A lot has changed in the fantasy football landscape since we drafted last August or September, but one thing has stayed the same: The importance of running backs. Few would have suspected guys like Kyren Williams, Raheem Mostert, and Ezekiel Elliott (!) would be top-15 backs in our Week 17 fantasy RB PPR rankings, but here we are, and you're title hopes might depend on them.
Of course, there are plenty of surprising names dotting the RB2 and flex tiers, too, as injuries have done their usual number on fantasy's most important position. Just last week, we saw at least one more key back go down (Isiah Pacheco), putting his status for Week 17 in danger while opening the door for a new sleeper to emerge.
Let's get to it and break down our Week 17 RB rankings so you can take home a title.
Who are the best fantasy RBs in Week 17?
Once again, Christian McCaffrey (@ Commanders in Week 17) is atop our rankings, with Kyren Williams (@ Giants), Travis Etienne (vs. Panthers), Austin Ekeler (@ Broncos), and Jonathan Taylor (vs. Raiders) joining him in the top five. Ekeler probably feels too high, but the Broncos allow the second-most fantasy points to RBs, so we're willing to ride with him in a must-win matchup after he got 18 touches last week.
WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Kenneth Walker III (vs. Steelers), Josh Jacobs (@ Colts), Saquon Barkley (vs. Rams), Breece Hall (@ Browns), and Alvin Kamara (@ Buccaneers) round out our top 10. Not everyone in this group has a favorable matchup, but their TD/reception upside makes them safe plays in PPR leagues.
WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy RB sleepers, waiver pickups Week 17?
Deciding whether to play Ty Chandler (vs. Packers) and Jerome Ford (vs. Jets) usually comes down to matchups, and both face defenses that entered last week in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to RBs. You can feel comfortable with both in 12-team leagues. Ditto for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren (@ Seahawks), who have an even better matchup against Seattle's bottom-five RB defense.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Bengals) will be a must-start if Isiah Pacheco (concussion) is out, and even if Pacheco is cleared, CEH has upside given the matchup and Jerick McKinnon's groin injury.
In deep leagues, you can consider using handcuffs Tyjae Spears (@ Texans), Kenneth Gainwell (vs. Cardinals), and Kareem Hunt (vs. Jets). All have favorable matchups, with Spears (targets) and Gainwell (best possible matchup) having the most upside.
WEEK 17 DFS:
Main slate DK/FD lineups | DET-DAL lineup | Best values
Who are the biggest potential fantasy RB busts in Week 17?
Tony Pollard (vs. Lions), Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery (@ Cowboys), De'Von Achane (vs. Dolphins), James Conner (@ Eagles), Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon (@ Vikings), and Gus Edwards and Justice Hill (vs. Dolphins) all have tough matchups against defenses that entered Week 16 in the bottom 12 in fantasy points allowed to running backs. We know their ceilings are solid (especially Gibbs), but you might be able to find "safer" or higher-upside options. Montgomery and Edwards have especially low floors since they're rarely involved in their teams' passing games, but they're always good candidates for touchdowns.
We wouldn't touch any of the Bears' RBs (vs. Falcons) or Commanders' RBs (vs. 49ers). Even if Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) is back, Washington mixes its backs too much to trust in a bottom-seven matchup. You can get away with Chris Rodriguez Jr. (ankle) in standard leagues if he plays, but the TD-dependent back loses value in PPR formats.
WEEK 17 FANTASY ADVICE:
Start 'em, sit 'em | Sleepers | Busts | Projections
What are the biggest RB injuries in Week 17?
Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), Josh Jacobs (quad), and Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) have both missed at least the past two games, and they're all up in the air for this week. We're pretty pessimistic about Stevenson's and Robinson Jr.'s chances of returning, but Jacobs seems likely to give it a go after almost returning last week.
Isiah Pacheco is in concussion protocol and figures to have a tough time returning given the short week. With Jerick McKinnon (groin) on IR, Clyde Edwards-Helaire would dominate touches in the backfield. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (ankle) also limped off early in his game and will have to be monitored in practice.
We'll be updating these RB PPR rankings all week, so check back for the latest player movement.
Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 17: Who to start, sit at running back
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring formats
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Commanders
2 Kyren Williams, Rams @ Giants
3 Travis Etienne, Jaguars vs. Panthers
4 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Broncos
5 Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. Raiders
6 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Steelers
7 Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Rams
8 Breece Hall, Jets @ Browns
9 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Buccaneers
10 D'Andre Swift, Eagles vs. Cardinals
11 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Saints
12 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots @ Bills
13 Bijan Robinson, Falcons @ Bears
14 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Bengals
15 Zamir White, Raiders @ Colts
16 Ty Chandler, Vikings vs. Packers
17 De'Von Achane, Dolphins @ Ravens
18 Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Chargers
19 Devin Singletary, Texans vs. Titans
20 James Cook, Bills vs. Patriots
21 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Texans
22 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions @ Cowboys
23 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Chiefs
24 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Seahawks
25 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Jaguars
26 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Seahawks
27 Jerome Ford, Browns vs. Jets
28 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Lions
29 James Conner, Cardinals @ Eagles
30 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Vikings
31 David Montgomery, Lions @ Cowboys
32 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. 49ers
33 Tyjae Spears, Titans @ Texans
34 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Cardinals
35 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Bengals
36 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Dolphins
37 Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Dolphins
38 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins @ Raiders
39 Chase Brown, Bengals @ Chiefs
40 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Bears
41 Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. 49ers
42 Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. Falcons
43 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Jets
44 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Vikings
45 Elijah Mitchell, 49ers @ Commanders
46 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Packers
47 Joshua Kelley, Chargers @ Broncos
48 D'Onta Foreman, Bears vs. Falcons
49 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks vs. Steelers
50 Chase Edmonds, Buccaneers vs. Saints
51 Roschon Johnson, Bears vs. Falcons
52 Isaiah Spiller, Chargers @ Broncos
53 Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos vs. Chargers
54 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Titans
55 Miles Sanders, Panthers @ Jaguars
56 Dalvin Cook, Jets @ Browns
57 Deuce Vaughn, Cowboys vs. Lions
58 Jamaal Williams, Saints @ Buccaneers
59 Ameer Abdullah, Raiders @ Colts
60 Trey Sermon, Colts vs. Raiders
61 Kevin Harris, Patriots @ Bills
62 Samaje Perine, Broncos vs. Chargers
63 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons @ Bears
64 Leonard Fournette, Bills vs. Patriots
65 Ronnie Rivers, Rams @ Giants
66 D'Ernest Johnson, Jaguars vs. Panthers
67 Matt Breida, Giants vs. Rams
68 Boston Scott, Eagles vs. Cardinals