For the vast majority of fantasy football leagues, the championships are upon us. If you're skilled (and lucky) enough to still be standing, congratulations! But the most important work remains, and the start 'em, sit 'em research you carry out between now and the title game could prove to be the difference between first place and runner-up. Our Week 17 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues will help guide you to the right calls in your do-or-die matchup.
You know the drill by now — we aren't wasting your time telling you to start studs like Christian McCaffrey (@ Raiders in Week 17) and Saquon Barkley (vs. Colts). Even Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Dolphins) remains near the top of the rankings despite his fumbling issues of late and the potential return of Damien Harris (hip).
So much has changed since opening week. Travis Etienne Jr. (@ Texans) has gone from start to bench to start again, and he might be a league-winner against Houston's league-worst run defense this week. Kenneth Walker III (vs. Jets) lived in Rashaad Penny's shadows early in the season, but now finds himself the Rookie of the Year frontrunner. Cam Akers (@ Chargers) lived in the doghouse basically the entire first half of the NFL season but now serves as the bellcow for the Super Bowl champs in a juicy matchup against their L.A. foes.
WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
While these players are easy starts, plenty of others require a little more thought. That said, don't overthink Zonovan Knight (@ Seahawks) despite a pitiful showing against the Jaguars. He's still the starter for Gang Green, and he'll have a much easier time against Seattle's 31st-ranked run defense. The same goes for fellow rookie Tyler Allgeier (vs. Cardinals), who's joined QB Desmond Ridder in the youth takeover in the ATL. Arizona sits among the 10 most generous RB defenses in fantasy, so Allgeier, who's seen 40 touches the past two games, is a must-start. Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. Cardinals) has been demoted to a flex in 12-team PPR leagues. Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson (vs. Browns) are in similar spots, with Gibson only having PPR value in deeper leagues.
WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Patterson and Gibson aren't the only RB we're worried about despite favorable matchups this week. Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift (vs. Bears) looked horrific against the Panthers last week, and they both remain so touchdown/big-play dependent. The Bears allow the fourth-most fantasy points to RBs, so it's tough to recommend benching them, but given their recent cold streaks, they come with obvious risks.
WEEK 17 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Plenty of other key backs have tough matchups this week, including Joe Mixon (vs. Bills), Najee Harris (@ Ravens), JK Dobbins (vs. Steelers), Miles Sanders (vs. Saints), and Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard (@ Titans). It's tough to bench any in 12-team leagues, as all are good bets for around 12-15 touches and could easily score, but you shouldn't blindly start all in 10-team leagues.
Week 17 DFS: Best values
We're also not overly excited about confusing committees in Green Bay, Kansas City, Buffalo, Carolina, and Miami. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon (vs. Vikings) don't have a prohibitive matchup, but with Jones nursing a sore ankle and Dillon taking over around the goal line, it's tough to count on either talented back. Consider both mid-ceiling flexes. Similarly, Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon (vs. Broncos) get a defense that was just embarrassed on national TV but is usually stout. McKinnon remains a solid PPR play, but Pacheco is a TD-or-bust risk.
WEEK 17 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Devin Singletary and James Cook (vs. Bengals) are in a great offense, but both are eating into each other's values. The same goes for Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. (@ Patriots). You can use all four as flex, but don't count on big numbers from any. D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard (@ Buccaneers) are also due for some regression against a Tampa defense allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to RBs, so if you need to take a risk with one, make it Foreman, who remains the most likely to get carries and score.
Some bubble guys we like include Latavius Murray (@ Chiefs), Rachaad White and Leonard Fournette (vs. Panthers), and Zack Moss and Deon Jackson (@ Giants). Kansas City just allowed Kenneth Walker to rush for 107 yards, and both Carolina and New York rank amongst the 12 teams that surrender the most standard fantasy points to RBs. We also think Royce Freeman (vs. Jaguars) and Khalil Herbert (@ Lions) could flourish more than expected.
Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 17 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Raiders
2 Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Colts
3 Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Packers
4 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Rams
5 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars @ Texans
6 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. 49ers
7 Cam Akers, Rams @ Chargers
8 David Montgomery, Bears @ Lions
9 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Dolphins
10 Nick Chubb, Browns @ Commanders
11 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Jets
12 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Browns
13 James Conner, Cardinals @ Falcons
14 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Eagles
15 Zonovan Knight, Jets @ Seahawks
16 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Bills
17 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Cardinals
18 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers vs. Panthers
19 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys @ Titans
20 Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Saints
21 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Ravens
22 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. Broncos
23 Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. Bears
24 Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Vikings
25 Zack Moss, Colts @ Giants
26 Hassan Haskins, Titans vs. Cowboys
27 Latavius Murray, Broncos @ Chiefs
28 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Panthers
29 D'Andre Swift, Lions vs. Bears
30 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Broncos
31 Devin Singletary, Bills @ Bengals
32 JK Dobbins, Ravens vs. Steelers
33 Khalil Herbert Bears @ Lions
34 AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Vikings
35 Royce Freeman, Texans vs. Jaguars
36 Jonathan Williams, Commanders vs. Browns
37 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons vs. Cardinals
38 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Patriots
39 D'Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Buccaneers
40 James Cook, Bills @ Bengals
41 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins @ Patriots
42 Damien Harris, Patriots vs. Dolphins
43 Michael Carter, Jets @ Seahawks
44 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Buccaneers
45 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Steelers
46 Tyrion Davis-Price, 49ers @ Raiders
47 Deon Jackson, Colts @ Giants
48 Dare Ogunbowale, Texans vs. Jaguars
49 Joshua Kelley Chargers vs. Rams
50 Chase Edmonds, Broncos @ Chiefs
51 Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Bills
52 Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Commanders
53 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Packers
54 Justin Jackson, Lions vs. Bears
55 Julius Chestnut, Titans vs. Cowboys
56 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Ravens
57 Malik Davis, Cowboys @ Titans
58 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Saints
59 Kyren Williams, Rams @ Chargers
60 DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks vs. Jets
61 JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars @ Texans
62 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals @ Falcons
63 Ameer Abdullah, Raiders vs. 49ers
Week 17 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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