Week 16 marks the semifinals of most fantasy football playoffs, and the running back picture looks as volatile as ever.
Big names face tough defensive matchups, and numerous injuries are causing chaos in the middle and lower tiers.
Which backfields do you need to watch out for? Keep reading for our RB Week 16 fantasy rankings, with lineup tips and injuries to monitor.
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Fantasy Week 16 RB Rankings: Start 'em, sit 'em lineup tips for PPR running backs this week
Please note these RB rankings reflect point-per-reception (PPR) scoring, with 0.1 point for every rushing or receiving yard and 6 points for every touchdown.
↕️ Fantasy Rankings for Week 16
| Rk | Tr | Name | TM | OPP | Week 16 Value |
| 1 | 1 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | @ARI | Elite RB1 |
| 2 | 1 | James Cook | BUF | @CLE | Elite RB1 |
| 3 | 2 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE | @BAL | Elite RB1 |
| 4 | 2 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | PIT | Elite RB1 |
| 5 | 2 | De'Von Achane | MIA | CIN | Elite RB1 |
| 6 | 3 | Saquon Barkley | PHI | @WAS | RB1 |
| 7 | 3 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | SF | RB1 |
| 8 | 3 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | @IND | RB1 |
| 9 | 4 | Tony Pollard | TEN | KC | RB1/RB2 |
| 10 | 4 | RJ Harvey | DEN | JAX | RB1/RB2 |
| 11 | 4 | Travis Etienne | JAX | @DEN | RB1/RB2 |
| 12 | 4 | Josh Jacobs | GB | @CHI | RB1/RB2 |
| 13 | 4 | Chase Brown | CIN | @MIA | RB1/RB2 |
| 14 | 5 | Aaron Jones | MIN | @NYG | Strong RB2 |
| 15 | 5 | Derrick Henry | BAL | NE | Strong RB2 |
| 16 | 6 | Omarion Hampton | LAC | @DAL | RB2 |
| 17 | 6 | Tyrone Tracy | NYG | MIN | RB2 |
| 18 | 6 | Rico Dowdle | CAR | TB | RB2 |
| 19 | 6 | Breece Hall | NYJ | @NO | RB2 |
| 20 | 7 | Bucky Irving | TB | @CAR | RB2/Flex |
| 21 | 7 | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | BUF | RB2/Flex |
| 22 | 7 | Kareem Hunt | KC | @TEN | RB2/Flex |
| 23 | 7 | Kyren Williams | LAR | @SEA | RB2/Flex |
| 24 | 7 | D'Andre Swift | CHI | GB | RB2/Flex |
| 25 | 7 | Javonte Williams | DAL | LAC | RB2/Flex |
| 26 | 8 | Ashton Jeanty | LV | @HOU | Strong Flex |
| 27 | 8 | Kenneth Walker | SEA | LAR | Strong Flex |
| 28 | 8 | Blake Corum | LAR | @SEA | Strong Flex |
| 29 | 8 | Michael Carter | ARI | ATL | Strong Flex |
| 30 | 9 | Jordan Mason | MIN | @NYG | Flex |
| 31 | 9 | Jawhar Jordan | HOU | LV | Flex |
| 32 | 9 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | @ARI | Flex |
| 33 | 9 | Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | @DET | Flex |
| 34 | 9 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | @DET | Flex |
| 35 | 10 | Evan Hull | NO | NYJ | Flex |
| 36 | 10 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS | PHI | Flex |
| 37 | 10 | David Montgomery | DET | PIT | Flex |
| 38 | 10 | Keaton Mitchell | BAL | NE | Flex |
| 39 | 10 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | TB | Flex |
| 40 | 10 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | @BAL | Flex |
| 41 | 11 | Audric Estime | NO | NYJ | Flex/Bench |
| 42 | 11 | Dare Ogunbowale | HOU | LV | Flex/Bench |
| 43 | 12 | Kimani Vidal | LAC | @DAL | Flex/Bench |
| 44 | 12 | Devin Singletary | NYG | MIN | Flex/Bench |
| 45 | 12 | Jeremy McNichols | WAS | PHI | Flex/Bench |
| 46 | 12 | Jaylen Wright | MIA | CIN | Flex/Bench |
| 47 | 12 | Isaiah Davis | NYJ | @NO | Flex/Bench |
| 48 | 13 | Tyjae Spears | TEN | KC | Flex/Bench |
| 49 | 13 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | LAR | Flex/Bench |
| 50 | 13 | Kyle Monangai | CHI | GB | Flex/Bench |
| 51 | 13 | LeQuint Allen | JAX | @DEN | Flex/Bench |
| 52 | 13 | Emanuel Wilson | GB | @CHI | Flex/Bench |
| 53 | 13 | Emari Demercado | ARI | ATL | Flex/Bench |
| 54 | 13 | Malik Davis | DAL | LAC | Flex/Bench |
| 55 | 13 | Samaje Perine | CIN | @MIA | Flex/Bench |
| 56 | 14 | Ray Davis | BUF | @CLE | Bench |
| 57 | 14 | Isiah Pacheco | KC | @TEN | Bench |
| 58 | 14 | Tank Bigsby | PHI | @WAS | Bench |
| 59 | 14 | Sean Tucker | TB | @CAR | Bench |
| 60 | 14 | Rachaad White | TB | @CAR | Bench |
| 61 | 14 | Ollie Gordon | MIA | CIN | Bench |
| 62 | 14 | Zavier Scott | MIN | @NYG | Bench |
| 63 | 14 | Hunter Luepke | DAL | LAC | Bench |
| 64 | 14 | Ty Johnson | BUF | @CLE | Bench |
| 65 | 14 | Ameer Abdullah | IND | SF | Bench |
| 66 | 14 | C.J. Ham | MIN | @NYG | Bench |
| 67 | 15 | Ronnie Rivers | LAR | @SEA | Bench |
