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Week 7 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

Top 50 Fantasy RBs for Week 7

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

Check out the other positions as well:

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• TE preview

New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (in London)

Tank Bigsby, Jaguars

With Travis Etienne probably out, Bigsby has the potential to smash this week against a weak Patriots run defense. Bigsby did lose carries and snaps to D’Ernest Johnson last week, but this game should be closer giving Bigsby the edge. The Patriots have given up 100+ rushing yards in four straight weeks. If Bigsby gets the touches, he has RB2 potential.

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

Stevenson was out last week and may be back to lead the Patriots running game. The Jaguars haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher so far this season, but they have given up RB receiving fantasy points. If Stevenson is a full go, he has RB2 potential, especially in PPR leagues.

D’Ernest Johnson, Jaguars

Johnson assumed the pass catching role with Travis Etienne out last week and outsnapped Tank Bigsby while the Jaguars were getting blown out. Johnson likely has a low floor, but he could have solid receiving totals, especially if the Jaguars somehow fall behind. Consider him an RB3 this week.

Antonio Gibson, Patriots

Gibson was only able to muster 43 yards as the starter last week with Rhamondre Stevenson out. If Stevenson misses this week, it could be a bounce back for Gibson from a pass catching point of view where the Jaguars have given up the second most receiving fantasy points to RBs. If Stevenson plays, Gibson falls back to RB4 status.

Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson, Falcons 

Robinson had his best game of the season last week with 18 touches for 105 yards and 2 TDs. Tyler Allgeier still got plenty of work limiting Robinson’s upside though. The Seahawks defense is awful against the run allowing 150+ RB yards in each of the past three weeks. Start Robinson with confidence.

Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks 

Walker has scored in every game since returning from his core injury and he continues to be utilized in the pass game, even lining up wide as a first read for QB Geno Smith. The Falcons have been good against the run, but the receiving volume props Walker up to a firm RB1 this week and moving forward

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Allgeier continues getting work behind Bijan Robinson.  The Seahawks defense is awful against the run allowing 150+ RB yards in each of the past three weeks, so Allgeier should get some work this week. He is a solid RB3 with upside.

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Charbonnet is a clear back-up to Walker now, and the stout Falcons run defense makes him a weak play this week as long as Walker stays healthy. Charbonnet has sprung a big run here or there, but he is an RB4 this week.

Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills

Tony Pollard, Titans

Pollard was already getting most of the work, but with Tyjae Spears expected to miss this week, Pollard could be a true bellcow. It aligns with a great match-up with the Bills giving up five RB1 performances this season. He is an RB1 this week

James Cook, Bills

Cook is dealing with a toe issue, but he should be good to go this week. If so, it will be difficult to trust him. Not only did Ray Davis come on while Cook was out, likely earning himself a role moving forward, but Cook may be limited still due to injury. The Titans are also a top five run defense so far this season. Cook would be an low-end RB2 at best.

Ray Davis, Bills

Davis totaled 152 yards last week with James Cook out. The Bills leaned on the rookie RB both in the run and pass game. His play should earn him a role going forward. If James Cook is back though, it will be tough to trust Davis this week against a top-five Titans run defense. 

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

Chase Brown, Bengals

Brown has averaged 60 rush yards per game over the past month. He's seen 3 targets in each matchup. Brown’s rising role and explosive ability make him a clear RB2 – especially in an upside scoring matchup with the inept Browns.

Zack Moss, Bengals

Moss suffered a foot injury in Week 5 but returned for Week 6. However, he was out-carried by Chase Brown (35% vs. 53% of backfield attempts). Brown also topped him in target share (14% vs. 5%). Moss is no longer on the injury report, but his grasp on the lead back role has likely slipped away.

Pierre Strong, Browns

If active, Nick Chubb figures to be slowly eased into action. Jerome Ford (hamstring) appears unlikely to play. So Strong – who brings pass-catching upside – could be a sneaky deep-league starter. Last week, he set season-highs in carry share (35%), route rate (53%) and target rate (9%). 

Nick Chubb, Browns

OC Ken Dorsey said this week that Chubb's workload remains a "work in progress." Outside of deep formats, he’s best to treat as a wait-and-see fantasy option.

Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers

Joe Mixon, Texans

We couldn’t have asked for a much better return performance from Mixon, coming off his multi-week hamstring injury. His 13 carries vs. 8 for Dameon Pierce might make you worry about the work split. But Mixon garnered 10 of the team’s 13 RB rushes before halftime and didn’t touch the ball again after his TD run with 13:14 left in the fourth quarter of a lopsided victory. Don’t worry about the role – or this week’s matchup.

