Week 11 Running Back Preview: Ashton Jeanty’s Breakout Spot

Top Fantasy RBs for Week 11

Here are the top Week 11 running backs, with usage and matchup details that drive their positioning in the Week 11 RB rankings. 

1. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers

The Arizona matchup, plus Brock Purdy’s return for the first time since Week 2, could push even more action McCaffrey’s way. Arizona has climbed to ninth in pass-defense DVOA but ranks just 18th against the run.

2. De'Von Achane, Dolphins

Achane has hit 16 PPR points in each game and just dropped 40.5 on the Bills. Continue starting him with confidence vs. a Washington squad that’ll be without DL Daron Payne.

3. Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Robinson has cooled off after a blistering first six games of the season. He hasn't scored in three weeks and has produced two of his three lowest-scoring performances in the last three. However, both of those duds came on the road. Like his QB, Robinson has thrived at home, averaging 24 PPR points per game in four home tilts. This week, he'll face a Carolina defense that is middle-of-the-pack against the run and held Robinson to 72 rushing yards in Week 3. But that game was in Carolina. Look for Robinson and the Atlanta offense to get back on track in Week 11. He's an elite fantasy option with overall RB1 potential.

4. Josh Jacobs, Packers

Jacobs' calf was off the final Week 10 injury report ... and got back to workhorse usage. He played 74% of Green Bay's offensive snaps and racked up a season-high 27 opportunities (21 carries, 6 targets). Now comes a pristine spot against the Giants, who sit dead last in our Run Defense Power Rankings and 31st in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

5. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders

His numbers aren't bad, but it's been a disappointing rookie campaign for Ashton Jeanty. He's only had one game with 100 rushing yards and enters Week 11 under 4 yards per carry. However, this game sets up favorably for Jeanty to turn things around. Dallas allows 26.9 PPR points per game to RBs, second-most in the league. Jeanty accounts for 76% of the Raiders' carries and has a 14% target share. That usage makes him a top-5 fantasy option against a Dallas defense that allows 156 scrimmage yards and 1.1 TDs per game to opposing RBs.

6. Rico Dowdle, Panthers

Since Week 5, Dowdle has controlled Carolina's backfield. In those six games, Dowdle has commanded 67% of the Panthers' RB carries and also boasts a 12% target share. He's averaged 20.9 PPR points during the stretch, with 5 TDs. This week, he remains a top-10 fantasy option against an Atlanta run defense that has completely fallen apart. The Falcons have allowed RBs to rack up 981 scrimmage yards and 9 TDs in their last 5 games.

7. James Cook, Bills

Cook has only one top-12 PPR RB week over his past five games. Last week was underwhelming with only 77 total yards on 18 touches. The Bills' offense taking a step back has hurt Cook, and this week against the Buccaneers may be a struggle. The Bucs have the league’s highest success rate against running back runs at 70.3% per Sharp Football. Despite the match-up, Cook needs to be started for his scoring potential with the Bills as heavy favorites.

8. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

David Montgomery siphoned some work from Gibbs with HC Dan Campbell’s playcalling takeover last week. But if an 18-touch, 172-yard, 3-TD game is worrisome in any way, then I think we’d all love to fill our backfields with worrisome players. The Lions figure to have more trouble this week in Philly than they found against Washington at home. But Gibbs’ role is game-script resistant. Even if Detroit struggles to score -- relative to normal -- and trails here, that would mean more passing, which favors Gibbs’ usage over Montgomery’s.

9. Javonte Williams, Cowboys

The Raiders allow 22.1 PPR points per game to RBs, which is the 15th-most in the league. Williams has dominated touches out of Dallas' backfield. He has a 68% carry share and 10% target share. He's also averaging 89.8 scrimmage yards per game and has scored 9 TDs in 9 games. Dallas carries the third-highest implied total this week, so look for Williams to pick up where he left off, as a quality RB1.

10. Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Barkley came off a season-best outing against the Giants and the Week 9 bye to match his season high in carries and set a new high in touches. But his yardage reverted to the inefficiency that has plagued the star back all season. Still, seven games of 18+ touches, 3.0 receptions per week and entering Sunday as a favorite all favor Barkley as a high-floor play.

11. Chase Brown, Bengals

Samaje Perine remains out with an ankle injury, making Brown the bellcow RB still for the Bengals. He played 95% of the Bengals' snaps in the Bengals' last game and could do the same again. Last time out against the Steelers, Brown ran for 108 yards on only 11 rushes. The Steelers then stifled Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor, only to be run over by Kimani Vidal for 95 yards. Start Brown with confidence due to his volume.

