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Week 17 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

Top 50 Fantasy RBs for Week 17

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these guys ...

Check out the other positions as well:

• QB preview
• WR preview
• TE preview

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots

1 p.m. ET Saturday

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

Stevenson's RB20 finish last Sunday was his best since Week 9. He's tough to trust, especially in his current backfield split with Antonio Gibson.

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Chargers

The Chargers have ruled Gus Edwards out for this game because of an ankle injury. That could push Dobbins back into a clear lead role in his return from a multi-game knee injury ... if he's ready to play. Dobbins is questionable after finishing the practice week by sitting out Thursday's workout. HC Jim Harbaugh reportedly said he "had a good week" of practice, though. We'll watch for more updates ahead of Saturday's kickoff. This looks like a risky backfield to trust.

Kimani Vidal, RB, Chargers

Vidal saw his work reduced last week in favor of Hassan Haskins. But with Gus Edwards out and J.K. Dobbins seeming short of full strength in his return from a knee injury, there's some touch upside in a positive matchup. You still shouldn't consider Vidal unless you absolutely need him.

Antonio Gibson, Patriots

Earlier this week, HC Jerod Mayo indicated that Gibson could start over Rhamondre Stevenson. Stevenson mishandled a couple of balls in Sunday's loss at Buffalo, although he was credited with only one fumble. Ultimately, both RBs are tough to trust as home underdogs vs. the Chargers.

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals

4:30 p.m. ET Saturday

Chase Brown,  Bengals

Brown had another 100+ total yards last week on 21 touches, though he didn’t find the end zone. The Bengals are using him as a bellcow and that is enough to lock Brown in as a top-ten option every week, no matter the match-up.

Javonte Williams, Broncos

The Broncos RB committee is tough to crack. A week after Audric Estime dominated the backfield touches, Williams led in touches and snaps, especially passing work. Jaleel McLaughlin should be back this week and makes every Broncos RB TD or catch dependent. Williams is an RB4 this week.

Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos

McLaughlin should return this work and may get some passing work in a pure committee backfield. Javonte Williams and Audric Estime will get their snaps and touches, so it is hard to trust any Broncos RB. McLaughlin is an RB4 this week.

Audric Estime, Broncos

The Broncos RB committee is tough to crack. A week after Estime dominated the backfield touches, Javonte Williams led in touches and snaps, especially passing work. Jaleel McLaughlin should be back this week and makes every Broncos RB TD or catch dependent. Estime is an RB4 this week.

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

8:10 p.m. ET Saturday

Kyren Williams, Rams

Williams has carried 23+ times in three straight games. Now comes a home date with a non-playoff team that arrives as a 6.5-point underdog. Williams should be among the safest bets for Week 17 touches and a strong bet for production.

James Conner, Cardinals

The Cardinals now expect Conner to play against the Rams. That would obviously keep him in charge of the Arizona backfield -- otherwise, why bother having him active? There's sure to be some re-injury risk for the knee he hurt last week. But barring some specific word on his role ahead of the game, Conner's basically a must-play if active.

Michael Carter, Cardinals

Carter has a shot to operate as the No. 2 back behind a starter (James Conner) coming off a knee injury. Conner's expected to play, which makes anyone behind him a poor bet. We'll see about Trey Benson, though.

Blake Corum, Rams

Corum followed two straight 8-carry games with just 8 total carries over the past two weeks.

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Breece Hall, Jets

Although he didn't have a big fantasy outing, Hall's usage was much-improved last week. He played 79% of the Jets' offensive snaps, handled 14 of 19 RB carries, and drew six targets. That has Hall as close to a must-start for Sunday's game against a beatable Bills run defense. Buffalo sits 30th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

James Cook, Bills

Cook missed the first meeting with the Jets. But the Bills still went run-heavy in that one, leading to a 20-carry, 97-yard outing from RB Ray Davis. This could certainly be another spot where Buffalo leans on its running game. Cook has hit pay dirt in two straight and five of his last six.

Ty Johnson, Bills

Johnson has been more involved in the offense lately, playing 30+% of Buffalo's offensive snaps in three straight and five of the last six. But he's still topped 55 total yards just once all season. He'd be a desperation Week 17 fantasy start.

Ray Davis, Bills

This could be a run-centric game plan for the Bills against a run-funnel Jets defense on Sunday. That could mean a few extra carries for Davis. But he's topped seven rush attempts just twice all season with a healthy James Cook and would be a desperation Week 17 fantasy play.

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Tony Pollard, Titans

Pollard continues battling through a bum ankle, splitting backfield work with Tyjae Spears the past two weeks. Pollard has remained the lead early-down back in neutral game script, though, which should keep him involved this weekend with the Titans just one-point underdogs to the Jaguars. Jacksonville ranks 31st in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears has tallied 11 and 14 opportunities (carries + targets) over the last two weeks. He's run hot to score four total TDs during that stretch, so don't overrate Spears' fantasy production. But he's seeing enough work to be a nice RB3 or flex play in PPR leagues against Jacksonville's 31st-ranked RB defense.

Travis Etienne, Jaguars

The carry split between Etienne and Tank Bigsby remains tough to project on a weekly basis. Etienne's carries have gone 13, 4, 14, and 9 over the last four. He's averaged 3.8 targets and 3.3 catches over that span, though, which makes him slightly easier to trust in fantasy lineups. Week 17 brings a matchup with the Titans' 21st-ranked RB defense.

