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Week 7 Running Back Preview: Bijan vs. CMC ... Who's No. 1?

Top Fantasy RBs for Week 7

Here are the top Week 6 running backs, with usage and matchup details that drive their positioning in the Week 7 RB rankings. 

Los Angeles Rams at Jacksonville Jaguars

In London

Kyren Williams, Rams

Williams isn't playing as much as he has in the past, but still ranks fourth among all RBs with an 83% snap share. He's also remained effective while on the field, averaging 95.5 scrimmage yards per game and scoring 5 TDs. His increased usage as a receiver has been encouraging. He is tied for the position lead with 3 TD grabs. In Week 7, Williams remains a top-10 play facing a Jacksonville defense that surrenders 19.9 PPR points per game to opposing RBs.

Travis Etienne, Jaguars

Etienne has become Liam Coen's feature back and a reliable weekly RB2. Etienne has commanded 66% of Jacksonville's backfield carries and run a route on 40% of his snaps. Averaging a career-best 5.3 yards per tote, Etienne is on pace to rush for a career-high 1,332 yards. This week, he'll face a Rams defense in London that has been tough, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to RBs. But Etinne's volume and three-down ability keep him in-play as a mid-range RB2. 

Blake Corum, Rams

Kyren Williams remains LA's starter, but Black Corum has found a weekly role as the team's No. 2. Corum has been in on 16% of the Rams' snaps and gotten 5-plus carries in 4 of the last 5 games. Corum is averaging a healthy 5.4 yards per carry and will see the occasional target in the passing game. Puka Nacua is not expected to play, so that could mean Sean McVay leans more on his backfield in London. View Corum as a flex candidate in deeper leagues. 

New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears

D’Andre Swift, Bears

Swift broke out, going 14-108-0 rushing and 2-67-1 receiving. O-line changes seemed to help the run game as Swift excelled on outside runs last week. The Saints have been average against the run, and the Bears could lean on Swift again. Expect an RB2 performance with upside for better.

Alvin Kamara, Saints

Kamara has been disappointing. He had only 31 rushing yards last week, but his 5 receptions for 45 yards helped his day in PPR leagues. He doesn’t have the ceiling of his past, but the Saints seem more committed to throwing him the ball. That should translate into RB2 numbers this week.

Kendre Miller, Saints

Miller has been efficient with the ball, but he still isn’t getting enough work to be a fantasy option. One of the better handcuff stashes with Kamara’s ankle still injured, Miller would need Kamara to sit to be usable.

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns

De’Von Achane, Dolphins

Achane has remained a model of consistency, reaching 16+ PPR points in all six games. His target volume is secure with Tyreek Hill sidelined. Plus, a Browns D-line led by Myles Garrett should only solidify Achane’s involvement on quick-hitters. Just note: Achane could struggle on the ground. Cleveland’s defense enters with a league-best mark in yards before contact per attempt.

Quinshon Judkins, Browns

The Browns have fed Judkins 18+ carries in three of the past four weeks. Now he gets a Miami defense that’s league-worst in yards before contact allowed and rushing yards per game allowed.

Jerome Ford, Browns

Ford hasn’t topped 6 carries in a game all season, but he’s quietly hit 4+ catches in three of his past five. There’s risk to his targets this week, however, as Cleveland enters as home favorites. They should be able to control this game on the ground with Quinshon Judkins. Avoid Ford outside of deep PPR formats. 

Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

Ashton Jeanty, Raiders

Jeanty is in a tough spot this week with his Raiders 11.5-point road underdogs to the Chiefs. Kansas City has been beatable on the ground, though, sitting 26th in our Run Defense Power Rankings and allowing 4.7 yards per carry to RBs. Jeanty could have some rushing success as long as this game stays close. And his growing role in the passing game -- 11 targets over his last two games -- raises the floor even if this game gets ugly early.

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

It hasn't shown up in the box score yet, but Pacheco is trending up. He's set season highs in snap rate and route rate in two straight weeks. He out-carried RB Kareem Hunt 12 to six in Week 6. And he played all three goal-line snaps in that win over the Lions. Pacheco might just be a top-25 fantasy RB going forward, starting in this Sunday's game vs. the Raiders' 20th-ranked RB defense.

