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Week 16 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

Top 50 Fantasy RBs for Week 16

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these guys ...

Check out the other positions as well:

• QB preview
• WR preview
• TE preview

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs

(1 p.m. ET Saturday)

Joe Mixon, Texans

Despite encountering a hip-drop tackle, Mixon dodged a serious ankle injury in Week 15. He’s expected to see his normal workload against Kansas City. The veteran has hit 17 touches in eight straight outings and should have a chance for similar volume on Saturday.

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

Since returning in Week 13, Pacheco's carry share has gone 44%, 58%, and 38%. Expect him to remain in a split with Kareem Hunt against a strong Houston run defense. With the Chiefs implied for only 22.75 points, Pacheco’s best viewed as a Flex option.

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs

Hunt remains in a timeshare with Isiah Pacheco, despite the latter now three games into his return from injury. A stout Houston run D limits Hunt’s fantasy appeal to deep leagues.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

(4:30 p.m. ET Saturday)

Derrick Henry, Ravens

Henry has slowed down a bit, but the Ravens were up pretty big last week, allowing him to rest. He does only have one PPR RB1 finish over the past seven games. It is unlikely Henry will have a huge game against the Steelers, but if the Ravens get to the goal line, expect some TDs.

Najee Harris, Steelers

Harris could not beat stacked boxes last week rushing six times for 14 yards. If the Steelers give up points again, it could be a long day for Harris. If the game is close, expect the Steelers to churn out the run game. He is an RB3 this week with upside.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers

If the Steelers get down early, Warren may not see the field much, like last week. If it is close, the Steelers will likely be run heavy once again. Warren’s explosive ability gives him plenty of upside to potentially break a big run or catch, but the touches and efficiency aren’t there yet. Low-end RB3.

Justice Hill, Ravens

Hill got involved last week as the pass catching back once again. The Ravens may lean on the pass if the Steelers can stop Derrick Henry, which could mean some Hill targets in this game. He is a low end RB3, but has some PPR flex upside if desperate. 

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Robinson has six career games of 20+ carries. Three of those of have over the past three weeks, with another two weeks before that. The QB switch can likely only improve Atlanta’s passing. But we’re not betting on a total flip of the run-pass split right away – especially against a Giants team that arrives as an 8.5-point underdog.

Tyrone Tracy, Giants

Tracy’s carry counts have suffered for the Giants’ recent struggles. He exceeded 10 attempts just once in the past four games. But his receiving work has increased, highlighted by a 10-target outing against the Saints in Week 14. That was the last time QB Drew Lock played. He’ll start again this week. Tracy has also gotten at least 1 carry inside the 10-yard line in six straight games, despite the Giants averaging just 15.2 points over that span.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

The Falcons have sported the league’s most run-heavy offense vs. expectation over the past month. Yet even that span only produced one game of 10+ carries for Allgeier. He’s OK as a deep dart throw in a game Atlanta should win easily. But he’s not a safe bet for opportunities.

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

James Conner, Cardinals

Conner has averaged 17.0 carries and 4.3 targets over his last three games. He could be even busier this weekend with RB Emari Demercado on IR and RB Trey Benson dealing with an ankle injury. And the matchup is pristine against the Panthers' 32nd-ranked RB defense. Carolina has allowed a 100-yard rusher in three of the last four weeks.

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

Hubbard disappointed in the box score last week -- but he played 94% of Carolina's offensive snaps and handled 14 of 16 RB opportunities. More productive outings are coming with that type of usage. Hubbard gets a fine matchup this weekend against the Cardinals' 19th-ranked RB defense.

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

Gibbs totaled 71 touches in three games without David Montgomery in 2023. With Montgomery sidelined again, Gibbs carries some added upside against Chicago.

D’Andre Swift, Bears

Swift saw 19 carries last week, despite a blowout loss. That marked his second-highest carry total of the season. There's a chance his workload drops a bit with Roschon Johnson (concussion) on track to return. Regardless, Swift remains in the RB2 mix against an injury-riddled Detroit defense.

Craig Reynolds, Lions

Reynolds projects to handle the RB2 role in place of David Montgomery. The 28-year-old won’t step into Montgomery’s role, but there’s room for ~8 touches in what should be a positive game script for rushing. Detroit is installed as 6.5-point favorites.

