Fantasy Football Running Back Outlook for Week 18: Jaylen Warren, Ashton Jeanty, Rico Dowdle and More

Let's continue our look at viable fantasy football/DFS options for week 18 by going over running backs.

We already looked at quarterbacks, and will cover wide receivers and tight ends in other articles.

We'll break things down by team for running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, so let's get to it!

Check out week 18 fantasy football projections for running backs on FantasySP as well.

Arizona Cardinals

Michael Carter and Emari Demercado are viable fantasy options in week 18, while Corey Kiner could also chip in.

A tougher test against the Rams is coming, with LA allowing 20 fantasy points per game to opposing backs. 

I like Carter the most, then Demercado. Both are better deep-league fantasy options, while Kiner would be a desperation play in really deep leagues.

Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson will power Atlanta's backfield, with help from Tyler Allgeier.

New Orleans is a slightly below-average test for the Falcons' backs. Robinson is a must-start back, while Allgeier is a better deep-league option.

Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Henry will power the Ravens' backfield in a winner-take-all game against Pittsburgh. Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali are just deep-league assets.

Henry is a great fantasy asset this week, even in a tougher fantasy test.

Buffalo Bills

James Cook is the top Buffalo back, but I could see Ty Johnson and Ray Davis factoring in more this week against the Jets.

New York is a super favorable test, so Cook is a great option if he's not limited. Davis and Johnson could be good options if Cook is rested.

Carolina Panthers

Carolina has Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard for a huge contest against Tampa Bay.

It's an above-average test, so both backs could deliver. Dowdle is the better fantasy option, while Hubbard is a better deep-league option.

Chicago Bears

D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai continue to split the Bears' backfield.

Detroit is a tougher test for them, and splitting the backfield, I don't love either Chicago back this week. They are really better deep-league options, but could deliver enough fantasy points with a score.

Cincinnati Bengals

Chase Brown is the top Cincy back, but could be limited a bit by an injury. Samaje Perine and Tahj Brooks could pick up more if Brown is limited at all.

The Browns are a below-average test for the Bengals' backs. Brown is a standard league option if he's out there, while Perine and Brooks are just deep leaguers, even if Brown is eventually ruled out, or is limited.

Cleveland Browns

Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders lead the Browns now, with Trayveon Williams also chipping in a bit.

Cincinnati is the best fantasy test for a running back, so Sampson and Sanders are both pretty solid deep-league options this week, and each could deliver fantasy numbers worthy of standard league usage. Williams is more a desperation play.

Dallas Cowboys

Javonte Williams and Malik Davis are banged up, so Jaydon Blue and Hunter Luepke could lead the backfield this week.

The Giants are a super favorable matchup, so whoever is RB1 has a chance for a big fantasy showing.

Denver Broncos

RJ Harvey powers Denver now, with help from Jaleel McLaughlin.

The Chargers are a tough matchup for the Broncos' backs, but I'd still be confident in Harvey. McLaughlin a better deep-league asset, and more a desperation play.

Detroit Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery should lead the Lions' backfield again in week 18.

The Bears are a slightly below-average test for them. Gibbs is still a great standard league option, with Montgomery getting deep-league starts.

Green Bay Packers

Josh Jacobs is the lead Packers' back, but could sit in week 17. That would leave Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks to lead the way against the Vikings.

Minnesota is a tougher test, but Wilson delivered against them in a start earlier this season. With Clayton Tune at QB, the Packers' backfield could be busy, so don't focus on the matchup and try some Packers' backs out.

Houston Texans

Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan and Nick Chubb are all options for Houston.

Indianapolis is a tougher test for the Houston backs, but I'd still trust Marks for starts in any league type. Jordan and Chubb are deep-league options only.

Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor powers Indy's backfield, with Ameer Abdullah as the top backup option.

In a meaningless game, I still have enough confidence to play Taylor, but would temper expectations. Abdullah or DJ Giddens could factor in a bit, but in a tougher test against the Texans, I'd only like starting Taylor.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Travis Etienne leads Jacksonville, with LeQuint Allen, Bhayshul Tuten and DeeJay Dallas as backup options.

