Conference Championship Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Saquon Barkley, James Cook, Brian Robinson, Kareem Hunt and More

After taking a look at the top fantasy quarterbacks for the NFL’s conference championship games, it’s time to discuss running backs.

We’ll go over the defensive matchups first, then rank the running backs.

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Conference Championship Matchups

In the NFC clash between the Commanders and Eagles, it’s a brutal matchup for the Washington backs, while being an above-average test for the Philly running backs.

It’s a similar story in the AFC title game, with the Buffalo backs facing a very tough challenge, and the Kansas City backs having an above-average test.

Overall, the Buffalo backs have the toughest challenge on paper, with the Washington backs only being in a slightly more favorable matchup. The KC running backs have the best matchup on paper, just slightly more favorable than the test the Eagles’ backs have.

Running Back Rankings

1. Saquon Barkley

Barkley is the easy choice for the No. 1 spot. He was the top fantasy back all season, and none of the remaining backs were really all that close to him as fantasy performers.

Barkley has 324 rushing yards and two touchdowns through two playoff games, while also tallying 31 receiving yards on six catches and targets. He went off for 232 total yards on 30 touches last week, and scored both of his touchdowns.

Barkley was fantastic in the two regular season games against Washington too. In the first game in week 11, Barkley had 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, while adding 52 receiving yards on two grabs and three targets. Barkley had 150 rushing yards and two scores while failing to catch his lone target in a week 16 rematch with the Commanders.

Unless another back scores multiple touchdowns, there’s no way I see Barkley failing to be the top fantasy back this week. He’s going to get 25 touches minimum, and is probably going to produce similar numbers that he did against Washington in the regular season.

Don’t overthink this one. Barkley is the No. 1 fantasy back this week.

2. James Cook

Cook is pretty comfortably in the No. 2 slot, although it wouldn’t surprise me nearly as much if he didn’t finish in that spot by the end of the week.

In two playoff games, Cook has 187 rushing yards and a score on 40 carries, while going for 15 receiving yards on three catches and targets. He had 82 total yards on 20 touches last week.

In the regular season game against Kansas City, Cook had a very unusual final line. He rushed for just 20 yards on nine carries, but scored two touchdowns. Cook had five catches and six targets, but just seven receiving yards.

KC is a brutal matchup for a running back, but given the other options this week, I still feel good about Cook landing in the No. 2 spot. He could score a time, or twice again, and easily take the No. 2 spot.

There’s always the chance Cook gets a touchdown stolen by Josh Allen, or by one of his two backups, which is why he could finish lower than second, but I think Cook has the best upside of any back outside Barkley.

3. Brian Robinson

Robinson has had one good postseason showing and one rough one.

In the first game, he had 16 rushing yards on 10 carries, while going for 22 receiving yards on four catches and five targets. Last week, Robinson had 77 rushing yards and two scores on 15 carries, while not being targeted in the passing game.

In a brutal matchup this week, Robinson is probably more likely to replicate his numbers from the Wild Card Round, but I have him ranked third because he’s got a decent chance of scoring.

In the last regular season game against Philly, Robinson had 24 rushing yards on 10 carries and 17 receiving yards on two grabs and three targets. He was much better in game one, rushing 16 times for 63 yards and a score and catching his lone target for nine yards.

I think Robinson finishes somewhere in the middle of those two outings. He’ll be a decent fantasy asset this week, but probably only would post a big score if he finds the end zone a couple times.

4. Kareem Hunt

Hunt is my No. 4 fantasy back for this week.

In the team’s first postseason game last week, Hunt led the team with 10 touches. He rushed eight times for 44 yards and a touchdown, while catching his lone target for two yards.

He was the team’s lead back in week 11 against Buffalo, and rushed for 60 yards on 14 carries. Hunt was not targeted in the passing game.

Hunt was rather efficient the last time the teams played, but KC ended up passing a bunch in the eventual loss. With the Chiefs healthier now, they’ve gone to more of a committee out of the backfield, and it limits Hunt’s ceiling by quite a bit.

So even in the pretty favorable matchup, I don’t see Hunt going for a monster score. If he finds the end zone a time or two, he could probably sneak all the way up to the No. 2 spot, but I’m a little less optimistic and think he comes in fourth.

5. Austin Ekeler

I’m going with Ekeler in my fifth slot. He’s been pretty heavily involved so far in the postseason.

In the Wild Card Round, he rushed eight times for 27 yards, while going for 26 receiving yards on three receptions and four targets. He had 47 rushing yards on six carries last week, while adding an additional 41 yards on four catches and targets.

He only played in one regular season clash against Philly, but Ekeler was a good fantasy asset in that contest. He rushed twice for seven yards, but caught eight of his nine targets for 89 yards.

I think Ekeler would have to really contribute in the passing game again to post a big score this week, and I think the Eagles will do a better job of slowing the receiving back. Ekeler is a bit of a sleeper option this week, and could be cheap enough in DFS formats to try out in case he replicates his big receiving day against Philly.

6. Isiah Pacheco

It’s still weird to see Pacheco rank so low in these articles, but the numbers back it up.

He got just five touches in last week’s game, rushing for 18 yards on five carries. Pacheco failed to catch his only target. He did not play against Buffalo in the regular season.

Pacheco just hasn’t been consistently involved since returning to the field, and I don’t see the Chiefs’ offense changing what’s been working. He’s another sleeper pick for this week.

7. Ty Johnson

Johnson has made the most of his touches the past two weeks, and he lands seventh as a result.

He had 44 rushing yards on nine carries in the Wild Card Round, while also catching two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. Last week, he had five carries for 31 yards and an eight-yard reception on his lone target.

It’s not a ton of usage, but he’s efficient enough on his touches to maybe try him out again this week. Maybe you’ll get lucky and have him find the end zone again.

8. Ray Davis

Davis was another Buffalo back that got involved last week.

After just one carry for three yards in the Wild Card Round, Davis had 29 rushing yards and a score on four carries last week. He wasn’t targeted in the passing game in either game.

Buffalo could opt to control the clock and keep the ball on the ground a ton against KC, but in a tougher matchup, I don’t see the Bills’ offense having nearly as much success - that’s why Johnson and Davis rank a bit lower.

Johnson and Davis would either have to be super efficient or find the end zone to post big fantasy scores, and unless you need a super cheap DFS option, or are in a deep fantasy playoff league, the Buffalo backups are just lottery ticket plays this week.

9. Kenneth Gainwell

Gainwell ranks ninth for me.

He had three rushes for 14 yards in the Wild Card Round and then two touches for 20 yards last week. Gainwell totaled 62 total yards on 10 touches in the two regular season games against Washington.

Unless Barkley goes down with an injury, don’t expect Gainwell to get more than a couple touches though.

10. Jeremy McNichols

McNichols comes in 10th.

He scored a touchdown, but had just eight rushing yards on four carries last week. McNichols had a one-yard rush in the Wild Card Round. He didn’t do much in the two regular season games against Philly.

McNichols is a desperation play this week, and fantasy owners would be hoping he finds the end zone for a second straight week.

11. Samaje Perine

Perine didn’t get a touch in last week’s playoff game. He played 11 snaps.

He’s an even bigger desperation play than McNichols, and would only really factor in if Hunt and Pacheco left the game with injuries.

12. Carson Steele

Steele didn’t get a touch and played just three snaps last week.

He’s the biggest desperation play among running backs this week. It would take at least two injuries to get him somewhat involved, and even if all three backs went down, Steele still likely wouldn’t get many touches.