Just like the Detroit Lions, who have won six of their past seven games and find themselves firmly in the wild card hunt, and the New England Patriots, who just lateraled their way out of the playoff race, the fantasy football postseason provides thrilling victories and agonizing defeats. If you're one of the few fantasy football owners moving onto the semifinals, good on ya, but things only get tougher from here on out. The right running back plays could be the difference between a trophy and melancholy, payout and bow-out, eternal bragging rights and a meaningless third-place fight. If you really want to win this thing, make our Week 16 fantasy RB PPR rankings your second home all week.
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
