These 2017 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings will be updated often throughout the spring and summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. Also, be sure to check out my other Fantasy Football Rankings articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2017 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs (Sept. 6):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-40 | 41-75
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Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars. Bye: 8.
Tom Coughlin told Leonard Fournette that he wants him to put the ball into the end zone. I’m sure Fournette’s fantasy owners will appreciate that mindset. Fournette should open as an RB2, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he closed out as a fantasy RB1 to finish the 2017 campaign. Jacksonville didn’t select him fourth overall to split a workload.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 1,130 rushing yards. 15 catches. 100 receiving yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 189.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 204.
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Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns. Bye: 9.
Isaiah Crowell was having a terrific season in the early going, but his production dropped off once stud guard Joel Bitonio suffered an injury in October. Crowell still did well overall, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He was also a big factor as a receiver, catching 40 passes. Crowell projects as a high-end RB2, given the improvements Cleveland made to its offensive line.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 1,150 rushing yards. 33 catches. 250 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 188.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 221.
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Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings. Bye: 9.
AUG. 19 UPDATE: Dalvin Cook was the story for Minnesota’s offense against the Seahawks. Cook had three consecutive impressive runs of 15, nine and nine, thanks to terrific blocking and his great vision. He did this against Seattle’s first-string defense, which is notoriously stout against the run. More notably, the Vikings were missing two starting offensive linemen (Riley Reiff, Alex Boone). Cook, who had 40 yards on seven carries, along with a 10-yard reception on a checkdown, is going to have a big year.
AUG. 11 UPDATE; While Leonard Fournette is sharing the workload with two other running backs right now, Dalvin Cook has the entire job to himself. Sure, Latavius Murray has been out, but Cook was featured exclusively with the first-team offense in the preseason debut, even playing on third down. Cook opened with gains of five and four on his first two carries. There wasn’t much available on the second attempt, but Cook did a great job of churning his legs to pick up some extra yardage. More importantly, Cook saw a team-high (for first-stringers) targets with four, snatching all of those for 30 receiving yards. With Sam Bradford bound to continue to check the ball down as often as possible, Cook is going to catch a healthy amount of passes despite being a rookie.
AUG. 5 UPDATE: Dalvin Cook has been excellent in pass protection, according to offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. As if there couldn’t have been any more good news for Cook, the Vikings trust him to shield Sam Bradford, so he’ll likely be on the field for all three downs. That’s huge for his fantasy outlook.
AUG. 2 UPDATE: Latavius Murray still isn’t participating in camp, while Dalvin Cook has earned praise from the coaching staff, according to Chris Tomasson, St. Paul Pioneer Press. Murray hasn’t done anything yet, and he’s way behind Cook at this point. Cook will be the starter, barring injury, while Murray seems like he’ll be a non-factor.
Dalvin Cook slipped in the 2017 NFL Draft because of some character concerns and poor testing numbers. However, he has excellent vision, and it’d be an upset if he didn’t start at some point in the near future.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 1,070 rushing yards. 35 catches. 270 receiving yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 186.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 221.
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C.J. Anderson, RB, Broncos. Bye: 5.
AUG. 11 UPDATE; C.J. Anderson drew praise for being in great shape this offseason, and it certainly looked like that was the case in the preseason opener. Anderson gained 21 yards on five carries despite playing a stout Bears front seven. Anderson is known for being frequently injured, but perhaps he’ll remain healthy this season because of how hard he has worked.
JULY 29 UPDATE: C.J. Anderson is in the best shape of his career, according to Vance Joseph. Anderson said that he agreed with the assessment. Perhaps that will mean that Anderson will avoid injury for a change this year.
The Broncos missed C.J. Anderson terribly after he suffered a knee injury in Week 7. Anderson was having a solid year, averaging four yards per carry behind a horrible offensive line. Anderson will be a nice buy-low option with Garett Bolles and Ronald Leary to improve the blocking, though it’s still difficult to trust him to stay healthy. He’s never played a full season.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 1,110 rushing yards. 28 catches. 210 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 185.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 213.
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Marshawn Lynch, RB, Raiders. Bye: 10.
AUG. 20 UPDATE: Marshawn Lynch saw his first action with the Raiders. He played only one drive against the Rams, but his impact was felt right away. Lynch opened with a 6-yard burst, showing some nice explosion. His two attempts went for 10 rushing yards. Lynch looks like he has some juice remaining, and playing behind Oakland’s stellar offensive line will certainly help him be productive.
Marshawn Lynch is a tough player to evaluate. He struggled in 2015 and hasn’t played since. However, he’ll be running behind a better offensive line, and he could be fresh now that he’s not bogged down by injuries.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 1,050 rushing yards. 20 catches. 140 receiving yards. 11 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 185.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 205.
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Kareem Hunt, RB, Chiefs. Bye: 10.
AUG. 28 UPDATE: Kareem Hunt will move up again, as Spencer Ware has been ruled out for the year. Andy Reid called Hunt his featured back, so he’s safe to draft in the third round.
