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Week 11 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

Top 50 Fantasy RBs for Week 11

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these guys ...

Check out the other positions as well:

• QB preview
• WR preview
• TE preview

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

Josh Jacobs, Packers

Jacobs comes off a bye to face a Bears defense that’s vulnerable vs. the run without DT Andrew Billings. Through Week 10, Chicago’s allowed 4.9 YPC and 23 RB PPR points per game.

D’Andre Swift, Bears

Swift has hit season-highs in carry share in two straight weeks (80% and 89%). Issues at QB, O-line, and play-caller add risk, though. The Bears are implied for only 17.25 points.

Roschon Johnson, Bears

Johnson's TD-or-bust outlook remains in place against Green Bay. The second-year back has totaled 16 touches over his past four outings.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

Gibbs has been at least RB22 in every game this season. He put up another 100 yard rushing performance last week. With the Lions being near two TD favorites and implied for 30 points, they should lean on the RBs, including Gibbs. Clear RB1.

David Montgomery, Lions

Montgomery had his eighth rushing TD last week and continues to put up a solid baseline when he finds the end zone. With the Lions being near two TD favorites and implied for 30 points, there should be an opportunity or two for Montgomery to find the end zone. He is an RB2 this week with TD upside.

Travis Etienne, Jaguars

Etienne is finally healthy and has retaken the lead RB role, getting 43 yards on 12 touches last week. The Jaguars offense with Mac Jones is just so bad that it is hard to see Etienne getting much more than that. In PPR leagues, possible dumpoffs in a blowout could be a factor, but he is a high-end RB3 this week.

Tank Bigsby, Jaguars

Bigsby has fallen back to the back-up role and remains on the injury report banged up. It is tough to trust him, especially since he isn’t used in the receiving game at all. Against a tough run defense, Bigsby is an RB4 this week.

Las Vegas Raiders at Miami Dolphins

De’Von Achane, Dolphins

Achane's touches have gone 17, 29, 16, 20, and 17 in games alongside Tua Tagovailoa. His pass-game involvement continues to supply RB1 value against Vegas. The Raiders have surrendered 5 catches per game to enemy RBs.

Alexander Mattison, Raiders

Mattison handled a carry share between 65% and 79% from Week 5 to Week 8. Then in Week 9, that number dropped to 45%. (Vegas was on bye in Week 10.) He remains a decent target bet with the Raiders likely to play from behind in the 4th quarter. But his rushing load alongside Zamir White could be volatile. 

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins

Mostert didn’t see a carry in Monday’s win over the Rams. HC Mike McDaniel said this was game plan specific, however, and stated his full confidence in the veteran. While he’ll see some work against Vegas, Mostert remains a committee back. The positive matchup keeps him on the FLEX radar.

Jaylen Wright, Dolphins

Wright played ahead of Raheem Mostert in Week 10, but that won’t be a permanent arrangement in the short term. De’Von Achane remains the clear-cut lead back regardless. In Week 10, he posted his highest carry share (57%) since Week 3. The Raiders matchup is nice, but 10+ touches are unlikely for the rookie, barring a blowout.

Zamir White, Raiders

New OC Scott Turner might opt to lean on the ground game, but White's no lock to see a sizable role alongside Alexander Mattison. White has averaged 2.9 YPC and owns only 11 total carries over his past three games.

Los Angeles Rams at New England Patriots

Kyren Williams, Rams

Williams has now gone two straight games without a TD after scoring in each of his first seven games of the season. He's in a good spot to get back in the TD column this weekend. The Rams are 4.5-point favorites with a 24.25-point implied total against a Patriots defense that's allowed 10 rushing TDs to RBs (tied for third most).

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

Stevenson tallied 21 opportunities (20 carries, 1 target) last week. That followed 23- and 15-opportunity games in his previous two. Only nine RBs have averaged more expected PPR points per game over the last three weeks. There's always game-script concerns with Stevenson, but his Patriots are only 4.5-point underdogs to the Rams this weekend. Los Angeles ranks 21st in run defense DVOA and 12th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara, Saints

Kamara hasn’t caught fewer than five passes in a game since Week 3, despite some injury-fueled QB shuffling in that range. That keeps him easy to use across formats, despite a lack of TDs over the past four games. Kamara’s three straight games of more than 50 receiving yards has pushed him over 100 total yards in each contest. He has exceeded 100 total yards in seven of 10 games, despite the offense’s general struggles.

