Dowdle also has been ceding more work to Chuba Hubbard recently, so he's more of a high-end RB3 than a must-start option with championships on the line.
26. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
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Pollard has come out of nowhere to post three straight 100-yard rushing games. His carry share hasn't budged (around 63%). But the Titans have won two of the last three, and Pollard has ripped off 6.1 yards per carry. Tennessee is only a 2.5-point underdog to New Orleans this weekend, so Pollard could rack up nice volume again. The matchup is challenging, though, against an underrated Saints defense that ranks 10th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. Consider Pollard a low-end RB2 in fantasy lineups.
27. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
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Last week's breakout game was why you held out hope for Walker all season. His 25.4 PPR points last week were his highest of the season and came at just the right time. This week, Walker gets another solid matchup against a Carolina team that has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to RBs. We're not counting on Walker repeating last week's production, but he checks in as a strong RB3/Flex option with top-12 upside if his receiving role carries over.
28. Woody Marks, Houston Texans
Marks missed last week with the ankle injury that knocked him out of Week 15 early. But he posted three full practices this week and carries no game designation into the Chargers matchup. That defense ranks sixth in pass DVOA vs. just 19th in rush DVOA, presenting rushing upside. The last two healthy games found Marks racking up 26 and 19 carries.
29. Breece Hall, New York Jets
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Hall hasn't topped 3.6 yards per carry since Week 11, averaging just 3.0 per rush over his past five games. And the scuffling Jets offense has found him just one TD among the past six games. There's not much upside, especially against a Patriots team favored by 13.5 points.
30. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
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Played on Thursday
31. Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
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Corum has turned in four straight top-22 PPR finishes. He's done it with absurd efficiency, averaging 7.5 yards per carry with five total TDs. He's averaged just 11.0 carries and 0.8 targets per game, though, ranking 38th among RBs in expected PPR points per game. Although there's plenty of upside in this red-hot Rams running game, Corum is best treated as an RB3 or Flex against the Falcons' 17th-ranked RB defense.
32. Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
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Monangai ent 9-50-0 on the ground and 3-43-0 through the air. He continues playing behind D’Andre Swift, but Monangai gets filtered in as both a rusher and a passer. The 49ers have struggled against outside runs, and Monangai has done well on those outside zones. He could be a flex play if desperate.
33. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
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Charbonnet has averaged 50 scrimmage yards with 6 TDs in his last 10 games. During that stretch, Kenneth Walker holds a slim 47-46% lead in snap share, while Charbonnet has dominated 2-minute and short-yardage snaps. The Panthers have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to RBs, including 14 rushing TDs surrendered in 15 games. Charbonnet remains a solid Flex play with plus TD potential.
34. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
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Spears is coming off an RB12 PPR finish, tallying 13 carries and five targets. That was his first game all season with more than nine carries, though. And he hadn't finished better than 33rd in PPR points since Week 9. He remains no better than an RB3 or Flex in PPR leagues against an underrated Saints defense. Avoid him in half- and non-PPR.
35. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
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Played on Thursday
36. Audric Estime, New Orleans Saints
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Estime played 58% of New Orleans' offensive snaps last week but was out-carried 12 to five by Taysom Hill. Expect that gap to shrink in Week 17, with a chance of Estime leading the Saints in carries. But he'd still be a weak fantasy play against a Titans defense that ranks fourth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs over the last five weeks.
37. Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals
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Perine's Week 16 TD snapped a streak of four straight without a score. He saw just nine touches, though, and remains a shaky Flex option because of unreliable volume.
38. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
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Played on Thursday
39. Raheim Sanders, Cleveland Browns
With Quinshon Judkins out and Dylan Sampson potentially missing his third game in a row, Sanders will take the reins as the lead back for the Browns. Sanders went 11-42-0 on the ground last week and 1-4-0 through the air. His size and athleticism make Sanders a bit intriguing, but the Steelers have been better against the run lately. They shut down Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery last week, so Sanders should stay on the bench.
40. Devin Singletary, New York Giants
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Singletary has clearly fallen behind Tracy, but has still averaged 12.2 touches and 10 PPR points per game in New York's last six. That makes Singletary the RB34 since Week 10. This week, that 10-12-touche role against a Las Vegas defense that has yielded the 10th-most fantasy points to RBs puts Singletary on the Flex radar in deeper leagues.
41. Jeremy McNichols, Washington Commanders
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Played on Thursday
42. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
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Since Week 12, Hubbard has taken 40% of Carolina's backfield carries. A large share of that came in Week 13, but he's playing just enough to be fantasy-relevant in larger leagues. This week, he faces a negative matchup against Seattle, and Carolina's projected total of 17.5 points is the fourth-lowest on the slate. View Hubbard as little more than a desperation Flex play in deep, 14-team leagues.
43. Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals
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Demercado played the clear RB2 role last week vs. Atlanta. That role allowed only a 30% snap share and a 22% carry share, making him a thin fantasy option this week vs. the Bengals.
44. Trayveon Williams, Cleveland Browns
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With Quinshon Judkins out and Dylan Sampson potentially missing his third game in a row, Williams could play the third-down back this week for the Browns. He went 3-17-0 on the ground and 4-38-0 through the air on 4 targets last week. Williams receiving potential is a bit intriguing, but he should stay on the bench.
45. Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
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This is not a good spot for Allgeier, with his Falcons eight-point underdogs to the Rams. Allgeier has averaged 12.0 carries per game in wins vs. just 6.0 in losses.
46. Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers
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Wilson wound up carrying 14 times last week in relief of an ailing Josh Jacobs. Jacobs is off the final injury report this week, though, so we're expecting him to resume clear lead duties against the Ravens on Saturday night. Wilson had totaled just nine carries in his previous three games.
47. Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens
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Mitchell has become a real part of Baltimore's weekly game plan, tallying 6, 8, and 9 carries over his last three games. It's still not enough to make him a reliable fantasy starter, though. And Saturday night's matchup is tough against the Packers' second-ranked RB defense.
48. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Since Bucky Irving returned from injury, White's touches have gone: 5, 12, 2, 7. A lack of volume leaves White as just a deep-league Flex.
49. Malik Davis, Dallas Cowboys
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Played on Thursday
50. Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN
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Played on Thursday
