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2019 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running backs for Week 16

Christian McCaffrey is the King of 2019 Fantasy Football.

By NHB
NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t worry about the Panthers’ record. They want Christian McCaffrey to rack up as much box score production as possible. He retains rights to the overall RB1 spot for Championship Week. Chris Carson (ARI) and Joe Mixon (at MIA) rise up into the RB1 tier, as does presumed MNF starter Mike Boone. Assuming both Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, the talented yet seldom used back, Boone will step into a featured 20+ touch workload in an outstanding matchup. Adrian Peterson elbows his way into the back of the RB2 tier as he prepares to shred the hapless Giants’ defense. Boston Scott has solidified himself as a flex option, as Philly’s 1B running back, ahead of his date with Dallas.

Week 16 Running Back Rankings

Rank Running Back Team Opponent High Floor/High Ceiling RB1s
Rank Running Back Team Opponent High Floor/High Ceiling RB1s
1 Christian McCaffrey CAR at IND Although Indy's played well against opposing running backs, the Panthers are intent on getting CMC the Yards from Scrimmage record.
2 Saquon Barkley NYG at WAS Barkley got back on track last week against Miami. This week, he's got an almost equally great matchup against Washington.
3 Ezekiel Elliott DAL at PHI The Cowboys and the Eagles are essentially playing for the NFC East crown this week as both team's are tied for 1st and 7-7. With Dak Prescott's throwing shoulder ailing, expect Elliott to see 25 or more touches this week.
4 Melvin Gordon III LAC OAK Expect Gordon to pummel the Raiders' weak front-seven this week.
5 Chris Carson SEA ARI It seems like it's been forever since Carson had such a high ranking. He's got a great matchup on tap here though.
6 Leonard Fournette JAX at ATL Fournette's lack of touchdowns has been a bummer. Atlanta's defense has ben sledgehammered by opposing all-purpose running backs though so he's got a good chance to rack up yardage and catches -- and just maybe find the end zone.
7 Nick Chubb CLE BAL Baltimore's run defense is mid-tier at best. Chubb should have a healthy box score by day's end.
8 Joe Mixon CIN at MIA Mixon's mid-week addition the th einjury report (calf) is not reassuring. As long as he's able to participate in practice on Friday, He should be good to go for the weekend. This is a fantastic matchup.
9 Mike Boone MIN GB Both Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison were unable to practice, due to injury, on Thursday. Should they be Out, as it appears they may be, Mike Boone would be a league-winning RB1. He may be even more talented than Mattison and he's got a great matchup against Green Bay's weak front-seven.
10 Mark Ingram II BAL at CLE Cleveland's run defense is ho-hum at best. Expect a touchdown or two from Ingram as the Ravens attempt to solidify a 1st Round playoff bye.
11 Alvin Kamara NO at TEN Tennessee's defense has been downright bad at trying to stop opposing backfields. Kamara's lackluster fantasy season should end on a high note against them.
12 Miles Sanders PHI DAL Dallas has been somewhat vulnerable to all-purpose backs and Sanders has been playing out of his mind.
High Floor/High Ceiling RB2s
13 Aaron Jones GB at MIN The Vikings' run defense has been leaky as of late.
14 Todd Gurley II LAR at SF The Rams are riding Gurley into the ground.
15 Kenyan Drake ARI at SEA It'll be impossible for the Cards not to give Drake a featured role this week after what he did in Week 15.
16 James Conner PIT at NYJ Great matchup for Conner. He's getting healthier too.
17 Austin Ekeler LAC OAK Excellent matchup for Ekeler to return rock-solid RB2 value in.
18 Devin Singletary BUF at NE New England's run defense is good, but not bulletproof. 20 touches should keep Singletary safely in the RB2 realm.
19 Marlon Mack IND CAR Carolina's run defense is woeful.
20 DeAndre Washington OAK at LAC Washington can easily return RB2 value as Oakland's featured back.
21 Phillip Lindsay DEN DET Lindsay should have a nice bounceback game here. It's a fantastic championship matchup.
22 Raheem Mostert SF LAR Although the hype is over, he's still a rock-solid RB2 option. He would be higher on the list if other backs didn't have such great matchups.
23 Adrian Peterson WAS NYG Excellent matchup for the 2-down rusher.
24 Dion Lewis TEN NO New Orleans' overall defense is strong. But the IR-losses of defensive linemen Sheldon Rankins and Marcus Davenport are significant. Expect Lewis to see 18+ touches with Derrick Henry Out.
High Floor/Capped Ceiling RB3s
25 Kareem Hunt CLE BAL Great matchup for Cleveland's 1B back.
26 Le'Veon Bell NYJ PIT He'll get a large workload in this one but his workloads haven't made much of a difference this year. If you're into revenge narratives, this is the one for you.
27 Devonta Freeman ATL JAX Great matchup for Freeman on tap here.
28 David Montgomery CHI KC The matchup is good enough that he's got a high ceiling. His floor is a tad lower than the rest of this bunch though.
29 Kerryon Johnson DET at DEN If he's indeed good to go, a reasonable 12-15 touch workload is likely.
30 Ronald Jones II TB HOU Solid matchup for the lead, committee back.
31 Tarik Cohen CHI KC Chicago's going to have to throw to keep up in this one.
32 Boston Scott PHI DAL Scott's earned a rock-solid 1B role and he's garnered flex-ability because of it.
33 Carlos Hyde HOU at TB Brutal matchup but his workload has become secure once more.
34 Patrick Laird MIA CIN It's a decent enough matchup for the 12-15 touch RB to produce in.
35 Jamaal Williams GB at MIN He's been quiet as of late but this is a good enough matchup for low-end flex consideration.
36 Damien Williams KC at CHI Assuming he's returning, he'll be the lead back in a 3-man committee.
Source Links: The Falcons defense when facing dual threat running backs.

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