Week 17 Fantasy RB Rankings

There are a lot of running backs that might not play in Week 17. Between injury issues and teams that aren't going to be competing for playoff spots, there could be a lot of top-tier talent sitting out. In recent weeks, guys like Aaron Jones, Kerryon Johnson, and Ito Smith have gone on IR. And last week, James Conner and Todd Gurley missed their games, and Gurley may not be ready for this week's action. If this does happen, our Week 17 fantasy RB rankings could take a bigger hit and the top-tier guys may be a bit weaker. That will create some difficult start 'em, sit 'em decisions, and it's why many leagues avoid Week 17 championship games.

There will be a handful of players that could be in danger of sitting Week 17. Guys like Gurley and Melvin Gordon, who are banged-up, may take a week off if they aren't 100 percent ahead of the playoffs. Other top guys on playoffs-bound teams like Ezekiel Elliott, Alvin Kamara, and Lamar Miller could also sit depending on what their respective teams decide is best for them moving forward. (UPDATE: Gurley is out with a knee injury while the Saints appear to be resting their starter. C.J. Anderson and Dwayne Washington will jump up in our rankings as a result. Elliott is also being downgraded, as the Cowboys will probably rest starters as well).

Week 17 Rankings:
Quarterback | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Defense | Kicker

One of the big names to watch is James Conner. He has missed the last few weeks, and the Steelers' lead back will have a great matchup with the Bengals. But, he may not be healthy enough to play. If not, Jaylen Samuels will be a potential RB1 in a great matchup. But again, it's hard to know what will happen because of the unpredictable nature of Week 17. That said, the Steelers are desperate for a win, so they may try to pull out all the stops to try and stay alive in the postseason race.

If you have a top back this week, make sure you stash his handcuff if possible, just to make sure that you have a chance at a top RB to start in case anybody sits out unexpectedly. We'll be watching the reported actives/inactives closely this week and we'll be updating our rankings constantly to reflect the latest news.

Note: These rankings will be updated during the week, so check back often for the latest analysis and player movement.

Week 17 Fantasy Rankings: RB

These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues