RADIO
No. 12 - Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) at Dallas Cowboys
Irving shook off his back and hip injuries last week, rushing for 117 yards against a solid Chargers run defense. He now ranks as the overall RB11 since Week 10, which is three spots higher than teammate Rachaad White.
This week, Irving takes on a Cowboys defense that has struggled against the run. Dallas has allowed the fourth-most rushing touchdowns and sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. Irving and White should both excel against the Cowboys, with a slight edge going to the rookie.
No. 11 - Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers) vs. Arizona Cardinals
Hubbard has staved off competition this year, remaining the Panthers’ lead back after injuries to Miles Sanders and Jonathon Brooks. The fourth-year playmaker ranks as the overall RB16 since Week 9, scoring five touchdowns in six games since then.
This week, Hubbard faces the Cardinals. Arizona started the year dominant against the run game, but they’ve started to show some major weaknesses lately and are no longer a scary matchup. All in all, the Cardinals have allowed the 11th-most rushing yards, eighth-most receiving yards, and 10th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024.
No. 10 - Kyren Williams (Los Angeles Rams) at New York Jets
Williams has been a machine lately, totaling 31 touches in each of his last two games. Meanwhile, over his last three contests, he’s averaging 99.7 rushing yards, 7.7 receiving yards, and one touchdown per game. He ranks as the overall RB6 in fantasy football during that span.
This week, Williams faces a Jets defense that ranks near the middle of the league in terms of production surrendered to opposing backfields. New York has allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2024, but Williams’ workload and productivity coupled with the Rams’ anticipated positive game script make him matchup-proof heading into Week 16.
No. 9 - De'Von Achane (Miami Dolphins) vs. San Francisco 49ers
The overall RB8 this year, Achane has been faced with some adversity lately, failing to finish as anything higher than the RB12 in his last three games. However, he’s been plagued by some unfavorable matchups and also dealt with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s poor play on the road last week.
This week, Achane gets a much more favorable matchup at home against the 49ers. San Francisco has surrendered the third-most rushing touchdowns and 12th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. Just last week, they allowed 112 total yards to Kyren Williams. We like Achane’s chances to get back inside the top 10 for the first time since Week 12.
No. 8 - Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Henry has endured a rough five-game streak, failing to rank as anything higher than the RB12 during that span. Two tougher matchups inside that stretch of games have hurt his productivity, as has the continued threat of Lamar Jackson on the ground.
This week, his job doesn’t get any easier. Henry takes on the Steelers, who have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards and ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. When Henry last met the Steelers, he ranked as that week’s RB22, rushing 13 times for 65 yards and one touchdown.
No. 7 - Joe Mixon (Houston Texans) at Kansas City Chiefs
Mixon’s elite stretch of games seems to have dissipated. In two of his last three contests, the veteran playmaker has ranked outside the top 28 fantasy running backs. With that said, he is still just two games removed from a 119-yard, one-touchdown performance that allowed him to rank as the RB4 overall.
This week, Mixon faces the Chiefs, who have allowed the fewest rushing yards, fewest receiving yards, and fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. This is a very challenging opponent, but we also can’t forget that Mixon has been viewed as matchup-proof for most of this season. He’s still a must-start option on Saturday.
No. 6 - James Conner (Arizona Cardinals) at Carolina Panthers
Conner has been feasting lately, ranking as the overall RB7 and RB1 in his last two games, respectively. Last week against the Patriots, he posted 110 rushing yards, 28 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. He tied his season-high with five receptions, and he also ranked as the overall RB1 for the first time this season. He’s now sixth among running backs in fantasy points per game since Week 9.
This week, Conner gets another opportunity to dominate against the Panthers’ weak run defense. Carolina has surrendered the most rushing yards, second-most rushing touchdowns, and most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. We like Conner as a top-six fantasy running back this week, and we certainly would not be surprised if he finished as the overall RB1 for the second week in a row.
No. 5 - Chase Brown (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Cleveland Browns
Brown has been phenomenal lately, ranking third among running backs in fantasy points per game since Week 9. He simply can’t be slowed down as he dominates opposing defenses on the ground and through the air. Just last week, against a notoriously strong Titans run defense, he tallied 97 rushing yards, 16 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns.
This week, Brown faces the Browns, who have allowed the eighth-most rushing touchdowns but the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. Of course, even if the Browns had the league’s best run defense, we’d still be starting Brown as a top-12 option this week. He has shown that he can be matchup-proof and should be deployed in all leagues as the fantasy playoffs continue.
No. 4 - Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) vs. New York Giants
Robinson has been terrific lately, averaging 26.3 touches, 106.3 rushing yards, 17.3 receiving yards, and 0.7 touchdowns over his last three games. He ranks fifth among running backs in fantasy points during that span, and he’s also the overall RB5 in fantasy football this year.
In Week 16, Robinson takes on the Giants, who have allowed the third-most rushing yards, seventh-most receiving yards, and seventh-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. We like Robinson as a top-five fantasy option this week, but we’d feel even better if Michael Penix Jr. wasn’t making his first career start. Penix adds a wrinkle of unpredictability that slightly lowers Robinson’s floor.
No. 3 - Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers) vs. New Orleans Saints
Jacobs continues to be a phenomenal fantasy option, finishing as a top-six running back in each of his last five games, as well as six of his last seven. Since returning from his bye in Week 11, he has nine touchdowns and ranks second among running backs in terms of fantasy points.
This week, Jacobs gets a very favorable matchup with the Saints, who have allowed the 10th-most rushing yards, third-most rushing touchdowns, and eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. With the Saints expected to start Spencer Rattler, the Packers enter this weekend as heavy favorites and should be able to lean on Jacobs in the rushing attack once again. He ranks as our RB3, but there’s no denying that he has RB1 upside.
No. 2 - Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions) at Chicago Bears
Gibbs rushed just eight times last week, but he still ranked as the overall RB2 thanks to his five catches, 83 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns. The second-year back ranks as the RB3 this year, and he’s about to take on an even bigger role with David Montgomery (knee) done for the regular season.
This week, Gibbs takes on the Bears, who have allowed the second-most rushing yards, second-most rushing touchdowns, and fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. Detroit’s rushing attack should have no issue gashing Chicago, which means Gibbs is headed for another top finish.
No. 1 - Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) at Washington Commanders
Barkley hasn’t been the overall RB1 in a single week since Week 12, but he has still put together an impressive string of games. In fact, he remains the overall RB1 this year, and he’s nearly 40 fantasy points ahead of the next-best running back, Derrick Henry.
This week, Barkley faces the Commanders, who have allowed the sixth-most rushing yards to opposing running backs but rank near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points surrendered to the position. When Barkley last faced the Commanders, he gashed them for 146 rushing yards, 52 receiving yards, and two touchdowns, ranking as the RB2 that week. There’s no reason he can’t replicate — or even beat — that performance in Week 16.
