2025 Fantasy Football RB Rankings - Week 18 Start, Sit Running Backs

January 1, 2026

2025 fantasy football RB rankings - Week 18 start, sit running back rankings. Win more with our updated RB fantasy football rankings and tiers for Week 18.

Running backs are often the anchors of fantasy teams, so hopefully, you have at least a pair of productive ball carriers ahead of Week 18. We're back with our Week 18 fantasy football running back rankings for 2025 to guide your close lineup calls. Check out the running back rankings below to find out where key RBs like Rico Dowdle, Rhamondre Stevenson, Michael Carter, Travis Etienne Jr., RJ Harvey, Audric Estime, and more stand for Week 18.

Our RB fantasy football rankings for Week 18 are put together by Nick Mariano. Below the rankings, you will also find a summary of the important fantasy football news for this week. There are always key injuries and developments to keep track of, so check back throughout the week for updates.

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Week 18 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

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Week 18 Fantasy Football Running Back Outlooks

Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (shoulder) is expected to be limited in practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Malik Davis (eye) is also expected to be limited for what is a banged-up Cowboys backfield heading into their Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. With nothing to play for but pride, Williams could be rested this weekend. Owner Jerry Jones hinted that rookie RB Jaydon Blue could get some playing time on Sunday for the first time since Week 8.

The 25-year-old Williams has been an excellent value play for fantasy managers who drafted him in his first year in Dallas, but he'll be a pretty risky starting lineup option in Week 18. After finding the end zone in last Thursday's Christmas Day win over the Commanders, Williams didn't return due to a shoulder injury that he's been battling in recent weeks.

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is back at practice on Wednesday after missing Tuesday's session with a toe injury, per Joseph Person of The Athletic. Carolina plays the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday in a game that will determine the NFC South champion and the number four seed in the NFC playoffs. Across 16 games this season, Dowdle has recorded 1,343 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns on 266 touches.

However, his production has tailed off a bit in recent weeks, as he's failed to record more than 59 rushing yards in a game since Week 9. If Dowdle is sidelined or limited against Tampa Bay, Panthers back Chuba Hubbard would be in line for a significant increase in role. Assuming Dowdle is active, he profiles as a high-end flex option for fantasy managers in Week 18.

Breece Hall, New York Giants

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said that running back Breece Hall (knee) will miss Wednesday's practice due to a knee injury. Hall suffered the injury late in New York's Week 17 loss to the New England Patriots, although he told reporters after the game he did not think it was a serious ailment. Still, Hall's status for the team's Week 18 matchup against the Buffalo Bills appears to be in question. The 24-year-old has recorded 1,415 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 279 touches across 16 games this season.

Jets RB2 Isaiah Davis (concussion) is in the NFL's concussion protocol and is also missing practice on Wednesday, so New York may be very thin at running back in Week 18. If both Hall and Davis are sidelined, veteran backs Kene Nwangwu and Khalil Herbert would likely see the majority of the team's backfield reps against Buffalo.

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on KNBR Radio on Wednesday that star running back Christian McCaffrey (back) is "trending to play" on Saturday night for the divisional clash against the Seattle Seahawks in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Tight end George Kittle (ankle) is expected to be available, too, after missing the Week 17 win over the Chicago Bears.

Back stiffness kept McCaffrey from practicing on Tuesday, but he's expected to return Wednesday or Thursday and play this weekend in a massive game that will decide the No. 1 seed in the NFC going into the playoffs next week. CMC had a season-high 140 rushing yards and a touchdown on Sunday night against Chicago, and despite a tough matchup against Seattle, he's a no-doubt, must-start in all fantasy lineups. McCaffrey has 20-plus touches in five straight games.

Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia running back Tank Bigsby is rostered in fewer than 20% of redraft leagues, but depending on how the Eagles approach the final week of the regular season, he could be a league winner for fantasy managers with a Week 18 title game. Philadelphia is locked into either the number two or number three seed in the NFC playoffs, and it remains unclear how much matchup manipulation they intend to take into Sunday. If the Eagles opt to rest their starters against a Commanders defense that has been the fourth most favorable matchup for fantasy running backs, Bigsby could be in line for a huge week.

In the Week 8 win over the Giants, in which Saquon Barkley saw his lowest snap count of the year, Bigsby ran for a season-high 104 yards and finished as the RB20 on the week. If Barkley is rested for the final game of the year, Bigsby has RB1 potential and should be a waiver wire priority in any league that has yet to be settled.

Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine has finished as a low-end RB2 in each of the past two weeks without cracking a 40% snap share. If the Bengals opt to rest or limit their starters, including the surging Chase Brown, Perine could be in line for a solid workload in a Week 18 matchup against the Browns with nothing but divisional pride on the line.

Even if Perine maintains only his usual change of pace and mop-up duties, he has enough of a floor to keep him in consideration for a flex role against a Cleveland defense that just allowed 131 yards on the ground to a Steelers offense with no threat of a passing attack. Readily available on most waiver wires, Perine should be a top priority in any league with a Week 18 title game.

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