Roschon Johnson, Bears

Johnson (concussion) practiced in full on Wednesday, putting him in line to return vs. the Lions. He draws a Lions defense that just lost stud DL Alim McNeill for the season.

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

Chase Brown, Bengals

Brown continues dominating the touches in the Bengals backfield with 28 of 29 last week. He has been an RB1 in six straight games, but the Browns do stop RBs from gaining chunk plays. The good news is the Browns defense is weak against RBs in the red zone, giving up the eighth most RB rushing TDs. Brown is a must start RB1 regardless.

Jerome Ford, Browns

With Nick Chubb out for the year with a broken foot, Ford should handle a large majority of the Browns backfield touches. He had 103 yards last week after a big 62-yard TD. His explosive ability makes him an intriguing low-end RB2 this week, though the QB change caps the Browns’ offensive upside.

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor, Colts

If your fantasy team survived Taylor electing to fumble away a TD last week, then try to focus on the positive: He has garnered 21+ carries in four of his past five games and five of seven since returning from injury. That’s despite the Colts going just 2-5 over that stretch. Anthony Richardson’s bad for Taylor’s target volume. But we at least know the RB will get the ball against a defense that has allowed RB rushing scores in seven of its past nine games.

Tony Pollard, Titans

Pollard ceded the primary backfield receiving role to Tyjae Spears last week but maintained a 17-4 lead in carries. That’s more important than Spears’ 2 TDs, which relied on at least a bit of luck. Pollard’s ankle remains an issue, keeping him out of practice Wednesday and Thursday. But he also missed those two days last week, went limited Friday, and entered Sunday questionable. We’ll watch for any more specific updates on his status ahead of this week’s game.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears got a bit lucky to score his pair of TDs last week. But the rushing TD did come from short yardage. And he dominated receiving work, leading Tony Pollard 27-7 in routes. Pollard’s iffy ankle adds upside. But beware of over-trusting Spears. Pollard entered last week’s game questionable with the same ankle issue, tweaked it during that game, and yet still beat Spears 17-4 in carries.

Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets

Kyren Williams, Rams

Williams has carried 29 times in two straight games. He should be busy again this weekend with his Rams three-point favorites against a run-funnel Jets defense that ranks 27th in pass rate over expected against. New York sits 23rd in run defense DVOA.

Breece Hall, Jets

Hall has tallied just 13 and 11 opportunities (carries + targets) over his last two games. He's notably off this week's injury report, so perhaps he's ready to handle a bigger workload. We wouldn't be banking on it with the Jets having nothing to play for. But with a matchup vs. a Rams squad sitting 22nd in run defense DVOA, Hall is a fine RB2 play.

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Barkley delivered a 26-146-2 rushing line plus 52 receiving yards in the first meeting with Washington. Last week marked just the second time among his past nine games that Barkley fell short of 107 rushing yards.

Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders

Robinson has garnered 16+ carries in four of his past five games. The other game in that span found him leaving early with an ankle sprain. But he has rebounded for 17 and 24 touches since. Philly presents a tough matchup, but Robinson went a solid 16-63-1 rushing in the first bout. He should see more receiving involvement with Austin Ekeler sidelined for this round. The relative workload certainty keeps him a solid RB2.

Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks

Aaron Jones, Vikings

Jones is only 143 rushing yards shy of a career-high. He's also hit 80 total yards in three of his past four outings. The veteran remains a solid RB2 in a neutral matchup vs. Seattle.

Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks

Walker’s missed the past two weeks with a calf injury, but he put in a full practice on Thursday and should resume lead back duties for Week 16. Minnesota’s defense ranks third-best in rush yards before contact per attempt.

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Charbonnet (oblique) missed practice on Wednesday but put in a limited session on Thursday. While he should be fine to play, his workload is set to dip with Kenneth Walker expected back. Charbonnet will only be worth a look in deep formats.

Cam Akers, Vikings

Akers hit 10 carries in Week 15, but he was boosted by a blowout win. Prior to that one, he tallied games of 3, 4, and 5 rushes. Keep Akers out of fantasy lineups.

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

James Cook, Bills

Cook had 133 total yards and two TDs last week. He performs well as long as Josh Allen doesn’t snipe every rushing TD. As heavy favorites against the Patriots, the Bills could lean on the run in the second half, meaning plenty of Cook touches. 

