The 2025-26 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks are officially over. This means that playoffs have likely began in your fantasy leagues. During the playoffs Fantasy Managers will have full utilization of their roster and need to make sure they have backup options on their roster incase their stars get hurt. There have plenty of injuries this season to crucial players that make the pool of players to choose from on waivers that much thinner. It’s always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 16 running back rankings.
[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve List]
[Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week]
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor.
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must Start | Bijan Robinson | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB1 |
| Must Start | De’Von Achane | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB2 |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Saquon Barkley* | vs Washington Commanders | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Jahmyr Gibbs | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Josh Jacobs* | vs Chicago Bears | RB7 |
| Starting RB1 | James Cook | vs Cleveland Browns | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Javonte Williams | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Rico Dowdle | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | Chase Brown | vs Miami Dolphins | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | Bucky Irving | vs Carolina Panthers | RB12 |
| High-End RB2 | TreVeyon Henderson | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB13 |
| High-End RB2 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Denver Broncos | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Derrick Henry | vs New England Patriots | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Quinshon Judkins | vs Buffalo Bills | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | Omarion Hampton | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB17 |
| Starting RB2 | R.J. Harvey* | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB18 |
| Starting RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs Green Bay Packers | RB19 |
| Starting RB2 | Kyren Williams | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB20 |
| Starting RB2 | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Detriot Lions | RB21 |
| Low RB2 | Tony Pollard | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB22 |
| Low RB2 | Breece Hall | vs New Orleans Saints | RB23 |
| Low RB2 | Jaylen Warren | vs Detriot Lions | RB24 |
| Low RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs New York Giants | RB25 |
| Low RB2 | Ashton Jeanty | vs Houston Texans | RB26 |
| Flex | Woody Marks* | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB27 |
| Flex | Tyrone Tracy | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB28 |
| Flex | Michael Carter | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB29 |
| Flex | Alvin Kamara* | vs New York Jets | RB30 |
| Flex | Kenneth Walker III | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs Tennessee Titans | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Chuba Hubbard | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Kyle Monangai | vs Green Bay Packers | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | David Montgomery | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | Devin Neal* | vs New York Jets | RB37 |
| Deep League Flex | Tyjae Spears | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB38 |
| Deep League Flex | Jordan Mason | vs New York Giants | RB39 |
| Deep League Flex | Kimai Vidal | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB40 |
| Deep League Flex | Zach Charbonnet | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB41 |
| Deep League Flex | Isiah Pacheco | vs Tennessee Titans | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Emari Demercado | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Chris Rodgriguez | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devin Singletary | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Blake Corum | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Miami Dolphins | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rachaad White | vs Carolina Panthers | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dylan Sampson* | vs Buffalo Bills | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ty Johnson | vs Cleveland Browns | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Keaton Mitchell | vs New England Patriots | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Nick Chubb* | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ameer Abdullah | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeremy McNichols | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Emanuel Wilson | vs Chicago Bears | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | LeQuint Allen Jr. | vs Denver Broncos | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rasheen Ali | vs New England Patriots | RB60 |
Players that could miss this week’s game
RB4 Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Saquon Barkley missed practice on Tuesday with a stinger. It is unclear if this injury could cause him to miss time. If Barkley misses Week 16 against the Washington Commanders. Tank Bigsby becomes RB20 between Karen Williams and Kenneth Gainwell.
RB7 Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Josh Jacobs has been playing through a knee injury the past few weeks. All signs point to him continuing to play through the injury. If Jacobs misses Week 16 against the Chicago Bears Emanuel Wilson moves up to RB17 between Omarion Hampton and R.J. Harvey.
RB18 R.J. Harvey, Denver Broncos
Josh Jacobs has been playing through a knee injury the past few weeks. All signs point to him continuing to play through the injury. If Jacobs misses Week 16 against the Chicago Bears Emanuel Wilson moves up to RB17 between Omarion Hampton and R.J. Harvey.
Houston Texans Running Backs: RB27 Woody Marks & RB53 Nick Chubb
Woody Marks suffered an ankle injury last week against the Arizona Cardinals. Nick Chubb missed last week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with a rib injury. If Marks and Chubb miss Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders Jawhar Jordan becomes RB30 between Alvin Kamara and Kenneth Walker III.
If Marks misses Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders and Chubb is active, Chubb moves up to RB30 between Alvin Kamara and Kenneth Walker III. Dare Ogunbowale becomes RB53 between Keaton Mitchell and Amber Abdullah.
If Chubb misses Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals and Marks is active, Jawhar Jordan becomes RB58 between Jacory Croskey-Merritt and LeQuint Allen Jr.
New Orleans Saints Running Backs: RB30 Alvin Kamara & RB37 Devin Neal
Alvin Kamara has missed the last three games with both ankle and knee injuries. Devin Neal suffered a hamstring injury last week against the Carolina Panthers. If Kamara and Neal miss Week 16 against the New York Jets Evan Hull becomes RB35 between Kyle Monangai and David Montgomery.
If Kamara misses Week 16 against the New York Jets and Neal is active, Neal moves up to RB25 between Jaylen Warren and Aaron Jones.
If Neal misses Week 16 against the New York Jets and Kamara is active, Evan Hull becomes RB59 between LeQuint Allen Jr. and Rasheen Ali.
RB50 Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns
Dylan Sampson missed last week’s game against the Chicago Bears with both calf and hand injuries. There is a chance he returns this week. If Sampson misses Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills Trayveon Williams becomes RB60 below Rasheen Ali.
Players that are currently not expected to play
Zonovan “Bam” Knight, Arizona Cardinals
Zonovan “Bam” Knight was placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday with an ankle sprain that will end his 2025-26 season. Knight took over as Arizona’s primary running back after Trey Benson and James Conner suffered their season ending injuries. Knight played well as the team’s starting running back. After bouncing around practice squads the past few years, Knight will likely sign with a team this offseason to be their backup running back.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bhayshul Tuten is doubtful for this week’s game against the Denver Broncos. He underwent surgery on his finger that will keep him out of action for a few weeks. This likely ends Tuten’s 2025-26 regular season. While Tuten is out Travis Etienne Jr. should see a slight uptick in work. LeQuint Allen Jr. will backup Etienne Jr. for the remainder of the regular season and see a regular role for the offense.
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