Week 16 Fantasy Rankings: Running back

Tony Fortier-Bensen

Week 16 Fantasy Rankings: Running back image

It seemed like last week was full of jackpot hits or going home with almost nothing. Todd Gurley, Kareem Hunt, Mark Ingram, Christian McCaffrey, and Melvin Gordon really shined, but Alex Collins, Lamar Miller, Jamaal Williams, Carlos Hyde, and many others just fell flat. Our Week 16 fantasy RB rankings will make sure you don't pick the backs who fall flat again and possibly ruin the chance for a fantasy football championship.

After nearly returning last week, we expect Joe Mixon (concussion) to come back, as well as Leonard Fournette (quad, ankle) and Kerwynn Williams (quad), but we're unsure about the recent injuries to Rex Burkhead (knee) and Tevin Coleman (concussion). If Burkhead misses, Dion Lewis becomes a must-start, and James White becomes a flex-play, while Devonta Freeman not worrying about Coleman stealing touches would be heaven to those fantasy owners.

Committees continue to cause worry for this week, the most notable one in Tennessee. In a great matchup last week, both DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry struggled, and they get another top-five matchup this week (vs. Rams). The same applies to the Lions, where a three-headed monster between Ameer Abdullah, TIon Green and Theo Riddick make it tough to start any of them against a weak Bengals rush defense. Tough matchups for the Giants, Jets, and Bucs committees might make those want to stay away, but favorable matchups for the Panthers, Eagles, and Vikings make both RBs on those teams worthy starts.

WEEK 16 RANKINGS
Quarterback Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker 

If you've made it this far with Ezekiel Elliott taking up a roster spot, congratulations. Hopefully, everyone else in your fantasy football league will be saying congratulations to you after this week thanks to our Week 16 RB rankings.

Reminder: We'll update our rankings throughout the week and add player analysis, so please check back often. And here's how you could lose in fantasy in Week 16.

Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings: RBs

These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues

1Le'Veon Bell, Steelers @ Texans
2Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Seahawks.  After a six-week hiatus, Elliott is welcomed back facing a Seahawks defense who let Todd Gurley score four TDs last week.
3Todd Gurley, Rams vs. Titans
4Leonard Fournette, Jaguars @ 49ers.  Despite his ankle and quad injuries, Fournette should dominate the Niners, who allow the third-most points to RBs.
5Mark Ingram, Saints vs. Falcons
6Jordan Howard, Bears vs. Browns
7Melvin Gordon, Chargers @ Chiefs
8LeSean McCoy, Bills @ Patriots
9Devonta Freeman, Falcons @ Saints.  He dominated the Bucs, leading Falcons in rushing and receiving without Tevin Coleman.  Even against the Saints, he should still get plenty of points, even if Coleman does return from concussion.
10Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Falcons
11Kareem Hunt, Chiefs vs. Dolphins.  Back-to-back great games, and it should continue against a Dolphins team who allowed LeSean McCoy to score a receiving and rushing TD last week - and hey, Hunt did that last week too.
12Christian McCaffrey, Panthers vs. Bucs
13Alex Collins, Ravens vs. Colts
14Dion Lewis, Patriots vs. Bills
15Kenyan Drake, Dolphins @ Chiefs
16Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Lions.  We expected Mixon to come back last week, but he's even more likely this week.  Against the Lions, ranked fifth in most fantasy points allowed to RBs, Mixon should return strong.  And if he misses, Giovani Bernard falls around the same area as Mixon.
17Jerick McKinnon, Vikings @ Packers
18Marshawn Lynch, Raiders @ Eagles
19Latavius Murray, Vikings @ Packers
20Samaje Perine, Redskins vs. Broncos
21C.J. Anderson, Broncos @ Redskins
22Jamaal Williams, Packers vs. Vikings.  With Aaron Rodgers, the Packers threw a lot more than they did with Brett Hundley, and it didn't help Aaron Jones saw more touches too.  With Rodgers officially out, it arguably helps his case, but either way, his biggest problem is running against the second-best rush defense in the NFL.
23Carlos Hyde, 49ers vs. Jaguars.  He had a weak showing last week, rushing 16 times for 25 yards, and he gets an even more difficult matchup against the Jaguars.  It might be a tough day at the field for Hyde, but his high volume makes him a RB2 nonetheless.
24DeMarco Murray, Titans vs. Rams.  Last week, Murray only mustered up 58 yards against a top-five team allowing the most points to RBs.  He gets another top-five matchup (No. 2), and Murray should fare a bit better.  Like Hyde, he'll get volume in both receiving and rushing to warrant his RB2 status.
25Jay Ajayi, Eagles vs. Raiders
26Frank Gore, Colts @ Ravens
27Kerwynn Williams, Cardinals vs. Giants.  Williams is dealing with a quad injury, but if he plays, he's worth starting.  He was at 61 yards before leaving the game last week, making it three straight games he's averaged over 3.5 YPC.  
28Lamar Miller, Texans vs. Steelers
29Isaiah Crowell, Browns @ Bears
30Peyton Barber, Bucs @ Panthers.  Doug Martin was a healthy scratch, but it was due to team rules and not his play.  Barber is in a suspicious place.  He'll likely be in a committee, although he could get goal-line carries, but he's got a tough matchup against the fitth-best rush defense
31Tevin Coleman, Falcons @ Saints
32Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Rams
33Mike Davis, Seahawks @ Cowboys
34LeGarrette Blount, Eagles vs. Raiders
35Orleans Darkwa, Giants @ Cardinals.  After being the featured back for a part of the season, it seems he's fallen back into a committee with Wayne Gallman.  Excluding Todd Gurley twice, the Cardinals have only allowed one other RB to rush for over 70 yards. He'll need a touchdown run, which only two RBs since Week 7 have accomplished.
36Buck Allen, Ravens vs. Colts
37Theo Riddick, Lions @ Bengals
38Bilal Powell, Jets vs. Chargers.  Powell had one of his better days, rushing for 44 yards and getting that pivotal touchdown.  He'll need to get another touchdown to be worth anything in fantasy, especially against a Chargers team who have let only two RBs (Kareem Hunt, LeSean McCoy) since Week 6 to get over 60 yards.
39Duke Johnson Jr., Browns @ Bears
40Mike Gillislee, Patriots vs. Bills
41Jonathan Stewart, Panthers vs. Bucs
42Wayne Gallman, Giants @ Cardinals
43Elijhaa Penny, Cardinals vs. Giants
44Matt Forte, Jets vs. Chargers
45Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Vikings
46Tion Green, Lions @ Bengals.  Green led the Lions rushing attack in the second half after Theo Riddick left with a wrist injury.  If Riddick is limited or misses, Green is a sneaky flex play, since the Bengals have allowed four RBs to 10-plus fantasy days in three games.
47Rod Smith, Cowboys vs. Seahawks
48Alfred Morris, Cowboys vs. Seahawks
49Ameer Abdullah, Lions @ Bengals
50Giovani Bernard, Bengals vs. Lions
51Danny Woodhead, Ravens vs. Colts
52Tarik Cohen, Bears vs. Browns
53T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars @ 49ers
54Chris Ivory, Jaguars @ 49ers
55Marlon Mack, Colts @ Ravens
56Devontae Booker, Broncos @ Redskins
57J.D. McKissic, Seahawks @ Cowboys
58Andre Ellington, Texans vs. Steelers
59Jalen Richard, Raiders @ Eagles
60Matt Breida, 49ers vs. Jaguars
61DeAndre Washington, Raiders @ Eagles
62Shane Vereen, Giants @ Cardinals

Tony Fortier-Bensen