Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Running Backs – Week 7, 2026

Running back is one of the most volatile positions in fantasy football. Truly elite RBs, or run-of-the-mill backs with a particularly good matchup, can put up some of the biggest point totals of the week for your team, but they’re also the most likely player to get injured or end up on IR. You only get to pick two to three of them per week, depending on your league, so making the right call here is a big decision.

If you’re fretting over who the top running backs to start for Week 6 are, or which players should be riding your bench this week, here’s our fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em Week 7, 2026 running backs guide to help you get an edge in your league this week.

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Start ‘Em/Sit ‘Em Week 7, 2026 – Running Backs

So, who should you absolutely slot into your lineup for Week 7, and who’s better of left on your bench? Let’s take a look. We’ll be focusing mostly on players who you may be on the fence about, rather than established must-start players like Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs.

Running Back Start of the Week

Kyren Williams – Los Angeles Rams @ Las Vegas Raiders

Projected: 19.3 (RB5)

Kyren Williams is primed to go off in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Rams have an implied total of 26.5 points, and Williams is expected to be a key contributor with a projected 15.3 carries and 4.6 targets. The Raiders have allowed the 12th-most PPR points to running backs, making this a favorable matchup. Williams’ forecasted carry share of 57% and target share of 13% suggest he’ll be heavily involved in both the running and passing game. Get him in your lineup.

Running Backs to Start in Week 7

Aaron Jones – Minnesota Vikings vs Indianapolis Colts

Projected: 17.6 (RB7)

The Colts have allowed the 15th-fewest PPR points to running backs, but Jones’s expected workload of nearly 20 carries and over four targets pushed him into start territory despite the less-than-ideal matchup. His recent performance against the Saints, where he posted 18.7 PPR points on 25 carries and a touchdown, shows the veteran back can produce even in challenging matchups, and with Minnesota’s implied total at 24 points, Jones should see ample scoring opportunities.

Woody Marks – Houston Texans vs New York Giants

Projected: 12.5 (RB16

This could be Woody Marks’ week. He’s up against a Giants defense that has struggled against running backs, allowing the sixth-most PPR points per game and the Texans’ implied total of 26.2 points mean they’ll likely enjoy a productive day on offense. Marks is expected to be a central figure in that output: He’s expected to get 13.9 carries and draw 2.7 targets, giving him plenty of opportunities to exploit a very favorable matchup.

Braelon Allen – New York Jets vs Miami Dolphins

Projected: 12.1 (RB18)

Braelon Allen’s workload has been noticeably increasingly lately: He played 87% of snaps against the New England Patriots last week, Against the Pats, logged 78 yards on 17 carries and caught both of his targets for 26 yards. That makes him a strong start in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the third-most PPR points per game to running backs.

Running Back Sit of the Week

Jeremiyah Love – Arizona Cardinals vs Denver Broncos

Projected: 4.5 (RB46)
Range: 1.6–9.7
Matchup: Brutal
Outlook: Elevated bust risk
Status: Questionable

Jeremiyah Love faces a tough challenge in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos, who have been one of the toughest defenses against the run. They’ve allowed the third-fewest PPR points per game to the position, and Love’s expected volume is relatively low at just 8.3 projected carries and 1.4 targets this week. He was underwhelming against the Lions, and the Cardinals’ implied total of 19.5 points in this one points to a low-scoring affair. The potential is there, but he’s too risky for us to start in this matchup.

Running Backs to Sit in Week 7

Jonathan Taylor – Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings

Projected: 14.7 (RB14)
Range: 7.6–19.7
Matchup: Brutal

Jonathan Taylor is a must-start in almost any other context, but in Week 7, he’s drawn the worst possible matchup in the NFL: the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have allowed the second-fewest PPR points to running backs this season, and despite Taylor’s impressive 21-point Week 6 performance, the Colts’ implied total of just 17.5 points means his opportunity could be limited, even if he does command significant volume. Don’t roll the dice, just wait for him to get past Minnesota.

Emanuel Wilson – Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs

Projected: 11.6 (RB20)
Range: 4.1–19.0
Matchup: Brutal

The Seahawks take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, who have been tough on running backs, allowing the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to the position. That certainly doesn’t bode well for Wilson, even though he’s emerged as the Seahawks’ RB1 and is expected to get 16.4 carries and 1.9 targets, that still might not be enough to make a meaningful impact against a strong Chiefs defense.

Looking for complete fantasy football rankings for other positions each week, too? Check out our full fantasy football rankings guide.

Watch NFL Football on DIRECTV

You can see all of these running backs and the rest of the players on your fantasy roster rack up points all season long on by watching NFL games every week on DIRECTV.