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs

Hunt has been a TD-or-bust fantasy play this season, averaging just 40 total yards per game. He's scored three TDs -- but he might be losing that goal-line role to RB Isiah Pacheco, who played all three of Kansas City's goal-line snaps last week. Hunt shapes up as a very shaky Week 7 fantasy start.

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Can Barkley get going against a Minnesota defense that ranks tougher in pass D than it does vs. the run? Barkley at least went for 4.8 yards per carry on 12 attempts last week (after handling only six carries the week before). The Vikings have allowed four double-digit RB PPR scores over their past four games -- the biggest from Kenneth Gainwell: 19-99-2 rushing, 6-35 receiving.

Jordan Mason, Vikings

As the Giants showed last week, the Eagles’ defense presents nothing scary right now. The run defense should play at least a little tougher, with DT Jalen Carter likely to return from the heel injury that cost him Week 6. But the unit ranks just 24th in rush DVOA on the year so far. Aaron Jones, meanwhile, is not yet ready to return from his hamstring injury. Mason has garnered at least 16 touches in each of the three games without him.

Carolina Panthers at New York Jets

Rico Dowdle, Panthers

Chuba Hubbard has returned to practice, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll get his job back. Rico Dowdle has been magnificent over the past 2 weeks, racking up 473 scrimmage yards and 2 TDs. That is more yards in 2 games than Saquon Barkley has compiled all season. We expect Dowdle to remain in Carolina's lineup and post another strong outing against a winless Jets team that has already allowed 4 opposing RBs to top 99 scrimmage yards in 6 games. 

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

After missing two games with a calf injury, Hubbard is poised to return to the Panthers. But after Rico Dowdle's performance in the past two games, it's fair to wonder how much of a role Hubbard will have. The most likely scenario is a split backfield, which caps the upside of both backs. Still, there should be enough touches for Hubbard to return value this week. View him as a flex option with some risk until we get a better feel for how Dave Canales splits what now appears to be a crowded backfield.

Breece Hall, Jets

Very little went right for the Jets in London. Hall played a season-high 74% of New York's snaps but was held to a lowly 2.7 yards per carry against Denver. He should find more running room on Sunday, but the Panthers have been surprisingly competent against the run. Carolina allows the sixth-fewest adjusted fantasy points to RBs, and Hall has yet to find the end zone this season. He'll get his touches and is a plus in the passing game, but Hall is just a mid-range RB2 in New York's impuissant offense. 

Isaiah Davis, Jets

In two full games as Breece Hall's No. 2, Davis has played 35% of New York's snaps and been surprisingly involved as a receiver. Since Week 5, Davis has had a higher target rate (9%) than Hall (7%). Davis hasn't been particularly effective with the targets, totaling 4 catches for 27 yards, but he will see a handful of touches and can fill in as a lesser bye-week replacement in deeper leagues. 

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

Stevenson had a poor week with only 13 touches for 18 yards. He did play 71.9% of snaps, which is promising that Stevenson could eat up against a poor Titans run defense. If the Patriots can get into scoring position, Stevenson should have the goal-line carries. That makes him a high-end RB3 this week.  

Tony Pollard, Titans

Pollard fell behind Tyjae Spears in snaps last week, but did have 12 touches compared to 9 for Spears. With a new coaching staff, they may try to lean on the run if possible. Game script may stop that, and Spears took Pollard’s receiving work, running 26 routes to 13 for Pollard. He is a TD-dependent RB3. 

TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots

Henderson still can’t get enough touches to be relevant. He had 10 touches for 36 yards and only a 29.7% snap rate. Henderson currently sits as 41st among RBs in rush yards over expected per attempt and 34th in yards after contact per attempt. Until he shows better running, don’t expect a ton of snaps. He is an upside RB3 at best this week in hopes for more receiving work.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears had solid usage playing 59.3% of snaps, though he only had 9 touches compared to 12 for Pollard. With the Titans falling behind, Spears ran 26 routes compared to 13 for Pollard. The split makes neither back very usable. Spears is an RB4 in hopes of a few catches in PPR to provide a floor.

