It's semifinal week in most Fantasy leagues. Pressure to make the right lineup calls intensifies in Week 16, but there are more options for teams that need them.
Jamey Eisenberg has his Start and Sit calls for RB below. His Waiver Wire column also can direct you to the best options who may be available in your leagues. And don't forget to check out Heath Cummings' running back preview for more help with matchup notes, Week 16 numbers to know and more.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Running Backs
Start 'Em
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Robinson delivered as the Start of the Week in Week 15 against Houston with 18 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown, along with three catches for 13 yards on six targets. Without Urban Meyer (fired) and Carlos Hyde (concussion), Robinson dominated touches and should continue to do so for the rest of the season. This week, he gets a Jets defense that is No. 1 in Fantasy points allowed to running backs, and four running backs have scored at least 17 PPR points against them in the past three games.
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The only thing missing for Sanders right now is touchdowns since he hasn't scored yet this year. Hopefully that happens this week. He's coming off a career-high 131 rushing yards on 18 carries in Tuesday's win against Washington where he became the first Eagles player with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since LeSean McCoy in 2014. He scored at least 16 PPR points in each game, and this Philadelphia team is dominating opponents on the ground. This week, Sanders faces a Giants defense that has allowed seven running backs to score at least 11 PPR points in their past six games. Jordan Howard should be considered a sleeper this week as well, but Sanders has top-10 upside in all leagues.
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Edwards-Helaire was a disappointment in Week 15 at the Chargers with only nine carries for 32 yards, along with two catches for 18 yards on four targets. But he should rebound this week at home. He scored at least 15 PPR points in three of five home games he's been able to finish. He should be needed with Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce potentially out since both are on the reserve/COVID-19 list, so he might get more work. And Pittsburgh has allowed a running back to score at least 15 PPR points in six games in a row. Darrel Williams should be considered a sleeper this week as well, but Edwards-Helaire should be in line for a big game in this matchup at home.
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Williams and Melvin Gordon are both worth starting this week, but Williams is the better of the two. He has at least 16 total touches in four games in a row, and he scored at least 11 PPR points in each outing, including three games with at least 19 PPR points. His role in the passing game is solidified with at least three catches in three of his past four games, and he has a great matchup this week at Las Vegas. In their past five games, the Raiders have allowed seven running backs to score at least 12 PPR points, with nine total touchdowns scored over that span.
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In the first game with Darrell Henderson back following his three-game absence due to a thigh injury and a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Michel was still the lead running back against Seattle in Week 15. He had 18 carries for 92 yards, along with two catches for 23 yards on two targets, while Henderson only had eight total touches (two catches) for 27 total yards. Michel played 48 snaps to 18 for Henderson, and hopefully that's what happens moving forward for those relying on Michel. The Vikings have allowed four running backs to score at least 13 PPR points in their past five games, and Michel is a quality No. 2 running back in all leagues in this matchup.
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Sleepers
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Sportsline
I'm hopeful the Jets give more work to Carter this week and less for Tevin Coleman since both had eight carries in Week 15 at Miami. Carter, who was returning from a three-game absence due to an ankle injury, also added a reception and played more snaps (31-21), but we want him to dominate touches in Week 16 against Jacksonville. Prior to getting hurt in Week 11 against Miami, Carter scored at least 15 PPR points in three of his four previous games, and he still has that potential. The Jaguars have allowed a running back to score at least 14 PPR points in two of their past three games, and Carter should be considered a flex option at home.
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Austin Ekeler was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, so Jackson should start for the Chargers in a great matchup at Houston. Jackson just showed you his upside in tandem with Ekeler in Week 15 against Kansas City when Ekeler was dealing with an ankle injury, and Jackson had 13 carries for 86 yards, along with one catch for 13 yards on one target. He should share touches with Joshua Kelley, who could be a flex option in deeper leagues, but Jackson would have top-15 upside in all formats against the Texans with Ekeler likely out. Houston has allowed a running back to score at least 17 PPR points in three games in a row.
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Singletary is looking to score at least 14 PPR points for the third game in a row in Week 16 at New England. It won't be easy, but he should be considered at least a flex option in that matchup. He has over 90 total yards in consecutive games and has taken over as the top running back in Buffalo ahead of Matt Breida and Zack Moss. And the Patriots have allowed four running backs to score at least 12 PPR points in their past five games.
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Pollard returned from his one-game absence with a foot injury in Week 15 at the Giants and once again looked explosive with 12 carries for 74 yards, along with three catches for 13 yards on three targets. He's still playing behind Ezekiel Elliott, but Pollard has been productive in that role, scoring at least 11 PPR points in three of his past five games. He's worth trusting as a flex this week in all leagues against what should be a tired Washington defense that played on Tuesday, and this is back-to-back road games for the Football Team.
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Sit 'Em
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Wilson is coming off his best game of the season in Week 15 against Atlanta with 21 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 9 yards on two targets. He said this was the best he felt all year after coming back from offseason knee surgery, and hopefully he can finish this season strong. But I don't like this matchup for him against the Titans, who are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Only one running back has scored against Tennessee since Week 10, and no running back has more than 70 rushing yards against the Titans since Week 5, including matchups with Jonathan Taylor, James Robinson and Najee Harris. Deebo Samuel remains a factor in the backfield, and Elijah Mitchell (knee) has an outside shot to play this week. Wilson is a flex option at best, with his value higher in non-PPR leagues.
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Johnson was awesome in Week 15 against the Jets with 22 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns, along with one catch for 20 yards on one target, and he might remain the lead back for the Dolphins in Week 16 ahead of Myles Gaskin. But this is a backfield to avoid heading into New Orleans since the Saints are No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. New Orleans has allowed just one rushing touchdown to a running back since Week 5, and the Saints are also tied for sixth in fewest receptions allowed to running backs with just 57 catches on the season. Use Johnson ahead of Gaskin if you're comparing both Miami running backs, but neither is a recommended start in the majority of leagues.
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Hubbard ran well in Week 15 at Buffalo with eight carries for 40 yards, but a good yards per carry isn't going to help your Fantasy lineup. He only has one catch in his past five games, and despite scoring in Week 14 against Atlanta in the first outing without Christian McCaffrey (ankle), he still scored just nine Fantasy points in any format. The matchup is tough this week against Tampa Bay even without linebacker Lavonte David (foot), and Ameer Abdullah has more upside in PPR given his role in the passing game. I don't mind Abdullah as a flex option in PPR since he has six catches in two games without McCaffrey and just had four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown on four targets at Buffalo. But Hubbard is only a desperation flex in non-PPR leagues this week.
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Freeman played 39 snaps in Week 15 against Green Bay, which was his lowest total since Week 7. Meanwhile, Latavius Murray played 29 snaps, which were the most he had since Week 12. We'll see if that's a sign of things to come, but Freeman was miserable against the Packers with six carries for 22 yards, along with one catch for 2 yards on one target. Maybe if Lamar Jackson (ankle) is back that will help Freeman, but it's hard to trust him in Week 16 against the Bengals, who have allowed just one touchdown to a running back since Week 9. Freeman is just a flex option at best in the majority of leagues.
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