AUG. 27 UPDATE: Spencer Ware is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a knee sprain. This looked much worse than a knee sprain in live action, so Ware is extremely fortunate. The bad news for Ware, however, is this gives Kareem Hunt a chance to leap him on the depth chart for good. Hunt is unquestionably more talented than Ware, so there’s a good chance that’ll happen.
AUG. 26 UPDATE: In the wake of the Spencer Ware news, Kareem Hunt should obviously be drafted much earlier; I wouldn’t think it’s a mistake to take in the fourth or fifth round. Hunt had a mixed outing against the Seahawks, gaining 39 yards on nine carries. He picked up a couple of third-and-1 opportunities, looking good doing so. However, he made a mental error on one play, failing to see a wide-open hole that would’ve allowed him to burst for a big gain. Instead, he was tackled for a short one. Hunt’s vision needs improvement, but he’s going to have an opportunity to be Kansas City’s primary ball-carrier.
AUG. 20 UPDATE: Kareem Hunt showed well against the Bengals. Spencer Ware started, but saw just one carry. Hunt shouldered the entire workload for the rest of the opening half. He picked up a third-down conversion, then broke several tackles on a gain of 21. He failed to convert a third-and-1 in the red zone, but did very well otherwise. Hunt gained 40 yards on eight carries, and that was with a 6-yard gain being negated by a hold. Hunt also caught all three of his targets for 23 receiving yards. It’s quite apparent that Hunt is more talented than Ware. At the very least, Hunt will eat heavily into Ware’s workload, making Ware an extremely risky pick at his 4.05 ADP.
AUG. 9 UPDATE: Kareem Hunt has been getting lots of first-team reps in training camp, per Pete Sweeney, Arrowhead Pride. Hunt is likely to overtake Spencer Ware at some point. Keep that in mind if you have the urge to spend a fourth-round pick on Ware.
MAY 24 UPDATE: Kareem Hunt has already impressed with short-area burst and balance, according to Terez Paylor, Kansas City Star. ESPN’s Adam Teicher, meanwhile, has predicted that Hunt will lead Kansas City in rushing. Hunt is the Chiefs running back to own, but he’ll split the workload with Spencer Ware, at least early in the season.
Kareem Hunt catches passes out of the backfield well and happens to be a great fit in Andy Reid’s offense. He’ll compete with Spencer Ware to be the starting running back, and there’s a very good chance Hunt will win the job.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 1,030 rushing yards. 35 catches. 260 receiving yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 184.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 219.
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Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers. Bye: 11.
AUG. 28 UPDATE; The 49ers’ new regime was down on Carlos Hyde earlier in the offseason, but Hyde showed up to training camp in great shape. It has looked more and more like Hyde would earn a big role in the offense, and now it’s evident that he’ll be the primary ball-carrier, and not either Joe Williams or Matt Breida. Hyde gained 19 yards on seven carries versus the Vikings, and he also caught all three of his targets for 45 receiving yards and a touchdown.
AUG. 3 UPDATE: Carlos Hyde appears set to be the 49ers’ starting running back, per Matt Maiocco, CSN Bay Area. There was much talk about Hyde being a poor fit for San Francisco’s offense, and he still is. This sounds like the 49ers trying to increase Hyde’s value before trading him, as it’ll seem like they’ll have more leverage. Still, there are reports that Joe Williams has been disappointing in camp, so he’ll need to improve before he can live up to his high ranking on my Fantasy Football Sleepers list.
JULY 24 UPDATE: Carlos Hyde could be cut prior to the regular season, according to Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com. This may come as a surprise to many, but Tony Pauline reported back in the spring that the 49ers didn’t view Hyde as a good fit for their offense. Hyde has been near the very top of my Fantasy Football Busts list for that reason.
JULY 11 UPDATE: Carlos Hyde will have to compete for a starting job, according to Matt Maiocco, CSN Bay Area. It’s not surprising that Hyde isn’t guaranteed the gig, as Tony Pauline reported back in the spring that the 49ers don’t view him as a good fit for their offense. They also like fourth-round rookie Joe Williams, who will probably be the starter by the end of the season.
MAY 31 UPDATE: Carlos Hyde has been the slowest and most indecisive running back on the team at OTAs, per Grant Cohn, Santa Rosa Press-Democrat. Hyde is being criminally overdrafted, as people haven’t paid attention to Tony Pauline’s report that the 49ers don’t view him as a good fit on the team. I’m lower than most on Hyde in my Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings, and he’ll be listed in my fantasy busts, which will be released Friday.
MAY 19 UPDATE: Carlos Hyde could lose his job right away to Joe Williams, as the 49ers don’t view him as a good fit in their offense.
Carlos Hyde rushed for 988 yards and six touchdowns despite missing three games. This wasn’t anything new, however, as Hyde has yet to play 16 games in any of his three NFL seasons. There have been rumors that Kyle Shanahan doesn’t think Hyde is a good fit for his system, but all the 49ers did to potentially replace him was spend a fourth-round pick on Joe Williams.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 1,110 rushing yards. 26 catches. 180 receiving yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 180.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 206.
