Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs

Austin Ekeler only has one top 10 finish over his last four games. He'll get back on track against the Colts in Week 16.

If you're reading this, congrats. That likely means you've made it to the next round of the fantasy playoffs. Nine times out of 10, you should stick with the players who got you to the postseason, but it's important to remember that every roster spot and every lineup decision is critical.

The Eagles are now joined by the Bills, Chiefs, Vikings, Cowboys and 49ers as teams who have secured their spot in the NFL playoffs. Of those teams, Kansas City, Minnesota and San Francisco have won their division. Five teams are already eliminated from postseason contention: Houston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona.

As usual, we want to lean toward games with high point totals because they can regularly be counted on to provide the most fantasy points. These are Week 16's three highest totals on SI Sportsbook. The highest point total game is the Packers vs. Dolphins (O/U 49.5). The next two highest totals are Seahawks vs. Chiefs (O/U 48.5) and Giants vs. Vikings (O/U 48.5).

On the flip side, we want to fade contests with low point totals since they tend to produce fewer fantasy points. The contest with the lowest point total on SI Sportsbook is Saints vs. Browns (O/U 31.5). The next two lowest point total games are Broncos vs. Rams (O/U 36.5) and Texans vs. Titans (O/U 37).

NFL Playoff Picture:
AFC Last Team In: Dolphins (8-6, 2nd in AFC East)
AFC First Team Out: Patriots (7-7, 3rd in AFC East)
NFC Last Team In: Commanders (7-6-1, 4th in NFC East)
NFC First Team Out: Seahawks (7-7, 2nd in NFC North)

NOTE: The rankings below reflect my opening rankings. For a complete list of the updated positional rankings, CLICK HERE.

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Week 16 running back rankings (PPR)

  1. Derrick Henry, TEN (vs. HOU)
  2. Christian McCaffrey, SF (vs. WAS)
  3. Austin Ekeler, LAC (at IND)
  4. Josh Jacobs, LV (at PIT)
  5. Saquon Barkley, NYG (at MIN)
  6. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (vs. CIN)
  7. Dalvin Cook, MIN (vs. NYG)
  8. Tony Pollard, DAL (vs. PHI)
  9. Aaron Jones, GB (at MIA)
  10. Nick Chubb, CLE (vs. NO)
  11. Joe Mixon, CIN (at NE)
  12. James Conner, ARI (vs. TB)
  13. Jerick McKinnon, KC (vs. SEA)
  14. Alvin Kamara, NO (at CLE)
  15. Najee Harris, PIT (vs. LV)
  16. David Montgomery, CHI (vs. BUF)
  17. Ken Walker, SEA (at KC)
  18. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (vs. PHI)
  19. J.K. Dobbins, BAL (vs. ATL)
  20. Travis Etienne, JAC (at NYJ)
  21. Isiah Pacheco, KC (vs. SEA)
  22. Leonard Fournette, TB (at ARI)
  23. Miles Sanders, PHI (at DAL)
  24. D'Andre Swift, DET (at CAR)
  25. Raheem Mostert, MIA (vs. GB)
  26. Latavius Murray, DEN (at LAR)
  27. Rachaad White, TB (at ARI)
  28. Devin Singletary, BUF (at CHI)
  29. Zonovan Knight, NYJ (vs. JAC)
  30. Cam Akers, LAR (vs. DEN)
  31. Jamaal Williams, DET (at CAR)
  32. Tyler Allgeier, ATL (at BAL)
  33. A.J. Dillon, GB (at MIA)
  34. Zack Moss, IND (vs. LAC)
  35. Chuba Hubbard, CAR (vs. DET)
  36. Brian Robinson, WAS (at SF)
  37. Gus Edwards, BAL (vs. ATL)
  38. Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL (at BAL)
  39. Deon Jackson, IND (vs. LAC)
  40. Jaylen Warren, PIT (vs. LV)
  41. Michael Carter, NYJ (vs. JAC)
  42. Antonio Gibson, WAS (at SF)
  43. D'Onta Foreman, CAR (vs. DET)
  44. James Cook, BUF (at CHI)
  45. Samaje Perine, CIN (at NE)
  46. Royce Freeman, HOU (at TEN)
  47. Kareem Hunt, CLE (vs. NO)
  48. Jeff Wilson, MIA (vs. GB)
  49. Marlon Mack, DEN (at LAR)
  50. Khalil Herbert, CHI (vs. BUF)
  51. Joshua Kelley, LAC (at IND)
  52. Kenneth Gainwell, PHI (at DAL)
  53. Kyren Williams, LAR (vs. DEN)
  54. Rex Burkhead, HOU (at TEN)
  55. Jordan Mason, SF (vs. WAS)
  56. Travis Homer, SEA (at KC)
  57. Alexander Mattison, MIN (vs. NYG)
  58. Dare Ogunbowale, HOU (at TEN)
  59. Justin Jackson, DET (at CAR)
  60. JaMycal Hasty, JAC (at NYJ)

Published
Michael Fabiano
MICHAEL FABIANO

Michael Fabiano is a fantasy football analyst for Sports Illustrated. His weekly rankings and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em articles are must-reads for fantasy players. He is also the co-host of the Fantasy Dirt Podcast on SI. Before joining SI in August 2020, he worked for CBS Sports, NFL Network and SiriusXM. He also contributes to Westwood One Radio. Fabiano was the first fantasy analyst to appear on one of the four major TV networks and is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame.