The four teams on bye – Bears, Texans, Giants, Bengals – don’t possess the strongest group of backs. Joe Mixon will be missed, but fantasy owners are used to being without Saquon Barkley (ankle) and Montgomery. Khalil Herbert and Devontae Booker have certainly had their moments, but you can’t be too upset when players you got on waivers less than a month ago are taking the week off. And you also can’t be upset when David Johnson and Phillip Lindsay are on bye. If anything, be thankful you don’t have to force one into your flex.

WEEK 10 PPR RANKINGS:Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Even though the byes aren’t overly tough on the idle RBs, they do take away some great matchups. The Texans, Giants, and Bears were all top 10 in terms of fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to RBs heading into Week 9. That means fewer potential sleepers and/or top-end studs, which means a higher likelihood you have to take a chance with your RB2 spot or use a WR in your flex.

WEEK 10 STANDARD RANKINGS:Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

The fallout from that can be seen in all the top backs who have tough matchups this week. James Robinson (@ Colts), D’Andre Swift (@ Steelers), Damien Harris (vs. Browns), Darrell Henderson (@ 49ers), and Michael Carter (vs. Bills) are all difficult to bench given their talent and roles, but the sledding will be tougher for all of them. Carter is likely still on the start ’em, sit ’em bubble, but his recent uptick in volume and production – particularly in the passing game – should keep him in lineups as at least a flex. 

WEEK 10 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em

Antonio Gibson (vs. Bucs) not only has a brutal matchup, but questions also still remain about his health and usage. Perhaps after a bye, his shin will be better and he can handle a full complement of touches, but considering Jaret Patterson out-carried him in Week 8 and J.D. McKissic has been more valuable overall the past couple games, Gibson is, at best, a flex this week. Titans’ pair Adrian Peterson and Jeremy McNichols (vs. Saints), and Cardinals’ pair James Conner and Chase Edmonds (vs. Panthers) are also in tough spots. Peterson and Conner have more standard value thanks to their respective TD upside. (Update: With Edmonds likely out due to an ankle injury, Conner is a borderline RB1 despite the matchup.)

WEEK 10 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo

Highly favorable matchups await the Bills duo of Zack Moss and Devin Singletary (@ Jets), Broncos’ pair Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon (vs. Eagles), and a crowded Ravens’ backfield that’s led by Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman (@ Dolphins) when everyone is healthy. Boston Scott and Jordan Howard (@ Broncos), Kenyan Drake (vs. Chiefs), Nyheim Hines (vs. Jaguars), and AJ Dillon (vs. Seahawks) are also in good spots if you want to go a little deeper, but Drake and Hines are better suited for PPR leagues.

WEEK 10 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder

There are still several banged-up backs we’ll be watching this week. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee), Chris Carson (neck), and Kareem Hunt (calf) are eligible to come off the IR, but it’s unclear if any have a real chance of being activated. Continue to operate as if you won’t have any available, and if they happen to come back, you can adjust from there. 

Overall, there are still plenty of good options despite some of the typical obstacles this week. Most important is that at least a couple injured stars are returning. In some ways, that makes navigating the position more difficult, but having multiple viable choices is better than having one mediocre option.

Note: We’ll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.

Fantasy RB Rankings Week 10: Who to start at running back

Rankings are based on standard, non-PPR scoring