Fantasy RB Rankings Week 18: Who to start, sit at running back in standard, PPR fantasy football leagues

Sloan Piva

Fantasy RB Rankings Week 18: Who to start, sit at running back in standard, PPR fantasy football leagues image

Happy New Year, everyone! Turning the calendar to a new year gives us a chance to start fresh, and tens of millions of fantasy football owners will be doing just that this Sunday. The majority will be moving from their season-long fantasy league to DFS tournaments, whether big millionaire-maker tourneys or small, casual Showdowns, but some fantasy owners — the ones in the fewer than 10 percent of leagues — find themselves battling for a title this weekend. Regardless of where you stand, we have our Week 18 fantasy RB rankings for both standard and PPR formats right here, right now like a one-stop shop.

You already know how we feel about the stud workhorse backs — go with the elite assets that got you to the championship unless you're absolutely certain their team will rest them this week (looking at you, Leonard Fournette and the Bucs). An old friend of mine benched Ezekiel Elliott last week for a deep sleeper, and his head was in his hands when Zeke scored a TD for the ninth game in a row. Start your studs.

In case you didn't realize, Cam Akers (@ Seahawks in Week 18) has entered the stud conversation. Akers started the season in the doghouse, but he's exiting the regular season as a thoroughbred workhorse and should put up yet another 100-yard performance against a weak Seahawks D. Speaking of emerging studs against bad defenses, cue up Zack Moss and maybe even Jordan Wilkins (vs. Texans). Houston has been the gift that keeps on giving all season, and both backs could gift you a Week 18 win, depending on the size of your league.

WEEK 18 FANTASY RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Looking at backfield timeshares, we had to rank Detroit's Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift (@ Packers) over the Cowboys' Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott (@ Commanders) after the Lions duo combined for 274 scrimmage yards and three TDs against Chicago. Swift remains more valuable in PPR formats, while Williams gets the Lions share of the carries (I had to) and leads the NFL in TDs. Similarly, Pollard (when healthy) has been much more impressive between the 20s than Zeke, but Zeke gobbles up catches and TDs. Monitor Pollard (thigh) closely — if he plays, he's still worth starting, but Williams leads the pack. 

As for Kansas City, the vastly superior backfield playmaker has been Jerick McKinnon (@ Raiders), but I can't blame you for starting rookie Isiah Pacheco either. Vegas sits in the top ten for most TDs allowed to RBs this season, and just got trampled by Christian McCaffrey for over 150 scrimmage yards and a TD. You're looking at a very favorable game script if you own either Chief back — Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy will likely go as easy on MVP front-runner Patrick Mahomes as they can.

Speaking of awards, Seattle's Kenneth Walker III (vs. Rams) still has an outside shot at Offensive Rookie of the Year and the Seahawks are still in the playoff hunt. The stud rookie will be running hard against an L.A. front-seven that has surrendered big rushing days to the Raiders, Packers, and Chargers down the stretch. Meanwhile, Denver's Latavius Murray (vs. Chargers) will be running for a purpose — a job next season! The veteran is one of many RBs who will be a free agent after Week 18 concludes. 

Filed under strong RBs who we recommend despite tough matchups: Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. Cowboys) and Tyler Allgeier (vs. Buccaneers). B-Rob, a true bully-back, gets volume like few other RBs in the NFL. Allgeier looks to wrap up a strong rookie season with a yards-per-carry average nearing 5.0. We would have included James Conner (@ 49ers) in this grouping, as the veteran has been on a late-season tear and always seems to capitalize in the red zone. However, Conner suffered a Week 17 shin injury, giving Keaontay Ingram and Corey Clement a chance to pick up some late run. Conner is a flex if he plays — Ingram and Clement are fades either way. 

Other backs who give us pause this week include JK Dobbins (@ Bengals), who faces a stout Cincy defense. John Harbaugh could look to preserve his injury-prone back for the postseason when Lamar Jackson returns. Devin Singletary (vs. Patriots) has scored just two TDs in six career games against New England, while averaging under 50 rushing yards per game. Damien Harris (@ Bills) might as well shut it down rather than face Buffalo in the cold weather. And regardless of who the bell-cow might be in Miami, we're likely pivoting away from the tandem of Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. (vs. Jets). That defense is no joke, and the touches are too unpredictable.

Good luck and Happy New Year! We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.

