Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 17: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 17: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football image

If you're still alive for your fantasy championship, then congratulations. Now, get ready for the longest fantasy football-related week of your lives. Every day, player updates will be met with dread, as you never know when one of your key running backs will wind up on the reserve/COVID list. Of course, injuries will still rear their ugly heads, too, so you can expect our Week 17 fantasy RB PPR rankings to see some changes before Sunday's kickoffs. 

Hopefully, your RB depth chart is still strong enough that you can take matchups into account when making start 'em, sit 'em decisions. Several borderline backs are in bad spots this week, most notably Michael Carter (vs. Buccaneers), Myles Gaskin/Duke Johnson/Phillip Lindsay (@ Titans), Chuba Hubbard (@ Saints), Dare Ogunbowale (@ Patriots), Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray (vs. Rams), and Rex Burkhead (@ 49ers). It won't be difficult for most to leave these guys on their benches (even Gaskin or Johnson in PPR leagues), but Sony Michel (@ Ravens), Darrel Williams (@ Bengals), Josh Jacobs (@ Colts), and, if Dalvin Cook is still on the reserve/COVID list, Alexander Mattison (@ Packers) will be tougher calls, especially in PPR leagues.

WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
QuarterbackWide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Chances are, Michel, Williams, Jacobs, and Cook/Mattison will be your best flex options, if not best RB2 options, so they should still be in most 12-team lineups. However it's possible you've loaded up on guys like Rashaad Penny (vs. Lions) or Jeff Wilson Jr. (vs. Texans) and have them in better matchups, so do what makes sense for you. Also, don't shy away from Denver's RBs despite their dismal Week 16 performances. The Chargers just got run all over by Burkhead, so Denver's duo should have big bounce-back performances.

WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

In addition to Penny and JWJ (or Elijah Mitchell, if he's back from his knee injury), borderline guys like Devin Singletary (vs. Falcons), Rhamondre Stevenson (reserve/COVID) and Damien Harris (vs. Jaguars), and D'Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams (@Seahawks) look good. Typically, Harris isn't as valuable in PPR leagues, but he has high TD upside this week. You could also try AJ Dillon (vs. Vikings) as a TD-or-bust sleeper.

WEEK 17 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

This will almost certainly be another crazy week. It's not just RBs themselves going on the reserve/COVID list that will matter, it's also offensive lineman, quarterbacks, and even defensive players. For instance, the Bucs allow the second-most RB receptions per game, so even just one notable defensive lineman being inactive might be just enough to make Carter a "safe" PPR flex. Stay alert, grab your handcuffs, and be ready to pivot.

MORE WEEK 17 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup builder

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

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 17: Who to start at running back

Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring

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

Matt Lutovsky

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