12. Jaylen Warren, Steelers

Warren had 16 touches for 91 yards last week against the Chargers, even as the Steelers' offense struggled. He had 80% of the backfield touches and should dominate the touches against a weak Bengals defense. The Bengals haven’t allowed less than 158 yards to opposing RBs since Week 1. This should be a smash spot for Warren.

13. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots

RB Terrell Jennings (knee) is expected to play on Thursday night, which would keep Henderson from true workhorse duties. But he's still a good bet for 15-20 touches against a crumbling Jets defense. The Patriots are implied for a week-high 28 points.

14. Travis Etienne, Jaguars

Etienne enters the weekend averaging nearly 19 opportunities over his past four. That stretch includes a season-high 27 touches in Week 9. Next up? A Chargers' defense slotted 26th in rush defense DVOA.

15. Rachaad White, Buccaneers

White continues dominating snaps for the Bucs at 50 snaps compared to 22 for Sean Tucker. Despite the snap difference, White only had 10 rushes in the game compared to Tucker’s 9. White is still the primary receiving back, especially due to his elite pass blocking skills. The PPR upside makes him startable this week against a Bills defense giving up 5.4 yards per carry, 30th in the league.

16. Aaron Jones, Vikings

Jones has logged just nine carries each of the past two weeks. But he has topped 70% playing time for his healthy portions of each contest, dominating Jordan Mason in both usage and production. This week finds a friendlier matchup in Chicago, which has been eighth-most generous to RBs by our adjusted fantasy points allowed.

17. Woody Marks, Texans

Last week, Marks took over Houston's backfield. He set season-high numbers in snap rate (78%) and backfield carry share (64%) in Houston's improbable win. Marks produced 16.1 PPR points on his 16 touches, which included Houston's first successful goal-line conversion of the season. This week, Marks vaults up to mid-range RB2 territory as the starter against a Tennessee defense that has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to RBs.

18. Derrick Henry, Ravens

Henry hasn't found the end zone in QB Lamar Jackson's two games back from his hamstring injury, but he's averaged 19.5 carries and 97 rushing yards per game. He'll have some big games down the stretch ... but maybe not this week. He runs into a stout Cleveland run defense that ranks first in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. The Browns held Henry to 23 scoreless yards on 11 carries back in Week 2.

19. D'Andre Swift, Bears

Swift returned from his one-week injury absence to carry 13 times to Kyle Monangai’s seven against the Giants and log a season-high eight targets. He’s averaging 120.6 total yards per game in four outings since Chicago’s bye. The Vikings present more of a defensive challenge than most of what the Bears have seen the past five weeks, but they’ve also slipped to just 17th in total DVOA; 14th against the run.

20. RJ Harvey, Broncos

The rookie finally gets his chance to start with Dobbins out with a foot injury. Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin may be worked in, but Harvey could have a near-full workload. He has scored 5 TDs in the last four games in a part-time role, so the team will at least lean on Harvey in the passing game and red zone. He should be plugged into lineups due to upside.

21. Kyren Williams, Rams

Boosted by TD production, Williams has finished as a top-11 fantasy RB in four of his past five matchups. Just note that Blake Corum is closing the gap in carry share. Over the past three games, the split is 57-42% in favor of Williams. Last week against San Francisco, the gap narrowed to 52-48%. Mix in a tough matchup with Seattle, and Williams should be viewed as more of an RB2.

22. Kimani Vidal, Chargers

Vidal played a huge 94% of the snaps in Week 10, handling all but one RB carry. His role keeps him squarely in the RB2 mix vs. Jacksonville.

23. Breece Hall, Jets

Hall turned in a nice Week 10 thanks to 21 carries and a 42-yard receiving score. That was his only target in the game, though, and he's totaled just seven targets over his last four outings. That's particularly worrisome on Thursday night with the Jets 12.5-point underdogs to a stout Patriots run defense. New England has limited opposing RBs to just 3.3 yards per carry.

24. Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants

Tracy worked well ahead of Devin Singletary last week, tallying 14 carries and two targets to Singletary's eight carries and three targets. Singletary once again got goal-line duties, though, playing all four snaps inside the five-yard line. Tracy remains the better fantasy bet, but he's no better than an RB3 against Green Bay's fifth-ranked RB defense

25. Quinshon Judkins, Browns

After averaging 4.8 yards per carry over his first four games, Judkins has plummeted to 3.1 yards per carry over the last four. Cleveland's offense remains a big problem, and Judkins' yards after contact are also down from 5.1 to 2.8 over the last month. The Browns are 7.5-point underdogs with an ugly 16-point implied total vs. the Ravens this weekend, leaving Judkins as no better than a low-end RB2.

26. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco is out again, and Hunt should start for the Chiefs. He has been the clear lead back, getting 12 touches to Brashard’s Smith 3 before the bye. The Broncos' run defense is so good, though, that it is difficult to rely on Hunt. They are only allowing 3.8 yards per carry, sixth in the NFL. Only one RB has had over 70 yards against the Broncos' defense. Hunt can be a flex play in hopes of a TD, but he will be dependent on that.

27. David Montgomery, Lions

Montgomery matched Jahmyr Gibbs in carries last week, with HC Dan Campbell taking over playcalling and game script working in favor of rushing volume against Washington. Visiting Philadelphia finds Detroit a mild underdog and tied for 10th-fewest projected points on the week. That all makes Montgomery a riskier play.

28. Tyjae Spears, Titans

Since debuting in Week 5, Spears has played 45% of Tennessee's snaps. He's taken one-third of the team's rushes and has caught 3-plus balls in his last four contests. The Titans have a rough matchup against a Houston defense that allows the ninth-fewest fantasy points to RBs in 2025. Look for Spears to see his customary role, handling 7-10 carries and 3-4 catches. He's a PPR RB3 with minimal upside, but a decent floor.

29. Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks

Walker remains stuck on three TDs, with his last one surfacing in Week 3. In Week 10, Zach Charbonnet and third-stringer George Holani found the end zone in a blowout win against Arizona. Walker’s workload remained promising in that one, but his lack of TD appeal remains in place this week against an elite Rams run D. The contract-year back is best viewed as an RB3/Flex.

30. Zonovan Knight, Cardinals

Knight has managed limited practices after hurting an ankle in the second half of last week’s loss to Seattle. If he’s ready to play, he remains the best bet to lead backfield work. But a fully healthy Knight is a low-ceiling prospect. A lesser version falls well short of fantasy attractiveness. The matchup is positive, at least. The 49ers sit just 26th in total defensive DVOA and 12th-friendliest to RB scoring by our adjusted fantasy points allowed.

31. Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers

The one bright spot for Gainwell is that he ran more routes than Jaylen Warren over the last two games, but he still isn’t touching the ball at nearly the same clip as Warren. The Bengals haven’t allowed less than 158 yards to opposing RBs since Week 1, so at least the match-up is good. Gainwell remains a TD-dependent option against a weak Bengals defense.

32. Tony Pollard, Titans

Back in Week 4, Pollard turned 17 touches into 76 yards and 10.6 PPR points against the Texans. However, Spears played 85% of Tennessee's snaps in that game. Now, he's ceding one-third of the carries and half the targets to Tyjae Spears. Houston has not allowed any RB to rush for more than 66 yards all season. The Titans are implied to score only 16 points, and with Pollard splitting touches with Spears, his upside is limited. View him as a modest RB3/flex option.

33. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Charbonnet matched Kenneth Walker in carry share (34%) in Sunday’s blowout win over Arizona. Charbonnet has been the better TD bet this year, given his goal-line involvement, but the matchup this week screams risk. The Rams have allowed only one RB rushing score all season. Only the Browns have allowed fewer fantasy points per game to the position.

34. Sean Tucker, Buccaneers

Tucker played only 22 snaps last week, compared to 50 by Rachaad White. Despite the snap difference, White only had 10 rushes in the game compared to Tucker’s 9. When Tucker is on the field, he is involved and could break off a big run against a Bills defense giving up 5.4 yards per carry, 30th in the league. He could be used as a desperation flex.

35. Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Allgeier has out-carried Bijan Robinson inside the opponent's 10-yard line 13-5. That has resulted in Allgeier holding a 6-2 edge over Robinson in rushing scores, but Allgeier doesn't offer a lot other than the short-yardage role. He's only caught 5 passes and averages just 8.2 carries and 30 rushing yards per game. Carolina has allowed 6 rushing TDs to RBs, so view Allgeier in his usual role as a TD-dependent RB3/4.

36. Kyle Monangai, Bears

Monangai dipped to seven carries (vs. 13 for the starter) in D’Andre Swift’s return. Monangai’s performance on the ground should keep him plenty involved, especially with Chicago’s stronger rushing lean since the bye. But he has also drawn just one total target across his past two games with Swift. That brings down both the floor and ceiling and keeps the rookie at an “upside if you need him” level.

