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
