Ideally, matchups would be the biggest worry, and there are definitely a few that could cause some usual starters to wind up benches. The toughest calls in PPR leagues will be Chase Edmonds (vs. Colts) and Myles Gaskin (@ Saints). Both are facing brutal opponents, but their high-target ways usually keeps them in PPR lineups. However, both struggled last week, and while we can attribute some of that to both being “eased” back into their respective lineups, it still gives us pause this week. Plus, in win-or-go-home scenarios like most are faced with now, it’s fair to question whether a high ceiling or a high floor is more valuable. Most of the time, it comes down to your specific matchup.
WEEK 16 PPR RANKINGS:Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
James Conner (vs. Colts), Myles Gaskin (@ Saints), Devonta Freeman (@ Bengals), Chuba Hubbard (vs. Buccaneers), D’Onta Foreman (vs. 49ers), and Devin Singletary (@ Patriots) are also in tough situations this week. Conner might be TD-or-bust in PPR since he doesn’t figure to see as many targets with Edmonds back, but his TD upside is too high to ignore. Foreman is also tough to sit, as he gets the vast majority of Tennessee’s carries, but he’s no sure thing either. The rest are probably best suited for benches depending on your others options even though some of these opponents (Bengals, Bucs, Pats) give up a fair amount of receptions to RBs. The backs facing those teams simply aren’t reliable enough to produce. That also might be true of Ronald Jones (@ Panthers) if he’s starting in place of Leonard Fournette (hamstring), as he would profile simillar to Conner.
WEEK 16 STANDARD RANKINGS:Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
If you’re looking for sleepers, handcuffs Darrel Williams (vs. Steelers), Sony Michel (@ Vikings), Jordan Howard (@ Giants), and Rex Burkhead (vs. Chargers) all have more upside than usual. Michel and Howard won’t catch many passes, so they’re also TD-or-bust, which might make them too risky in PPR formats, but Williams and Burkhead usually get some catches. In their highly favorable matchups, they could easily come through.
WEEK 16 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
The “borderline” backs with the best matchups are Darrell Henderson (@ Vikings), Michael Carter (vs. Jaguars), Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams (@ Raiders), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Steelers), Miles Sanders (@ Giants), and Detroit’s starter (@ Falcons), which is likely to be Jamaal Williams. All should be played this week in 12-team leagues, as all are capable of catching at least a handful of passes to go along with what should be solid days on the ground.
WEEK 16 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
Like we said before, there will be plenty of changes throughout the week to these rankings, so make sure to handcuff your top RBs. It wouldn’t hurt to even handcuff your handcuffs if you have enough space on your roster. It’s going to be a wacky final two weeks (Craig Reynolds and Duke Johnson, anyone?), so get ready if you’re still alive for your fantasy title.
MORE WEEK 16 DFS: Best stacks | Lineup Builder
Note: We’ll be updating these RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 16: Who to start at running back
Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring
title: “Fantasy Rb Ppr Rankings Week 16 Who To Start Sit At Running Back In Fantasy Football” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-06” author: “Christopher Dabbs”
Let’s get the injury bug out of the way right now. Austin Ekeler (@ Colts in Week 16) got a little dinged up last week and ceded some carries to Joshua Kelley, but he finished the game fine and looked great in the process (5.0 yards per touch and a TD). There’s less promising news for Jonathan Taylor, who exited for good on Indy’s first drive due to an ankle injury. If he’s out this week, Zack Moss (vs. Chargers) will likely see the bulk of the Colts’ RB snaps again, but Deon Jackson is worth considering as a flex in PPR leagues thanks to the highly favorable matchup. As for Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Bengals), the stud sophomore was a full go last week despite an ankle issue, but running mate Damien Harris (thigh) once again sat. This is ‘Mondre’s backfield, as his top-10 ranking illustrates, so even if Harris returns, he’s not worth considering in a tough matchup.
Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen league-winning handcuff production from the Chiefs’ Jerick McKinnon (vs. Seahawks). JMC has posted over 66 PPR points in that span, clearly surpassing Isiah Pacheco as the better dual-threat back. Both McKinnon and Pacheco will be must-start PPR plays this week, though, as Seattle has yielded the second-most PPR points to RBs this season.
WEEK 16 STANDARD RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
JK Dobbins (vs. Falcons) has clearly reclaimed his RB1 status, rushing for 120-plus yards in two straight weeks. Teammate Gus Edwards could be in play against Atlanta’s 21st-ranked run defense, too, but Dobbins is the no-brainer. Both lose value in PPR leagues, though, which might knock Edwards off the flex line, even in 12-team leagues. Similarly, we wouldn’t mess with Jeff Wilson Jr. (hip) if he returns against the Packers. Raheem Mostert (vs. Packers) has taken over Miami’s backfield in JWJ’s absence, and that likely won’t change this week.
