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

Matt Lutovsky

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

If you're still playing fantasy football in the final week of the NFL season, you're braver than us. Between injuries, COVID, and teams potentially sitting key players, you never know who's going to suit up until just before kickoff. Nonetheless, we're doing our best to keep you figure out your start 'em, sit 'em decisions with our Week 18 fantasy RB rankings for standard and PPR leagues. 

The big injury worries at the beginning of the week are Ronald Jones (ankle), Michael Carter (concussion), Damien Harris (hamstring), Miles Sanders (hand), James Conner (heel), and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder), but chances are more will pop up closer to the weekend. Aaron Jones and likely AJ Dillon (@ Lions) also figure to play sparingly, if at all, setting up Patrick Taylor for a big Week 18 -- just like we all predicted back in Week 1.

WEEK 18 FANTASY RANKINGS (PPR & STANDARD):
Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

By now, the top matchups are well established. Injuries to offensive linemen or key defensive players might make situations better or worse, but we know the Jets (@ Bills), Chargers (@ Raiders), Seahawks (@ Cardinals), Texans (vs. Titans), Steelers (@ Ravens), Lions (vs. Packers), Giants (vs. Washington), Raiders (vs. Chargers), Bills (vs. Jets), and Vikings (vs. Bears) were the top-10 teams in terms of fantasy points allowed coming into Week 17. The Falcons (vs. Saints) and Jaguars (vs. Colts) weren't far behind, and both got roasted on the ground last week. 

SATURDAY SINGLE-GAME DFS:
KC-DEN FD | KC-DEN DK | DAL-PHI FD | DAL-PHI DK

That creates big opportunities for borderline starters like the aforementioned Taylor (@ Lions), Devin Singletary and maybe even Zack Moss (vs. Jets), both Cardinals backs if Conner plays (vs. Seahawks), D'Onta Foreman (@ Texans), Devonta Freeman and maybe even Latavius Murray (vs. Steelers), and whoever starts for the Jets if Carter is out, likely Austin Walter or Tevin Coleman (@ Bills). All have varying degrees of upside, but they should all have decent floors, with Edmonds and Freeman having more value in PPR leagues.

SATURDAY FULL-SLATE DFS: DraftKings | FanDuel

On the flip side, the Saints (@ Falcons), Buccaneers (vs. Panthers), Titans (@ Texans), Cardinals (vs. Seahawks), 49ers (@ Rams), and Colts (@ Jaguars) have been particularly tough on fantasy RBs. You're not going to sit the slightly slumping Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. Saints), surging Rashaad Penny (@ Cardinals), or safe Sony Michel (vs. 49ers), but you'll need to think twice about Dare Ogunbowale (vs. Colts), Rex Burkhead (vs. Titans), and Chuba Hubbard (@ Buccaneers). Ogunbowale and Burkhead have higher floors in PPR leagues -- and both could produce well in garbage time, as Ogunbowale did last week -- but there are obvious risks with both. 

WEEK 18 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo

Speaking of PPR floors, the Seahawks (@ Cardinals), Eagles (vs. Cowboys), Buccaneers (vs. Panthers), Bengals (@ Browns), Chiefs (@ Broncos), Jets (@ Bills), and Raiders (vs. Chargers) all entered Week 17 allowing at least six RB receptions per game. We already mentioned how Edmonds is in a good spot this week, but obviously he looks even better now. The same goes for Kareem Hunt (vs. Bengals) if he plays. Both Broncos backs have slightly raised PPR floors, too. 

MORE WEEK 18 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup builder

Plenty will change throughout the week, as some starters will be ruled out as a precaution (Saquon Barkley? Antonio Gibson?) and others will be claimed by the reserve/COVID list. We always see unlikely heroes late in the season, so grab your handcuffs and be ready to pounce.

WEEK 18 SNF LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings

Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement.

