It's Week 17, and some fantasy leagues are still playing, even if some NFL stars won't be. Some teams with nothing to play for will definitely be holding out regular starters, while others who say they won't will anyway, or at least they'll give key starters an early seat. So fantasy teams will be left scouring the waiver wires for No. 2s to plug in in hopes of good production.
Possible candidates include Rod Smith in Dallas (pictured) and Dwayne Washington in New Orleans. It will be surprising if we see Ezekiel Elliott, Alvin Kamara or Mark Ingram risking injury in a meaningless game.
Looking at Week 17 from the past couple of seasons, there haven't been a lot of hits in this regard. Many will recall Malcolm Brown of the Rams being a candidate a year ago, with Todd Gurley getting the week off. But Brown's 14 carries went for just 54 yards, with no touchdowns.
Over the past two years, there have been 47 running backs who ran for at least 50 yards in Week 17. Eight of those backs were backups who were pressed into taking on a featured role in Week 17 for one reason or another. Those players are in bold. Note that only two of these occurrences came last year: Brown for the Rams and Stevan Ridley for Pittsburgh.
| WEEK 17 TOP RUNNING BACKS, 2016-2017 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Players | Opp | Att | Yds | TD |
| 2017 | Orleans Darkwa, NYG | vs WAS | 20 | 154 | 1 |
| 2016 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | @ PIT | 19 | 152 | 0 |
| 2016 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | @ MIN | 23 | 135 | 0 |
| 2016 | Corey Grant, Jac. | @ IND | 18 | 122 | 1 |
| 2016 | Bilal Powell, NYJ | vs BUF | 22 | 122 | 0 |
| 2016 | Rex Burkhead, Cin. | vs BAL | 27 | 119 | 2 |
| 2017 | Latavius Murray, Minn. | vs CHI | 20 | 111 | 2 |
| 2017 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | @ PHI | 27 | 103 | 0 |
| 2016 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | @ ATL | 20 | 103 | 1 |
| 2016 | Paul Perkins, NYG | @ WAS | 21 | 102 | 0 |
| 2017 | Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | @ LAC | 19 | 101 | 0 |
| 2017 | Frank Gore, Ind. | vs HOU | 24 | 100 | 0 |
| 2017 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | @ BAL | 18 | 96 | 0 |
| 2016 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | vs NO | 12 | 96 | 1 |
| 2017 | Melvin Gordon, LAC | vs OAK | 17 | 93 | 0 |
| 2017 | Dion Lewis, N.E. | vs NYJ | 26 | 93 | 1 |
| 2016 | Justin Forsett, Den. | vs OAK | 22 | 90 | 0 |
| 2017 | Wayne Gallman, NYG | vs WAS | 15 | 89 | 0 |
| 2016 | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | vs CHI | 16 | 89 | 1 |
| 2017 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | @ LA | 15 | 88 | 2 |
| 2016 | Andre Williams, S.D. | vs KC | 18 | 87 | 0 |
| 2017 | Jamaal Williams, G.B. | @ DET | 22 | 82 | 0 |
| 2017 | Stevan Ridley, Pitt. | vs CLE | 17 | 80 | 1 |
| 2017 | Alex Collins, Balt. | vs CIN | 20 | 78 | 1 |
| 2017 | Kenyan Drake, Mia. | vs BUF | 14 | 75 | 0 |
| 2017 | Kerwynn Williams, Ariz. | @ SEA | 23 | 75 | 0 |
| 2016 | Jacquizz Rodgers, T.B. | vs CAR | 17 | 75 | 0 |
| 2017 | Matt Breida, S.F. | @ LA | 12 | 72 | 0 |
| 2017 | Peyton Barber, T.B. | vs NO | 17 | 71 | 1 |
| 2017 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | @ TEN | 19 | 69 | 0 |
| 2016 | Zach Zenner, Det. | vs GB | 20 | 69 | 1 |
| 2016 | DeAngelo Williams, Pitt. | vs CLE | 23 | 67 | 1 |
| 2016 | Derrick Henry, Tenn. | vs HOU | 15 | 65 | 1 |
| 2016 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | @ TB | 20 | 65 | 1 |
| 2016 | Frank Gore, Ind. | vs JAX | 16 | 62 | 0 |
| 2017 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | vs KC | 18 | 61 | 0 |
| 2016 | Aaron Ripkowski, G.B. | @ DET | 9 | 61 | 0 |
| 2016 | Kerwynn Williams, Ariz. | @ LA | 12 | 60 | 1 |
| 2016 | Jay Ajayi, Mia. | vs NE | 16 | 59 | 0 |
| 2016 | Charcandrick West, K.C. | @ SD | 16 | 58 | 0 |
| 2016 | Devontae Booker, Den. | vs OAK | 14 | 57 | 1 |
| 2016 | Alex Collins, Sea. | @ SF | 7 | 55 | 0 |
| 2017 | Malcolm Brown, LAR | vs SF | 14 | 54 | 0 |
| 2017 | Giovani Bernard, Cin. | @ BAL | 10 | 52 | 0 |
| 2016 | Rashad Jennings, NYG | @ WAS | 18 | 52 | 1 |
| 2017 | Derrick Henry, Tenn. | vs JAX | 28 | 51 | 0 |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | @ MIA | 14 | 51 | 1 |
I think the proper course is to be careful using backup type players who wind up in the starting lineup. Far more guys who disappoint like Brown last season than will have good games.
--Andy Richardson