Sports

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



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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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





Source link