Week 16 Running Back Rankings

Armando Marsal

Fantasy Writer

@Armando_fbguru on twitter

Many fantasy owners will be playing their final game of the season this week, as in most leagues this is the week of the championship game. For those that made it to the big game, congratulations. In a week where many are playing for the trophy, making the right decisions is very crucial. Below are the top 50 running backs for this week.

In the top 10, you'll find a couple of backs that weeks ago weren't this high in the rankings, but due to injuries, lack of play by other backs, and opportunity given to some of these backs, that has changed. Joique Bell, C.J. Anderson, and Jonathan Stewart are all in the top 10 this week. Bell and Anderson have made the cut before, but this is Stewart's first appearance in the top 10. Stewart has carried the load for the Panthers in the last two games. In those games he's totaled 228 rushing yards and scored one touchdown. This week he faces the Browns who just got ran over by the Bengals backs. Bell has totaled more than 100 combined yards in his last three games, and has scored four touchdowns. This week he has a great matchup against the Bears who have allowed five rushing touchdowns in the last three games. Bell is finally playing at the level we expected him to play early in the season. Anderson has been one of the more consistent backs in the last four weeks. The Broncos should continue to feed him the ball, and he should keep producing solid numbers. He faces the Bengals defense that yields 20 fantasy points per game to opposing backs.

Right outside the top 10 are some popular running backs, such as LeSean McCoy and Justin Forsett. Both backs have matchups that aren't appealing, but both should still be considered starts. McCoy has simply been a disappointment this year. Darren Sproles and Chris Polk have both cut into his workload in situations where it counts. Last week of the four plays the Eagles ran inside the five yard line, only one went to McCoy. Forsett has been one of the best waiver wire additions for most owners this season. He's provided plenty of fantasy points throughout the season. The reason he fell short of the top 10 is because he plays the Texans who have allowed just one rushing touchdown over the last four games and just one 100 yard rushing game.