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Some running backs are coming into Week 16 with ideal matchups while others seem likely to underperform. We’ve identified two backs who are ideal starters in fantasy football and two who could bust ahead of the action. Let’s go over some of the top starting options and fades.
Running Back Starts
David Montgomery, Chicago Bears vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Over the last four weeks, Montgomery has emerged as one of the best fantasy running backs in the league. He has logged six total touchdowns in that span and reached the 100-total-yard mark in every matchup. We can mostly credit this to the Bears’ soft schedule during that stretch, which continues in Week 16 as Chicago heads to Jacksonville. The Jags are allowing opposing RBs to collect 29.8 DKFP per game, the league’s third-most.
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams
On the flip side of that coin, the Rams defense is allowing the fourth-fewest DKFP per game to opposing rushers, which may seem like a huge red flag for Chris Carson fantasy managers. But this is a unique situation. Carson was missing with an injury in his team’s last meeting with the Rams, but now, after looking completely recovered from said injury, the Seahawks will rely on Carson in their most important game of the season to this point. He’s in line for 15+ carries and 3+ targets, emphasis on the “+”.
Running Back Sits
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sanders followed up his season’s best performance in Week 14 with a 10-DKFP-night against the Cardinals in Week 15. It seemed as if Miles may have benefitted from the switch to Jalen Hurts, but now that we’ve seen more from the young QB, it’s clear that he’s going to cannibalize the rushing workload. Hurts and Sanders ran for 63 and 64 yards respectively, which is something that could break in either direction against a disappointing Dallas defense in Week 16.
Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
Drake has been largely a letdown for fantasy managers this season, only surpassing 20 DKFP in two matchups. Last week, he faded to the background as the Cardinals relied more on their passing-down back, Chase Edmonds. The pair basically split the work, but Edmonds got the touchdown, tipping the scale in his favor for fantasy relevance. This week, the Cardinals have a divisional matchup against a 49ers defense that’s allowing the fifth-fewest DKFP per game to opposing running backs. This could very well be a Kyler Murray-centered game.