God Tier Running Back
Christian McCaffrey – San Francisco
NEAR GOD TIER Running Backs
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans
Kyren Williams – Los Angeles Rams
NOTES: Williams enters the Near God Tier Running Backs for the first time. He has elite usage and this week LA’s game has a total of 50.5 points. Williams could be a week winner for fantasy managers battling it out in the playoffs.
HIGH-END RUNNING BACKS – Week Winning Potential/Locked in RB1s
Rachaad White – Tampa Bay
NOTES: White is one of the league winners among backs. Drafted as a low-end RB2, he is currently RB4 overall in PPR. He should be good for 20 touches or more in what should be a very competitive game on the road in Green Bay.
Bijan Robinson – Atlanta
Saquon Barkley – New York Giants
Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit
NOTES: Gibbs leads all Running Backs in runs over 20 yards. He has finished no higher than RB14 since Week 11. This week is a get-right spot against a Denver Broncos team that has been shredded by opposing RBs all season long. Gibbs still can be a league winner, and he is DUE for a big performance.
THE VOLUME AND USAGE KING TURN-BACK-THE-CLOCK RUNNING BACK TIER
Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas
NOTES: I am starting Zeke Elliott over anyone listed below him. No really, I am. Rhamondre Stevenson’s injury, combined with multiple New England pass catchers missing time, has created a perfect storm for Elliott to be THE league winner in the fantasy playoffs.
In Week 14, Elliott had 22 carries to go along with an insane seven catches. Zeke finished with 140 combined yards and a TD. There is no reason to think he will see anything less than 20 touches and his fair share of dumpoffs again this week.
I AM HIGHER ON HIM THAN THE CONSENSUS RUNNING BACK TIER
James Cook – Buffalo
NOTES: I probably could have had ranked Cook higher this week. Over the last three games, Cook has finished as RB3,RB10 and RB12. He is one of my favorite running back plays this week.
THE “GO TO HELL, THEO- I AM TIRED OF HOW HIGHLY YOU RANK HIM” RUNNING BACK TIER
Zack Moss – Indianapolis
NOTES: Moss has been a source of fantasy frustration for fantasy managers in back-to-back weeks now, but IN VOLUME WE TRUST. Over the last two weeks, Moss had 32 carries, including 14 red zone carries. He has also been targeted 11 times and has played nearly 90-percent of snaps. We have to use him this week. A shout out to my editors – please scrub this one off the entire internet if he disappoints again!
HIGH END RB2/LOW END RB1 EVERYONE START THEM RUNNING BACK TIER
Tony Pollard – Dallas
Breece Hall – New York Jets
Derrick Henry – Tennessee
Raheem Mostert – Miami
Joe Mixon – Cincinnati
Travis Etienne – Jacksonville
Javonte Williams – Denver
THE INJURY = OPPORTUNITY RUNNING BACK TIER
Antonio Gibson – Washington
Ty Chandler – Minnesota
IF YOU BENCH HIM HE WILL SCORE TWO TDS RUNNING BACK TIER
David Montgomery – Detroit
THE WHAT IS GOING ON CAN I EVEN TRUST HIM AT ALL RUNNING BACK TIER
D’Andre Swift – Philadelphia
NOTES: This is a tilting start-sit for fantasy managers. Swift is one of the biggest fantasy fallers at the running back position. His weekly finishes over the last three weeks: RB52, RB37, RB51. I have one spot where I am using him, and another where he is only bench.
STRONG FLEX OPTIONS, OK RB2 OPTIONS RUNNING BACK TIER
Chuba Hubbard – Carolina
Notes: I could have ranked Hubbard higher; I just have no faith in Carolina’s offense. Hubbard is trustworthy with volume.
Jaylen Warren – Pittsburgh
Jerome Ford – Cleveland
RELIABLE VOLUME/LOW CEILING FLEX OPTION RUNNING BACK TIER
Kenneth Walker – Seattle
James Conner – Arizona
Najee Harris – Pittsburgh
MULTIPLE INJURIES IN THE BACKFIELD RUNNING BACK TIER – IF ONE MISSES THE OTHER CAN BE USED
AJ Dillon – Green Bay
Aaron Jones – Green Bay
NOTES: Jones has practiced this week. Dillon has a broken thumb.
EXCITING FLEX OPTIONS RUNNING BACK TIER BUT VOLUME COULD BE SCARY
Keaton Mitchell – Baltimore
Chase Brown – Cincinnati
NOTES: Brown is rising and rising. Last week, he finished with 115 combined yards, including a 61-yard catch and run on a screen pass. He has “the juice.”
