As we approach the midway point of the fantasy football regular season, at least half-a-dozen notable running backs figure to be out this week. The owners without significant rushing depth will be stuck with some of the more difficult start 'em, sit 'em decisions of the season, but our Week 7 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues can help you find the right sleepers and fill-ins.
Dalvin Cook, Miles Sanders, Devin Singletary, and Darrell Henderson Jr. are all on bye. The one plus? All four of their teams have good run defenses, so at least we don't have to worry about those bad matchups. Injuries continue to be a bigger worry, though, with Jonathan Taylor (ankle), JK Dobbins (knee), James Conner (ribs), and D'Andre Swift (ankle) all up in the air.
Kenyan Drake (vs. Browns in Week 7) would be a top streamer in a favorable matchup if Dobbins can't go, and despite tough matchups, Eno Benjamin (vs. Saints) and Jamaal Williams (@ Cowboys) would be must-starts if they're starting, too. You can make a strong case for TD-vulture Williams even if Swift plays. The Colts' situation is more of a question mark, as Nyheim Hines (concussion) also missed last week and Deon Jackson (quad) exited early in Week 6. Ideally, Taylor (@ Titans) will be ready to go and you can start him with no hesitations.
WEEK 7 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Damien Harris (ankle) is also banged-up, but Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Bears) is among the new "must-starts" even if Harris is active. Rookies Breece Hall (@ Broncos) and Kenneth Walker III (@ Chargers) are also in that group despite disparate matchups. Hall faces Denver's top-five fantasy RB defense while Walker gets a date with L.A.'s second-worst unit. Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. Packers) also has to be considered a must-start after last week's 17-carry, 60-yard, one-TD performance.
WEEK 7 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Hall has clearly broken out in New York's backfield, but some of the other committees continue to perplex us. Ezekiel Elliott (vs. Lions) gets most of the work even when running mate Tony Pollard often looks better. Fortunately, both are easy starts this week against the Lions' last-ranked run defense. Aaron Jones (@ Commanders) appeared to substantially separate himself from AJ Dillon in weeks 4 and 5, but then Dillon out-carried Jones in a brutal home loss to the Jets. Neither back did much (or has done much over the course of the year), but given how shorthanded fantasy owners are this week, both Jones and Dillon have at least flex upside.
WEEK 7 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
The Jaguars duo of James Robinson and Travis Etienne (vs. Giants) is also confusing, but based on snap share, it looks like Etienne has taken over the nominal "1A" role. Robinson still has TD upside, though, so he's in play against a Giants' defense that was just ripped up by Kenyan Drake. Similarly, the Falcons backfield with Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley (@ Bengals) is tough to pin down, and we don't like either back as anything more than a flex in 12-team leagues this week.
WEEK 7 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
David Montgomery (@ Patriots) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (@ 49ers) are the biggest "hold-your-nose" starters this week (yes, even more than Najee Harris, who has a favorable matchup against Miami). While both have low ceilings, we still like them better than secondary backs Melvin Gordon (vs. Jets), Kareem Hunt (@ Ravens), and Michael Carter (@ Broncos).
WEEK 7 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Value can be tough to find the further we get into the season. Let this serve as a reminder that running back depth — especially injury handcuffs — continues to be vitally important.
Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 7 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues
Rank Player
1 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Jaguars
2 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Seahawks
3 Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Colts
4 Nick Chubb, Browns @ Ravens
5 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Titans
6 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Texans
7 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Chargers
8 Dameon Pierce, Texans @ Raiders
9 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Chiefs
10 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Bears
11 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Cardinals
12 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers @ Panthers
13 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Lions
14 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Lions
15 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Steelers
16 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Falcons
17 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Dolphins
18 D'Andre Swift, Lions @ Cowboys
19 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Packers
20 Breece Hall, Jets @ Broncos
21 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Commanders
22 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Giants
23 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Commanders
24 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals vs. Saints
25 David Montgomery, Bears @ Patriots
26 Kenyan Drake, Ravens vs. Browns
27 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs @ 49ers
28 James Robinson, Jaguars vs. Giants
29 Jamaal Williams, Lions @ Cowboys
30 Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Jets
31 Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Ravens
32 Caleb Huntley, Falcons @ Bengals
33 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Bengals
34 Michael Carter, Jets @ Broncos
35 Melvin Gordon III, Broncos vs. Jets
36 D'Onta Foreman, Panthers vs. Buccaneers
37 Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers vs. Chiefs
38 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs. Buccaneers
39 Sony Michel, Chargers vs. Seahawks
40 Nyheim Hines, Colts @ Titans
41 Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Patriots
42 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Panthers
43 DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks @ Chargers
44 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Dolphins
45 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ 49ers
46 Dontrell Hilliard, Titans vs. Colts
47 J.D. McKissic, Commanders vs. Packers
48 Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Browns
49 Mike Boone, Broncos vs. Jets
50 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Browns
51 Mark Ingram, Saints @ Cardinals
52 Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. Packers
53 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins vs. Steelers
54 Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Falcons
55 Rex Burkhead, Texans @ Raiders
56 Matt Breida, Giants @ Jaguars
57 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ 49ers
Week 7 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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