Free tool · Dec 29 – Jan 4

Week 17 RB start or sit

Running back start/sit calls live and die on game script. A back on a team likely to lead gets the fourth-quarter carries; a back chasing points loses them, which is why the swing column moves more here than anywhere else.

Week 17 · Dec 29 – Jan 4

Start these RBs — week 17

Biggest positive matchup swing at running back this week.

#PlayerMatchupProjSwingWhy
1Derrick HenryRB · BAL@ CIN14.8+2@ CIN grades smash spot — worth about 2 points above a normal week.
2Ashton JeantyRB · LV@ ARI16.9+1.7@ ARI grades smash spot — worth about 1.7 points above a normal week.
3Aaron JonesRB · MIN@ NYJ10.6+1.3@ NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 1.3 points above a normal week.
4Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET@ CHI18.6+1.2@ CHI grades neutral — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week.
5Cam SkatteboRB · NYG@ DAL9.6+1.2@ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week.
6Tyrone Tracy Jr.RB · NYG@ DAL9.2+1.2@ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week.
7James CookRB · BUF@ MIA12.9+0.7@ MIA grades neutral — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week.
8David MontgomeryRB · DET@ CHI11.3+0.7@ CHI grades neutral — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week.
9Jaylen WarrenRB · PIT@ TEN9.4+0.7@ TEN grades smash spot — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week.
10Chase BrownRB · CINvs BAL14+0.6vs BAL grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above a normal week.

Sit or downgrade — week 17 RBs

The schedule works against these names. Elite players still start; use this to settle close calls.

#PlayerMatchupProjSwingWhy
1Josh JacobsRB · GBvs HOU11.3-1.8vs HOU grades nightmare — about 1.8 points below a normal week.
2De'Von AchaneRB · MIAvs BUF15-1vs BUF grades tough — about 1 points below a normal week.
3Christian McCaffreyRB · SFvs PHI14.3-0.9vs PHI grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week.
4Bucky IrvingRB · TBvs LAR13.3-0.9vs LAR grades tough — about 0.9 points below a normal week.
5Omarion HamptonRB · LACvs KC11-0.8vs KC grades nightmare — about 0.8 points below a normal week.
6RJ HarveyRB · DEN@ NE9.4-0.8@ NE grades nightmare — about 0.8 points below a normal week.
7Jonathan TaylorRB · IND@ CLE13.8-0.7@ CLE grades neutral — about 0.7 points below a normal week.
8Tony PollardRB · TENvs PIT9.2-0.6vs PIT grades neutral — about 0.6 points below a normal week.
9Bijan RobinsonRB · ATLvs NO18.2-0.5vs NO grades neutral — about 0.5 points below a normal week.
10Isiah PachecoRB · KC@ LAC8.4-0.5@ LAC grades nightmare — about 0.5 points below a normal week.

Week 17 RB rankings

Every running back ranked by matchup-adjusted projection for this week.

#PlayerMatchupProjSwingWhy
1Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET@ CHI18.6+1.2@ CHI grades neutral — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week.
2Bijan RobinsonRB · ATLvs NO18.2-0.5vs NO grades neutral — about 0.5 points below a normal week.
3Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI@ SF18+0.1@ SF grades tough — worth about 0.1 points above a normal week.
4Ashton JeantyRB · LV@ ARI16.9+1.7@ ARI grades smash spot — worth about 1.7 points above a normal week.
5De'Von AchaneRB · MIAvs BUF15-1vs BUF grades tough — about 1 points below a normal week.
6Derrick HenryRB · BAL@ CIN14.8+2@ CIN grades smash spot — worth about 2 points above a normal week.
7Christian McCaffreyRB · SFvs PHI14.3-0.9vs PHI grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week.
8Chase BrownRB · CINvs BAL14+0.6vs BAL grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above a normal week.
9Jonathan TaylorRB · IND@ CLE13.8-0.7@ CLE grades neutral — about 0.7 points below a normal week.
10Kyren WilliamsRB · LAR@ TB13.5+0.3@ TB grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week.
11Bucky IrvingRB · TBvs LAR13.3-0.9vs LAR grades tough — about 0.9 points below a normal week.
12James CookRB · BUF@ MIA12.9+0.7@ MIA grades neutral — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week.
13Josh JacobsRB · GBvs HOU11.3-1.8vs HOU grades nightmare — about 1.8 points below a normal week.
14David MontgomeryRB · DET@ CHI11.3+0.7@ CHI grades neutral — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week.
15Omarion HamptonRB · LACvs KC11-0.8vs KC grades nightmare — about 0.8 points below a normal week.
16Alvin KamaraRB · NO@ ATL11-0.3@ ATL grades neutral — about 0.3 points below a normal week.
17Kenneth Walker IIIRB · SEA@ CAR10.6-0.3@ CAR grades neutral — about 0.3 points below a normal week.
18Aaron JonesRB · MIN@ NYJ10.6+1.3@ NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 1.3 points above a normal week.
19Cam SkatteboRB · NYG@ DAL9.6+1.2@ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week.
20RJ HarveyRB · DEN@ NE9.4-0.8@ NE grades nightmare — about 0.8 points below a normal week.
21Jaylen WarrenRB · PIT@ TEN9.4+0.7@ TEN grades smash spot — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week.
22Tony PollardRB · TENvs PIT9.2-0.6vs PIT grades neutral — about 0.6 points below a normal week.
23Tyrone Tracy Jr.RB · NYG@ DAL9.2+1.2@ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week.
24Isiah PachecoRB · KC@ LAC8.4-0.5@ LAC grades nightmare — about 0.5 points below a normal week.
25Zach CharbonnetRB · SEA@ CAR7.4-0.2@ CAR grades neutral — about 0.2 points below a normal week.
26Najee HarrisRB · LACvs KC6.9-0.5vs KC grades nightmare — about 0.5 points below a normal week.
27Brian Robinson Jr.RB · WAS@ JAX6.7-0.5@ JAX grades nightmare — about 0.5 points below a normal week.

Comparing two specific names? Run them through the start/sit optimizer or check injury impact before you lock the lineup.

Week 17 RB matchup heatmap

Green is a matchup that adds points to a normal week, red is one that takes them away. The number is the average swing in points for that team's RB starters.

Biggest RB upside

  1. BAL @ CINLead option: Derrick Henry · 14.8 pts+2
  2. LV @ ARILead option: Ashton Jeanty · 16.9 pts+1.7
  3. MIN @ NYJLead option: Aaron Jones · 10.6 pts+1.3
  4. NYG @ DALLead option: Cam Skattebo · 9.6 pts+1.2
  5. DET @ CHILead option: Jahmyr Gibbs · 18.6 pts+1

Biggest RB downside

  1. GB vs HOULead option: Josh Jacobs · 11.3 pts-1.8
  2. MIA vs BUFLead option: De'Von Achane · 15 pts-1
  3. SF vs PHILead option: Christian McCaffrey · 14.3 pts-0.9
  4. TB vs LARLead option: Bucky Irving · 13.3 pts-0.9
  5. DEN @ NELead option: RJ Harvey · 9.4 pts-0.8

Built from the same matchup grades as the week 17 RB start/sit board, so a hot cell and a start call always agree.

Other positions, week 17

Week 17 QB →Week 17 WR →Week 17 TE →Week 17 FLEX →Injury impact