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Below you will find our Week 16 running backs rankings, to help determine your RB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).
Featured fantasy football writer Zach Wilkens also highlights some RB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 16, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 16.
You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.
Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs
| RotoBaller Staff Ranks |
Player Name (Team - Position) |
Zach Wilkens Rankings |
Ed Gorelik Rankings |
| 1 | James White NE at NYJ | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Devonta Freeman ATL vs. CAR | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | David Johnson ARI vs. GB | 6 | 2 |
| 4 | Matt Forte CHI at TB | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | Doug Martin TB vs. CHI | 4 | 7 |
| 6 | DeAngelo Williams PIT at BAL | 8 | 4 |
| 7 | Denard Robinson JAC at NO | 7 | 10 |
| 8 | Adrian Peterson MIN vs. NYG | 9 | 8 |
| 9 | Bilal Powell NYJ vs. NE | 5 | 16 |
| 10 | Danny Woodhead SD at OAK | 16 | 6 |
| 11 | Darren McFadden DAL at BUF | 14 | 9 |
| 12 | Todd Gurley STL at SEA | 10 | 14 |
| 13 | Latavius Murray OAK vs. SD | 13 | 12 |
| 14 | Javorius Allen BAL vs. PIT | 12 | 13 |
| 15 | Lamar Miller MIA vs. IND | 15 | 11 |
| 16 | Tim Hightower NO vs. JAC | 11 | 20 |
| 17 | Christopher Ivory NYJ vs. NE | 19 | 15 |
| 18 | Eddie Lacy GB at ARI | 17 | 17 |
| 19 | Charcandrick West KC vs. CLE | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | Giovani Bernard CIN at DEN | 20 | 21 |
| 21 | Karlos Williams BUF vs. DAL | 21 | 22 |
| 22 | Christine Michael SEA vs. STL | 22 | 23 |
| 23 | Ryan Mathews PHI vs. WAS | 28 | 18 |
| 24 | Ameer Abdullah DET vs. SF | 24 | 25 |
| 25 | Cameron Artis-Payne CAR at ATL | 26 | 24 |
| 26 | James Starks GB at ARI | 30 | 27 |
| 27 | Frank Gore IND at MIA | 32 | 26 |
| 28 | Donald Brown SD at OAK | 25 | 34 |
| 29 | Duke Johnson CLE at KC | 27 | 36 |
| 30 | Spencer Ware KC vs. CLE | 23 | 42 |
| 31 | Theo Riddick DET vs. SF | 38 | 29 |
| 32 | Charles Sims TB vs. CHI | 29 | 38 |
| 33 | Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. CIN | 35 | 32 |
| 34 | Jeremy Langford CHI at TB | 31 | 37 |
| 35 | Matt Jones WAS at PHI | 42 | 28 |
| 36 | Rashad Jennings NYG at MIN | 37 | 33 |
| 37 | Jeremy Hill CIN at DEN | 40 | 31 |
| 38 | Alfred Blue HOU at TEN | 36 | 35 |
| 39 | Shane Vereen NYG at MIN | 33 | 39 |
| 40 | Darren Sproles PHI vs. WAS | 44 | 30 |
| 41 | Alfred Morris WAS at PHI | 34 | 43 |
| 42 | C.J. Anderson DEN vs. CIN | 43 | 40 |
| 43 | Mike Gillislee BUF vs. DAL | 45 | 44 |
| 44 | Kendall Gaskins SF at DET | 39 | 55 |
| 45 | Brandon Bolden NE at NYJ | 54 | 41 |
| 46 | Bryce Brown SEA vs. STL | 41 | 51 |
| 47 | Antonio Andrews TEN vs. HOU | 47 | 45 |
| 48 | Joique Bell DET vs. SF | 46 | 47 |
| 49 | Jay Ajayi MIA vs. IND | 59 | 46 |
| 50 | Terrance West BAL vs. PIT | 48 | 60 |
| 51 | Fozzy Whittaker CAR at ATL | 52 | 48 |
| 52 | Isaiah Crowell CLE at KC | 49 | 53 |
| 53 | DeMarco Murray PHI vs. WAS | 51 | 49 |
| 54 | Mike Tolbert CAR at ATL | 50 | 57 |
| 55 | Jerick McKinnon MIN vs. NYG | 55 | 50 |
| 56 | Fred Jackson SEA vs. STL | 56 | 52 |
| 57 | Akeem Hunt HOU at TEN | 53 | 71 |
| 58 | T.J. Yeldon JAC at NO | 54 | |
| 59 | Chris Polk HOU at TEN | 61 | 56 |
| 60 | Joey Iosefa NE at NYJ | 57 | 59 |
| 61 | Bishop Sankey TEN vs. HOU | 58 | 62 |
| 62 | C.J. Spiller NO vs. JAC | 58 | |
| 63 | Steven Jackson NE at NYJ | 60 | 65 |
| 64 | DuJuan Harris SF at DET | 61 | |
| 65 | Kerwynn Williams ARI vs. GB | 62 | 66 |
| 66 | Daniel Herron IND at MIA | 63 | |
| 67 | Jonas Gray JAC at NO | 64 | |
| 68 | Tevin Coleman ATL vs. CAR | 67 | |
| 69 | Derrick Coleman SEA vs. STL | 68 | |
| 70 | Joe Banyard JAC at NO | 69 | |
| 71 | Andre Ellington ARI vs. GB | 70 | |
| 72 | Robert Turbin DAL at BUF | 72 |
Week 16 Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis
By Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades)
I’m liking James White in all formats this week. Bill Belichick always gameplans around running straight up the gut against the Jets. In their first matchup this year, the Patriots ran just five times with their RBs for 1 rushing yard. Sadly Dion Lewis missed that game and James White wasn’t a trusted part of the offense so we can’t point to that game as direct proof to expect a large role for White here.
I do expect a prominent role though. White has a touchdown in each of the last three games and five touchdowns over his last five games. He has also had at least six targets and four catches in his last three games. While the Jets have given up a league low 908 rushing yards to RBs this season, they have also given up four rec TDs. Expect White to see far more involvement than than the Patriots RBs.
I am also high on Bilal Powell on the opposite end of that game. He has really played well since coming back from injury in Week 11. He has averaged 79 yards a game in those five games with three touchdowns.
He has a clear established role as a pass-catcher (averaging 5 catches for 53 yards) while also putting up a 5.1 YPC during that time. That has been enough to put the Jets RB situation into a full blown committee.
That’s a bad thing for Chris Ivory (my RB18) and a good thing for Bilal. You have to think the Jets will throw a lot here which only further helps Powell over Ivory. I think both can have good days but I definitely favor Powell.
We are looking at a split in Kansas City with Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. For one reason or another the consensus has West at RB6 and Ware at RB41, but in the games where both have played a role we have no reason to think there will be such a big gap between the two. The Chiefs employed a true committee in Weeks 13 and 14.
I definitely prefer West a little at RB14 but I don’t see any reason to think Ware will be of little use this week. I have Ware at RB21. The Browns give up the fourth most rushing yards in the league. Both are very startable but they come with a little risk not knowing exactly what the split will be.
On the low side we have Frank Gore at RB28. He is a feature back, yes and he has a great history. BUT over the last seven games there is no way around it - he has hit a wall and played awful. Over the last seven games he has 128 carries at a 2.8 YPC. He has two touchdowns during that time and that is it.
He has two things going for him this week. The matchup against the Dolphins is a good one and he still has no competition. Over the past two weeks no other back has more than four carries. Expect 15+ touches and maybe 50-60 yards. He will still need a touchdown to be worth playing and I’m not sure he’ll get it.
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