Fantasy Football Week 17 Running Back Start/Sit: James Conner, J.K. Dobbins, Rico Dowdle and More

Start 

James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

There are a lot of concerns surrounding Conner right now. He is coming off a knee injury that forced him out of last week's game in which he didn't return. After being very questionable all week, he's playing in a game that means nothing to his team. This is your reminder not to be cute.

He is a locked and loaded RB1 facing a Rams' defense in a plus matchup. Unless reports start coming out that he's expected to see his snaps and touches limited, he needs to be in your lineup on Saturday night. 

With that said, should he be listed as a surprise inactive, then you should not be starting any running back in this backfield. The best-case scenario is that you get to start a hobbled Trey Benson, who looks to be more injured than Conner. This week is too crucial for you to be guessing how the Cardinals' backfield is going to shake out with Conner missing. 

J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers

This is another anxiety-inducing situation. We have the oft-injured Dobbins being activated from injured reserve with a significant knee injury just days before the game and we are telling you to put him out there. Gus Edwards has already been ruled out and we anticipate the vast majority of the work to go to Dobbins despite the time he's missed.

This is a great matchup in a game against the Patriots, whose defense can't stop anyone. They've allowed the 10th most fantasy points to the position this season. We also expect the game script to favor the Chargers rushing attack. Activate him off your IR and throw him right into the fire. 

Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

It is clear that Ford is the man in Cleveland with Nick Chubb done for the year. They made that clear last week. Ford played 80% of the snaps while handling 11 carries and seeing five targets. No other running back saw more than two carries, two targets, or played more than 20% of the snaps.

As a matter of fact, no wide receiver even saw more than five targets. He did well with his opportunities too rushing for 92 yards and a TD on 8.4 yards per carry, and catching all five of his targets for 39 yards. His direct backup D'Onta Foreman totaled one yard on two carries and fumbled. 

The matchup is shaping up well for him too. The weather is expected to be terrible, which means the Browns are going to be running the ball a ton - even more than they usually do when Dorian Thompson-Robinson is under center.

With Foreman fumbling last week, it's hard to imagine they have much faith in him to protect a wet ball. The Miami Dolphins are also much better against the pass than the run, which favors him. Another added bonus is that David Njoku has been ruled out already for Week 17. He led the team with 10 targets last week and his absence could lead to a lot more dump-offs for Ford in this one. 

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints

This is for deeper leagues only, but despite a disastrous Week 16 performance, we think it's okay to go back to Miller in your flex if you need him. The Saints were always going to get boat raced by the Packers on Monday Night Football and the Saints were blown out. Nevertheless, Miller still doubled the carries of any other running back and led all running backs in targets even if he wasn't able to do much with them.

The matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders this week is much more reasonable and one that the short-handed Saints can even be competitive in. I've lived by one strict rule in fantasy football for a long time that has rarely failed me, and it's "always start your players against the Raiders." We know this isn't an ideal start, but you also shouldn't let last week scare you off more than it should. 

Sit

Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys

We don't really need to give you some lengthy explanation on why you should bench Dowdle this week. You have an already subpar Cowboys' offense that is now without CeeDee Lamb going up against the Eagles defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points in the league to running backs. This is a recipe for disaster. It's the kind of game where Dowdle might struggle to rush for 25 yards. 

Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

There is too much uncertainty surrounding Stevenson heading into Week 17. He lost another fumble last week and it's led to talks that he could be benched for Antonio Gibson. The team did this earlier in the season and he was benched for the first drive and then was right back into his usual role.

Who knows if that will be the case this week? That's a risk we are not willing to take though, especially when you consider that even if his snap count is a non-issue, he's still in somewhat of a split-backfield on a terrible offense against a tough Chargers defense that is allowing the 11th-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. You are better off just avoiding everyone on this offense who isn't Hunter Henry. 

Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos

It's only fitting we end the season telling you to bench the guy we've told you to bench this season more than any other running back. Do not go into your championship with Williams in your lineup.

Even with a great matchup against Cincinnati, this backfield is far too unpredictable and he is far too mediocre. There is no reason to start a running back with a low floor and a low ceiling in the biggest week of the season. I can't stress this enough, bench him this week and don't draft him next year.