FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast – Week 11 Running Back Rankings & Tiers | Studs, Sleepers, and Must-Starts (Ep. 1838)

Brief Overview

In this episode, hosts Chris Welsh, Andrew Erickson, and Pat Fitzmaurice dive deep into their Week 11 running back (RB) rankings, discussing studs, sleepers, tier breaks, and must-starts for fantasy football. With only two teams on bye, the trio analyze the shifting RB landscape, highlight new and returning opportunities for backs, and debate close calls within and outside the Top 24. The discussion is lively, analytical, and candid, offering both data-driven advice and gut-check assessments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

State of the Week 11 RB Landscape

• There’s a sense of optimism this week with more RB options available due to fewer bye weeks (only two).

• Some RBs, previously buried on depth charts or plagued by injuries, are now thrust into starting roles.

  • [00:35] Chris Welsh: “I feel like it’s better than it’s been in quite. We have optimism to running backs this week, Pat.”
  • [01:28] Pat Fitzmaurice: “You can never feel completely awesome about running backs in the week where Jonathan Taylor is on bye.”

• The impact of Jonathan Taylor being out is palpable, as he’s deemed a league-winner for many fantasy teams.

Top 12 (RB1s): Rankings and Debates

Top 12 RBs (per ECR):

1. Christian McCaffrey vs ARI
2. Devon Achane
3. Bijan Robinson
4. Josh Jacobs
5. Jameer Gibbs
6. James Cook
7. Rico Dowdle
8. Ashton Jeanty (Genty)
9. Javonte Williams
10. Saquon Barkley
11. Jalen Warren
12. Kyren Williams
    [03:22]

Rico Dowdle vs. Ashton Jeanty

• Erickson: Leaning strongly toward Dowdle over Jeanty.

  • [04:50] “It’s not close for me. It’s Rico Dowdle. You want to attack a defense that just gave up 250 rushing yards to the aforementioned Jonathan Taylor … Rico Dowdle, he’s the engine of the Panthers offense.”
  • Expects the Panthers to be run-heavy to protect Bryce Young against a weak Atlanta run defense.
  • Cautions that the Raiders (Jeanty) face a fired-up Dallas defense with returning starters.

• Fitzmaurice: Has it closer, but still prefers Dowdle. Emphasizes team context and volume.

  • [06:31] “Rico’s playing on a team that is actively trying to hide its quarterback with its play calling…they will be run heavy against the Falcons defense that has just been getting slammed.”
  • Notes concerns about Raider injuries and improved Dallas run defense.

Jalen Warren Hype

• Warren at RB11 stands out as an atypical RB1 for the week.
• Fitzmaurice: Likes the matchup versus Cincinnati, but notes Warren isn't a true workhorse.
  • [08:19] “Warren is a fine play for fantasy in Week 11, but he just isn’t really a true workhorse because Kenneth Gainwell gets somewhere between 33% and 50% of the snaps every week.”
• Erickson: Very bullish, citing efficiency, matchup, and the possibility of an "outlier" ceiling game.
  • [09:12] “If we’re ever going to get a Jalen Warren ceiling game, this is it…He’s a broken tackle machine. He’s jumping over dudes, right? He just looks fantastic.”

RB2 Range (RB13-24): Who Are the Best Volume and Upside Plays?

RB13-24 per rankings: Derrick Henry, TreVeyon Henderson, Chase Brown, Quinshon Judkins, Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, DeAndre Swift, Aaron Jones, Kimani Vidal, Rashad White, Woody Marks, David Montgomery. [13:17]

TreVeyon Henderson (Patriots)

• Erickson: If other Pats RBs (Stevenson, Jennings) are out, Henderson should move into RB1 territory due to volume.

  • [14:03] “If it’s only Henderson and D’Ernest Johnson that are the two active running backs...Move Henderson up into RB1 territory.”

• Fitzmaurice: Thinks the “genie is out of the bottle,” especially after Henderson's monster game, but reminders that Stevenson’s health still matters for projecting volume.

  • [15:08] “It would be hard to stuff that genie back...I would love to see him just be the sole guy going against a Jets defense that has allowed an average of 155 rushing yards in its last three games…”

Chase Brown (Bengals) — Major Rankings Gap!

• Erickson: Exceptionally high, ranking him RB6 (!), loves likely bell-cow usage with Samaje Perine out.

  • [16:43] “I am searching for ceiling this week with Chase Brown…He could play every single snap for the Bengals’ backfield this week.”
  • “Chase Brown has an RB1 overall finish in his range of outcomes…he’s explosive, involved in all three phases, and ECR is lagging.”

• Fitzmaurice: Likes him, but more cautious; sees Steelers run defense improving.

  • [18:19] “He’s not just drinking Kool Aid, but like Kool Aid laced with Ayahuasca!”
  • “[The] Steelers run defense really hasn’t been that much of a pushover…and I do think maybe the way to attack them is more through the air.”

Aaron Jones Debate

• Fitzmaurice: A bit low at RB25, cautious about the split with Jordan Mason.
  • [20:20] “I still consider this a split backfield…if Jones does dramatically out-snap and out-touch Mason again, I’ll have to reconsider.”
• Erickson: High at RB18; thinks Jones’s recent production and passing-game work are real.
  • [21:53] “He’s averaged over 6 yards per carry since coming back from injury…he looks really, really good.”

Woody Marks (Texans)

• Both have him as a solid if not exciting RB2.
• Erickson: “He dominated the snaps last week...Mark checked off every other box – looked efficient, catches passes.”
• Fitzmaurice: More optimistic on stickiness of the role compared to other committee changes.
  • [25:11] “Usage spike might be a little stickier…if the Texans like what they see from him, they’re going to start ramping up his usage.”

