You already know how we feel about the stud workhorse backs — go with the elite assets that got you to the championship unless you’re absolutely certain their team will rest them this week (looking at you, Leonard Fournette and the Bucs). An old friend of mine benched Ezekiel Elliott last week for a deep sleeper, and his head was in his hands when Zeke scored a TD for the ninth game in a row. Start your studs.
In case you didn’t realize, Cam Akers (@ Seahawks in Week 18) has entered the stud conversation. Akers started the season in the doghouse, but he’s exiting the regular season as a thoroughbred workhorse and should put up yet another 100-yard performance against a weak Seahawks D. Speaking of emerging studs against bad defenses, cue up Zack Moss and maybe even Jordan Wilkins (vs. Texans). Houston has been the gift that keeps on giving all season, and both backs could gift you a Week 18 win, depending on the size of your league.
WEEK 18 FANTASY RANKINGS:QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Looking at backfield timeshares, we had to rank Detroit’s Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift (@ Packers) over the Cowboys’ Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott (@ Commanders) after the Lions duo combined for 274 scrimmage yards and three TDs against Chicago. Swift remains more valuable in PPR formats, while Williams gets the Lions share of the carries (I had to) and leads the NFL in TDs. Similarly, Pollard (when healthy) has been much more impressive between the 20s than Zeke, but Zeke gobbles up catches and TDs. Monitor Pollard (thigh) closely — if he plays, he’s still worth starting, but Williams leads the pack.
As for Kansas City, the vastly superior backfield playmaker has been Jerick McKinnon (@ Raiders), but I can’t blame you for starting rookie Isiah Pacheco either. Vegas sits in the top ten for most TDs allowed to RBs this season, and just got trampled by Christian McCaffrey for over 150 scrimmage yards and a TD. You’re looking at a very favorable game script if you own either Chief back — Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy will likely go as easy on MVP front-runner Patrick Mahomes as they can.
Speaking of awards, Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III (vs. Rams) still has an outside shot at Offensive Rookie of the Year and the Seahawks are still in the playoff hunt. The stud rookie will be running hard against an L.A. front-seven that has surrendered big rushing days to the Raiders, Packers, and Chargers down the stretch. Meanwhile, Denver’s Latavius Murray (vs. Chargers) will be running for a purpose — a job next season! The veteran is one of many RBs who will be a free agent after Week 18 concludes.
Filed under strong RBs who we recommend despite tough matchups: Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. Cowboys) and Tyler Allgeier (vs. Buccaneers). B-Rob, a true bully-back, gets volume like few other RBs in the NFL. Allgeier looks to wrap up a strong rookie season with a yards-per-carry average nearing 5.0. We would have included James Conner (@ 49ers) in this grouping, as the veteran has been on a late-season tear and always seems to capitalize in the red zone. However, Conner suffered a Week 17 shin injury, giving Keaontay Ingram and Corey Clement a chance to pick up some late run. Conner is a flex if he plays — Ingram and Clement are fades either way.
Other backs who give us pause this week include JK Dobbins (@ Bengals), who faces a stout Cincy defense. John Harbaugh could look to preserve his injury-prone back for the postseason when Lamar Jackson returns. Devin Singletary (vs. Patriots) has scored just two TDs in six career games against New England, while averaging under 50 rushing yards per game. Damien Harris (@ Bills) might as well shut it down rather than face Buffalo in the cold weather. And regardless of who the bell-cow might be in Miami, we’re likely pivoting away from the tandem of Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. (vs. Jets). That defense is no joke, and the touches are too unpredictable.