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Lamar Miller, RB, Texans. Bye: 7.
AUG. 21 UPDATE; Lamar Miller had an average night against the Patriots. He converted a third-and-1 and showed nice vision on his longest carry. However, that was for only four yards, and Miller’s seven attempts went for just 18 yards. Houston’s run blocking doesn’t seem all that great, and I think Miller is overrated a bit in fantasy circles.
JULY 28 UPDATE: D’Onta Foreman is expected to serve as Houston’s goal-line back. This is not good news for Lamar Miller’s fantasy prospects. Miller is still close to being an RB1, but taking him in the first two rounds is a risk.
Lamar Miller never got the full workload in Miami for some reason. He proved that the former Dolphins regime was foolish, rushing for 1,073 yards and catching 31 passes in 14 games. Imagine what he could’ve done had defenses actually respected the quarterback! Unfortunately for Miller, he’ll be stuck with a poor quarterback again, and the right tackle situation is pretty poor.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 1,060 rushing yards. 34 catches. 250 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 179.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 213.
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Joe Mixon, RB, Bengals. Bye: 6.
AUG. 12 UPDATE: Joe Mixon was predictably the best Bengal running back in the preseason opener. Mixon was mixed in on the first drive, but made some terrific plays after that. He caught the ball on the second possession and avoided three players to gain 11 yards. He then made a great cut on a run of eight yards and then burst for a 13-yard rush. Mixon finished with 31 yards on six carries. It’s only a matter of time before he’s officially named the starter, as his talent cannot be denied.
JUNE 15 UPDATE: Joe Mixon has looked like a “beast,” per Albert Breer, MMQB. That’s hardly a surprise, as Mixon was a top-10 talent who fell because of his infamous incident. With Jeremy Hill being lackluster and Giovani Bernard recovering from a torn ACL, it’s not out of the question that Mixon could be the starter Week 1.
Joe Mixon would’ve been a top-15 pick had he not punched a woman several years ago. However, the Bengals have given him a second chance, and he’ll have an opportunity to become a stud running back in the NFL. Mixon will be splitting time with two other running backs as a rookie, but for the long haul, there’s RB1 potential if he can stay out of trouble.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 1,050 rushing yards. 14 catches. 90 receiving yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 176.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 190.
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Ameer Abdullah, RB, Lions. Bye: 7.
AUG. 26 UPDATE: Theo Riddick saw his first action of the preseason, but Ameer Abdullah still handled the majority of the workload against the Patriots. Abdullah gained 60 yards on 13 carries and also caught three balls for 39 receiving yards. Abdullah looked great, and he’s going to have a big year if he can remain healthy.
AUG. 20 UPDATE: Ameer Abdullah didn’t see much action in the second preseason game, but he looked great whenever he had his hands on the ball. Abdullah gained 16 yards on four carries and caught a 5-yard pass. His only blemish was allowed a sack on a blitz pick-up, but Abdullah appeared as though he could be a fantasy RB1 if he can somehow stay healthy all year for a change.
AUG. 14 UPDATE: Ameer Abdullah touched the ball just twice in his preseason debut, but he looked great on his sole reception. He caught the ball and made a great move to avoid a tackler, then used his speed to gain 14 yards. It was a reminder of what Abdullah can be capable of if he can stay healthy for once. Abdullah is worth it at his mid-fifth-round ADP.
JUNE 12 UPDATE: I discussed how Taylor Decker’s injury will affect the Lions in the Disaster Grades, but haven’t mentioned him when it comes to fantasy football. Decker’s absence will obviously adversely affect the numbers of Matthew Stafford and his supporting cast. Stafford struggled at the end of 2016 when he lost Travis Swanson, and Decker is just about as important as Swanson is to the offense. Granted, Stafford also hurt his finger, which affected his play a bit, but there’s no doubt that Swanson’s injury played a factor. Decker’s absence could have similar consequences, and it’ll also affect Ameer Abdullah.
Can Ameer Abdullah stay healthy? That’s definitely the question, as he was banged up as a rookie and then played in only two games in 2015. Abdullah is very talented, but can’t stay on the field. He’s a very risky pick, but the upside is appealing, especially when considering all of the upgrades the Lions made to their offensive line this offseason.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 870 rushing yards. 35 catches. 300 receiving yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 172.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 207.
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs (Sept. 6):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-40 | 41-75
More 2017 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/6 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/28 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/6 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/28 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/6 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/28 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/6 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/28 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/18 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/18 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/12 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/12 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/12 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 9/1 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/31 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB, PPR - 8/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/24 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/17 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/10 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/3 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/27 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/26 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/20 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/14 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/13 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings - 8/16 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Articles:
2017 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/2 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/2 (Walt)
2017 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 9/1 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason - 9/1 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/31 (Walt)
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 16
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
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