Josh Jacobs, Packers

Jacobs’ shares of playing time and carries climbed significantly over the past two weeks. He claimed 54% of Packers carries the past two weeks vs. 41% the previous two games – pulling away from No. 2 RB Emanuel Wilson. And despite staying close to Wilson in target share, Jacobs has built more of a cushion in routes. Expect that to start turning into improved fantasy production.

Emanuel Wilson, Packers

Wilson looked just a few weeks ago as if he was siphoning work away from Josh Jacobs. That has reversed over the past two games, however, returning Wilson to minimal fantasy relevance.

Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts

De’Von Achane, Dolphins

Following a Week 6 bye, Achane’s on track to return from a concussion. The continued absence of Tua Tagovailoa adds risk, but the Colts matchup looks excellent. They’ve surrendered 157 total yards per game to enemy RBs.

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins

De’Von Achane suffered a concussion early in Miami’s last game, so we don’t have a recent sample of how this backfield will break down. Our best guess for this week: Achane sees slightly more carries, but the split is fairly even. While the matchup is favorable, Miami’s implied for only 20.25 points.

Trey Sermon, Colts

We expect Jonathan Taylor (high-ankle) to remain sidelined, putting Sermon in line for another 12+ touches. He missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee issue but returned on Thursday. The Miami matchup looks solid for scoring – but there’s a chance backup Tyler Goodson sees a larger role after a promising Week 6.

Tyler Goodson, Colts

If you watch them play, you know Goodson supplies more explosive ability than presumed starter Trey Sermon. Still, it remains to be seen if Indy will flip their backfield in favor of Goodson. Miami’s allowed a league-high 4.32 yards after contact per rush attempt.

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Jones, Vikings

Jones is expected to play this weekend after hurting his hamstring prior to the Week 6 bye. The hammy adds risk to his Week 7 fantasy profile. And the matchup is tough against the Lions, who rank 10th in run defense DVOA and second in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. Detroit has limited opposing backs to just 3.6 yards per carry. Jones has been awesome this year, though, averaging 80 rushing yards and 36 receiving yards per game. That’d make him tough to leave on fantasy benches this week, despite the concerns.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

Gibbs gets a tough Week 7 draw against a Vikings squad that ranks first in run defense DVOA and fourth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. They've even been stingy against RBs in the passing game, allowing the 11th fewest catches and eighth fewest receiving yards to the position. The Lions are 1.5-point underdogs, though, so game script could mean more Gibbs than usual.

David Montgomery, Lions

Montgomery has scored in all five games so far this season. His six total rushing TDs are tied for second league-wide. Montgomery is in a tough spot this weekend, though, against a Vikings defense that's allowed just one rushing score all season. Minnesota ranks first in run defense DVOA and fourth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

The Giants have to face this guy for the first time ever. And they’ll have an even tougher time if Edge Brian Burns (groin) and/or DL Dexter Lawrence (hip) can’t go. Barkley couldn’t get going against the Browns last week but averaged a whopping 7.1 yards per carry across the first four games.

Devin Singletary, Giants

HC Brian Daboll said rookie RB Tyrone Tracy will still get “plenty of playing time” after he “earned it” with strong performances the past two weeks. ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan adds that the Giants “will likely ease [Singletary] back into game action.” All that makes Singletary an only-if-you-need-him option for Week 7.

Tyrone Tracy, Giants

Tracy beats Devin Singletary on dynamic speed and took on more receiving work in his second game with the veteran sidelined last week. HC Brian Daboll said Friday that Tracy will “get plenty of playing time” even with Singletary back, according to ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan. Of course, we won’t know until the game just how much time – and, more importantly, touches – that means. The uncertainty plus a weak Giants offense make Tracy unattractive for Week 7 use.

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Rams

Kyren Williams, Rams

Williams has been a stud with a TD in every game and now three straight 100 yard games. Combine the Raiders being one of the worst run defenses in the league, and Williams is a smash play.

Alexander Mattison, Raiders

Zamir White may return, but he has likely lost the majority of work to Mattison who has been more effective this year. The Raiders offense is in rough shape, but the Rams are one of the worst defenses against RBs. Mattison is a RB3 with some upside if he can get a few catches.

Carolina Panthers at Washington Commanders

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders

We expect Robinson to return from a one-game absence (knee). “It’s going to be helpful to have B-Rob back — I’m looking forward to it,” QB Jayden Daniels said Wednesday via ESPN. “Regardless if he’s here or not, we want to be able to go out there and be dominant in the run game. But I mean B-Rob is a special player, how he’s able to run the ball, how he’s able to break tackles and things like that. And people don’t give him a lot of credit for his hands out of the backfield in the passing game.” In a perfect matchup vs. Carolina, Robinson projects as an excellent scoring bet. Washington’s implied for nearly 30 points.