Good luck and Happy New Year! We’ll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 18 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Rank Player 1 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Jaguars 2 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Cardinals 3 Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Bears 4 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Broncos 5 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Chiefs 6 Cam Akers, Rams @ Seahawks 7 Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Lions 8 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Panthers 9 Nick Chubb, Browns @ Steelers 10 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Ravens 11 Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Giants 12 Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Browns 13 David Montgomery, Bears vs. Vikings 14 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Bills 15 Zack Moss, Colts vs. Texans 16 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Raiders 17 Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Chargers 18 AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Lions 19 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Raiders 20 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Rams 21 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Titans 22 Jamaal Williams, Lions @ Packers 23 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Commanders 24 Jonathan Williams, Commanders vs. Cowboys 25 D’Andre Swift, Lions @ Packers 26 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys @ Commanders 27 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Buccaneers 28 JK Dobbins, Ravens @ Bengals 29 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Falcons 30 D’Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Saints 31 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Jets 32 Devin Singletary, Bills vs. Patriots 33 Royce Freeman, Texans @ Colts 34 Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers @ Falcons 35 Matt Breida, Giants @ Eagles 36 Zonovan Knight, Jets @ Dolphins 37 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins vs. Jets 38 Khalil Herbert Bears vs. Vikings 39 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons vs. Buccaneers 40 Ty Johnson, Jets @ Dolphins 41 Dare Ogunbowale, Texans @ Colts 42 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Saints 43 Damien Harris, Patriots @ Bills 44 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals @ 49ers 45 James Cook, Bills vs. Patriots 46 Gary Brightwell, Giants @ Eagles 47 Corey Clement, Cardinals @ 49ers 48 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Bengals 49 Jordan Wilkins, Colts vs. Texans 50 Chase Edmonds, Broncos vs. Chargers 51 Joshua Kelley Chargers @ Broncos 52 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Bears 53 Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Cardinals 54 Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Browns 55 Jaret Patterson, Commanders vs. Cowboys 56 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Giants 57 Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Steelers 58 Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Ravens 59 Brandon Bolden, Raiders vs. Chiefs 60 Kyren Williams, Rams @ Seahawks 61 DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks vs. Rams 62 JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars vs. Titans 63 Michael Carter, Jets @ Dolphins
Week 18 fantasy RB PPR rankings
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring
Rank Player 1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Cardinals 2 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Broncos 3 Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Bears 4 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Jaguars 5 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Chiefs 6 Cam Akers, Rams @ Seahawks 7 Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Lions 8 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Panthers 9 Nick Chubb, Browns @ Steelers 10 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Ravens 11 Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Giants 12 Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Browns 13 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Bills 14 Zack Moss, Colts vs. Texans 15 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Raiders 16 Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Chargers 17 AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Lions 18 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Raiders 19 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Rams 20 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Titans 21 Jamaal Williams, Lions @ Packers 22 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Commanders 23 Jonathan Williams, Commanders vs. Cowboys 24 D’Andre Swift, Lions @ Packers 25 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys @ Commanders 26 David Montgomery, Bears vs. Vikings 27 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Buccaneers 28 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Falcons 29 JK Dobbins, Ravens @ Bengals 30 Chase Edmonds, Broncos vs. Chargers 31 Dare Ogunbowale, Texans @ Colts 32 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Jets 33 D’Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Saints 34 Devin Singletary, Bills vs. Patriots 35 Matt Breida, Giants @ Eagles 36 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins vs. Jets 37 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons vs. Buccaneers 38 Ty Johnson, Jets @ Dolphins 39 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Saints 40 Zonovan Knight, Jets @ Dolphins 41 Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers @ Falcons 42 Corey Clement, Cardinals @ 49ers 43 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals @ 49ers 44 Khalil Herbert Bears vs. Vikings 45 Jordan Wilkins, Colts vs. Texans 46 James Cook, Bills vs. Patriots 47 Royce Freeman, Texans @ Colts 48 Gary Brightwell, Giants @ Eagles 49 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Bengals 50 Joshua Kelley Chargers @ Broncos 51 Damien Harris, Patriots @ Bills 52 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Bears 53 Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Cardinals 54 Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Browns 55 Jaret Patterson, Commanders vs. Cowboys 56 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Giants 57 Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Steelers 58 Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Ravens 59 Michael Carter, Jets @ Dolphins 60 Brandon Bolden, Raiders vs. Chiefs 61 Kyren Williams, Rams @ Seahawks 62 DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks vs. Rams 63 JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars vs. Titans
