The fantasy football semifinals are this week. As always, it is crucial to know what players are the preferable starts. Here are my Week 16 rankings for the running back position.
Which RBs Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
MORE: Katz’s Week 16 Rankings — QB | WR | TE | K | DST
1) Christian McCaffrey | SF (vs. BAL)
2) Kyren Williams | LAR (vs. NO)
3) Alvin Kamara | NO (at LAR)
4) Rachaad White | TB (vs. JAX)
5) James Cook | BUF (at SF)
6) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (at MIN)
7) Joe Mixon | CIN (at PIT)
8) Josh Jacobs | LV (at KC)
9) Tony Pollard | DAL (at MIA)
10) Jonathan Taylor | IND (at ATL)
11) Raheem Mostert | MIA (vs. DAL)
12) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (at TB)
13) Derrick Henry | TEN (vs. SEA)
14) Isiah Pacheco | KC (vs. LV)
15) Saquon Barkley | NYG (at PHI)
16) Breece Hall | NYJ (vs. WAS)
17) Aaron Jones | GB (at CAR)
18) David Montgomery | DET (at MIN)
19) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (at TEN)
20) Ezekiel Elliott | NE (at DEN)
21) De’Von Achane | MIA (vs. DAL)
22) D’Andre Swift | PHI (vs. NYG)
23) Austin Ekeler | LAC (vs. BUF)
24) Najee Harris | PIT (vs. CIN)
25) Jaylen Warren | PIT (vs. CIN)
26) Bijan Robinson | ATL (vs. IND)
27) Javonte Williams | DEN (vs. NE)
28) James Conner | ARI (at CHI)
29) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (vs. GB)
30) Ty Chandler | MIN (vs. DET)
31) Jerome Ford | CLE (at HOU)
32) Devin Singletary | HOU (vs. CLE)
33) Gus Edwards | BAL (at LAC)
34) Antonio Gibson | WAS (at NYJ)
35) Chase Brown | CIN (at PIT)
36) Zack Moss | IND (at ATL)
37) AJ Dillon | GB (at CAR)
38) D’Onta Foreman | CHI (vs. ARI)
39) Jerick McKinnon | KC (vs. LV)
40) Tyjae Spears | TEN (vs. SEA)
41) Roschon Johnson | CHI (vs. ARI)
42) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (at TEN)
43) Rico Dowdle | DAL (at MIA)
44) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (vs. IND)
45) Kareem Hunt | CLE (at HOU)
46) Justice Hill | BAL (at LAC)
47) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC (vs. LV)
48) Jamaal Williams | NO (at LAR)
49) Latavius Murray | BUF (at SF)
50) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS (at NYJ)
51) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (vs. NYG)
52) Khalil Herbert | CHI (vs. ARI)
53) Miles Sanders | CAR (vs. GB)
54) Samaje Perine | DEN (vs. NE)
55) Joshua Kelley | LAC (vs. BUF)
56) Zamir White | LV (at KC)
57) Ameer Abdullah | LV (at KC)
58) Dalvin Cook | NYJ (vs. WAS)
59) D’Ernest Johnson | JAX (at TB)
60) Cordarrelle Patterson | ATL (vs. IND)
61) Jordan Mason | SF (vs. BAL)
62) Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN (vs. NE)
63) Ty Johnson | BUF (at SF)
64) Chase Edmonds | TB (vs. JAX)
65) Royce Freeman | LAR (vs. NO)
66) Patrick Taylor Jr. | GB (at CAR)
67) Dameon Pierce | HOU (vs. CLE)
68) Isaiah Spiller | LAC (vs. BUF)
69) Matt Breida | NYG (at PHI)
70) Michael Carter | ARI (at CHI)
71) Jeff Wilson Jr. | MIA (vs. DAL)
72) Trey Sermon | IND (at ATL)
73) Emari Demercado | ARI (at CHI)
74) Boston Scott | PHI (vs. NYG)
75) Tyler Goodson | FA ()
76) Pierre Strong Jr. | CLE (at HOU)
77) Kevin Harris | NE (at DEN)
78) Dare Ogunbowale | HOU (vs. CLE)
79) Kene Nwangwu | MIN (vs. DET)
80) Trayveon Williams | CIN (at PIT)
81) Israel Abanikanda | NYJ (vs. WAS)
82) Kyle Juszczyk | SF (vs. BAL)
83) Raheem Blackshear | CAR (vs. GB)
84) DeeJay Dallas | SEA (at TEN)
85) Tank Bigsby | JAX (at TB)
86) Alec Ingold | MIA (vs. DAL)
87) C.J. Ham | MIN (vs. DET)
88) Myles Gaskin | MIN (vs. DET)
89) Patrick Ricard | BAL (at LAC)
90) Craig Reynolds | DET (at MIN)
91) Kenyan Drake | GB (at CAR)
92) Michael Burton | DEN (vs. NE)
93) Deneric Prince | KC (vs. LV)
94) JaMycal Hasty | NE (at DEN)
95) Brandon Bolden | LV (at KC)
96) Hunter Luepke | DAL (at MIA)
97) Keith Smith | ATL (vs. IND)
Top RBs To Start in Week 16
Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers (at CAR)
It was admittedly a tough matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Aaron Jones was thoroughly disappointing to managers in his return from a three-game absence. With AJ Dillon out, Jones did not dominate snaps by any means. Jones, best known for his receiving ability, was not the third-down back in favor of Patrick Taylor Jr.
Dillon is dealing with a broken thumb. He tried to play last week but ultimately was unable to get cleared. Just one week later, his thumb isn’t going to be any less broken. I don’t expect him to play. That should give us another week of Jones as the lead running back.
It would be nice to see Jones’ volume increase, but we’ll have to settle for what should be an increase in efficiency.
It’s hard to ask for a better spot than against a Carolina Panthers defense allowing the fourth-most ppg to running backs. They’re surrendering 105 rushing yards per game to running backs, and no team has allowed more rushing touchdowns this season. I think Jones scores this week and puts up RB1 numbers when fantasy managers need him most.
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CIN)
You can include Jaylen Warren in this as well, but I’m going with Najee Harris because he remains the lead back.
On the season, the Cincinnati Bengals allow the 16th-most ppg to running backs. That makes them seem like an average matchup. However, recently, they’ve been the gift that keeps on giving.
Just last week Ty Chandler, making the first start of his career, ran for 132 yards against them. When these teams met a month ago, Harris and Warren combed for 148 yards on 28 carries. It was Harris who got the short touchdown.
This doesn’t need to be overly complicated. The Bengals are a favorable matchup allowing 4.5 ypc to running backs. The Steelers want to run the ball and should be able to with their one-two punch. When they get to the goal line, it is usually Harris. Start him.
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