Nick Chubb, Browns

Chubb hasn’t given us anything to be excited about. But he has garnered nice work shares the past two games, specifically 77.5% of Cleveland’s RB carries. No comes a Saints D that has allowed the third-most non-PPR points per game to RBs (fourth-most in PPR). Just the past five weeks have seen four opponent backfields run for 2 TDs apiece. That gives Chubb enough upside to reside on the edge of starter territory in 2-RB formats. His 2.7 yards per carry this season make him no lock for production, though. So beware of overtrusting him.

Jerome Ford, Browns

Ford returned from a two-week injury to actually play more snaps than Nick Chubb their last time out. Nearly all of that came in passing situations in the loss to the Chargers. Ford’s mere 3 targets in that game belie the 30 pass routes he ran. But it also shows his limited upside with a QB who prefers to throw downfield.

Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets

Breece Hall, Jets

Hall has only reached 100 yards rushing once this season. Last week he only mustered 83 yards on 14 touches. This could be a get right situation with the Colts allowing the second most RB touches per game. If the Jets can get up and run the ball, Hall still has RB1 potential.

Jonathan Taylor, Colts

Taylor is still the bellcow in the Colts’ backfield, with nearly all of the touches last week. With Anthony Richardson coming back, Taylor’s ceiling increases as he has a much better yard per carry (5.1 vs. 4.5) with Richardson at QB. The Jets have given up at least an RB2 performance over each of the past five games, so expect a solid day for Taylor as an RB1.

Braelon Allen, Jets

Allen has been folded in less and less as the season has gone on, but he still flashes talent and the occasional goalline carry. As a desperation-type move, Allen could luck into a score, but he is an RB4 this week. 

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Derrick Henry, Ravens

This week’s matchup finds a Steelers D that ranks ninth in rush DVOA. That’s three spots behind the Denver defense that Henry trampled for 106 yards and 2 TDs two weeks ago. And it’s four spots behind the Buffalo defense he embarrassed for 209 total yards and a pair of TDs back in Week 4. You get it. Just play Henry.

Najee Harris, Steelers

Harris has delivered four straight top-22 PPR finishes, with three of those landing him among the top 17. But this week brings a pass-funnel Baltimore defense that ranks fourth in rush DVOA and second-best in RB rushing yards allowed. Losing passing work to Jaylen Warren further hurts Harris’ floor.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers

Warren has a shot at fantasy relevance this week thanks to Baltimore’s pass-funnel defense. The Ravens have seen the league’s highest pass rate over expected by a wide margin. And Warren has regained the backfield receiving lead from Najee Harris over the past three weeks, following his early-season injury. He remains behind in rushing work, though. And the negative matchup for RB scoring overall keeps him an unexciting fantasy option. It doesn’t help that Warren’s questionable with a back injury. He did return to a limited Friday practice after sitting out Thursday. But that adds risk.

Justice Hill, Ravens

Hill likely needs blowout or trailing conditions to boost his workload. His three largest touch counts this season came in lopsided victories over Buffalo and Denver, and the Tampa win that found Baltimore fall behind early. It’s tough to bet on either a blowout victory over the Steelers in this one. We’ll see whether the host can jump out to an early lead. But betting on that by playing Hill would be a high-risk, low-reward move.

Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans

Aaron Jones, Vikings

Jones has been limited in practice this week with his rib injury. He should play vs. the Titans on Sunday but carries some additional risk. It's also a tough matchup vs. a Titans run defense that ranks 8th in DVOA and 10th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. Jones sits a bit lower than usual in the Week 11 RB Rankings but remains a fine RB2 play.

Tony Pollard, Titans

Pollard found himself back in a committee backfield last week with Tyjae Spears' return. Pollard out-carried Spears just 9 to 7 and out-targeted him 4 to 3. He still ranked 24th among RBs in expected PPR points on the week thanks largely to those targets. But Pollard's volume safety blanket is gone. And he's in a rough Week 11 spot with the Titans 6-point underdogs against the Vikings' third-ranked RB defense.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears tallied 7 carries and 3 targets in his return last week, ranking 34th among RBs in expected PPR points. He could have some RB3/Flex value down the stretch, but Spears gets a tough Week 11 matchup against the Vikings' third-ranked RB defense.

