Nine weeks have somehow passed in the NFL, meaning we have entered crunch time in most of our fantasy football leagues. Whether you're trying to hold onto a top seed, looking to make a move up the standings, or trying a last-ditch effort to fight for a playoff spot, running back decisions are as important as ever right here and right now. Our Week 10 fantasy RB PPR rankings will help you make the right calls and put an ever-important "W" on your team's record.
There's plenty to cover this week — injuries, byes, waiver-wire targets, sleepers, and potential busts. We will break it all down for you and update this article frequently throughout the week so you're always up to speed on the landscape of the position -- because we know there will be plenty of updates, especially with several key backs eligible to return from injuries.
Once we've covered all our bases, we get to the most important part: our full running back rankings for the week. So, let's get to it! Read on below to get up to speed on all things RB, and get set to win your Week 10 matchups.
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Which RBs are on bye in Week 10?
The Eagles, Rams, Dolphins, and Chiefs are off this week, which means D'Andre Swift, Raheem Mostert, Isiah Pacheco, Royce Freeman, or Darrell Henderson.
WEEK 10 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fortunately, it also means fantasy owners don't have to deal with the above-average fantasy RB defenses sported by each team. Philadelphia's No. 1 run defense has been death to virtually all RBs, and the Rams and Chiefs haven't been much better.
WEEK 10 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy RBs in Week 10?
A ton of familiar names grace our top-10 list, highlighted by perennial studs Austin Ekeler (vs. Lions in Week 10) and Christian McCaffrey (@ Jaguars). Nobody has more pass-catching upside than Ek, while CMC remains the most dependable touchdown-scorer (perhaps ever). If he scores a TD this week, it will be a record 18 straight games with a TD.
Rounding out the top five are three PPR studs — Alvin Kamara (@ Vikings), Bijan Robinson (@ Cardinals), and Breece Hall (@ Raiders) — all of whom have super-juicy matchups.
The big names continue throughout the top 10, with yet another rushing champ in the Colts' Jonathan Taylor (vs. Patriots), Jaguars pass-catching back Travis Etienne (vs. 49ers) fresh off a bye, Saquon Barkley and Tony Pollard in a head-to-head battle (Giants @ Cowboys), and reigning rushing king Josh Jacobs (vs. Jets) at home against a beatable run D.
WEEK 10 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start 'em, sit 'em
Who are the best fantasy RB sleepers, waiver pickups Week 10?
They're not sleepers any longer, but the Ravens' Gus Edwards (vs. Browns) and Panthers' Chuba Hubbard (@ Bears) have become must-starts. Yet, we're seeing Gus Bus started in just 62 percent of leagues and Chuba Dubs started in just 44 percent. Wake up, people — these backs have been crushing it, and they don't have much competition behind them in Justice Hill/Keaton Mitchell and Miles Sanders.
Don't knock Lions stud rookie Jahmyr Gibbs (@ Chargers) too far down your rankings just because veteran power back David Montgomery (ribs) is expected to return this weekend. They are completely different backs — thunder and lightning, fire and ice (you get the idea) — and we would be blown away if Detroit suddenly started shelving Gibbs' pass-catching and playmaking gifts coming out of a bye in what should be a high-scoring game. The last time we saw Gibbs two weeks ago, he racked up 152 rushing yards and a score on the ground and 37 yards through the air.
Aaron Jones (@ Steelers) and Jaylen Warren (vs. Packers) share backfields with someone, but both have vastly higher PPR ceilings than their counterparts AJ Dillon and Najee Harris. Just as Tony Pollard emerged victorious in the Dallas backfield last season, Jones and Warren will finish this season as "the guy" on their respective RB depth charts.
If you're in need of a deeper sleeper, look to the Cardinals vs. Falcons matchup. The Cards' Keaontay Ingram was a workhorse last week with Emari Demercado (toe) and James Conner (knee) out, and he could see a decent amount of work against a below-average run defense in Conner's likely first week back. As for the ATL, Tyler Allgeier continues to see decent usage despite rookie Bijan Robinson's presence as a dynamic dual-purpose threat. Arthur Smith doesn't care about your fantasy team...unless you have guys who can scavenge RB1 touchdowns.
