Fantasy Football Week 17 Running Back Start Decision: Jerome Ford, Bucky Irving, Rhamondre Stevenson, Breece Hall, Kareem Hunt and More

After taking a look at a bunch of fantasy quarterbacks, it’s time to discuss several running backs as possible week 17 fantasy football starting options.

We’ll cover Najee Harris, Kareem Hunt, Isiah Pacheco, Rhamondre Stevenson, Jerome Ford, Bucky Irving, Travis Etienne, Tyrone Tracy, Breece Hall, Derrick Henry, Joe Mixon, Chase Brown and Kendre Miller.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Important Numbers

Harris hasn’t topped five fantasy points in either of the past two games. He’s been in single digits in three of the past five as well. Harris had just nine touches last week and seven in week 15.

Hunt scored a touchdown and was a double-digit fantasy performer in week 16 as a result. He had 13 touches last week, and was at 14 touches in week 15.

Pacheco hasn’t scored over eight fantasy points since returning to the field in week 13. He had 16 touches in week 14 and 14 in week 15, but just 10 a week ago.

Stevenson has been close to, or above, 10 fantasy points in each of the past three games. He’s gotten between 13-21 touches in those contests.

Ford was great last week as he reclaimed the starting RB role in Cleveland. He went for 92 yards and a score, but only got 11 carries. Ford had 39 receiving yards on five catches and targets, but I’m not sure how sustainable a performance like that is.

Irving has been a good/great fantasy performer in the weeks he hasn’t cut short by injuries. He got 19 touches last week and 17 the week before that.

Etienne got 11 touches last week, but had just 37 total yards. He had 18 touches the week before that and tallied 85 total yards. Etienne had 70 yards on eight touches in week 14.

Tracy only got 11 touches in week 16, but he caught four passes and a touchdown to deliver a good fantasy score. It was his third double-digit fantasy outing across the past four weeks.

Hall has been a double-digit fantasy performer in back-to-back weeks, but he’s been under 15 points in both weeks. He got 19 touches last week and 11 the week prior.

Henry had 162 rushing yards and 27 receiving yards in week 16. It was his first time over 15 fantasy points in the past six weeks.

Last week, Mixon was held below 10 fantasy points for just the second time this season. He still had 15 touches, making him a good weekly option.

Brown had under 15 fantasy points last week, which was his lowest mark in the past seven weeks. He still had over 100 total yards, which keeps Brown in the must-start territory.

Miller was held to just 31 total yards on 10 touches in Monday’s lopsided loss to the Packers. If Alvin Kamara is out again this week, Miller and Jordan Mims will likely split the backfield again.

Week 17 Matchups

Harris, Hunt and Pacheco all play in the same Christmas day game. All the backs have below-average matchups, with Harris’ being the toughest one possible.

Henry and Mixon play in the afternoon game on Christmas. It’s two more tough matchups, with both defenses being in the top 10 at slowing opposing fantasy backs.

Stevenson plays the Chargers on Saturday. It’s another tougher matchup. Brown also plays Saturday, but against the Broncos, who are a pretty average matchup.

On Sunday, Tracy takes on the Colts, which is a pretty favorable test. Hall goes up against the Bills, which is one of the most favorable matchups for a back.

Etienne will face the Titans, who are a slightly above-average matchup for him. Miller has a clash against the Raiders, who are closer to average. 

Irving takes on the Panthers, which is the most favorable RB matchup in the league. Ford will face the Dolphins, who are a pretty average test.

Projections and Starting Recommendations

In the weekly projections, it’s Brown up top at 22 PPR fantasy points. Mixon is at 16 points, while Irving and Hall are at 15 each. 

Henry checks in at 14 points. Pacheco, Stevenson, Ford, Tracy and Miller all are projected for 12 points. Etienne and Harris are both at 11 points, while Hunt is at eight.

I’ve said it before in start decision articles, but I like to trust the players who have delivered all season, sometimes even if the matchups aren’t super favorable.

That’s why I got Mixon first in this RB start decision. He’s one of the top PPR backs on a per-week basis. Even in a tougher clash, he’s capable of big fantasy days because he gets nearly all the workload. Trust Mixon to get the job done again this week.

Brown has been a fantasy stud since taking over the starting job in Cincy. He’s also the team’s workhorse, and that’s why I am taking him second in this decision. Keep starting Brown this week.

I’ll take Irving next. He’s been really good in the second half of the season, and in a really favorable matchup, I expect him to put up monster numbers this week. I’d go as far to say he’s a must-start fantasy player in week 17.

Give me Henry here. He’s faded a bit in the second half of the season, but last week’s outing makes me a lot more confident in him for this coming week. Henry should be able to put up a good fantasy score just by getting all the touches he should, and if he falls into the end zone a time or two, you are probably looking at a top-five fantasy back in week 17.

I’d take Hall next. He’s been OK over the past couple weeks, but it’s another very favorable matchup putting him way up my rankings. As long as most of the other Jets’ regular starters are out there, Hall should be able to post a good fantasy score in week 17.

Give me Harris here. He’s really struggled of late, and his matchup this week is extremely tough. In my story on Wednesday’s best starting options, I put Harris close to the start/sit line. That means everyone after Harris in this story is at that level, or worse, in my book.

I’d take Pacheco next. His upside is what puts him above the remaining backs in this article, but based on what we’ve seen so far this season, I wouldn’t be very confident if I had to start Pacheco in a standard league - I’d much rather play him in a deeper league.

Ford was great last week, but he also didn’t get many touches, and I just am not sure he can be as good a fantasy performer this week. Maybe some of you will like him over Pacheco or Harris as Ford is the lead back for his team, but I trust the Steelers and Chiefs’ offenses far more than I do the Browns’.

I’d take Tracy here. He’s got some solid upside, but this is another case where a decent fantasy back gets punished for being on a bad offense overall. It’s tough to trust the Giants’ offense, and with an inconsistent number of touches every week, I’m not feeling great about playing Tracy.

I’d take Etienne here. You can pretty much copy and paste what I said about Tracy for Etienne. I like the Jaguars’ offense a bit more, but Etienne also has to deal with Tank Bigsby, so Etienne falls behind Tracy.

Stevenson goes here for me. He’s been a middling fantasy option of late, and in a bit tougher matchup, I only like the idea of starting him in deeper leagues.

Hunt goes over Miller for the final spot. The matchups are pretty similar, but I simply trust the Chiefs’ offense more than the Saints’. In a critical fantasy week, I’m taking a slightly higher upside player in Hunt over Miller.