Austin Ekeler, Commanders

We project Brian Robinson to play against Carolina. In four games together, Ekeler’s averaged only 7.5 touches per game. The excellent matchup keeps Ekeler in FLEX territory.

Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers

Jordan Mason, 49ers

Mason has managed limited practices this week after trying to return with his injured shoulder in last Thursday night’s game. He appears on track to play, though might see a little less than his normal workload. The Chiefs’ No. 2 defense in rush DVOA adds a further challenge. But the offensive efficiency for a San Francisco team still favored to win keeps Mason well inside fantasy-starter territory.

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs

Hunt has led the K.C. backfield for each of his two games back with the team. He’s splitting passing-down work with Samaje Perine, though. That means Hunt’s workload could look quite different if the Chiefs fall behind at San Francisco. Hunt’s ultimately an OK RB2 with some downside risk.

New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers

Breece Hall, Jets

In the first game with OC Todd Downing, Hall’s usage spiked. He saw a season-high in snap share (86%) and posted his highest rush share (86%) since Week 1. The result: a PPR RB6 finish. Next up is a strong Pittsburgh defense that’s top-six in run stuff percentage and rush yards before contact per attempt.

Braelon Allen, Jets

OC Todd Downing debuted in that role on Monday night, and the results weren’t great for Allen. His 19% snap share and 14% carry share marked his lowest figures since the opener. Given workload concerns, he’s only a FLEX option in deep formats.

Najee Harris, Steelers

Harris looked in top form against Vegas, but let’s remember the lousy state of that defense. Also worth noting: Harris missed practice on Wednesday with a rib injury. We expect him to play but projects as an RB2. Pittsburgh’s implied for a lowly 18 points.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers

Warren played through a knee injury in Week 6, and it showed on the stat sheet (6 carries, 7 yards; 3 catches, 11 yards). He’s off the injury report for Week 7, while Najee Harris shows up with a rib injury. Warren should rebound against a Jets squad that was just run over by Ray Davis. Still, unless Harris sits, Warren’s best left on the bench.

Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Derrick Henry, Ravens

Henry leads the NFL in rushing yards and with Lamar Jackson throwing 300 hundred yards in two straight games, teams can’t stack the box anymore. He has scored a TD in every game this season, but isn’t getting much in the receiving department. The Buccaneers are average against fantasy RBs, so it is a smash spot for Henry again as a top 10 option.

Bucky Irving, Buccaneers

Rachaad White was out last week and the Bucs thrived. Irving was the lead back last week when the game was close with 16 touches for 105 yards and a TD. Sean Tucker also got his though, so it will be a split backfield this week if White misses again. The Ravens have been stout against the run, so irving is a high-end RB3. 

Sean Tucker, Buccaneers

Rachaad White was out last week and the Bucs thrived. Tucker had 17 touches for 192 yards and two TDs. He is likely a 1b this week to Bucky Irving, and the Ravens have been stout against the run. Consider Tucker a low-end RB3.

Justice Hill, Ravens

Hill is still the pass catching back for the Ravens, but it is tough to rely on him week to week. In PPR leagues though, the Bucs are a prime match-up as they are a bottom five team in points given up to RBs through the air. He is a low-end RB3 this week.

Los Angeles Chargers at Arizona Cardinals

J.K. Dobbins, Chargers

Dobbins is averaging 17.8 carries and 2.5 targets per game over his last four outings. He should be in for another heavy workload on Monday night with his Chargers 2.5-point favorites against the Cardinals. Arizona ranks 28th in run defense DVOA and is allowing 4.7 yards per carry to RBs.

James Conner, Cardinals

Conner registered season lows last week in snap rate, route rate, and carry share. He was a victim of negative game script and also appeared to suffer a leg injury. Conner isn't on the Week 7 injury report, though, so he'll be ready for Monday night's game vs. the Chargers. We're expecting him to remain Arizona's clear lead ball carrier -- but lose passing-down work to RB Emari Demercado. It leaves Conner as a volatile RB2 play. The Chargers rank 16th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Kimani Vidal, Chargers

Vidal operated as the Chargers' No. 2 RB in the NFL debut, handling four carries and two targets on a 24% snap rate. That makes him worth stashing as a J.K. Dobbins handcuff -- but not worth using in Week 7 fantasy lineups.

Got Other Start-Sit Questions?

Matt and Jared run through some of the bigger Week 7 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.