Week 18 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues

Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring

Rank    Player
1    Derrick Henry, Titans @ Jaguars
2    Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Cardinals
3    Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Bears
4    Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Broncos
5    Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Chiefs
6    Cam Akers, Rams @ Seahawks
7    Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Lions
8    Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Panthers
9    Nick Chubb, Browns @ Steelers
10    Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Ravens
11    Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Giants
12    Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Browns
13    David Montgomery, Bears vs. Vikings
14    Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Bills
15    Zack Moss, Colts vs. Texans
16    Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Raiders
17    Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Chargers
18    AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Lions
19    Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Raiders
20    Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Rams
21    Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Titans
22    Jamaal Williams, Lions @ Packers
23    Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Commanders
24    Jonathan Williams, Commanders vs. Cowboys
25    D'Andre Swift, Lions @ Packers
26    Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys @ Commanders
27    Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Buccaneers
28    JK Dobbins, Ravens @ Bengals
29    Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Falcons
30    D'Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Saints
31    Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Jets
32    Devin Singletary, Bills vs. Patriots
33    Royce Freeman, Texans @ Colts
34    Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers @ Falcons
35    Matt Breida, Giants @ Eagles
36    Zonovan Knight, Jets @ Dolphins
37    Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins vs. Jets
38    Khalil Herbert Bears vs. Vikings
39    Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons vs. Buccaneers
40    Ty Johnson, Jets @ Dolphins
41    Dare Ogunbowale, Texans @ Colts
42    Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Saints
43    Damien Harris, Patriots @ Bills
44    Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals @ 49ers
45    James Cook, Bills vs. Patriots
46    Gary Brightwell, Giants @ Eagles
47    Corey Clement, Cardinals @ 49ers
48    Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Bengals
49    Jordan Wilkins, Colts vs. Texans
50    Chase Edmonds, Broncos vs. Chargers
51    Joshua Kelley Chargers @ Broncos
52    Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Bears
53    Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Cardinals
54    Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Browns
55    Jaret Patterson, Commanders vs. Cowboys
56    Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Giants
57    Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Steelers
58    Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Ravens
59    Brandon Bolden, Raiders vs. Chiefs
60    Kyren Williams, Rams @ Seahawks
61    DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks vs. Rams
62    JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars vs. Titans
63    Michael Carter, Jets @ Dolphins

Week 18 fantasy RB PPR rankings

Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring

Rank    Player
1    Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Cardinals
2    Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Broncos
3    Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Bears
4    Derrick Henry, Titans @ Jaguars
5    Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Chiefs
6    Cam Akers, Rams @ Seahawks
7    Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Lions
8    Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Panthers
9    Nick Chubb, Browns @ Steelers
10    Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Ravens
11    Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Giants
12    Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Browns
13    Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Bills
14    Zack Moss, Colts vs. Texans
15    Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Raiders
16    Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Chargers
17    AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Lions
18    Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Raiders
19    Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Rams
20    Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Titans
21    Jamaal Williams, Lions @ Packers
22    Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Commanders
23    Jonathan Williams, Commanders vs. Cowboys
24    D'Andre Swift, Lions @ Packers
25    Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys @ Commanders
26    David Montgomery, Bears vs. Vikings
27    Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Buccaneers
28    Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Falcons
29    JK Dobbins, Ravens @ Bengals
30    Chase Edmonds, Broncos vs. Chargers
31    Dare Ogunbowale, Texans @ Colts
32    Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Jets
33    D'Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Saints
34    Devin Singletary, Bills vs. Patriots
35    Matt Breida, Giants @ Eagles
36    Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins vs. Jets
37    Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons vs. Buccaneers
38    Ty Johnson, Jets @ Dolphins
39    Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Saints
40    Zonovan Knight, Jets @ Dolphins
41    Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers @ Falcons
42    Corey Clement, Cardinals @ 49ers
43    Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals @ 49ers
44    Khalil Herbert Bears vs. Vikings
45    Jordan Wilkins, Colts vs. Texans
46    James Cook, Bills vs. Patriots
47    Royce Freeman, Texans @ Colts
48    Gary Brightwell, Giants @ Eagles
49    Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Bengals
50    Joshua Kelley Chargers @ Broncos
51    Damien Harris, Patriots @ Bills
52    Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Bears
53    Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Cardinals
54    Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Browns
55    Jaret Patterson, Commanders vs. Cowboys
56    Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Giants
57    Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Steelers
58    Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Ravens
59    Michael Carter, Jets @ Dolphins
60    Brandon Bolden, Raiders vs. Chiefs
61    Kyren Williams, Rams @ Seahawks
62    DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks vs. Rams
63    JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars vs. Titans

Sloan Piva

Sloan Piva Photo

Sloan Piva is a content producer for The Sporting News, primarily focused on betting, fantasy sports, and poker. A lifelong New Englander, Sloan earned his BA and MA in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts and now lives in coastal Rhode Island with his wife and two kids.