The 2021-22 NFL season has only one week left. There are a select few leagues that have their championship during Week 18. In a crucial week like this, it is important to have backup options on your fantasy roster because injuries are continuing to mount up. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time due to injury or because a team’s playoff position is locked. Here are the fantasy football week 18 running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and causes a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB1 |
| Must Start | Austin Ekeler | vs Denver Broncos | RB2 |
| Must Start | Derrick Henry | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Josh Jacobs* | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Dalvin Cook | vs Chicago Bears | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Joe Mixon | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Najee Harris | vs Cleveland Browns | RB7 |
| High-End RB2 | Nick Chubb | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs Detroit Lions | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Cam Akers | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB10 |
| Starting RB2 | Miles Sanders | vs New York Giants | RB11 |
| Starting RB2 | Kenneth Walker III | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | Isiah Pacheco | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | Alvin Kamara | vs Carolina Panthers | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Jerick McKinnon | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Tony Pollard | vs Washington Commanders | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Tennessee Titans | RB17 |
| Low RB2 | AJ Dillon | vs Detroit Lions | RB18 |
| Low RB2 | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Washington Commanders | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Buffalo Bills | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Latavius Murray | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB21 |
| Low RB2 | David Montgomery | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB22 |
| Low RB2 | Zack Moss | vs Houston Texans | RB23 |
| Flex | Tyler Allgeier | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB24 |
| Flex | D’Andre Swift | vs Green Bay Packers | RB25 |
| Flex | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs New York Jets | RB26 |
| Flex | Devin Singletary | vs New England Patriots | RB27 |
| Flex | Jamaal Williams | vs Green Bay Packers | RB28 |
| Flex | Chuba Hubbard | vs New Orleans Saints | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Cordarrelle Patterson | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | Raheem Mostert | vs New York Jets | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Zonovan “Bam” Knight | vs Miami Dolphins | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | D’Onta Foreman* | vs New Orleans Saints | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | J.K. Dobbins | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Royce Freeman | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | James Cook | vs New England Patriots | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | Chase Edmonds | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB37 |
| Deep League Flex | Rachaad White | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB38 |
| Deep League Flex | Matt Breida | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB39 |
| Deep League Flex | DeeJay Dallas | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Damien Harris | vs Buffalo Bills | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jonathan Williams | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Keontay Ingram | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Saquon Barkley | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Leonard Fournette | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Michael Carter | vs Miami Dolphins | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Khalil Hebert | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jaylen Warren | vs Cleveland Browns | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Denver Broncos | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Elijah Mitchell* | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dare Ogunbowale | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Gary Brightwell | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kareem Hunt | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Deon Jackson | vs Houston Texans | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs New York Giants | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Chicago Bears | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | Gus Edwards | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Corey Clement | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB60 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB4 Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs is questionable for Las Vegas’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs with both a hip and oblique injury. If he cannot play this week the Raiders backfield becomes a committee between Ameer Abdullah, Zamir White, and Brandon Bolden. Abdullah would become the RB37 between Chase Edmonds and Rachaad White. White would become the RB52 between Elijah Mitchell and Dare Ogunbowale.
RB33 D’Onta Foreman, Carolina Panthers
D’Onta Foreman was limited in practice on Friday with a knee injury. If Foreman cannot play this week’s game against the New Orleans Saints Chuba Hubbard moves up to RB26 between Jeff Wilson Jr. and Devin Singletary. Raheem Blackshear becomes the RB53 between Dare Ogunbowale and Gary Brightwell.
RB51 Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell could return from Injured Reserve this week after missing the past five games with a knee injury. If Mitchell doesn’t play this week against the Arizona Cardinals Jeff Mason becomes the RB56 between Kenneth Gainwell and Alexander Mattison.
You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers like Chris Thomas
- SEO Powered Content & PR Distribution. Get Amplified Today.
- Platoblockchain. Web3 Metaverse Intelligence. Knowledge Amplified. Access Here.
- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/fantasy-football/fantasy-football-week-18-running-back-rankings-2/2023/01/06/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fantasy-football-week-18-running-back-rankings-2
