Top Fantasy Football Running Backs for the Conference Championship Games
Big games, tough matchups, and the RBs who can deliver fantasy points.
After looking over fantasy football quarterbacks for the NFL Conference Championships, let's do the same for the running back spot.
Check back later for rankings at wide receiver and tight end. Also be sure to check out matchups for the title games.
Use the FantasySP start/sit tool to help determine the best options for the Conference Championships.
Surprisingly, Walker gets the No. 1 ranking going into the conference title games. Maybe it's not so surprising after all though.
After Zach Charbonnet was dealt a season-ending injury, Walker is the only back left in Seattle. Walker should be the workhorse for the team against the Rams.
LA is a below-average fantasy test for a running back, but it's actually the best matchup available to a back for this round. The Rams allowed 20 fantasy points per game.
Walker was great in two regular season games against the Rams too. In the first game, he had 67 rushing yards and a score on 16 carries, while adding 44 receiving yards on three catches and targets. Walker had 100 rushing yards and a score on 11 carries in the second game, plus 64 receiving yards on three grabs and targets.
Now as the clear RB1 in Seattle, I see Walker shining this week. This is one of the rare times where he could be the top fantasy back.
I have Williams in my No. 2 spot for the week.
His matchup against the Seahawks is actually the second-best matchup, but Seattle allowed just 18 fantasy points per game to running backs.
Williams had 91 yards and a score on 12 rushing attempts, plus a five-yard catch across two targets in the first regular season game against the Seahawks. He then had 70 rushing yards on 23 carries and three catches for 15 more yards across six targets.
Williams has scored at least once in each postseason game so far for LA. He had over 100 total yards and two scores last week.
I see Williams putting together a solid fantasy showing, even in a tougher test, and in a bit of a split backfield.
3. RJ Harvey
Harvey is the top Denver running back, and gets my No. 3 spot despite the possible return of another back on the roster.
The Patriots are the second-toughest fantasy test for a back, and of the week. New England allowed 17 fantasy points per game this season.
The teams haven't met yet this season, so there's no past stats to go off of, especially with a rookie. Harvey had 11 touches last week, going for 20 rushing yards on six carries and 46 receiving yards on five grabs and six targets.
I see him involved at least that much again this week, and putting up the third-best fantasy score among the running backs.
I had Stevenson as the No. 2 New England fantasy back last week, but he easily was the top option by the end of the week. I have him as the top fantasy back for the Pats this week, and ranked fourth overall.
Denver is the toughest fantasy test for a running back this week, and on the season. The Broncos also allowed 17 fantasy points on average to backs.
Stevenson had 70 rushing yards on 16 carries and 11 more receiving yards on four catches and targets last week. He had 53 rushing yards on 10 carries and 75 receiving yards on three grabs and four targets in the team's first playoff game.
Despite a brutal matchup, I have Stevenson putting together a decent fantasy showing, and most importantly, leading the Patriots' backfield.
Henderson is the other half of the Pats' backfield.
He only tallied 25 rushing yards on 12 carries last week. Henderson added a catch across two targets, but it went backward two yards.
Henderson wasn't very good in the opening round of the playoffs either. He rushed for 27 yards on nine carries, and added a nine-yard catch on his lone target.
I have him ranked fifth because I think he'll score the most points of the backups due to his workload. If he can be near 10 touches again, he should be able to do enough to put up a few fantasy points. If he steals a touchdown, he could outscore Stevenson, but the veteran is the safer fantasy back at this point after looking at the first two playoff games.
6. Blake Corum
Corum gets the No. 6 ranking among fantasy backs.
He only got six touches last playoff round, rushing six times for just 19 yards. Corum wasn't targeted in the passing game. He had 13 touches in the first round - he rushed for 45 yards across 11 carries, while adding in 13 receiving yards on two catches and targets.
In the first regular season game against Seattle, Corum had eight rushes for just 10 yards. He caught one of his two targets, but it lost five yards. Corum had 48 rushing yards and a score on 14 carries in the second regular season clash between the teams - he added a 13-yard catch across two targets.
After his workload last week, Corum's outlook is down for the upcoming round. The tough matchup doesn't help him, so I'd only want to try him in deeper fantasy/DFS setups.
7. Jaleel McLaughlin or J.K. Dobbins
McLaughlin or Dobbins could serve as the backup in Denver. Dobbins hasn't played in several weeks, but could be activated off injured reserve - if he is, I'd take him over McLaughlin.
Dobbins was the team's top back early on this season. In 10 games, he rushed for 772 yards and four scores, while adding in 37 receiving yards on 11 catches and 14 targets.
If he's available, he could be the top backup for Harvey, and deliver a few fantasy points. He could finish even higher if he steals a touchdown.
8. Velus Jones or Cam Akers
Jones or Akers could be the top Seattle backup RB with Charbonnet out of the mix.
Let's discuss Jones a bit more here. He was elevated for the team's only playoff game so far. With Seattle winning big, he ended up getting six carries, gaining 10 yards.
If Jones is elevated again, I'd expect him to be RB2. If both he and Akers are elevated, I still expect Jones to be RB2, but it's possible Akers steals a couple of his touches, lowering his already low fantasy ceiling.
If Akers is the only back who gets elevated, then I'd take him here instead.
9. Jaleel McLaughlin
We hit on Dobbins more when listing McLaughlin, so we'll cover McLaughlin more in depth here.
McLaughlin has been the top backup RB in Denver of late. He had 21 rushing yards on four carries last week, and failed to catch his lone target.
If Dobbins isn't cleared to return, you could expect McLaughlin to get around five carries, at least. He could be a sneaky-good option as the Broncos look to pull an upset without Bo Nix playing.
10. Cam Akers
Should both Seattle backs get elevated for gameday, then I'd take Akers in this final spot.
He only has five carries on the season, and that was with the Vikings way back in week 1. He has played one offensive snap with Seattle, which makes me think he'd be RB3, not Jones, if both backs are elevated.
Like most of the backs starting at the sixth spot, Akers doesn't have a very good fantasy outlook, especially as he prepares for a tougher matchup.
