Fantasy Football Week 16 Running Back Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 16 Running Back Rankings

Time Stamp: December 20, 2023 8:57 AM

The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks are officially over. This means that playoffs have begun in your fantasy leagues. During the playoffs Fantasy Managers will have full utilization of their roster and need to make sure they have backup options on their roster incase their stars get hurt. There have plenty of injuries this season to crucial players that make the pool of players to choose from on waivers that much thinner. It’s always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 16 running back rankings.

[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve List]

[Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week]

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High-End RB2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.

Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Rankings

Category Name Opponent Ranking
Must Start Christian McCaffrey vs Baltimore Ravens RB1
Must Start Alvin Kamara vs Los Angeles Rams RB2
Starting RB1 Kyren Williams vs New Orleans Saints RB3
Starting RB1 James Cook vs Los Angeles Chargers RB4
Starting RB1 Rachaad White vs Jacksonville Jaguars RB5
Starting RB1 Breece Hall vs Washington Commanders RB6
Starting RB1 Joe Mixon vs Pittsburgh Steelers RB7
Starting RB1 Bijan Robinson vs Indianapolis Colts RB8
Starting RB1 Saquon Barkley vs Philadelphia Eagles RB9
Starting RB1 Josh Jacobs* vs Kansas City Chiefs RB10
Starting RB1 Travis Etienne Jr. vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB11
High-End RB2 Isiah Pacheco* vs Las Vegas Raiders RB12
High-End RB2 Derrick Henry vs Seattle Seahawks RB13
High-End RB2 Tony Pollard vs Miami Dolphins RB14
High-End RB2 Jonathan Taylor* vs Atlanta Falcons RB15
High-End RB2 Jahmyr Gibbs vs Minnesota Vikings RB16
High-End RB2 Raheem Mostert vs Dallas Cowboys RB17
Starting RB2 Chuba Hubbard vs Green Bay Packers RB18
Starting RB2 Rhamondre Stevenson* vs Denver Broncos RB19
Starting RB2 Austin Ekeler vs Buffalo Bills RB20
Starting RB2 Kenneth Walker III vs Tennessee Titans RB21
Low RB2 Aaron Jones vs Carolina Panthers RB22
Low RB2 De’Von Achane vs Dallas Cowboys RB23
Low RB2 James Conner vs Chicago Bears RB24
Low RB2 Brian Robinson Jr.* vs New York Jets RB25
Flex Jerome Ford vs Houston Texans RB26
Flex David Montgomery vs Minnesota Vikings RB27
Flex Jaylen Warren vs Cincinnati Bengals RB28
Flex D’Andre Swift vs New York Giants RB29
Flex Devin Singletary vs Cleveland Browns RB30
Deep League Flex Najee Harris vs Cincinnati Bengals RB31
Deep League Flex Gus Edwards vs San Francisco 49ers RB32
Deep League Flex Alexander Mattison* vs Detroit Lions RB33
Deep League Flex Javonte Williams vs New England Patriots RB34
Deep League Flex Chase Brown vs Pittsburgh Steelers RB35
Deep League Flex Ty Chandler vs Detroit Lions RB36
Deep League Flex Tyjae Spears vs Seattle Seahawks RB37
Deep League Flex Rochon Johnson vs Arizona Cardinals RB38
Leave on the Bench Ezekiel Elliott vs Denver Broncos RB39
Leave on the Bench Jerick McKinnon vs Las Vegas Raiders RB40
Leave on the Bench D’Onta Foreman vs Arizona Cardinals RB41
Leave on the Bench Zack Moss* vs Atlanta Falcons RB42
Leave on the Bench Zach Charbonnet vs Tennessee Titans RB43
Leave on the Bench Tyler Allgeier vs Indianapolis Colts RB44
Leave on the Bench Miles Sanders vs Green Bay Packers RB45
Leave on the Bench A.J. Dillon* vs Carolina Panthers RB46
Leave on the Bench Latavius Murray vs Los Angeles Chargers RB47
Leave on the Bench Rico Dowdle vs Miami Dolphins RB48
Leave on the Bench Kareem Hunt vs Houston Texans RB49
Leave on the Bench Samaje Perine vs New England Patriots RB50
Leave on the Bench Dameon Pierce vs Cleveland Browns RB51
Leave on the Bench Kenneth Gainwell vs New York Giants RB52
Leave on the Bench Michael Carter vs Chicago Bears RB53
Leave on the Bench D’Ernest Johnson vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB54
Leave on the Bench Kyle Juszczyk vs Baltimore Ravens RB55
Leave on the Bench Dalvin Cook vs Washington Commanders RB56
Leave on the Bench Elijah Mitchell* vs Baltimore Ravens RB57

