Wild Card Round Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Joe Mixon, Bucky Irving, James Cook and More
Analyzing all the top fantasy running backs who could play in the Wild Card Round.
I started a fantasy football series the other day where I rank the top offensive players at each offensive position.
After looking at quarterbacks in the first story, it’s time to discuss running backs. I’ll cover wide receivers and tight ends in different stories.
I will only provide writeups for the most-relevant fantasy running backs, while simply listing some other guys. I’m going to use PPR scoring when discussing the backs.
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Wild Card Matchups
In the clash between the Chargers and Texans, all the running backs have tough matchups, with the test for the Texans’ backs being especially tough.
In the division battle between the Steelers and Ravens, it’s two more below-average matchups. The Steelers’ backs have the tougher matchup between the two.
For the Denver, Buffalo contest, the Broncos’ backs have a pretty favorable matchup, while it’s a tougher one for the Bills’ RBs.
The Packers’ backs have the toughest matchup of the Wild Card Round. The Eagles’ RBs have a pretty average test against Green Bay.
In the game between the Commanders and Buccaneers, the Washington backs have a pretty tough matchup, while the Tampa Bay RBs have a slightly above-average test.
In the final playoff game of the week, Vikings against the Rams, the test for the Minnesota backs is pretty average, while the Rams’ backs have a tougher challenge.
Running Back Rankings
1. Saquon Barkley
Barkley has been the top fantasy back for most of the season, and I’m not going to pick anyone over him in the postseason.
He should power the Eagles’ offense, especially with Jalen Hurts coming off a concussion. Barkley has 33.2 PPR fantasy points in week 1 against the Packers, and a similar outing could happen in the Wild Card Round.
2. Derrick Henry
Henry was the early-season fantasy MVP before tailing off in the middle portion of the season. He ended the season strong and should be a workhorse for the postseason.
Henry scored 10.5 PPR points in the first meeting against the Steelers, then had 20.9 points in game two. I think he could score 25+ this week, as long as nobody steals his rushing touchdowns.
3. Josh Jacobs
Jacobs enjoyed a really strong showing in his first season with the Packers. He scored 20 or more fantasy points between weeks 11-16.
In the first meeting with the Eagles, Jacobs only scored 12.4 PPR points. He’s become a bigger part of the Packers’ offense as the season has gone along, and should be a workhorse, especially with the Packers’ quarterbacks banged up.
4. Kyren Williams
Williams was the Rams’ workhorse back all season, and got some much-needed rest in week 18, so he should be ready to roll for the playoffs. He averaged 17 PPR points per contest.
When he took on the Vikings in week 8, Williams had 22.6 fantasy points. If he scores a couple times this week, he could challenge for the No. 1 fantasy RB spot.
5. Joe Mixon
Mixon was a workhorse for the Texans this season, but faded down the stretch a bit. Some of that was due to injury and resting, but part was also because the Texans’ offense limped into the postseason.
He hasn’t played the Chargers this season, and if the matchup wasn’t so tough, Mixon would probably be in my No. 3 or 4 slot.
6. Bucky Irving
Irving emerged as the Bucs’ lead back as the season rolled along. He scored over 13 PPR points in seven of the final eight weeks - he was injured the week he didn’t reach that mark.
He scored just 9.6 PPR points in week 1 against Washington, but his role and usage has improved significantly since then. Don’t sleep on Irving this week, even in a tougher matchup.
7. Aaron Jones
Jones scored in double figures in the final five weeks of the season, but only topped 15 points twice in that span, and didn’t hit that mark in the final three weeks.
He tallied 11.5 PPR points in the first meeting with Los Angeles. He only had 58 rushing yards on 19 carries, but two catches for 37 helped him out.
8. James Cook
Cook didn’t really have a big rushing season, but scoring 18 total touchdowns made him a good fantasy option most weeks. He averaged 16.7 PPR points despite only having 1,009 rushing yards.
He hasn’t faced the Broncos this season, but the matchup looks a little more favorable after Denver’s defense struggled a touch in a couple contests down the stretch.
9. J.K. Dobbins
Dobbins missed four games near the end of the season, but combined for 25.8 PPR points over the final two weeks. He’s nursing an ankle injury, but should be good to go for this week’s game.
Los Angeles started the year running a ton, and could return closer to that kind of offense in the postseason, but until we see it, it’s hard to predict how much Dobbins might be involved. He could score a couple times to finish as a top-five back this week, or not score and finish even lower than I have him ranked.
10. Brian Robinson
Robinson had an up-and-down season, but really didn’t accomplish much down the stretch. He still is the Commanders’ lead back, but with Jayden Daniels’ rushing ability and Austin Ekeler back to steal some backfield work, Robinson is a risky play.
He did score 17.9 PPR points back in week 1 against Tampa Bay, but the offense looks quite a bit different now. This is another one of those cases in which he could really outperform my expectations, or really deliver a dud and finish worse.
11. Najee Harris
Harris bounced back from a couple down showings in weeks 15 and 16 and tallied 25.7 PPR points across the final two games. His inconsistent offensive involvement makes him a risky play though.
In the two meetings against Baltimore, Harris tallied 13.3 points in week 11 and then just 4.2 in week 16. He might be a value play, but if given the choice, I’m trying to stay away from him.
12. Javonte Williams
Williams, and the rest of the Denver backs, split the backfield work almost all season. Williams averaged just 9.3 PPR points a game this season.
He scored in double figures just twice over the final six contests. The matchup is the best available to a back playing this week, but I’d do my best to avoid Williams and the other Denver backs.
13. Rachaad White
White scored 12.5 PPR points per week despite losing the lead role to Irving. He didn’t do much down the stretch, with his last big fantasy showing (over 15 points) being in week 15.
He scored 16.6 PPR points in the first meeting against Washington, but I’d take that with a grain of salt. The only way I’d want to play him is if Irving is a last-second inactive.
14. Jaylen Warren
Warren averaged 8.3 PPR points despite playing second fiddle to Harris most of the season. He had a couple nice showings down the stretch, but his usage is inconsistent, and it makes it hard to trust him.
Warren scored 10.8 fantasy points in week 11 against Baltimore, and then had a 14.2-point showing against the Ravens in week 16. I still don’t trust him in a sputtering Steelers’ offense this week.
15. Austin Ekeler
Ekeler missed four games near the end of the season, but got back in the mix in week 18. He averaged 11 PPR points per week this season.
He tallied 10.2 PPR points against Tampa Bay way back in week 1. His fantasy production will probably mostly come as a pass catcher, but just coming back from injury, it’s hard to put him any higher on this list.
The Others
16. Justice Hill
17. Ray Davis
19. Cam Akers
20. Gus Edwards
21. Ty Johnson
22. Emanuel Wilson
23. Kenneth Gainwell
24. Blake Corum
25. Audric Estime
26. Kimani Vidal
27. Chris Brooks
