Fantasy football Week 7 RB preview: Here come Josh Jacobs and Zach Charbonnet

Both backs project for 10 to 12 touches as high-end flex options this week, but their long-term upside could reshape lineups Oct 20, 2026 at 3:25 pm ET • 2 min read Imagn Images Imagn Images It has been a difficult year at the running back position. Two of the teams on bye this week are part of the reason why. Omarion Hampton was supposed to be a top-12 running back but instead, he's found himself in a full-blown committee in one of the worst offenses in football. The Commanders don't have one running back on the roster averaging double-digit PPR Fantasy points. In other words, Fantasy managers won't miss them during their bye week. They will, of course, miss James Cook and Bhayshul Tuten, who are also on bye.The story of the week is the running backs we're getting back, though, to be fair, Jordan Mason will be more of a nuisance to Aaron Jones than a help to your Fantasy teams. The other two guys we are projecting to return, Josh Jacobs and Zach Charbonnet, are more exciting for the long term. Early in the week, I am ranking Jacobs and Charbonnet as high-end flexes and projecting them to get 10-12 touches in their debut. Though I am starting to wonder if that is too low for Jacobs.Jacobs will face the Lions in one of the highest projected scoring games of the week. Detroit has been an uneven run defense this year and an awful pass defense. James Cook and Chuba Hubbard had massive days against this defense, while the Cardinals and Jets running backs struggled. Travis Etienne was bad as a rusher but caught seven passes and scored 14 PPR Fantasy points. Because of the high total, I do think Jacobs could get into the end zone, which is why I rank him a handful of spots ahead of Charbonnet. More important for both backs is getting through the weekend healthy. For the rest of the season, I could see Jacobs as a high-end RB2 and Charbonnet as a top-24 back.Now let's get to the rest of the Week 7 RB preview: Week 7 RB Preview RB Preview Numbers to know 68.7% -- Rachaad White played a season-high 68.7% of the offensive snaps in Week 6. With Jacory Croskey-Merritt on injured reserve, White is a must hold through his bye.16 -- After three straight games with at least 20 touches, Jaylen Warren had 16 touches in an overtime win against the Saints in Rico Dowdle's first game back. Warren is still a high-end RB2 at worst.3.82 -- Bucky Irving is averaging 3.82 yards after contact per rush attempt, which trails only Bijan Robinson and Kenneth Walker at running back. Buy low, the targets should return when Baker Mayfield does.27% -- Braelon Allen ranks top five amongst qualified running backs with a 27% tackle avoid rate. He's earned more touches once Breece Hall returns.149 -- Kyren Williams leads all running backs with 149 routes run. He may be a top-five running back for the rest of the season with Davante Adams sidelined.7 -- Ashton Jeanty has seven rush attempts inside the five. He has negative three yards and one touchdown on those carries. Everyone else with that many carries inside the five has scored at least three touchdowns.64.3% -- Corey Kiner had 64.3% of the Patriots' rush attempts in the fourth quarter last week. This could be another three-man committee.36 -- Woody Marks has 36 touches over his last two games. He's facing the Giants. Start him. RB Preview Waiver Wire Targets Projections powered by Sportsline Projections powered by Sportsline RB Preview Heath's Projections My full set of Week 7 Fantasy football projections for every position is now available here. Find out which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don't live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 7. Projected stats for all starting running backs will be updated throughout the week, so check back regularly.