Week 17 Fantasy Rankings and Projections: Running Backs (RB)

Kahlil Bell @ Vikings

Heading into the Bears contest against the Broncos, Coach Lovie Smith paid third-year back Kahlil Bell a compliment when he pointed out that Bell's overall game was closer to that of Matt Forte rather than that of Marion Barber. While Barber was the feature runner in Denver, poor play at the end of the game and a penchant for injuries seemingly put him in the doghouse. Then the next week against the Seahawks, Bell surprisingly received the lion's share of the backfield duties. Bell responded with a solid performance as he scored the only offensive touchdown on the day and earned himself a starting role the following week.

As I watched Bell carry the football 23 times for 123 yards and add four receptions for 38 yards, I thought for sure it was Matt Forte on the field, and not Bell. Displaying vision, footwork, cutback ability and breaking tackles were commonplace for Bell on the night, and based on Coach Smith’s comments about him after the game, Bell has momentum to be Forte’s primary backup (assuming Forte comes back) next year.

In the Bears' season finale Bell will be the feature back, as the Bears face a Vikings defense that gave up 132 yards rushing on 19 carries to Evan Royster last week. Closing out the season, Bell is a must start RB-1 and will be a player to consider handcuffing with Forte at your draft next year.

LeSean McCoy Likely Out

Look to rookie Dion Lewis as the primary option to start if you’re in need of a replacement for LeSean McCoy as it appears the star running back will be sitting out the final game after an injury last week. Veteran Ronnie Brown will be in the mix, but Lewis has played well when given an opportunity and now that the Eagles have been kicked out of the playoff chase, it’s likely Coach Andy Reid will want his young playmaker on the field, to evaluate him for next year.

Please Note—** means player could receive early rest on final week.

1	Maurice Jones-Drew	Colts
2	Ray Rice	@ Bengals
3	Rashard Mendenhall	@ Browns
4	Marshawn Lynch	@ Cardinals
5	Reggie Bush (I)	Jets
6	C.J. Spiller	@ Patriots
7	Kahlil Bell	@ Vikings
8	Felix Jones (I)	@ Giants
9	Ryan Mathews	@ Raiders
10	Arian Foster**	Titans
11	Michael Bush	Chargers
12	Toby Gerhart	Bears
13	Evan Royster	@ Eagles
14	Ahmad Bradshaw	Cowboys
15	Michael Turner**	Buccaneers
16	Frank Gore**	@ Rams
17	Shonn Greene	@ Dolphins
18	DeAngelo Williams	@ Saints
19	Willis McGahee (I)	Chiefs
20	Peyton Hillis	Steelers
21	Chris Johnson (I)	@ Texans
22	Dion Lewis	Redskins
23	Stevan Ridley	Bills
24	Beanie Wells	Seahawks
25	Cedric Benson	Ravens
26	Steven Jackson	49ers
27	Darren Sproles**	Panthers
28	Kevin Smith**	@ Packers
29	Donald Brown	@ Jaguars
30	Ben Tate	Titans
31	Brandon Jacobs	Cowboys
32	Jackie Battle	@ Broncos
33	Roy Helu (I)	@ Eagles
34	Jonathan Stewart	@ Saints
35	Ryan Grant	Lions
36	LeGarrette Blount	@ Falcons
37	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	Bills
38	Mike Tolbert	@ Raiders
39	Danny Woodhead	Bills
40	Lance Ball	Chiefs
41	Ronnie Brown	Redskins

More Week 17 Rankings—QB | WR | TE | K/D | Waivers |