New York Giants at Denver Broncos

Cam Skattebo, Giants

Skattebo remained a workhorse in Week 6, despite the return of Tyrone Tracy. Just note: The rookie’s route rate took a noticeable dip to 48%, while Sunday’s matchup could easily find the Giants playing from behind. They’re touchdown underdogs against a Denver unit that’s surrendered only one rushing score all season. Consider Skattebo a mid-pack RB2.

J.K. Dobbins, Broncos

The Giants enter the weekend allowing the fourth-most runs of 10+ yards. They’ve also surrendered a bloated 5.1 yards per carry. Dobbins also retained a firm grip on the lead role in Week 6, out-carrying RJ Harvey 14 to 2. The veteran simply remains a minimal factor in the passing game. Dobbins is a back-end RB2.

RJ Harvey, Broncos

Harvey’s totaled only 6 carries over the past two weeks. On the positive side? He’s seen at least 3 targets in four straight games. Sunday’s game against the Giants simply doesn’t project as one that’ll turn up boosted pass volume for the Broncos. They enter as big home favorites.

Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers

Jonathan Taylor, Colts

Taylor hasn’t carried fewer than 17 times in a game yet this season. The Chargers come in just 26th in run-defense DVOA … and could be in trouble.

Kimani Vidal, Chargers

We don’t know for sure that Vidal will continue to control the Hampton-less backfield to the degree he did last week. But he dominated Hassan Haskins in both rushing and receiving opportunities in their first game of “splitting” duties and dramatically outperformed his backfield mate. Vidal also got the Chargers’ first carry of the game and seven of the first nine. Indy presents a tougher matchup than the Dolphins did (because who doesn’t?), but the Colts rank a mere 21st in run-defense DVOA.

Hassan Haskins, Chargers

Haskins garnered just six carries to Kimani Vidal’s 18 and eight pass routes to Vidal’s 21 last week. That doesn’t necessarily guarantee we’ll see a similar weekly split going forward. But that plus Vidal’s superior performance sure makes Haskins a weak bet to earn much more work this week.

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

Josh Jacobs, Packers

Jacobs ranks fourth among RBs in PPR points per game and third in expected points per game. He's continued to tally big carry totals -- and he's surprisingly racked up 18 targets over his last three games. Jacobs will be busy again this Sunday with his Packers 6.5-point favorites vs. the Cardinals. Arizona ranks 25th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Michael Carter, Cardinals

Carter worked in a near even split with RB Bam Knight last week. Knight edged him in snaps and won the carry battle 11 to 9. But Carter controlled passing-down work, registering a 43% route rate and 5 targets. That role makes him a slightly better fantasy bet than Knight in Week 7, with the Cardinals 6.5-point underdogs. But hopefully, this is a backfield you can avoid.

Bam Knight, Cardinals

Knight led the Cardinals with 11 carries and scored the team's only rushing TD last week. But he just barely edged RB Michael Carter in snaps. And Carter out-targeted Knight 5 to 2. Knight looks like the better fantasy bet if the Cardinals are playing with a lead, but that's unlikely to be the case vs. Green Bay this weekend. Arizona is a 6.5-point underdog, leaving Knight as a low-floor fantasy play.

Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders

It’s not hugely impactful, but we’re not expecting Chris Rodriguez to play in this one after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Regardless, JCM has taken control of this backfield with a 66% carry share over the past two weeks. The Dallas matchup looks strong, too. They’re bottom-eight in EPA per rush and rush yards over expected per attempt.

Javonte Williams, Cowboys

Williams slots fifth among RBs in PPR scoring. Washington looks like a neutral matchup, but Williams’ upside remains high in his current role. He’s handled 69% of the carries and 60% of the routes through six games.

Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers

Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Robinson had 238 total yards last week and a TD. An explosive 81-yard TD broke the game open, while he still got work as a receiver. The Falcons know the way to victory is behind Robinson and should continue using him as such. He is a must-start.

