Running back non-PPR rankings for Week 7 fantasy football

Final injury report

Out: Joe Mixon (foot), Tyler Ervin (wrist), Raheem Mostert (ankle)

Doubtful: None

Questionable: Aaron Jones (calf), Justin Jackson (knee), Jeffery Wilson (calf)

Thursday injury report

Joe Mixon remained sidelined through Thursday. Friday will be key but he is trending in the wrong direction this week. The newest piece of news is that Rams running back Darrell Henderson did not practice on Thursday in the team’s first practice for Monday Night Football.

One piece of news that will be important to track is the status of Bucs-Raiders. The game was flexed out of Sunday Night Football to an afternoon start. The reasoning is concern over a potential need to postpone the game due to Covid-19. If that happens, running backs impacted include Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette for the Bucs and Josh Jacobs for the Raiders.

Wednesday injury report

The injury list is short this week for running backs, but this isn’t the whole picture. Christian McCaffrey and Austin Ekeler remain on injured reserve, although CMC could be back in the next week or two. Thursday Night Football features a battle of replacement options with Saquon Barkley out for the year and Miles Sanders missing at least this week with a knee injury. The biggest question heading into the weekend is Joe Mixon’s status.

DNP: Joe Mixon (foot)
Limited: Kareem Hunt (ribs)
Full: Leonard Fournette (ankle)

In true tradition versus the Houston Texans, Derrick Henry finished as the RB1 on the week with 264 scrimmage yards and two touchdown. He’s already earned his crown this season, having scored two touchdowns in each of his last two outings.

Other studly performances include that from Ronald Jones II, who had his best game of the season as Leonard Fournette wound up a surprise inactive. Fantasy managers might not fully trust Bruce Arians to give him this workload for the long haul, he’s had three-consecutive games with 100 or more rushing yards. It’s time to buy in.

Kenyan Drake also had his best performance so far on the season, capping off a decent game with a 69-yard, last second rushing touchdown. The Cardinals will face the Seahawks next, against whom Drake posted 184 rushing yards and two scores in 2019.

Injury news

The hits just keep on coming for the Philadelphia Eagles. Next up on the injury report is RB Miles Sanders, who ranks fifth in rushing yards on the season, averaging an astonishing 6.1 yards per attempt. He was just about the only bright spot left in this demolished offense. The Eagles will be featured on Thursday Night Football this week, almost certainly ruling him out for Week 7.

Raheem Mostert suffered a high ankle sprain, which will likely send him to IR. The 49ers depth chart is hurting, with Tevin Coleman still recovering from a knee injury and Jeff Wilson Jr. from a calf injury. Jerick McKinnon and rookie JaMychal Hasty will assume the workload. Though McKinnon is bound to see the heaviest burden of touches, he’s of more value in PPR leagues. Hasty is well-worth a speculative add.

Mark Ingram also suffered a mid-to-high ankle sprain Sunday but luckily avoided any significant injury that would sideline him for a significant amount of time. The Ravens, fortunately, are heading into a bye week. It’s possible he doesn’t miss time at all, meaning the Ravens backfield will remain confusing as ever.

Bye weeks

Rookie RB Jonathan Taylor gets a bye with the Colts, ranking as the RB15 in non-PPR scoring formats through six weeks. Taylor is due for some rest after averaging nearly 18 touches per game.

Dolphins RBs Myles Gaskin and Matt Breida will also be absent in Week 7. Gaskins has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers, averaging nearly 21 touches per game over the last four weeks as a starter. Gaskin currently ranks as the RB15 in standard leagues — an admirable feat, considering that he’s scored just one touchdown on the season.

The Vikings couldn’t have timed their bye week any better. After a loss at Home to the Falcons in Week 6, they get some extra time to rest Dalvin Cook. Cook missed their last outing with a groin injury, but the extra week of rest will, hopefully, expedite his return. Alexander Mattison handled the Vikings rushing workload in his absence.

As noted earlier, the Ravens get a bye, too. There wasn’t an RB you could trust in Baltimore to begin with.

Streaming options

Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers return from their bye in Week 7, though without their starting running back, Austin Ekeler. The Chargers placed Ekeler on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury and hyperextended knee. Backup Justin Jackson saw 20 touches in their Week 5 contest, finishing as the RB24 on the week in the absence of a score. Next up, the Chargers face the Jaguars, who allowed Nyheim Hines an RB1 performance in Week 1 and allowed Joe Mixon his breakout game in Week 4.

D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions

The Lions backfield has been a massive question mark for fantasy football managers so far in 2020. Despite drafting rookie running back D’Andre Swift out of Georgia, the team has largely leaned on veteran Adrian Peterson to carry the load. Peterson saw 54% of the team’s RB touches through Week 5, but Swift’s Week 6 performance leaves the team with some decisions to make.

Swift totaled 123 scrimmage yards on 17 touches Sunday against Jacksonville and face the Atlanta Falcons next. The Falcons have allowed the 317 receiving yards to running backs — the second-most among any NFL defense — and have allowed the most receiving touchdowns to RBs, a bonus for a capable pass-catcher like Swift.