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

Stevenson had 85 yards last week and hasn’t had a TD in seven weeks. Being TD dependent on a team that doesn’t score much doesn’t bode well for Stevenson. But he continues to get a good bulk of the RB touches for the Patriots. Solid floor, high ceiling RB3. 

Ty Johnson, Bills

Johnson has been a consistent target for Josh Allen in recent weeks. It is tough to trust him from a fantasy perspective, but he has RB4 PPR upside with a few receptions and a big play this week.

Ray Davis, Bills

Davis has fallen behind Ty Johnson a bit in terms of usage, but if this turns into a blowout, the Bills could just churn out yardage in the fourth quarter. He is only a deep league low-end RB4 option this week.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders

Travis Etienne, Jaguars

Etienne won't go away. After getting out-carried 18 to 4 by Tank Bigsby in Week 14, he was back in the lead role last week, carrying 14 times for 65 yards. It's become impossible to predict how carries will be split in this backfield. But Etienne has been a steady bet in the passing game, with 3+ catches in 4 straight games. He's a serviceable RB3 in PPR leagues against the Raiders' 24th-ranked RB defense.

Alexander Mattison, Raiders

With Sincere McCormick and Zamir White on IR, Mattison should be back in a clear lead role this weekend. He averaged 16.5 carries and 4.0 targets per game in this spot over a four-game stretch earlier this season, ranking seventh among RBs in expected PPR points per game. Mattison ranked just 31st in actual PPR points per game over that span and isn't a good bet for efficiency. But the matchup against Jacksonville's 30th-ranked RB defense helps.

Tank Bigsby, Jaguars

After a busy Week 14, Bigsby was out-carried 14 to 11 by Travis Etienne last week. We can't count on Bigsby's rushing volume at this point -- and we know that he won't do much in the passing game. It leaves him as a low-floor, moderate-upside fantasy play.

Ameer Abdullah, Raiders

Abdullah should continue playing on passing downs and could see a few extra carries this week with RBs Sincere McCormick and Zamir White out. But he's still a low-upside fantasy play who should be used in emergencies only.

San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins

De’Von Achane, Dolphins

Among qualifiers, Achane ranks last in last in rush yards over expected per attempt. His fantasy value remains propped up by excellent receiving usage. The 49ers enter having allowed 1.1 scores and 124 total yards per game to enemy RBs.

Patrick Taylor, 49ers

The 49ers are expected to be without RB Isaac Guerendo due to a hamstring injury. That should put Taylor in line for lead back work, with Ke'Shawn Vaughn likely mixing in for rotational work. They draw a Miami defense that’s 20th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins

Mostert returned from a one-game absence to post six carries for eight yards in Week 15. As long as De’Von Achane stays healthy, Mostert will carry little fantasy upside.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys

(Sunday night)

Rico Dowdle, Cowboys

Dowdle has been hot over the last four weeks with a strong workload and double-digit PPR points in each game over that stretch. If the Cowboys can keep the game close, Dowdle’s workload should mean another RB2 performance. If the Bucs get up early though, Dallas likely moves to the pass. He is a bit boom-or-bust this week.

Bucky Irving, Buccaneers

Irving went over 100 yards despite not practicing last week. He is still splitting with Rachaad White, but Irving’s efficiency keeps him as a strong RB2, especially with solid scoring opportunities likely against the Cowboys. The Cowboys are second to last in RB points allowed per touch, so spike potential is there.

Rachaad White, Buccaneers

White has earned more touches after he was trending downward for a few weeks. Now he is getting opportunities on the ground and through the air as the 1B in the backfield. The Cowboys are second to last in RB points allowed per touch, so spike potential is there. White has low-end RB2 potential in PPR. 

New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers

(Monday night)

Josh Jacobs, Packers

Jacobs has garnered 18+ carries in five straight games, with 22+ touches in four of those contests and rushing scores in all five.

Kendre Miller, Saints

HC Darren Rizzi said this week that it would take a committee to replace Alvin Kamara, who appears unlikely to play through his groin injury. We won’t know until the game just how much of that goes to Miller, but he has run as the clear No. 2 back in two games since returning from IR. Miller has seen 19 carries and 2 targets over that span, compared with 3 and 2 (respectively) for Jamaal Williams. Miller got 9 opportunities to Williams’ 0 last week.

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.