Waiting on Bucky Irving News & His Potential Impact

• Both hosts would aggressively start Bucky Irving if activated, moving Rashad White down.
  • [27:45] Erickson: “That's a top 20 running back play for upside facing the Buffalo Bills…you’re going to feel much worse if you watch Bucky Irving go off on your bench…”
• Fitzmaurice: “I would start him pretty much unconditionally…and want no part of Rashad White who just isn’t good.” [27:02]

RB3 Zone (RB25-36): Who are the Flex and Deep-League Plays?

Names Discussed: Ken Walker, Zach Charbonnet, Tyrone Tracy, RJ Harvey, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Kyle Monangai, Tajae Spears, Tony Pollard, Amari DiMercado, Jordan Mason, Tyler Allgeier. [28:15]

RJ Harvey (Broncos)

• Fitzmaurice: Has him at RB26 factoring in Dobbins being out but expects a RB rotation; matchup with KC not ideal.

  • [29:44] “I suspect that Sean Payton is going to continue to rotate running backs…matchup isn’t ideal; Chiefs still a pretty tough matchup.”

• Erickson: Higher at RB20; trusts Harvey’s receiving floor and thinks he gets more red-zone work with Dobbins out.

  • [30:35] “If this was a good matchup, Harvey would definitely be ranked even higher…But I think Harvey has shown, or working alongside…he was playable alongside Dobbins.”

Tyrone Tracy (Giants)

• Erickson: Optimistic about Tracy as a flex option, especially after recent coaching change potentially favoring more snaps for the young RB.
  • [33:53] “I think we could get a scenario where it is even more Tyrone Tracy and less Devin Singletary as the Giants try to evaluate their young players.”
• Fitzmaurice: Open to moving him up based on Erickson’s logic about coaching change and youth movement.
  • [36:05] “Based on the excellent points Erickson has made, I’m probably going to move Tyrone Tracy up.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:02] Erickson:“All that matters is did you draft Jonathan Taylor or not. I know we spend hours and hours…But if you drafted Jonathan Taylor, you’re probably winning your fantasy league. Simple as that.”

• [18:19] Fitzmaurice: “He’s not just drinking Kool Aid, but like Kool Aid laced with Ayahuasca party punch [about Erickson’s Chase Brown hype].”

• [30:35] Erickson: “If this was a good matchup, Harvey would definitely be ranked even higher, I think by ECR overall…it’d be like a top 15 guy.”

• [36:46] Welsh: “The biggest win we can have on this show is convincing the other person on any of the shows. We’re just like, let’s go. So that’s a W for Erickson.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• State of RBs, Jonathan Taylor absence: 00:35–03:22
• Top 12 breakdown, Rico Dowdle vs. Ashton Jeanty: 03:22–07:45
• Jalen Warren upside and ranking: 07:45–10:04
• RB2s—Henderson, Chase Brown, Aaron Jones, Woody Marks: 13:17–25:03
• Bucky Irving/Rashad White contingency: 26:06–28:15
• RB3s—RJ Harvey, rookie RB breakouts, Tyrone Tracy: 28:15–36:46

Overall Tone and Language

The conversation is energetic, competitive, and sprinkled with playful banter (“Kool Aid laced with Ayahuasca!”). The hosts balance stats-driven reasoning with gut calls, frequently referring to recent player usage, coaching changes, and injury updates. The show maintains a direct, practical tone: they aim to answer listeners’ start/sit dilemmas with clarity and conviction.

Summary Table: RBs Most Highlighted by the Hosts

| Player | Hot Take/Insight | Rank Range | Speaker (Main) | |---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------| | Jonathan Taylor | League-winner; managers lucky to avoid his bye | N/A | All | | Rico Dowdle | Clear priority over Jeanty; bellcow setup due to favorable matchup | 7 | Erickson | | Chase Brown | Monster ceiling/massive usage with Perine out; “Ayahuasca” level hype | 6 (Erickson) | Erickson | | Jalen Warren | Efficiency + opportunity = possible ceiling game vs. CIN | 11 | Both | | TreVeyon Henderson | Could be RB1 if injuries clear path; “genie out of the bottle” | 14–15 | Both | | Aaron Jones | Split concerns vs. upside; a top-20 play if role sticks | 18 (Erickson) | Both | | Woody Marks | Solid, reliable RB2; efficiency and usage trending up | 22 | Both | | RJ Harvey | Flex with upside if Dobbins out; pass-catching floor | 20–28 | Both | | Tyrone Tracy | Ascending with coaching change; potential deeper league flex | 26–30 | Erickson | | Bucky Irving | Must-start if activated, major impact on Rashad White | Top 20* | Both |

Actionable Takeaways for Fantasy Managers

• Start Rico Dowdle with confidence in all formats given matchup and expected volume.
• Chase Brown has true blow-up potential – consider aggressively starting him if you need ceiling.
• Monitor Patriots’ injury reports; TreVeyon Henderson could be a league-winner in Week 11 if others sit.
• Be ready to bench Rashad White if Bucky Irving is active.
• RJ Harvey and Tyrone Tracy are strong flex options in deep leagues, especially in half and full-PPR.
• Re-evaluate rookie RB expectations for future drafts, as true breakouts may not come until deeper into the season.
• Stay attentive to late-week news, particularly on Bucky Irving and other injury situations.

For more player-specific rankings, roster decisions, and up-to-date injury news, listeners are urged to consult FantasyPros’ ECR and join the hosts for their Thursday live stream on YouTube (Thursdays at 3pm ET).