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Every season has at least one bye week from hell for a certain position. It looks this is that week for running backs. Najee Harris, Dalvin Cook, Austin Ekeler, Ezekiel Elliott, James Robinson, and Zack Moss are all out, leaving several holes in lineups for many fantasy football owners. It’s time to dig deep at this important position, and our Week 7 RB PPR rankings can help you find viable replacements.
Heading into last week, the Bucs, Jets, Bengals, and Cowboys were all giving up over seven receptions per game to RBs. Is that a product of matchups (i.e. playing teams with top receiving backs) or is that a product of poor pass defense against running backs? It’s always tough to say — and in the case of the Bucs, it might have more to do with garbage-time production than anything — but it’s still something to note for PPR purposes. The Seahawks, Dolphins, Packers, and Falcons were all averaging more than six RB receptions allowed per game.
This week, the Bears (@ Buccaneers), Patriots (vs. Jets), Ravens (vs. Bengals), Saints (@ Seahawks), Falcons (vs. Dolphins), Washington (@ Packers), and Dolphins (@ Falcons) are facing those defenses, so borderline backs like Damien Williams, Rhamondre Stevenson, Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Davis, J.D. McKissic, and Myles Gaskin have even more PPR value than usual.
Of course, an extra reception or two isn’t enough to make a running back a top play. Rushing yards and touchdowns are still important, and guys like Damien Harris (vs. Jets), Miles Sanders (@ Raiders), and James Conner/Chase Edmonds (vs. Texans), who are traditionally on the start-sit bubble, look like must-starts this week. Edmonds always has more PPR appeal while the other three are generally downgraded quite a bit in point-per-reception formats. However, with so many top backs on bye or injured this week, beggars can’t be choosers.
Similarly, high-volume RBs in tough matchups, such as Devontae Booker (vs. Panthers), Elijah Mitchell (vs. Colts), Mark Ingram (@ Cardinals), Michael Carter (@ Patriots), and Melvin Gordon/Javonte Williams (@ Browns), are all tough to sit, even in PPR. Ingram has the least value, but he’s always a candidate for 15-plus touches and a short TD. That’s worth something, though this might be the week that a four-catch RB has a higher floor. It’s also worth noting that JaMycal Hasty (ankle) and Jeff Wilson Jr. (knee) are eligible to return this week, so they could really eat into Mitchell’s value (and have some of their own).
Ultimately, there aren’t easy answers here, and there are even fewer worthwhile sleepers than usual in PPR formats. This is one of those weeks where you do your best and just take what you can get. If things are really rough, consider making a trade, but if you can handle a potentially low-scoring week at RB, then plow ahead and hope for a TD or a bunch of short catches.
Note: We’ll be updating these RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 7: Who to start at running back
Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring
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