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It's the championship week in the majority of Fantasy leagues and it's a little crazy to look at the running backs some of us might be forced to start. You never imagined using these guys when the season started, let alone with a potential Fantasy Football title on the line, but here we are.
It's been that kind of year.
Before we break down the specifics, here's a look at what you should have on your radar for a Fantasy title.
Week 16 quick read
Quarterbacks
Injuries: Drew Brees (foot), T.J. Yates (knee), Marcus Mariota (knee), Brock Osweiler (shoulder) and Matt Hasselbeck (back)
Priority list (Add them in this order): Kirk Cousins (44 percent) and Teddy Bridgewater (35 percent)
Running backs
Injuries: LeSean McCoy (knee), Adrian Peterson (ankle), Lamar Miller (quad), Shaun Draughn (knee) and Melvin Gordon (knee)
Priority list (Add them in this order): Karlos Williams (64 percent), Bilal Powell (37 percent), Christine Michael (15 percent), Cameron Artis-Payne (8 percent) and Rashad Jennings (68 percent ownership)
Wide receivers
Injuries: Danny Amendola (knee), A.J. Green (back), Michael Crabtree (concussion), Alshon Jeffery (hamstring), Robert Woods (groin), Cecil Shorts (groin), Seth Roberts (abdomen) and Phillip Dorsett (ankle)
Priority list (Add them in this order): Rueben Randle (50 percent), Markus Wheaton (34 percent), Jermaine Kearse (15 percent), DeVante Parker (50 percent) and Dorial Green-Beckham (28 percent)
Tight ends
Injuries: No one of significance
Priority list (Add them in this order): Zach Ertz (27 percent), Zach Miller (65 percent) and Will Tye (23 percent)
DST streamers: Lions (vs. SF) 43 percent, Vikings (vs. NYG) 56 percent, Colts (at MIA) 11 percent and Titans (vs. HOU) 36 percent
Kicker streamers: Jason Myers (at NO) 15 percent, Nick Novak (at TEN) 10 percent and Sebastian Janikowski (vs. SD) 35 percent
LeSean McCoy (knee) is the biggest injury we're monitoring this week, and with the Bills eliminated from playoff contention, we doubt he will play against the Cowboys in Week 16. That opens the door for Karlos Williams to start, barring a setback with his recent shoulder injury, and I would pick up Mike Gillislee as well just for insurance.
Bilal Powell has been fantastic of late, and the matchup with the Patriots should mean more work for him over Chris Ivory this week. Powell is a must-start in PPR leagues, but you should definitely consider starting him in standard formats as well.
Christine Michael emerged from Week 15 as the best running back for the Seahawks unless Marshawn Lynch (abdomen) is able to return this week. It will still be a timeshare with Bryce Brown, Derrick Coleman and Fred Jackson, but Michael had the most work and ran well against the Browns. It's a tougher matchup against the Rams, but you should consider Michael at least a flex option in the majority of leagues.
It's the same situation with Cameron Artis-Payne with the Panthers since he emerged from Week 15 as the best running back unless Jonathan Stewart (foot) is able to play at Atlanta. He also will share touches with Mike Tolbert and Fozzy Whittaker, and Cam Newton remains Carolina's best threat at the goal line. Still, Artis-Payne should get the majority of work if Stewart is out, and he belongs in the No. 2 running back/flex conversation.
It's worth adding Rashad Jennings where available because he's done a nice job over the past two games, and he could be a low-end starter/flex option this week at Minnesota, especially with Odell Beckham (suspended) out. We also need to monitor injuries to Adrian Peterson (ankle) and Lamar Miller (quad), although both are expected to play in Week 16.
If both are out then Jerick McKinnon and Jay Ajayi become huge priorities off waivers, so you might want to speculate on one or both of these guys off waivers if you have an open roster spot. I might start Ajayi over Miller this week even if both are healthy based on Miller's usage the past two games.
And if Ameer Abdullah is still available in your leagues add him as well, and I would start him this week with his matchup against the 49ers at home. Abdullah ran well against the Saints on Monday night, and San Francisco's run defense has been awful on the road, which should also help Joique Bell.
In deeper leagues, you can also look at Donald Brown since Melvin Gordon (knee) is now out for the season, and Brown will work in tandem with Danny Woodhead.
Finally, the Patriots signed Steven Jackson this week, but the former Rams and Falcons running back is likely someone they will lean on for depth or to see if he can help in the playoffs. It would be a shock to see him get meaningful work in Week 16 at the Jets, but since it's New England, you never know. That said, there's no way you should start Jackson in a Fantasy championship game.
You might be desperate for a running back. But Jackson, even with all the mess at running back around the league, is not the answer to our running back woes.
Quarterbacks
Of note:
- Peyton Manning (56 percent) could still start this week against the Bengals depending on what happens in practice and if Osweiler is hurt. It would be tough to trust Manning in most standard formats, but he could be needed in two-quarterback leagues. He also would get a favorable matchup with the Chargers at home in Week 17 if you still play into the final week of the season, and that could be Manning's last regular-season game of his career.
