Week 16 RB Fantasy Rankings PPR: Joe Mixon Checks In As A Top 5 Back

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If you are looking for some permanent adds for Week 16 and moving forward, check out the waiver wire breakdowns. These are the top ranked running backs, with season long stats, and their projections for Week 16. We are setting up in the fantasy playoffs right now and the last few weeks can always be tricky. Injuries have taken a toll on players, and committees might be more in play over the next few weeks.

Week 16 Running Back Rankings + Stats & Projections

Week 16 Studs

Christian McCaffrey is in a strong spot despite the Colts not allowing much fantasy points to running backs this season. They rank 20th against the run overall. He is also about 200 receiving yards away from a 1,000/1,000 season. The Eagles defense has not shown up of late, and Ezekiel Elliott is in line for a potential big week as always. However, Saquon Barkley and Joe Mixon have not produced for most of the year, but have been able to capitalize on some plus matchups of late. Mixon’s workload has been stellar in the second half, and a matchup against Miami is big for him, as they are allowing the third most fantasy points per game to opposing backs this season. Washington is allowing the 7th most, which puts Barkley in a good spot. Chris Carson was able to go off against Carolina, and will come back home to face Arizona, who have allowed the 11th most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, and the 7th most over the last five weeks. Cleveland’s season is over and the defensive effort has been poor. Mark Ingram can put up a big number here, as the Browns have been struggling on the ground over the last few weeks. Ingram has the fourth most fantasy points of any running backs over the past five weeks.

Running Back Injury Outlook

Minnesota is the big team to watch this week, as Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison both could be out. This would leave Mike Boone and Ameer Abdullah as the healthy backs, with Boone likely getting a majority of the work. It is a home matchup against the Packers, who rank 25th in DVOA against the run, and are allowing the 8th most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season. Kansas City’s offense is still a mystery when it comes to the backfield, and Damien Williams has better hope of returning this week, but McCoy, Ware, and Thompson continue to all see snaps and touches cutting into each other’s workload. This is not an ideal fantasy situation as you would need a touchdown to pay anything off, and even then that is not a lock to surpass ten fantasy points.

Fantasy Football Strategy Podcast Week 16 (Free)

Middling Backs With Upside

Marlon Mack and Devonta Freeman have two of the best matchups on the slate, but have been extremely tough to rely upon. Carolina has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing backs this season, and rank 32nd in DVOA against the run. Opposing backs are averaging 5.2 yards per carry and 140 rushing yards per game. The issue with Mack is that if the Colts begin to trail or abandon the run, he has zero value in the passing game. However, Carolina’s offense has not been able to jump ahead much in the second half of the season. Atlanta welcomes Jacksonville, who are allowing 5.1 yards per carry this season and 140.1 rushing yards per game. Even in good matchups Freeman has struggled to really get anything going. Both are worth starting this week in the matchups given, but there still is some risk.

David Montgomery is not going to be one I install any trust into this week, but if you are left with limited options. The Chiefs have allowed five yards per carry, and 131 rushing yards per game. Overall opposing backs are averaging the 6th most fantasy points per game against the Chiefs. Phillip Lindsay is in another good spot against the Lions, who have allowed the 4th most fantasy points per game to opposing backs this season.

Tough Week 16 Fantasy Matchups

Both the Steelers and Jets boast tough run defenses this season, as the Jets allow 3.3 yards per carry and the Steelers are allowing 3.7. Le’Veon Bell will take on his former team, although not sure the narrative will cause him to have big production. On the flip side of this game, James Conner was welcomed back last week, and will have a tougher matchup than against the Bills. Carlos Hyde has entered the week banged up and being limited in practice. Not an ideal start for him facing the Buccaneers this week, who have allowed 3.4 yards per carry and 73 yards per game this season. Both Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams will walk into Minnesota taking on the fourth best run defense this season. This game is going to be tricky to figure out, especially depending on which Packers defense shows up. The Kansas City running back situation has not been kind of late, and now they will go on the road to a Chicago front seven that is back and healthy. They rank 10th against the run. While I wouldn’t put it past Derrick Henry having a big week, New Orleans have allowed the fourth fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season.