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers

McCaffrey went 17-54-1 on the ground last week, but his 7-57-0 in the passing game continues to give CMC upside in PPR. He has had at least 100 total yards in every game this season and has been an RB1 in every game. He is a high-floor option with an even higher ceiling, a must-start.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Allgeier has had consistent usage with double-digit touches in four of five games this season. He’s been a partial goal-line back as well, even if it hasn’t produced consistent scoring. He could be an intriguing option for daily lineups if he scores a TD, but he should stay on the bench in other leagues. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

Gibbs got 17 carries in Kansas City, but comes off a disappointing 65-yard, scoreless outing against the Chiefs. The Lions return to Ford Field, and their rushing attack is in a prime 'get right' spot facing a Tampa Bay defense that has allowed the ninth-most adjusted fantasy points to RBs. Tampa has allowed an RB TD in all but one of their games, and this contest is projected to be a shootout. Detroit is projected to score a slate-high 29 points. Look for Gibbs to rebound from last week's quiet performance and contend for another top-5 outing. 

Rachaad White, Buccaneers

Rachaad White has filled in admirably for Bucky Irving. In 2 starts, Irving has averaged 78.5 total yards and scored 3 TD in two Tampa Bay wins. The Buccaneers have topped 30 points in both of those games and travel to Detroit with a severely depleted receiving corps. Expect White to see plenty of opportunities on the ground and as an outlet receiver in a game with a fantasy-friendly implied total of 52.5 points. White is a must-start option who will get the volume to contend for RB1 numbers in Week 7. 

David Montgomery, Lions

Game script limited Montgomery to 4 carries in Detroit's 30-17 loss in Kansas City. This week, the Lions return home and are favored against a Tampa Bay defense that allows 22.7 PPR points per game to opposing RBs. Montgomery has still accounted for half of Detroit's carries inside the 5-yard line, and the Lions boast an implied total of 29 points this week. View Montgomery as a solid RB2 with TD upside. 

Sean Tucker, Buccaneers

In the last two games, Tucker has played 21% of Tampa's snaps and gotten 6 touches in each game. Last week, he scored his first TD of the season but wasn't targeted in a game the Buccaneers won by 11 points. Tampa is an underdog this week, so Tucker should see his usual handful of touches, with an increased probability of seeing a target or two. View Tucker as a modest flex option in deeper leagues if you need a bye-week replacement.  

Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks

Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks

Houston’s D has proved tougher on the pass than the run so far. But it’s also allowing just 3.8 yards per rush to RBs on the season and has yet to allow a RB to exceed 66 yards. The Texans have yielded five RB rushing scores through five games. But Walker’s chances of notching one get hurt by his work split with Zach Charbonnet. Last week found Charbonnet playing 33 snaps to Walker’s 19. Walker’s superior efficiency keeps the slight edge in his direction.

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Charbonnet trails Kenneth Walker in yards per carry (4.7 to 2.6) and even receptions per game (1.3 to 0.8). But the playing-time split heavily favored Charbs last week (33 snaps to 19). All that combines to make it basically a coin flip between them in a fairly neutral RB-scoring matchup.

Woody Marks, Texans

Last time we saw the Texans (Week 5), Marks edged Nick Chubb by just three snaps and three pass routes, while trailing him in carries. Chubb also easily beat Marks in rushing efficiency (5.5 yards per carry to 3.4). The passing edge still puts Marks ahead in at least PPR and half-PPR. But Chubb looks like the better non-PPR bet this week, and we’ll have to keep tracking the usage here. Seattle’s mere 3.1 yards allowed per carry to RBs so far damages the outlook for both players.

Nick Chubb, Texans

Chubb ran more and better than Marks last time out, but that came against a depleted (and already rough) Baltimore defense. Now he gets a Seattle D that’s allowing just 3.1 yards per rush to RBs for the season, with a mere two total rushing scores allowed. Try to lean elsewhere at RB if you can.

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Week 7 Matchups That Matter: Get-Right Spot For Jayden Daniels

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Jody Smith, Analyst

Jody Smith has been playing fantasy football for over 30 years, the last 15 as an analyst, writer, and editor. Jody's rankings have been among the most consistent, placing him inside the top-10 in multi-year accuracy.