Fantasy Football Week 16 Running Back Rankings

The 2021-22 NFL season has only three weeks left. Bye weeks are over which means the fantasy playoffs have begun in most standard leagues. Now that playoffs are here it is important to have backup options on your fantasy roster because injuries are continuing to mount up. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 16 running back rankings.

*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*

(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High-End RB2- a player who may isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.

Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and causes a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

RB1 Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

Christian McCaffrey was limited in practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. If McCaffrey cannot play this week against the Washington Commanders Jeff Mason will move up to RB24 between D’Andre Swift and Latavius Murray.

RB7 Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Aaron Jones was limited in practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. If he cannot play this week against the Miami Dolphins A.J. Dillon moves up to RB9 between Tony Pollard and James Conner.

New England Patriots Running Backs: RB8 Rhamondre Stevenson & RB46 Damien Harris

Rhamondre Stevenson was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. Damien Harris has missed the past three games with a thigh injury. If neither can play this week against the Las Vegas Raiders Pierre Strong Jr. becomes the RB35 between Chuba Hubbard and Michael Carter. Kevin Harris will become the RB47 between Dare Ogunbowale and Antonio Gibson.

If Stevenson is inactive and Harris is active Harris will become the RB30 between Devin Singletary and Zack Moss. Strong Jr. will become the RB47 between Dare Ogunbowale and Antonio Gibson.

If Harris is inactive but Stevenson is active Strong Jr. will become the RB55 between Jordan Wilkins and Alexander Mattison.

RB13 Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

Kenneth Walker III missed practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. Walker III missed Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers with this injury. If Walker III misses this week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs DeeJay Dallas will become the RB32 between Jeff Wilson Jr. and Rachaad White. Travis Homer becomes the RB45 between Khalil Herbert and Samaje Perine.

RB15 Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Najee Harris missed practice on Wednesday with a hip injury. If he was to miss this week’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders Jaylen Warren moves up to RB23 between J.K. Dobbins and Zonovan “Bam” Knight.

RB19 Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Nick Chubb missed practice on Wednesday with a foot injury. If he misses this week’s game against the New Orleans Saints Kareem Hunt moves up to RB26 between Isiah Pacheco and A.J. Dillon.

RB23 Zonovan “Bam” Knight, New York Jets

Zonovan “Bam” Knight is questionable for Thursday night’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with an ankle injury. If Knight doesn’t play Michael Carter moves up to RB31 between Zack Moss and Jeff Wilson Jr. Ty Johnson becomes the RB37 between James Cook and D’Onta Moreman.

RB25 Latavius Murray, Denver Broncos

Latavius Murray was limited on Wednesday with a foot injury. If Murray doesn’t play this week against the Los Angeles Rams Marlon Mack becomes the RB43 between Gus Edwards and Khalil Herbert.

RB32 Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins

Jeff Wilson Jr. last week’s game with a hip injury. He was limited in practice on Wednesday because of this injury. If Wilson Jr. misses this week’s game against the Greem Bay Packers Raheem Mostert will move up to RB18 between Travis Etienne Jr. and Leonard Fournette. Myles Gaskin joins the list at RB50 between Jaylen Warren and Kareem Hunt.

RB44 Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears

Khalil Herbert could return from Injured Reserve after missing the past four games with a hip injury. If Herbert does not return this week David Montgomery moves up to RB19 between Leonard Fournette and Nick Chubb.

RB48 Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders

Antonio Gibson was limited in practice on Wednesday with a foot injury. If Gibson doesn’t play this week against the San Francisco 49ers Jonathan Williams would be expected to backup Brian Robinson Jr.

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