Fantasy RB Rankings Week 18: Who to start at running back

Rankings are based on standard, non-PPR scoring

Rank Player
1 Jonathan Taylor, IND @ JAX
2 Dalvin Cook, MIN vs. CHI
3 Austin Ekeler, LAC @ LV
4 Alvin Kamara, NO @ ATL
5 David Montgomery, CHI @ MIN
6 Antonio Gibson, WAS @ NYG
7 Josh Jacobs, LV vs. LAC
8 Devin Singletary, BUF vs. NYJ
9 James Conner, ARI vs. SEA
10 Najee Harris, PIT @ BAL
11 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ PHI
12 Nick Chubb, CLE vs. CIN
13 Rashaad Penny, SEA @ ARI
14 Saquon Barkley, NYG vs. WAS
15 Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL vs. NO
16 Damien Harris, NE @ MIA
17 Sony Michel, LAR vs. SF
18 Darrel Williams, KC @ DEN
19 D'Onta Foreman, TEN @ HOU
20 Elijah Mitchell, SF @ LAR
21 Javonte Williams, DEN vs. KC
22 Patrick Taylor, GB @ DET
23 Kareem Hunt, CLE vs. CIN
24 Melvin Gordon, DEN vs. KC
25 Samaje Perine, CIN @ CLE
26 Jamaal Williams, DET vs. GB
27 Boston Scott, PHI vs. DAL
28 Devonta Freeman, BAL vs. PIT
29 Latavius Murray, BAL vs. PIT
30 Rhamondre Stevenson, NE @ MIA
31 Ke'Shawn Vaughn, TB vs. CAR
32 D'Andre Swift, DET vs. GB
33 Dare Ogunbowale, JAX vs. IND
34 Jordan Howard, PHI vs. DAL
35 Rex Burkhead, HOU vs. TEN
36 Tevin Coleman, NYJ @ BUF
37 Zack Moss, BUF vs. NYJ
38 Mark Ingram, NO @ ATL
39 Le'Veon Bell, TB vs. CAR
40 Chuba Hubbard, CAR @ TB
41 Corey Clement, DAL @ PHI
42 Eno Benjamin, ARI vs. SEA
43 Dontrell Hillard, TEN @ HOU
44 Duke Johnson, MIA vs. NE
45 Jeremy McNichols, TEN @ HOU
46 Ty Johnson, NYJ @ BUF
47 Justin Jackson, LAC @ LV
48 Nyheim Hines, IND @ JAX
49 DeeJay Dallas, SEA @ ARI
50 Royce Freeman, HOU vs. TEN
51 Derrick Gore, KC @ DEN
52 Alexander Mattison, MIN vs. CHI
53 Matt Breida, BUF vs. NYJ
54 Chris Evans, CIN @ CLE
55 Myles Gaskin, MIA vs. NE
56 Devontae Booker, NYG vs. WAS
57 Jaret Patterson, WAS @ NYG
58 Khalil Herbert, CHI @ MIN
59 Jeff Wilson Jr., SF @ LAR
60 Brandon Bolden, NE @ MIA
61 Phillip Lindsay, MIA vs. NE
62 Peyton Barber, LV vs. LAC
63 Mike Davis, ATL vs. NO
64 Cam Akers, LAR vs SF
65 D'Ernest Johnson, CLE vs. CIN
66 Craig Reynolds, DET vs. GB
67 Joshua Kelley, LAC @ LV
68 Ameer Abdullah, CAR @ TB
69 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI vs. DAL
70 Jonathan Williams, WAS @ NYG

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 18: Who to start at running back

Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring

Rank Player
1 Jonathan Taylor, IND @ JAX
2 Dalvin Cook, MIN vs. CHI
3 Austin Ekeler, LAC @ LV
4 Alvin Kamara, NO @ ATL
5 David Montgomery, CHI @ MIN
6 Antonio Gibson, WAS @ NYG
7 Josh Jacobs, LV vs. LAC
8 Devin Singletary, BUF vs. NYJ
9 Najee Harris, PIT @ BAL
10 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ PHI
11 James Conner, ARI vs. SEA
12 Nick Chubb, CLE vs. CIN
13 Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL vs. NO
14 Rashaad Penny, SEA @ ARI
15 Saquon Barkley, NYG vs. WAS
16 Sony Michel, LAR vs. SF
17 Darrel Williams, KC @ DEN
18 Elijah Mitchell, SF @ LAR
19 Damien Harris, NE @ MIA
20 D'Onta Foreman, TEN @ HOU
21 Javonte Williams, DEN vs. KC
22 Patrick Taylor, GB @ DET
23 Kareem Hunt, CLE vs. CIN
24 Samaje Perine, CIN @ CLE
25 Melvin Gordon, DEN vs. KC
26 Boston Scott, PHI vs. DAL
27 Jamaal Williams, DET vs. GB
28 Devonta Freeman, BAL vs. PIT
29 D'Andre Swift, DET vs. GB
30 Ke'Shawn Vaughn, TB vs. CAR
31 Latavius Murray, BAL vs. PIT
32 Rhamondre Stevenson, NE @ MIA
33 Dare Ogunbowale, JAX vs. IND
34 Rex Burkhead, HOU vs. TEN
35 Jordan Howard, PHI vs. DAL
36 Tevin Coleman, NYJ @ BUF
37 Le'Veon Bell, TB vs. CAR
38 Zack Moss, BUF vs. NYJ
39 Dontrell Hillard, TEN @ HOU
40 Eno Benjamin, ARI vs. SEA
41 Chuba Hubbard, CAR @ TB
42 Corey Clement, DAL @ PHI
43 Duke Johnson, MIA vs. NE
44 Jeremy McNichols, TEN @ HOU
45 Ty Johnson, NYJ @ BUF
46 Mark Ingram, NO @ ATL
47 Justin Jackson, LAC @ LV
48 Nyheim Hines, IND @ JAX
49 Matt Breida, BUF vs. NYJ
50 DeeJay Dallas, SEA @ ARI
51 Royce Freeman, HOU vs. TEN
52 Derrick Gore, KC @ DEN
53 Alexander Mattison, MIN vs. CHI
54 Chris Evans, CIN @ CLE
55 Myles Gaskin, MIA vs. NE
56 Devontae Booker, NYG vs. WAS
57 Jaret Patterson, WAS @ NYG
58 Jeff Wilson Jr., SF @ LAR
59 Brandon Bolden, NE @ MIA
60 Phillip Lindsay, MIA vs. NE
61 Mike Davis, ATL vs. NO
62 Ameer Abdullah, CAR @ TB
63 Khalil Herbert, CHI @ MIN
64 Cam Akers, LAR vs SF
65 Peyton Barber, LV vs. LAC
66 D'Ernest Johnson, CLE vs. CIN
67 Craig Reynolds, DET vs. GB
68 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI vs. DAL
69 Joshua Kelley, LAC @ LV
70 Jonathan Williams, WAS @ NYG

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.