WEEK 10 DFS: DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Who are the biggest potential fantasy RB busts in Week 10?
We still like him in deep leagues, but our expectations are starting to dwindle with Zack Moss (vs. Patriots). He's still a serviceable flex, but he's no longer a PPR week-winner. Jonathan Taylor has hit his stride, so he's the man to trust in terms of floor and ceiling in this Indy backfield.
In Houston, we simply can't get past how awful the Texans' o-line has been and also how utterly terrible both Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary (@ Bengals) have been with their respective shots as DeMeco Ryans' starting back. Pierce missed last week with an ankle injury, and Singletary wound up with 26 all-purpose yards on 15 touches against the Buccaneers. The Texans are a pass-first offense, but they ain't passing to these two dudes.
The Bears' Roschon Johnson (vs. Panthers) remains a potential breakout if and when he ever gets a decent workload, but he's coming off a three-touch outing against the Saints. Even with a great matchup, we're worried about the rookie and the potential for veteran D'Onta Foreman to inflict damage against his former team in Carolina.
What are the biggest RB injuries in Week 10?
Dameon Pierce (ankle) missed Week 9 and is no sure thing for Week 10 after missing multiple practices this week. Monitor his status throughout the week, as either he or backup Devin Singletary could work as a low-end flex against the Bengals.
Khalil Herbert (ankle) will miss the Bears' Thursday Night Football game, so we likely won't see him activated off IR until next week. James Conner (knee) is eligible to come off the IR this week, and his 21-day window has been opened by the Cardinals. There have been positive reports out of Arizona about Conner, so we're fully expecting him back against Atlanta this weekend.
David Montgomery (ribs) has been reactivated for the Lions' game against the Chargers.
We'll continue to update our RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for updates.
Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 10: Who to start, sit at running back
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring formats
Ranks Player
1 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Lions
2 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Jaguars
3 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Vikings
4 Bijan Robinson, Falcons @ Cardinals
5 Breece Hall, Jets @ Raiders
6 Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. Patriots
7 Travis Etienne, Jaguars vs. 49ers
8 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Cowboys
9 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Giants
10 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Jets
11 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Commanders
12 Javonte Williams, Broncos @ Bills
13 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Colts
14 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Buccaneers
15 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Browns
16 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Texans
17 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Titans
18 D'Onta Foreman, Bears vs. Panthers
19 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Bears
20 David Montgomery, Lions @ Chargers
21 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Saints
22 James Conner, Cardinals vs. Falcons
23 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions @ Chargers
24 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Steelers
25 Devin Singletary, Texans @ Bengals
26 Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Ravens
27 James Cook, Bills vs. Broncos
28 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Seahawks
29 Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Packers
30 Zack Moss, Colts vs. Patriots
31 Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Packers
32 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Steelers
33 Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Browns
34 Jerome Ford, Browns @ Ravens
35 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals vs. Falcons
36 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Cardinals
37 Roschon Johnson, Bears vs. Panthers
38 Tyjae Spears, Titans @ Buccaneers
39 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks vs. Commanders
40 Miles Sanders, Panthers @ Bears
41 Keaton Mitchell, Ravens vs. Browns
42 Jamaal Williams, Saints @ Vikings
43 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots vs. Colts
44 Latavius Murray, Bills vs. Broncos
45 Dalvin Cook, Jets @ Raiders
46 Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos @ Bills
47 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Seahawks
48 Elijah Mitchell, 49ers @ Jaguars
49 Rico Dowdle, Cowboys vs. Giants
50 Tank Bigsby, Jaguars vs. 49ers
51 Samaje Perine, Broncos @ Bills
52 Craig Reynolds, Lions @ Chargers
53 Zamir White, Raiders vs. Jets
54 Darrynton Evans, Bears vs. Panthers
55 Joshua Kelley, Chargers vs. Lions
56 Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers vs. Titans
57 Jordan Mason, 49ers @ Jaguars
58 Matt Breida, Giants @ Cowboys
Week 10 RB PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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