Fantasy Football Week 17 Running Back Rankings

The 2025-26 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. It is championship week in most fantasy leagues.During the playoffs Fantasy Managers will have full utilization of their roster and need to make sure they have backup options on their roster incase their stars get hurt. There have plenty of injuries this season to crucial players that make the pool of players to choose from on waivers that much thinner. 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 17 running back rankings.

[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to 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.

Players that could miss this week’s game

RB9 Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

Josh Jacobs has been playing through a knee injury the past few weeks. There is a chance that they rest him this week so he could be closer to 100% in Week 18 and possibly the playoffs. If Jacobs misses Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens Emanuel Wilson moves up to RB17 between Kenneth Gainwell and D’Andre Swift.

RB16 TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

TreVeyon Henderson suffered a concussion last week against the Baltimore Ravens. He was limited in Wednesday because of the injury. If Henderson misses Week 17 against the New York Jets Rhamondre Stevenson moves up to RB15 between Derrick Henry and Kyren Williams.

RB20 Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jaylen Warren was limited in practice on Wednesday with a hip injury. It is unclear if this injury will cause him to miss time. If Warren misses Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns Kenneth Gainwell moves up to RB14 between R.J. Harvey and Derrick Henry. Kaleb Johnson becomes RB56 between Trayveon Williams and Brian Robinson Jr.

RB29 Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns

Dylan Sampson missed the past two games with both calf and hand injuries. He was limited in practice because of the hand injury. If Sampson misses Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers Trayveon Williams moves up to RB35 between Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Zach Charbonnet. Raheem Sanders moves up to RB50 between Jeremy McNichols and Jaylen Wright.

RB35 Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders

Chris Rodriguez Jr. is questionable for this week’s game with an illness. This is something monitor because he was a late addition to the injury report. If Rodriguez Jr. misses Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys Jacory Croskey-Merritt moves up to RB34 between Blake Corum and Tyjae Spears. Jeremy McNichols retains his spot at RB50 between Emari Demercado and Jaylen Wright.

RB40 David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

David Montgomery is questionable for this week’s game with an illness. He is currently expected to play. If Montgomery misses Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings Sione Vaki becomes RB65 between Hassan Haskins and Corey Kiner.

Players that are currently not expected to play

Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

Last week Quinshon Judkins suffered a broken leg against the Buffalo Bills. This will ultimately end his 2025-26 season. He was placed on Injured Reserve earlier this week. Judkins finished his rookie season as a top-20 scoring running back despite missing the first game of the season. He should be the main focal point of this offense regardless of what the Browns decide to do at quarterback. If Judkins returns completely healthy next season he will be drafted very early in the low-end RB1 to RB2 range.

Alvin Kamara & Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara has missed the last four games with both ankle and knee injuries. Devin Neal has missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury. Both will miss this week’s game against the Tennessee Titans. It unlikely that Kamara will return for the final game of the season. Neal was placed on Injured Reserve which ends his 2025-26 season. Audric Estime, Evan Hull, and Taysom Hill will split the backfield snaps down the stretch for New Orleans.

As things currently stand Kamara and Neal will likely split a majority of the team’s backfield snaps next season. Neal showed enough in his rookie season that he could be trusted to relieve Kamara as the change of pace back. Kamara will be drafted next season as an RB3 or first running back off the bench in fantasy drafts after a disappointing season. Don’t be surprised if New Orleans adds a running back early in the draft to compete with Neal and potentially take over for Kamara long-term as this Saints team embraces a youth movement going forward. 

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings

Jordan Mason was ruled out for this week’s game against the Detroit Lions with an ankle injury. Mason has been splitting time with veteran Aaron Jones who remains the team’s starting running back. While Mason is out Zavier Scott should see an elevated role in this offense spelling Jones.

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers

Kimani Vidal suffered a neck sprain last week against the Dallas Cowboys. He is not expected to play this week against the Houston Texans. Omarion Hampton should see an increase in work while Hassan Haskins will be elevated to the team’s backup running back role. Vidal has shown enough this season to eat into Hampton’s workload going forward. Next season Vidal will be viewed as a high priority handcuff for managers who have Hampton on their teams.

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