Free tool · Oct 20 – Oct 26
Week 7 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 7 · Oct 20 – Oct 26
Start these RBs — week 7
Biggest positive matchup swing at running back this week.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI | vs DAL | 21.4 | +3.5 | vs DAL grades smash spot — worth about 3.5 points above a normal week. |
| 2 | De'Von AchaneRB · MIA | @ NYJ | 18 | +2 | @ NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 2 points above a normal week. |
| 3 | Derrick HenryRB · BAL | vs CIN | 14.8 | +2 | vs CIN grades smash spot — worth about 2 points above a normal week. |
| 4 | RJ HarveyRB · DEN | @ ARI | 11.7 | +1.5 | @ ARI grades smash spot — worth about 1.5 points above a normal week. |
| 5 | Christian McCaffreyRB · SF | @ ATL | 15.9 | +0.7 | @ ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week. |
| 6 | Kyren WilliamsRB · LAR | @ LV | 13.9 | +0.7 | @ LV grades good matchup — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week. |
| 7 | Chase BrownRB · CIN | @ BAL | 14 | +0.6 | @ BAL grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above a normal week. |
| 8 | Josh JacobsRB · GB | @ DET | 13.4 | +0.3 | @ DET grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week. |
| 9 | Aaron JonesRB · MIN | vs IND | 9.5 | +0.2 | vs IND grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week. |
| 10 | Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET | vs GB | 17.3 | -0.1 | vs GB grades tough — about 0.1 points below a normal week. |
Sit or downgrade — week 7 RBs
The schedule works against these names. Elite players still start; use this to settle close calls.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan TaylorRB · IND | @ MIN | 12.9 | -1.6 | @ MIN grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week. |
| 2 | Cam SkatteboRB · NYG | @ HOU | 7.1 | -1.3 | @ HOU grades nightmare — about 1.3 points below a normal week. |
| 3 | Ashton JeantyRB · LV | vs LAR | 14 | -1.2 | vs LAR grades tough — about 1.2 points below a normal week. |
| 4 | Tyrone Tracy Jr.RB · NYG | @ HOU | 6.8 | -1.2 | @ HOU grades nightmare — about 1.2 points below a normal week. |
| 5 | Kenneth Walker IIIRB · SEA | vs KC | 9.8 | -1.1 | vs KC grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week. |
| 6 | Isiah PachecoRB · KC | @ SEA | 7.8 | -1.1 | @ SEA grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week. |
| 7 | Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL | vs SF | 17.9 | -0.8 | vs SF grades tough — about 0.8 points below a normal week. |
| 8 | Tony PollardRB · TEN | vs CLE | 9.1 | -0.7 | vs CLE grades neutral — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
| 9 | Zach CharbonnetRB · SEA | vs KC | 6.9 | -0.7 | vs KC grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
| 10 | Alvin KamaraRB · NO | vs PIT | 10.8 | -0.5 | vs PIT grades neutral — about 0.5 points below a normal week. |
Week 7 RB rankings
Every running back ranked by matchup-adjusted projection for this week.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI | vs DAL | 21.4 | +3.5 | vs DAL grades smash spot — worth about 3.5 points above a normal week. |
| 2 | De'Von AchaneRB · MIA | @ NYJ | 18 | +2 | @ NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 2 points above a normal week. |
| 3 | Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL | vs SF | 17.9 | -0.8 | vs SF grades tough — about 0.8 points below a normal week. |
| 4 | Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET | vs GB | 17.3 | -0.1 | vs GB grades tough — about 0.1 points below a normal week. |
| 5 | Christian McCaffreyRB · SF | @ ATL | 15.9 | +0.7 | @ ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week. |
| 6 | Derrick HenryRB · BAL | vs CIN | 14.8 | +2 | vs CIN grades smash spot — worth about 2 points above a normal week. |
| 7 | Ashton JeantyRB · LV | vs LAR | 14 | -1.2 | vs LAR grades tough — about 1.2 points below a normal week. |
| 8 | Bucky IrvingRB · TB | @ CAR | 14 | -0.2 | @ CAR grades neutral — about 0.2 points below a normal week. |
| 9 | Chase BrownRB · CIN | @ BAL | 14 | +0.6 | @ BAL grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above a normal week. |
| 10 | Kyren WilliamsRB · LAR | @ LV | 13.9 | +0.7 | @ LV grades good matchup — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week. |
| 11 | Josh JacobsRB · GB | @ DET | 13.4 | +0.3 | @ DET grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week. |
| 12 | Jonathan TaylorRB · IND | @ MIN | 12.9 | -1.6 | @ MIN grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week. |
| 13 | RJ HarveyRB · DEN | @ ARI | 11.7 | +1.5 | @ ARI grades smash spot — worth about 1.5 points above a normal week. |
| 14 | Alvin KamaraRB · NO | vs PIT | 10.8 | -0.5 | vs PIT grades neutral — about 0.5 points below a normal week. |
| 15 | David MontgomeryRB · DET | vs GB | 10.5 | -0.1 | vs GB grades tough — about 0.1 points below a normal week. |
| 16 | Kenneth Walker IIIRB · SEA | vs KC | 9.8 | -1.1 | vs KC grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week. |
| 17 | Aaron JonesRB · MIN | vs IND | 9.5 | +0.2 | vs IND grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week. |
| 18 | Tony PollardRB · TEN | vs CLE | 9.1 | -0.7 | vs CLE grades neutral — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
| 19 | Jaylen WarrenRB · PIT | @ NO | 8.3 | -0.4 | @ NO grades neutral — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 20 | Isiah PachecoRB · KC | @ SEA | 7.8 | -1.1 | @ SEA grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week. |
| 21 | Cam SkatteboRB · NYG | @ HOU | 7.1 | -1.3 | @ HOU grades nightmare — about 1.3 points below a normal week. |
| 22 | Zach CharbonnetRB · SEA | vs KC | 6.9 | -0.7 | vs KC grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
| 23 | Tyrone Tracy Jr.RB · NYG | @ HOU | 6.8 | -1.2 | @ HOU grades nightmare — about 1.2 points below a normal week. |
On bye in week 7
BUF · LAC · WAS
Comparing two specific names? Run them through the start/sit optimizer or check injury impact before you lock the lineup.
Week 7 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
- PHI vs DALLead option: Saquon Barkley · 21.4 pts+3.5
- BAL vs CINLead option: Derrick Henry · 14.8 pts+2
- MIA @ NYJLead option: De'Von Achane · 18 pts+2
- DEN @ ARILead option: RJ Harvey · 11.7 pts+1.5
- LAR @ LVLead option: Kyren Williams · 13.9 pts+0.7
Biggest RB downside
- IND @ MINLead option: Jonathan Taylor · 12.9 pts-1.6
- LV vs LARLead option: Ashton Jeanty · 14 pts-1.2
- NYG @ HOULead option: Cam Skattebo · 7.1 pts-1.2
- KC @ SEALead option: Isiah Pacheco · 7.8 pts-1.1
- SEA vs KCLead option: Kenneth Walker III · 9.8 pts-0.9
Built from the same matchup grades as the week 7 RB start/sit board, so a hot cell and a start call always agree.