- Andrew Luck (83 percent) isn't expected to play in Week 16, but if you play into Week 17 you should add him now where available. The Colts close the season against the Titans at home, and they could be playing for their playoff lives in that matchup. There's also the chance Luck isn't cleared to return, so only add Luck if you have an open roster spot.
- These quarterbacks could be starters in Week 16: Zach Mettenberger (1 percent), Ryan Mallett (1 percent), Brandon Weeden (0 percent), Kellen Moore (0 percent) and Charlie Whitehurst (0 percent). Of this group, the only ones worth using in two-quarterback leagues are Mettenberger, Weeden and Moore.
Running backs
Christine Michael (15 percent): Michael was the leader of the Seattle backfield in Week 15 against the Browns with 16 carries for 84 yards. He shared time with Bryce Brown (nine carries for 43 yards), Coleman (five carries for 10 yards) and Jackson (two catches for 17 yards), but Michael should get the chance for the most touches against the Rams in Week 16. It's a tougher matchup against St. Louis, but the Rams have allowed seven running backs to get 90 total yards or a touchdown in the past seven games. Michael should be considered at least a flex option in Week 16, but I would even start him with the chance he once again leads the Seahawks backfield in touches.
Of note:
- I'm excited about Abdullah (71 percent) this week, and even Bell (42 percent) is worth a look based on their matchup against the 49ers at home. San Francisco has struggled with running backs on the road, and Abdullah and Bell ran well against the Saints in Week 15, as both had over 80 total yards and a touchdown.
- If Miller is hurt then Ajayi (30 percent) would become a must-start option against the Colts at home, and I would even consider starting Ajayi over Miller this week since it appears like the Dolphins might be going with a youth movement. Ajayi scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 15 at San Diego, and the Dolphins could be ready to move on from Miller, who is a free agent after this year.
- It sounds like Peterson is definitely going to play in Week 16 against the Giants, but please add McKinnon (9 percent) just in case. He would split time with Matt Asiata if Peterson was out, but McKinnon has the higher ceiling. In Week 15, McKinnon had seven carries for 10 yards and four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown against the Bears.
- Donald Brown (0 percent) will split time with Woodhead now that Gordon is out for the season, and Brown did a nice job in Week 15 against the Dolphins after Gordon got hurt with 12 carries for 90 yards and two catches for 14 yards. Woodhead is still the running back to trust for the Chargers, and Brown did well in a situation where San Diego was sitting on a lead. That could be the case in Week 16 at Oakland, but Brown is just a flex option at best this week.
- I would try to avoid the Ravens backfield if possible, especially in a matchup with the Steelers. But if you're stuck, go with Terrance West (6 percent) since he should get more touches after Javorius Allen was benched the past two games. West had seven carries for 35 yards and two catches for 11 yards in Week 15 against the Chiefs.
- Jackson (2 percent) will likely share time with Brandon Bolden and Joey Iosefa if he's active in Week 16 at the Jets, and we would avoid all New England running backs aside from James White moving forward. He's the only trustworthy option given his role in the passing game.
Wide receivers
Of note:
- Ted Ginn (75 percent) should be added in all leagues where available, and he would be my No. 1 priority if he's still out there on waivers. He's scored two touchdowns in three games in a row, and he has at least eight targets in four of his past six games. He had two catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns on three targets against the Falcons in Week 14.
- Tyler Lockett (61 percent) should be added in all leagues where available, and he would be my No. 2 priority if he's still out there on waivers. He has at least nine Fantasy points in a standard league in four of his past five games, and he's scored three touchdowns in his past two outings. Wilson is leaning on him with seven targets in each of his past three games.
- Kamar Aiken (79 percent) should be added in all leagues where available, and he would be my No. 3 priority if he's still out there on waivers. He had a Hail Mary touchdown in Week 15 against the Chiefs, but without that he still had seven catches for 82 yards on 11 targets. He's scored at least nine Fantasy points in a standard league in four of the past five games, and he has a great matchup against the Steelers at home. He had five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown on seven targets at Pittsburgh in Week 4.
- Finally, Willie Snead (75 percent) should be added in all leagues where available, and he would be my No. 4 priority if he's still out there on waivers. Snead has been great for most of the season, including the past two games with seven catches for 122 yards at Tampa Bay in Week 14 and 10 catches for 76 yards against Detroit in Week 15. We just have to make sure Brees is healthy for this Week 16 game against the Jaguars, otherwise you can't start Snead with a lot of confidence.
Tight ends
Of note:
- Kyle Rudolph (51 percent) has a good matchup this week against the Giants, but it will be tough to trust him based on his track record of late. He has combined for just 14 Fantasy points in a standard league in his past four games and has scored one touchdown since Week 7.
- Austin Seferian-Jenkins (67 percent) scored last week at St. Louis, but the only thing that changed for him from the previous three games was the touchdown. Otherwise he had three catches in each of those three outings and 31 yards or less on six targets. It's a risk to trust him in a tough matchup with the Bears.
- Tyler Kroft (0 percent) could start again with Tyler Eifert (concussion) likely out, and he scored in Week 15 with three catches for 31 yards on three targets. He might have a good rapport with AJ McCarron, which could help, but it will be a risk to start him in Week 16 at Denver.