Cam Akers, Vikings

Akers got a spike in usage last week with Aaron Jones missing much of the second half with a rib injury. Jones is expected to play vs. the Titans this weekend, though. Perhaps he cedes a little more work to Akers, but Akers would be a desperation fantasy play against the No. 10 RB defense.

Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos

Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Robinson's tallied 21+ PPR points in five straight. Next up is a neutral road matchup with the Broncos. As usual, Bijan’s a high-end RB1.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Allegier hasn't caught a pass since Week 7, while he's topped 40 rush yards only once since then. He remains a boom or bust FLEX option against Denver. Note: Atlanta is implied for only 20.75 points.

Audric Estime, Broncos

Estime took over Denver’s backfield in Week 10, leading to a season-high 64% carry share. He’s a decent TD bet against Atlanta’s beatable run D. They sit 17th in PFF rush defense grade; 19th in rush defense DVOA.

Javonte Williams, Broncos

Williams was relegated to a pass-catching role in Week 10, resulting in only one carry. With his role in decline, the contract-year back is a shaky FLEX.

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers

McCaffrey topped 100 total yards in his first week back and appears free from limitations moving forward. The Seahawks are the third-worst defense in the league in yards given up to RBs. It is a smash RB1 overall type week for CMC.

Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks

The Seahawks leaned on Walker before the bye with 28 touches against the Rams, but Walker hasn’t found much rushing room lately behind the Seahawks OL. Luckily, his use in the passing game with 30 catches this season makes him a potential RB1 this week. 

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks 

Charbonnet continues to get a little bit of usage, but he is clearly behind Kenneth Walker in the pecking order. There likely needs to be an injury for Charbonnet to be startable. He has RB3 potential if there is some red zone usage this week.

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco has a chance to return for Week 12, but for Sunday, Hunt is set up to remain a workhorse. He’s hit 21 touches in five straight.

James Cook, Bills

Cook projects for a boosted receiving role given injuries to Dalton Kincaid, Keon Coleman, and Amari Cooper. The 25-year-old has reached 80+ rushing yards in three of his past five outings.

Ray Davis, Bills

Davis draws a tough Chiefs run defense with a poor touch outlook. He's been held under 7 touches in four straight. 

Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers

Chase Brown, Bengals

We’ll see whether Khalil Herbert can claim more work in his second week with the Bengals. But Brown has dominated the backfield since Zack Moss went down. This week finds a potential run-funnel matchup with the Chargers, who rank fifth in pass DVOA vs. just 18th in rush DVOA.

J.K. Dobbins, Chargers

Dobbins watched nearly half the RB carries (12) last week go to Gus Edwards (10) and Hassan Haskins (2). He went back to being the dominant leader of backfield passing work, though, with rookie Kimani Vidal a healthy scratch. That plus his carry lead (though smaller) is enough to keep Dobbins in RB2 range for a well-performing offense in a good matchup.

Gus Edwards, Chargers

Edwards drew 10 of L.A.’s 27 RB carries in last week’s return from injury, a decent 37%. We’ll see if more time allows him a larger share this week. But Edwards presents limited upside – especially outside of non-PPR formats. He even watched Hassan Haskins take the group’s lone rushing score last week. That said, Edwards can be a fit if you’re just digging deep for someone with a chance of finding the end zone.

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys

Joe Mixon, Texans

Mixon ran the ball 25 times against the stout Lions defense and found the end zone. He also was used extensively as a receiver. The Cowboys are third worst in the league at rushing fantasy points given up pr game. It is a smash potential week for Mixon.

Rico Dowdle, Cowboys

With Cooper Rush at QB, Dowdle is carrying the offense. He had 56 total yards last week, but ceded some goal line work to Ezekiel Elliott (who fumbled). It is a tough match-up against the Texans, so he is a volume based RB3.

Got Other Start-Sit Questions?

Matt and Jared run through some of the bigger Week 10 lineup questions in this preview show ...

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.