Tank Bigsby, Jaguars

Bigsby has hit 11+ carries in three straight and scored in two of them. He's remained quiet in the passing game, though, totaling just two catches on four targets over those last three. Bigsby is a TD-or-bust fantasy start in Week 17 -- and he's not a particularly strong TD bet with the Jags implied for 20.25 points.

Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints

Alexander Mattison, Raiders

Without Sincere McCormick in Week 16, Mattison handled a team-leading 44% carry share. He projects for a split workload with Ameer Abdullah in a positive matchup at New Orleans. 

Kendre Miller, Saints

Miller wasn’t close to a workhorse on Monday, seeing only a 40% carry share. There's potential for more this week in what should be a close game vs. Vegas. The Raiders also supply a fine matchup, sitting 21st in rush defense DVOA.

Ameer Abdullah, Raiders

Last week, Abdullah split snaps, routes, and targets evenly with Alexander Mattison. They draw a Saints defense that’s allowed a league-high 17 rushing TDs to RBs.

Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants

Jonathan Taylor, Colts

Taylor looked elite once again last week with 29 rushes for 218 yards and three TDs. His goal line fumble seemed to light a fire and Taylor won’t back down. The Giants are a bottom five defense against opposing fantasy RBs, and the game script should favor Taylor. Locked in RB1.  

Tyrone Tracy, Giants

Tracy had 69 total yards and a TD last week on an amazing catch. He also was banged up once again with an ankle injury. Game scripts just haven’t favored a lot of rushing from the Giants, and this game may be the same. The hope is for PPR upside for Tracy as an RB3.

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Barkley has carried 19+ times in six straight games and topped 100 yards rushing in five of those. Philly might rely even more on him this week if Jalen Hurts (concussion) is out – which seems likely.

Rico Dowdle, Cowboys

Dowdle collected 15 touches in the first Philly meeting, despite a lopsided Eagles win. This remains a low-upside matchup. The Eagles have allowed just five RBs all season to reach 80 yards on the ground: Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Alvin Kamara (on 26 carries), and Chuba Hubbard (on 26 carries). None of those guys reached 100 yards, and only two reached 90. Dowdle might get help on the touch-volume front from the Eagles likely missing QB Jalen Hurts. That should mean a closer game and more Dallas rushing attempts.

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

Hubbard has gone back to uber-workhorse the past two games with no Jonathon Brooks. It resulted in a huge 165-yard, two-TD outing last week. He gets a solid Buccaneers run defense on Sunday that ranks eighth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. But projected volume makes Hubbard a must-start.

Bucky Irving, Buccaneers

Irving is coming off a 19-touch, 92-yard outing vs. the Cowboys and now gets a rematch with the Panthers defense he smoked for 185 total yards back in Week 13. Carolina has allowed a 100-yard rusher in each of the three games since.

Rachaad White, Buccaneers

White was out-carried 16 to three by Bucky Irving last week, although he caught seven of eight targets. There should be lots of fantasy points to go around in this backfield this Sunday against the Panthers' 32nd-ranked RB defense. White and Irving combined for 263 total yards when these teams met a few weeks ago.

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns

De’Von Achane, Dolphins

You have to continue playing Achane for his pass-catching role. He’s now seen 7+ targets in four straight matchups.

Jerome Ford, Browns

Ford's finished at PPR RB8 and RB9 over the past two weeks. With Nick Chubb out, the runway is clear for Ford to see around 15 touches vs. Miami.

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins

Mostert tallied 8 carries for 31 yards last week -- his best totals since Week 9. He remains a thin fantasy option at Cleveland.

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

Josh Jacobs, Packers

Jacobs posted nearly 21 fantasy points in Week 16 … despite less than three full quarters of action. His workhorse role continues to supply high-end upside, despite a tough matchup at Minnesota. 

Aaron Jones, Vikings

Jones has reached 20 touches in back to back weeks. He handled a season-high 26 touches back in a Week 4 win at Green Bay.

Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders

Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Last week marked the fourth straight game in which Robinson has carried at least 22 times, topped 90 rushing yards, and exceeded 100 total yards. He should be a good bet for another strong workload against a non-scary Commanders defense.

Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders

Robinson hurt himself by losing a pair of fumbles last week. But he hadn’t fumbled this season before that and remained Washington’s lead back in the second half of that win over Philly. He’s a good bet for 15+ carries and a few targets in a just-OK matchup with Atlanta.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Allgeier comes off two straight double-digit carry counts for the first time all year. But the first came in Kirk Cousins’ final start, with Atlanta operating the league’s most run-heavy offense. The second came in a game the Falcons won by 27. This week’s game likely won’t match either circumstance. Allgeier stands as no more than a desperation play.

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

Without David Montgomery, Gibbs dominated the backfield touches and his second straight RB1 game. With 23 rushes and five targets at his talent level, Gibbs is an absolute smash with RB1 overall potential.

Patrick Taylor, 49ers

Taylor was the lead back with Isaac Guerendo out, but showed why he is on the NFL roster fringe. He had nine touches and five receiving targets, likely the best case scenario. Against a stout Lions defense, he is an RB3 at best and may tread into RB4 territory.

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.