| 68 | 15 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC | @TEN | Bench |
| 69 | 15 | Brian Robinson | SF | @IND | Bench |
| 70 | 15 | Velus Jones | SEA | LAR | Bench |
| 71 | 15 | Tyler Badie | DEN | JAX | Bench |
| 72 | 15 | Chris Brooks | GB | @CHI | Bench |
| 73 | 15 | Raheem Mostert | LV | @HOU | Bench |
| 74 | 15 | Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN | JAX | Bench |
| 75 | 15 | Trayveon Williams | CLE | BUF | Bench |
| 76 | 15 | Rasheen Ali | BAL | NE | Bench |
| 77 | 15 | Brashard Smith | KC | @TEN | Bench |
| 78 | 15 | Adam Prentice | DEN | JAX | Bench |
| 79 | 16 | Corey Kiner | ARI | ATL | Bench |
| 80 | 16 | Owen Wright | TB | @CAR | Bench |
| 81 | 16 | Myles Gaskin | SEA | LAR | Bench |
| 82 | 16 | Andrew Beck | NYJ | @NO | Bench |
| 83 | 16 | Khalil Herbert | NYJ | @NO | Bench |
| 84 | 16 | Tahj Brooks | CIN | @MIA | Bench |
| 85 | 16 | Kaleb Johnson | PIT | @DET | Bench |
| 86 | 16 | Dylan Laube | LV | @HOU | Bench |
| 87 | 16 | Kalel Mullings | TEN | KC | Bench |
| 88 | 16 | Julius Chestnut | TEN | KC | Bench |
| 89 | 16 | Trevor Etienne | CAR | TB | Bench |
| INJ | -- | Alvin Kamara | NO | NYJ | |
| INJ | -- | Devin Neal | NO | NYJ | |
| INJ | -- | Dylan Sampson | CLE | BUF | |
| INJ | -- | Woody Marks | HOU | LV | |
| INJ | -- | Chris Rodriguez | WAS | PHI | |
| INJ | -- | Bhayshul Tuten | JAX | @DEN | |
| INJ | -- | Nick Chubb | HOU | LV | |
| INJ | Sione Vaki | DET | PIT | ||
| IR-R | -- | Justice Hill | BAL | NE | |
| IR | -- | Bam Knight | ARI | ATL | |
| IR | -- | Trey Benson | ARI | ATL | |
| IR | -- | Jerome Ford | CLE | BUF | |
| IR | -- | Terrell Jennings | NE | @BAL | |
| SUSP | -- | Josh Williams | TB | @CAR |
Which top RB injuries should I know for Week 15 fantasy rankings?
- Saints woes: Alvin Kamara (knee) has sat out the past three games, and Devin Neal (hamstring) left Week 15 and didn't return. Evan Hull and Audric Estime would handle duties if both top names are out.
- Woody Marks (ankle) sustained an injury of his own while Nick Chubb (ribs) sat out. Jawhar Jordan emerged after his promotion from the Texans' practice squad and rattled off 101 yards on a whopping 6.7 yards per carry. While Jordan was reverted back to the practice squad, Houston likely would call him back up if Marks or Chubb misses time.
- Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Groin) sat out while the formerly outcast Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt went 18-96-1 on the ground. JCM's value is directly tied to Rodriguez's availability; otherwise, if all three Commanders are active, Rodriguez leads a messy group.
- Bhayshul Tuten (finger) is set to miss at least one game after surgery; LeQuint Allen could be a stash in case anything happens to Travis Etienne.
👮 Protect your backfield: RB handcuff rankings, depth charts
Which running backs should I add from the Week 16 waiver wire?
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (48%)
- Jawhar Jordan, Texans (0%)
- Evan Hull and Audric Estime (0%), Saints
All rostership percentages are current on Yahoo Fantasy Sports as of Tuesday.
➕ More top fantasy RB pickups this week: Week 16 waiver wire
Who are the best Week 16 fantasy running backs?
TreVeyon Henderson continues peaking at the right time, cementing his spot as a fantasy RB1 against a Ravens defense that will still leak plenty of points to a competent offense.
Each had a down week and/or worsening conditions (Jonathan Taylor with Philip Rivers at QB), but continue playing JT, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey in the semifinals.
Which RB fantasy sleepers should I start in Week 16?
Matchup upgrades go to:
- The Vikings' Aaron Jones (and, if you need a flex, Jordan Mason) against a Giants defense that's let up a league-high 44.5 PPR points per game to running backs in the last month.
- Bucky Irving, coming off a quiet 8.1-point fantasy outing but draws a Panthers defense that ranks in the league's top third among easy RB matchups.
- Jawhar Jordan would occupy RB2 territory against a sieve-like Raiders defense.
- Evan Hull (PPR) and Audric Estime (half- or non-PPR) would be last-ditch flex plays if one or both of Kamara and Neal must miss Week 16.
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Which fantasy running backs have a Week 16 bye?
The NFL no longer has bye weeks for the 2025-26 season. All active, healthy running backs are available for fantasy lineups.