Tennessee is a pretty average test for the Jacksonville backs, so feel confident in Etienne getting the job done. Allen, Tuten and Dallas are deep-league options only.

Kansas City Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are the leaders in the KC backfield, while Brashard Smith and maybe Dameon Pierce could factor in with Hunt dealing with an illness.

Las Vegas is a good matchup for the KC backs, so Pacheco and Hunt could be sneaky-good options. If Hunt is out, Smith could be worth deep-league starts.

Las Vegas Raiders

Ashton Jeanty leads the Raiders, with help from Zamir White.

The Chiefs are a tougher test, but Jeanty is still a good fantasy option. White is a desperation play.

Los Angeles Chargers

Omarion Hampton leads LA, but he's dealing with an injury. Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal are other options if Hampton is out.

Denver is the toughest fantasy test, so if Hampton is out, I don't love Haskins or Vidal.

Los Angeles Rams

Kyren Williams and Blake Corum usually lead the backfield, but both are dealing with ankle injuries, which might leave Ronnie Rivers to lead the way.

Arizona is a super favorable fantasy test, so whoever leads the backfield has a chance to shine this week.

Miami Dolphins

De'Von Achane still leads the Miami backfield, with Jaylen Wright as the top backup and Ollie Gordon chipping in.

Achane is a good option despite a tougher test against New England. The tough test makes Wright and Gordon desperation plays, unless Achane is limited or out.

Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Jones Sr. and Ty Chandler led the backfield last week for Minnesota. Jordan Mason could replace an injured Jones this week.

The Packers are an average test, but a split backfield makes the Minnesota backs better deep-league options.

New England Patriots

TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson lead the New England backfield, and D'Ernest Johnson could also factor in if the team wins big.

Miami is an above-average fantasy test, so I like Henderson and Stevenson this week. Johnson is a desperation play.

New Orleans Saints

Audric Estime led the Saints last week. Evan Hull and Tayson Hill are other options for carries.

Atlanta is an average fantasy test, so I'd be happy to try Estime this week. Hull and Hill are deep-league options.

New York Giants

Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary should lead the Giants' backfield.

Dallas is a favorable test, so both could deliver. Tracy is the standard league option, with Singletary being a better deep leaguer. 

New York Jets

Breece Hall guides the Jets, with help from Kene Nwangwu, Isaiah Davis and Khalil Herbert last week.

Hall, Davis and Nwangwu are on the injury report, so keep an eye on the team's backfield as their game against the Bills approaches. Buffalo struggles to stop running backs, so the lead back for the Jets could deliver a good fantasy score.

Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley is the top Philly back, but Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley (and maybe A.J. Dillon) could factor in more this week if Barkley rests.

Washington is a very favorable fantasy matchup, so Bigsby could star in the lead role, while Shipley has deep-league upside.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell will power the Steelers' backfield.

Baltimore is a pretty average test, but I like both the Steelers' backs as fantasy assets in week 18.

San Francisco 49ers

Christian McCaffrey is the top San Fran back, but Brian Robinson could factor in more to avoid an injury for CMC.

Seattle is a tougher test, so CMC's expectations need to be tempered a bit. Robinson is just a deep-league option.

Seattle Seahawks

Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet will lead Seattle's backfield.

San Fran is an above-average matchup, so Walker and Charbonnet are flex-level standard league options this week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucky Irving is the top Tampa Bay back, with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker as other options.

Carolina is a favorable matchup, so I like Irving in all leagues, and White in some deeper leagues. Tucker is more of a desperation play.

Tennessee Titans

Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are options in the Tennessee backfield.

Jacksonville is a tougher test for the backs. I have Pollard as a flex-level option in standard leagues, with Spears as a deep-league option.

Washington Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Chase Edmonds and Chris Rodriguez are the options for Washington.

JCM was a good fantasy option last week, with McNichols picking up most of the other RB work. Philly is an above-average test, so Croskey-Merritt could surprise again, while McNichols is a deep-league option.