It depends on the creek. Water can be a huge force of nature. I've seen boulders shoved down a creek during a flood. Riprap could assist, if the creek allows it. Riprap alone may or may not work best. I have seen people build structures to redirect water in a creek away from the erodable shoreline and then riprap the weak shore and be successful.

Teach a man to grow fish...
He can teach to catch fish...