37. Nick Chubb, Texans

Chubb appears to have been passed by Woody Marks on the depth chart. Last week, Chubb only played 14% of Houston's snaps and tied a season-low with just 5 carries. It's possible game script played into that with the Texans trailing the entire contest. Still, Chubb isn't catching many passes and has ceded goal-line work to Marks. This week, he'll face a Titans' defense that allows the fifth-most fantasy points to RBs, but Chubb's limited role gives him limited fantasy appeal.

38. Jordan Mason, Vikings

Mason has logged just four carries in two of three games since Aaron Jones returned from IR. He fared better in between, with 10 carries. But Mason got a boost in that one from Jones leaving with a shoulder injury early in the third quarter. His best hope is Minnesota leading Chicago throughout this week’s game and leaning on the backfield. But Mason’s a shaky play in any format with Jones around.

39. Emari Demercado, Cardinals

Demercado has led Arizona in rushing yards for two straight weeks. But he carried just four times in Week 10 despite outproducing Bam Knight the week before. And that marked Demercado’s second-largest carry count this season. He has also exceeded 1 catch in a game just twice.

40. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders

JCM led Washington with a 46% carry share in Week 10, but he was elevated by Chris Rodriguez’s shoulder injury. Now, with Rodriguez set to return, the rookie carries workload uncertainty into the Miami matchup. Note that he played behind Rodriguez before the third-quarter injury. Treat JCM as a risky Flex option.

41. Terrell Jennings, Patriots

Jennings is expected to play vs. the Jets on Thursday night after suffering a quad bruise last weekend. He should be back in the 'big back' role he played in Week 9, when he carried 11 times and scored a three-yard TD. He gets an ideal setup with his Patriots 12.5-point home favorites with a 28-point implied total against the Jets. It makes Jennings a better-than-usual TD bet. But he'd still be a desperation fantasy start.

42. Chris Rodriguez, Commanders

Rodriguez left Week 10 with a shoulder injury, but he practiced fully on Wednesday and Thursday. While the Miami matchup looks favorable, there’s workload uncertainty with Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols also factoring in.

43. Blake Corum, Rams

This week, HC Sean McVay reiterated that Kyren Williams remains the starting RB. At the same time, he praised Corum for his improvement in Year 2. They're both going to play”

44. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

Rico Dowdle has taken control of Carolina's backfield, and Chubba Hubbard's role has disintegrated. Hubbard has only carried the ball 8 times and caught a single pass in the Panthers' last two games. This is a very inviting matchup for Carolina's backfield. Atlanta has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to RBs this season. That could result in a few more touches for Hubbard in a change-of-pace role, but he should be viewed as an RB4 with limited upside.

45. Devin Singletary, Giants

After playing slightly ahead of Tyrone Tracy in Week 9, Singletary was the clear No. 2 back last week. He played just 34% of New York's offensive snaps, finishing with eight carries and three targets. Singletary did get all four snaps inside the five-yard line. But there's not much TD upside here with the Giants implied for only 18.25 points against the Packers' fifth-ranked RB defense.

46. Isaiah Davis, Jets

Davis continues to play over Breece Hall in most obvious passing situations. But that hasn't led to much fantasy value. Davis has cracked the top-40 RBs in PPR points in just two games all season.

47. Brashard Smith, Chiefs

Smith only had 3 touches before the bye, playing behind Kareem Hunt. Combine the lack of touches with a stout Broncos defense, and Smith should not be relied upon. He would need a Hunt injury or heavier use in the passing game to be worthwhile.

48. Jeremy McNichols, Commanders

McNichols saw a season-high 5 carries last week against Detroit. But with Chris Rodriguez set to return, McNichols probably won’t see enough work to gain fantasy value. He’ll continue playing primarily on passing downs in what should be a close game at Miami.

49. Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars

Tuten’s reached 10 touches only twice all season. He’s coming off a 5-touch outing in a close loss to Houston. For now, the rookie is no more than a deep-league Flex.

50. Justice Hill, Ravens

Hill continues to play in obvious passing situations, but he's been out-carried 12 to three by RB Keaton Mitchell over the last three games. Hill should not be in Week 11 fantasy lineups against a tough Browns defense.

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Jody Smith, Analyst

Jody Smith has been playing fantasy football for over 30 years, the last 15 as an analyst, writer, and editor. Jody's rankings have been among the most consistent, placing him inside the top-10 in multi-year accuracy.