The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that running backs like Tony Pollard and Breece Hall will be out this week. On top of that, injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. It’s always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 7 running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve 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 not be 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 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 cause 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.
Rankings
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey* | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB1 |
| Must Start | Austin Ekeler | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB2 |
| Starting RB1 | Saquon Barkley | vs Washington Commanders | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Josh Jacobs | vs Chicago Bears | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs New Orleans Saints | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Kenneth Walker III | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Bijan Robinson | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB7 |
| High-End RB2 | Alvin Kamara | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Isiah Pacheco | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Raheem Mostert | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs Miami Dolphins | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | Aaron Jones* | vs Denver Broncos | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | Jerome Ford | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | Alexander Mattison | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Brian Robinson | vs New York Giants | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Jahmyr Gibbs* | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Cleveland Browns | RB17 |
| Starting RB2 | James Cook | vs New England Patriots | RB18 |
| Low RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Buffalo Bills | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Rochon Johnson* | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Jaylen Warren | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB21 |
| Flex | Rachaad White | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB22 |
| Flex | Zach Evans | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB23 |
| Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Green Bay Packers | RB24 |
| Flex | Najee Harris | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB25 |
| Flex | Zack Moss | vs Cleveland Browns | RB26 |
| Deep League Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB27 |
| Deep League Flex | Craig Reynolds | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB28 |
| Deep League Flex | Keontay Ingram | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | A.J. Dillon | vs Denver Broncos | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | Latavius Murray | vs New England Patriots | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Jaleel McLaughlin | vs Green Bay Packers | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | D’Onta Foreman | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Buffalo Bills | RB34 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeff Wilson Jr.* | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB35 |
| Leave on the Bench | Justice Hill | vs Detroit Lions | RB36 |
| Leave on the Bench | Damien Williams | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB37 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB38 |
| Leave on the Bench | Antonio Gibson | vs New York Giants | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jamaal Williams* | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Royce Freeman | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Cam Akers | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Emari Demarcado | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jordan Mason | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Zach Charbonnet | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Salvon Ahmed | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Elijah Mitchell | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Miami Dolphins | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine* | vs Green Bay Packers | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kendre Miller | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tank Bigsby | vs New Orleans Saints | RB54 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB1 Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey suffered an oblique/rib injury last week against the Cleveland Browns. At this point of the week he has a chance to play this week. If McCaffrey misses Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings Jordan Mason moves up to RB17 between Jonathan Taylor and James Cook. Elijah Mitchell moves up to RB29 between Craig Reynolds and Keontay Ingram.
RB12 Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones missed Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders with a linger hamstring injury. He was able to rest last week because Green Bay had their bye. It is unclear at this point of the week if Jones is ready to return. If Jones misses Week 7 against the Denver Broncos A.J. Dillon moves up to RB13 between Jerome Ford and Alexander Mattison.
RB16 Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. It is unclear if he will be ready for this week. If Gibbs misses Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens Craig Reynolds becomes the RB19 between Rhamondre Stevenson and Rochon Johnson.
RB20 Rochon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Rochon Johnson suffered a concussion two weeks ago against the Washington Commanders. He sat out last week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings It is unclear if he will be ready to go this week. If Johnson misses Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders D’Onta Foreman becomes the RB24 between Javonte Williams and Najee Harris.
RB35 Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins
Jeff Wilson Jr. started the season on injured reserve because of a knee injury. He could make his season debut this week. If Wilson Jr. misses Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles Salvon Ahmed will become the RB35 between Ezekiel Elliott and Justice Hill.
RB40 Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints
Jamaal Williams was designated to return from Injured Reserve on Tuesday. He has 21 days to return to practice after being activated. If Williams misses Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars Kendre Miller moves up to RB48 between Elijah Mitchell and Kenneth Gainwell.
Players that are currently not expected to play
David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
David Montgomery suffered a rib injury in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is expected to miss “some time” due to the injury. In Montgomery’s absence Jahmyr Gibbs (if healthy) and Craig Reynolds will split the backfield.
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Kyren Williams is expected to miss this week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a sprained ankle. Since Ronnie Rivers is also dealing with an injury rookie Zach Evans and veteran Royce Freeman are expected to lead this backfield until Williams returns.
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/fantasy-football/fantasy-football-week-7-running-back-rankings-3/2023/10/18/