Players that are could miss this week’s game

RB10 Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

Josh Jacobs missed last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a quad injury. It is unclear if Jacobs is going to miss another week because of the injury. If Jacobs misses Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs Zamir White becomes the RB27 between David Montgomery and Jaylen Warren. Ameer Abdullah becomes the RB450 between Samaje Perine and Dameon Pierce.

RB12 Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco missed the past two games with a shoulder injury. He is expected to return this week. If Pacheco misses Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders Jerick McKinnon moves up to RB20 between Austin Ekeler and Kenneth Walker III. Clyde Edwards-Helaire becomes the RB33 between Gus Edwards and Alexander Mattison.

Indianapolis Colts Running Backs: RB15 Jonathan Taylor & RB42 Zack Moss

Jonathan Taylor had surgery on his thumb three weeks ago and has missed the past three games. Zack Moss suffered a shoulder injury last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Taylor misses Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons and Moss is active Moss moves up to RB27 between David Montgomery and Jaylen Warren.

If Moss misses Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons and Taylor is healthy Trey Sermon becomes the RB53 between Michael Carter and D’Ernest Johnson.

If both Taylor and Moss miss Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons Trey Sermon becomes the RB30 between Devin Singletary and Najee Harris. Tyler Goodson becomes RB45 between Miles Sanders and A.J. Dillon.

RB19 Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

Rhamondre Stevenson missed the past two games with a high ankle sprain. There is a chance he can return this week. If Stevenson misses Week 16 against the Denver Broncos Ezekiel Elliott moves up to RB21 between Kenneth Walker III and Aaron Jones. Kevin Harris becomes the RB50 between Samaje Perine and Dameon Pierce.

RB25 Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders

Brian Robinson Jr. missed last week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring injury. He suffered his hamstring injury three week ago against the Miami Dolphins. It is unclear if Robinson will miss more time. If Robinson Jr. misses Week 16 against the New York Jets Antonio Gibson becomes RB27 between David Montgomery and Jaylen Warren. Chris Rodriguez Jr. becomes RB51 between Dameon Pierce and Kenneth Gainwell.

RB33 Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings

Alexander Mattison missed last week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with an ankle injury. It is unclear if Mattison will return this week. If Mattison misses Week 16 against the Detroit Lions Ty Chandler becomes the RB30 between D’Andre Swift and Devin Singletary.

RB46 A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers

A.J. Dillon missed last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a broken thumb. It is unclear how much more time Dillon will miss with the injury. If Dillon misses Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers Patrick Taylor becomes the RB53 between Michael Carter and D’Ernest Johnson.

RB57 Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers

Elijah Mitchell missed the past two games with a knee injury. It is unclear if Mitchell will miss this week’s game. If Mitchell misses Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens Jordan Mason becomes RB55 between D’Ernest Johnson and Kyle Juszczyk.

Players that are currently not expected to play

Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens

Keaton Mitchell suffered a torn ACL last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Baltimore placed Mitchell on Injured Reserve ending his season. Gus Edwards will return to the role as Baltimore’s primary running back. Melvin Gordon and Justice Hill should also have a role in this offense with Mitchell out.

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