Top 50 running back PPR rankings for Week 11 fantasy football

UPDATE

Tevin Coleman gets a good boost with Matt Breida out. Raheem Mostert does as well, but Coleman becomes more valuable overall.

Devin Singletary is more valuable in PPR with Frank Gore and Josh Allen both getting goal-line work, but he’s by far their best running back and keeps a high upside.

The Top-5 this week are all great plays, but Dalvin Cook has seen a big uptick in receiving work with Adam Thielen out, making him a Top-2 PPR play.

Jordan Howard is hurt, so Miles Sanders gets a boost, especially in PPR.

Week 11 is here. It seems like only yesterday we were slogging through preseason games, Judge Judy giffing our need for real football and poof, ten weeks have disappeared. But let’s not hang our heads too low. Enjoy the here and now and the football that remains, because the next time you look up, our televisions will have poking and prodding of grown men who are then asked to run around in circles in their onesies for our entertainment.

But yes, back to now, and running back rankings! We have four teams on bye, and all four teams have stud running backs who we’ll need to replace. Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, Saquon Barkley, and Chris Carson all get a much-needed rest. We, on the other hand, need to find some players to sub in for them.

Bye Weeks

Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans

RBs on bye: Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Saquon Barkley, Chris Carson, Derrick Henry

Injury/Status Report

Devonta Freeman: Ian Rapoport reports that Freeman could miss about two weeks with a foot sprain. Brian Hill will get a big boost in work.

James Conner: The Steelers listed Conner as a full participant on the injury report for Monday, which is just an estimation since they didn’t actually practice. It appears the team believes he has a good shot at being ready for Thursday Night Football.

Matt Breida: Breida left MNF after aggravating his ankle injury. He will get an MRI to check the extent of the damage.

David Johnson: Johnson never officially left last week’s game with an injury, but his coach says he is “obviously” hampered by his back and ankle woes. Kenyan Drake saw more work late in Week 10 and appears to be the healthier back right now.

Ty Johnson: Johnson is in concussion protocol. If he can’t play this week, J.D. McKissic would see a meaningful workload.

Giovani Bernard: Bernard suffered a sprained knee in Week 10 but isn’t projected to miss time.

RB Ranking Tiers

Tier 1

Christian McCaffrey has set up camp at the No. 1 spot and won’t budge against a Falcons defense that ranks 21st in DVOA against receiving backs and, well, it’s McCaffrey. Dalvin Cook doesn’t have a smash spot, but on the right side of a 10 point spread, he should get plenty of work with a lead. Ezekiel Elliott and Josh Jacobs have the best matchups of the studs, and should quickly meet expectations.

Tier 2

Leonard Fournette starts Tier 2 for me against the Colts. It’s a middling matchup, but Fournette is a usage dynamo. Melvin Gordon is almost a Tier 1 player again, especially against Kansas City’s putrid run defense. Still, there is always some worry that Patrick Mahomes will get his team up fast and limit rushing attempts. Damien Williams gets a boost now that he’s the clear lead back in Kansas City against a weak Chargers run defense. Brian Hill rounds out Tier 2 in an excellent matchup with the Panthers, who have allowed 13 touchdowns in their last five games to running backs. Devin Singletary ends my Tier 2 against a bad Dolphins run defense. He’s Top-10 material if they’d stop giving the ball to Frank Gore, and Josh Allen could concede some rushing touchdowns.

RB Streamers

Brian Hill is the best “streamer” on the slate. He gets a great matchup, and you likely picked him up from waivers this week. Those are always fun.

David Johnson can barely be trusted, but Kenyan Drake has shown enough to warrant another start this week. I expect him to lead the backfield against the 49ers, who he recently took to school on Thursday Night Football.

Kareem Hunt is back and was PPR gold right out of the gate. The Steelers aren’t an easy matchup, but Hunt showed enough last week to get him in your lineup this week.

If Ty Johnson is out, J.D. McKissic is worth a flex spot in PPR. Dallas gives up good PPR numbers to running backs, and I expect another excellent target day for him.