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Week 16 Running Back Rankings - Standard Leagues

A look at this week’s fantasy options at the RB position

NFL: Los Angeles Rams at New England Patriots Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

With 15 weeks in the books, entire fantasy seasons will boil down to the last week or two of NFL action... No pressure on your lineup decision, right?

Here are my Top 60 RBs for Week 16 vs. FantasyPros' ECR rankings:

Fantasy Football rankings - Week 16

View Available Players
# Player (team) Matchup ECR™ vs. ECR
1 Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) vs. DET 1 0
2 Le'Veon Bell (PIT) vs. BAL 2 0
3 LeSean McCoy (BUF) vs. MIA 3 0
4 David Johnson (ARI) at SEA 4 0
5 DeMarco Murray (TEN) at JAC 5 0
6 Jordan Howard (CHI) vs. WAS 6 0
7 Todd Gurley (LA) vs. SF 10 +3
8 Latavius Murray (OAK) vs. IND 7 -1
9 Devonta Freeman (ATL) at CAR 8 -1
10 LeGarrette Blount (NE) vs. NYJ 11 +1
11 Carlos Hyde (SF) at LA 9 -2
12 Spencer Ware (KC) vs. DEN 14 +2
13 Lamar Miller (HOU) vs. CIN 12 -1
14 Jonathan Stewart (CAR) vs. ATL 19 +5
15 Thomas Rawls (SEA) vs. ARI 21 +6
16 Jay Ajayi (MIA) at BUF 13 -3
17 Mark Ingram (NO) vs. TB 20 +3
18 Doug Martin (TB) at NO 22 +4
19 Jeremy Hill (CIN) at HOU 15 -4
20 Robert Kelley (WAS) at CHI 16 -4
21 Bilal Powell (NYJ) at NE 18 -3
22 Dion Lewis (NE) vs. NYJ 27 +5
23 Frank Gore (IND) at OAK 17 -6
24 Ryan Mathews (PHI) vs. NYG 23 -1
25 Kenneth Farrow (SD) at CLE 24 -1
26 Tevin Coleman (ATL) at CAR 26 0
27 Isaiah Crowell (CLE) vs. SD 25 -2
28 Kenneth Dixon (BAL) at PIT 28 0
29 Rashad Jennings (NYG) at PHI 30 +1
30 Adrian Peterson (MIN) at GB 31 +1
31 Tim Hightower (NO) vs. TB 32 +1
32 Derrick Henry (TEN) at JAC 33 +1
33 Chris Ivory (JAC) vs. TEN 38 +5
34 T.J. Yeldon (JAC) vs. TEN 34 0
35 Terrance West (BAL) at PIT 29 -6
36 Justin Forsett (DEN) at KC 35 -1
37 Jerick McKinnon (MIN) at GB 39 +2
38 Mike Gillislee (BUF) vs. MIA 36 -2
39 Dwayne Washington (DET) at DAL 37 -2
40 Charles Sims (TB) at NO 41 +1
41 James White (NE) vs. NYJ 43 +2
42 Duke Johnson (CLE) vs. SD 40 -2
43 DeAngelo Williams (PIT) vs. BAL 71 +28
44 Matt Forte (NYJ) at NE 42 -2
45 Ronnie Hillman (SD) at CLE 49 +4
46 Devontae Booker (DEN) at KC 44 -2
47 Paul Perkins (NYG) at PHI 46 -1
48 Theo Riddick (DET) at DAL 47 -1
49 Darren Sproles (PHI) vs. NYG 50 +1
50 Christine Michael (GB) vs. MIN 51 +1
51 Melvin Gordon (SD) at CLE 52 +1
52 Darren McFadden (DAL) vs. DET 61 +9
53 Jalen Richard (OAK) vs. IND 53 0
54 Robert Turbin (IND) at OAK 56 +2
55 Chris Thompson (WAS) at CHI 54 -1
56 Matt Asiata (MIN) at GB 55 -1
57 Charcandrick West (KC) vs. DEN 59 +2
58 Shaun Draughn (SF) at LA 60 +2
59 Fozzy Whittaker (CAR) vs. ATL 62 +3
60 Akeem Hunt (HOU) vs. CIN 63 +3

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Notes & Analysis:

  • With the Cowboys looking to clinch their division at home, expect Ezekiel Elliott to be his usual elite RB1 self against a Lions defense that just surrendered over 100 rushing yards to the Giants last week.
  • Le’Veon Bell’s bad games would be considered good games for most professional running backs. Similar to the Cowboys, the Steelers have a home game that will likely decide the AFC North champ. Even against a stingy Ravens D, Bell is an electric RB1.
  • Since his Week 10 bye, LeSean McCoy has four games with 100+ scrimmage yards and has racked up six TDs. On a white-hot streak, Shady is a high-end fantasy choice this week against MIami.
  • Elite RB1 David Johnson gets a tough task this week when the Cardinals travel to Seattle. You’re confidently starting fantasy’s most reliable source of points, but temper expectations if Arizona finds themselves in an early ditch.
  • Despite a dreadfully mediocre season, I truly believe Todd Gurley is going to have a big game against the inept run defense of San Fransisco. If there’s ever a time for TG to live up to his lofty preseason draft stock, it has to be Week 16, during our fantasy championship rounds.
  • With seven scores in his past four games, Devonta Freeman is proving to be a reliable RB1 down the stretch. Even with Tevin Coleman serving as a decent flex option, Freeman is obviously the preferred pick against the Panthers in Week 16.
  • Legarrette Blount just keeps on scoring. His 15th rushing touchdown of the season set a New England record, and his matchup gets a whole lot easier this week against the Jets. He’s a touchdown-dependent option, but one who is more than dependable.
  • Jonathan Stewart rumbled his way to 132 yards on 25 carries this past Monday, and has the Falcons’ exploitable run D up next. With workhorse potential and goal line duties, Stewart is a high-end RB2 in Week 16.
  • Coming off 23 and 16-carry performances, Doug Martin will look to establish himself as a quality RB2 in the home stretch of the 2016 fantasy football season. This week against the Saints, he’ll have a chance to touch the ball 20 times in a must-win game.
  • Even with Blount having his best season ever, Dion Lewis can be an asset for fantasy teams these next two weeks. The dynamic scatback is coming off a 20-touch game, where he totaled 104 yards from scrimmage. He’s an upside flex in all formats.