WEEK 16 PPR RANKINGS:QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Don’t worry about Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift (@ Panthers), who got stifled by a superb Jets defense in Week 15. Carolina can be exposed by the run game, as evidenced by the Steelers last weekend (156 yards and three TDs on the ground). We also like Tampa Bay’s Rachaad White and Leonard Fournette (@ Cardinals) to bounce back nicely, as Arizona has yielded the 32.3 PPR points to RBs since Week 13, the third most in the NFL in that span.
WEEK 16 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
More committees we like: Devin Singletary and James Cook (@ Bears) and D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard (vs. Lions). Chicago allows the fourth-most fantasy points to RBs, and Detroit’s D entered Week 15 allowing the seventh-most yards and second-most TDs on the ground this season, so those in 12-team leagues can take chances with Cook and Hubbard.
WEEK 16 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
We’ve been impressed by what we’ve seen lately from James Conner (vs. Buccaneers), as he’s scored six TDs over the past five weeks. However, the Cardinals might be starting third-string QB Trace McSorley against the Bucs, which is “less than ideal” (as we call toddler tantrums in my house). Also less than ideal is Cam Akers (vs. Broncos) in a tough matchup with capped PPR upside. At least Conner and Akers both clearly serve as their squads’ bell-cow backs. Who knows — Denver let Conner rack up 91 yards and a score in Week 15, so maybe Akers can produce similar results.
WEEK 16 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
Joe Mixon (@ Patriots), Miles Sanders (@ Cowboys), Travis Etienne (@ Jets), Latavius Murray (@ Rams), and David Montgomery (vs. Bills) are some more bell-cow backs with bad matchups this week. It’s tough to sit any, as all have decent floors and solid ceilings, but Murray is the more worrisome, especially in PPR formats. Etienne faces a Jets’ defense that’s allowed 52.6 rushing yards per game over its past five outings, but he just went for over 100 yards against the Cowboys, so he still has at least flex value. Mixon and Sanders always have high scoring potential in their high-powered offenses, and Montgomery is versatile enough to rack up a lot of PPR points even if Khalil Herbert (hip) returns to steal some touches.
We’re not as excited about the committees in Atlanta and Washington. Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson (@ 49ers) have to face San Francisco’s league-best run defense, and things aren’t much easier for Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier (@ Ravens) against Baltimore’s third-ranked unit. Robinson and Patterson figure to be the best options in PPR leagues, but they’re still just low-ceiling flexes in 12-team leagues.
All of the above are better than Houston’s backfield, though. Royce Freeman, Dare Ogunbowale, and Rex Burkhead (@ Titans) are good $25,000 Pyramid clues for “Backs who will get you eliminated from the playoffs.” When rookie Dameon Pierce suffered a season-ending ankle injury two weeks ago, the Texans’ starting-caliber skill players went from one to zero. The road to fantasy glory is not paved with volatility!
Note: We’ll be updating these RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 16 fantasy RB PPR rankings
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring leagues
Rank Player 1 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Colts 2 Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Texans 3 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Browns 4 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Commanders 5 Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Steelers 6 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Vikings 7 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Bengals 8 Dalvin Cook, Vikings vs. Giants 9 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Chiefs 10 Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Raiders 11 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Eagles 12 Nick Chubb, Browns vs. Saints 13 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Packers 14 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. Seahawks 15 JK Dobbins, Ravens vs. Falcons 16 Jamaal Williams, Lions @ Panthers 17 Zonovan Knight, Jets @ Jaguars 18 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Cardinals 19 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Dolphins 20 Devin Singletary, Bills @ Bears 21 David Montgomery, Bears vs. Bills 22 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Patriots 23 Miles Sanders, Eagles @ Cowboys 24 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Eagles 25 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Seahawks 26 D’Andre Swift, Lions @ Panthers 27 Zack Moss, Colts vs. Chargers 28 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars @ Jets 29 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers @ Cardinals 30 James Conner, Cardinals vs. Buccaneers 31 Deon Jackson, Colts vs. Chargers 32 D’Onta Foreman, Panthers vs. Lions 33 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs. Lions 34 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons @ Ravens 35 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins vs. Packers 36 Cam Akers, Rams vs. Broncos 37 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ 49ers 38 James Cook, Bills @ Bears 39 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Ravens 40 Latavius Murray, Broncos @ Rams 41 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ 49ers 42 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Falcons 43 Royce Freeman, Texans @ Titans 44 Michael Carter, Jets vs. Jaguars 45 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Dolphins 46 Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Raiders 47 Samaje Perine, Bengals @ Patriots 48 Damien Harris, Patriots vs. Bengals 49 Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Commanders 50 Khalil Herbert Bears vs. Bills 51 Dare Ogunbowale, Texans @ Titans 52 Joshua Kelley Chargers @ Colts 53 Kyren Williams, Rams vs. Broncos 54 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Saints 55 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Cowboys 56 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Giants 57 Justin Jackson, Lions @ Panthers 58 Travis Homer, Seahawks @ Chiefs 59 Marlon Mack, Broncos @ Rams 60 Ameer Abdullah, Raiders @ Steelers 61 Zamir White, Raiders @ Steelers 62 JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars @ Jets 63 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals vs. Buccaneers
