/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68577801/1292295012.0.jpg)
With NFL Week 16 — Championship Week — is upon us, here are my running back fantasy football rankings.
Dalvin Cook takes this week’s overall RB1 spot. David Montgomery raises further in the top 12. Injuries in the Houston and Dallas backfields have massive implications.
Week 16’s Tiered Running Back Rankings - .5PPR
Rank | High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
1 | Dalvin Cook | MIN | at NO | Very tough match-up but Cook's weekly volume of touches is breathtaking. |
2 | Aaron Jones | GB | TEN | Jamaal Williams is banged up, it's a great match-up, and this game is a must-win for GB. |
3 | Derrick Henry | TEN | at GB | Green Bay is allowing the 5th-most .5PPR PPG to opposing RBs*, but there is potential for Henry to be game-scripted into a smaller than normal workload. Even so, Henry's floor remains that of a Top 12 running back. |
4 | Alvin Kamara | NO | MIN | Has a shot to find his real ceiling here but those true King Kong performances may not come until Michael Thomas is back in action. |
5 | Nick Chubb | CLE | at NYJ | Great match-up for the Browns' No. 1 back. |
6 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | DEN | Great bounce-back spot. |
7 | Miles Sanders | PHI | at DAL | Oustanding match-up and the installation of Jalen Hurts has led to clear-cut lead back work for Sanders. |
8 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | at PIT | With Jordan Wilkins out of the picture, match-ups no longer matter for Indy's lead back. |
9 | David Montgomery | CHI | at JAX | The Jags are allowing 25.8 .5PPR PPG to opposing backfields, 3rd-most in the NFL*, and Montgomery is gobbling up snaps and touches, right and left. |
10 | Melvin Gordon | DEN | at LAC | Phillip Lindsay's lower body injuries have piled up at this point. |
11 | Chris Carson | SEA | LAR | Tough match-up but Carroll is committed to the run game after signing his mid-season contract extension on the heels of Russell Wilson's stellar early-season performance. |
12 | Le'Veon Bell | KC | ATL | After Clyde Edwards-Helaire's devastating hip and ankle injuries forced him from Week 15's contest, Bell took over as the team's clear-cut touch-leader. Although Darrel Williams will be a factor, Bell should retain solid lead back status. ATL's front-seven doesn't know what to do with pass catching backs. Both backs will be a factor in that regard but Bell should see north of 15 touches. |
Rank | High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB2s | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
13 | Jeff Wilson Jr. | SF | at ARI | With Raheem Mostert, Wilson should take over as the clear lead back. |
14 | Leonard Fournette | TB | at DET | Outstanding match-up. Ronald Jones is expected to remain on the COVID-19/Reserve List this week. |
15 | Josh Jacobs | LV | MIA | Miami's run-funnel defense bodes well for Jacobs' Week 16 prospects. |
16 | David Johnson | HOU | CIN | If we get confirmation that Duke Johnson Jr. won't play this week (neck), Johnson will rise in the rankings, along with his increased passing game volume. |
17 | D'Andre Swift | DET | TB | TB has done a great job slowing enemy rushing attacks. They are allowing 6.4 RB receptions per game though*, the most in the NFL. That fits very well with bellcow Swift's skillset. |
18 | Tony Pollard | DAL | PHI | Should Zeke sit (calf), Pollard would immediately become a Top 12 option. |
19 | Antonio Gibson | WAS | CAR | Blow-up spot on tap here, if Gibson is able to return. |
20 | Mike Davis | CAR | at WAS | Davis's value is more due to his role than his abilities, which puts him more at the mercy of game flow than anything else. |
21 | Darrell Henderson Jr. | LAR | at SEA | Moderate match-up but Henderson should see 18+ touches with Cam Akers (ankle) out this week. |
22 | Kenyan Drake | ARI | SF | Decent match-up. |
23 | J.K. Dobbins | BAL | NYG | Dobbins is the lead back here but Gus Edwards has a very solid No. 2 role. Decent match-up. |
24 | Chase Edmonds | ARI | SF | On this week's free NFC Team-by-Team Week 15 Recaps episode of the Establish The Run podcast*, Adam Levitan menitoned seeing Kenyan Drake limp off the field at some point. Should Drake only be able to play in a limited capacity, Edmonds would have access to 18+ touches in an albeit tough match-up. |
Rank | J.K. Dobbins | BAL | NYG | Dobbins is the lead back here but Gus Edwards has a very solid No. 2 role. Decent match-up. |
25 | Myles Gaskin | MIA | at LV | Great match-up but Salvon Ahmed has likely played himself into a 10+ touch role. |
26 | Gio Bernard | CIN | at HOU | Bernard's back as the team's lead back. |
27 | Benny Snell Jr. | PIT | IND | James Conner's availability is a big factor here. |
28 | Kareem Hunt | CLE | at NYJ | A clock-killing game should get both backs involved. |
29 | Nyheim Hines | IND | at PIT | Hines's number should be called quite a bit this week, in a potentially high-scoring affair. |
30 | Gus Edwards | BAL | NYG | Very high floor. |
31 | Salvon Ahmed | MIA | at LV | Mid-tier flex option in a good match-up. |
32 | Zack Moss | BUF | NE | This backfield just doesn't have high-scoring potential. |
33 | Kalen Ballage | LAC | DEN | Really just a prominent change of pace player. |
34 | Malcolm Brown | LAR | at SEA | Outside chance that the veteran sees more work than expected in relief of Henderson. |
35 | Ezekiel Elliott | DAL | PHI | Elliott's calf injury has destroyed his quicks. Even if active, he's tough to trust. |
36 | J.D. McKissic | WAS | CAR | JDM would rise in the rankings if Antonio Gibson is unable to play. |
Rank | Low-Floor/Low-Ceiling RB4s | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
37 | Darrel Williams | KC | ATL | Nonexistant floor, low ceiling. |
38 | Carlos Hyde | SEA | LAR | Took one of two carries for a long score last week, likely fending off Rashaad Penny for another game. |
39 | Jeremy McNichols | TEN | at GB | McNichols is a good DFS, contrarian option. He's unlikely to produce but there's a shot that Tennessee falls behind and McNichols is called upon. |
40 | Devin Singletary | BUF | NE | Look elsewhere for an impact player. |
41 | Ty Johnson | NYJ | CLE | Jets are far too risky to start this week but Johnson is the guy to use, if you HAVE to. |
42 | Boston Scott | PHI | at DAL | Just a handcuff. |
43 | Sony Michel | NE | BUF | Very low ceiling. |
44 | Phillip Lindsay | DEN | at LAC | Cannot be trusted. |
45 | Ito Smith | ATL | at KC | Even with "lead back" status, Smith is not a good play. |
46 | Alexander Mattison | MIN | at NO | Mattison is not a significant factor for the Vikings at this time. |
47 | James White | NE | BUF | Look elsewhere for flex help. |
48 | N/A |