Many of you have found a way to keep your fantasy teams competitive even though some of your rosters have been decimated by injuries. If you selected running backs like Christian McCaffrey , Saquon Barkley , and Ezekiel Elliott in preseason drafts and your fantasy team is still standing in Week 16 you deserve to take a bow. The fact that those marquee players provided so little in overall production is evidence of just how volatile the fantasy RB position can be, and how important it is to load up your fantasy rosters with alternatives at the position.

Those who held on to Elliott’s handcuff all season long were justly rewarded when he scored 31 PPR fantasy points in Week 15. Unfortunately many fantasy managers will be forced to bob and weave and juggle their lineups with several backfields in flux due to potential Week 16 injuries. Running backs like Pollard, Le’Veon Bell and Jeff Wilson Jr. could be the final piece to the puzzle that helps you win your league’s fantasy championship.

Unanticipated injuries and having players unexpectedly placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list are always a possibility these days, and Fantasy Alarm will keep you up to date on all the latest breaking fantasy football related news as it happens. In the meantime, the following analysis provides a closer look at a few of the NFL backfields that deserve your attention.  We hope that it helps you better manage your fantasy football team(s) and wish you luck on your quest for a fantasy football championship!

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons announced what we fantasy players have known for a little while now: Ito Smith is the team’s lead back. Unfortunately when you’re the lead back of a Falcons team that runs a pass first offense you’re not going to get many carries. Over the past three weeks Smith has lead Falcons running backs in snaps played but he’s only averaged just over eight carries per game during that span. With Todd Gurley ’s chronic knee injuries continuously resurfacing and limiting him on the field, his days as a bell cow back are likely behind him. Gurley will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Houston Texans

While the Texans’ offensive line was better at protecting their quarterback last season, their run blocking wasn’t very good. Unfortunately the unit as a whole has taken a step backward this season and that has made it extremely difficult for any Texans running back to run the ball. As a team, they have the lowest total rushing yards (1,204) and rushing yards per game (86). It’s not surprising that David Johnson hasn’t had a 100-yard rushing game so far this season. However, Johnson has been a very good pass-catching back throughout his career and the Texans finally took advantage of his receiving skills in Week 15. After logging zero catches in his previous two games, he caught all 11 of his targets against the Colts. Johnson has a good matchup against the Bengals and he should have success on the ground against a team that is giving up 4.89 YPC to RB’s. However, if his offensive line doesn’t create enough holes for him to run through, the Texans know that they can use him in their passing game. If Duke Johnson and C.J. Prosise , who missed Week 15 due to injuries, are forced to miss Week 16 as well, Johnson could be a fantasy football hero this week.  

Jacksonville Jaguars

James Robinson possibly being a no-go for Week 16 due to an ankle injury is a big deal for fantasy managers. The rookie running back, who absolutely deserves to have been selected for the Pro Bowl, is fantasy football’s RB4 based on total PPR fantasy points scored. He hasn’t scored less than ten PPR fantasy points in any game this season and he basically carried many fantasy teams on his back as he helped lead them to the fantasy playoffs. If Robinson is out this week Dare Ogunbowale and Devine Ozigbo might find themselves splitting carries. Some actually expected Ozigbo to be the Jaguars’ lead back this season after they released Leonard Fournette . A hamstring injury forced the Jags to place him on the IR and the rest is history.  For Week 16, Ozigbo would probably be better suited to have the Jags’ early down role with Ogunbowale playing during passing downs.  

Kansas City Chiefs

With Clyde Edwards-Helaire out of action due to a high ankle sprain, Le’Veon Bell will have the opportunity to grab the majority of the Chiefs’ early down carries. He's got a sweet matchup against the Falcons but the Chiefs are another team that runs a pass heavy offense. The best scenario for fantasy managers needing to start Bell would be for the Chiefs to get off to a big early first half lead. In that case the Chiefs might look to run the ball more in the second half, giving Bell the opportunity to provide fantasy managers with enough fantasy production to help them seal a Week 16 victory.

San Francisco 49ers

With the 49ers placing Raheem Mostert on injured reserve due to a left high ankle sprain, Jeff Wilson Jr. is likely to take over as the lead back in Week 16. After Mostert was forced from Week 15’s contest against the Cowboys in the third quarter Wilson received a majority of the early down carries the rest of the way. Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon are healthy but based on their recent usage, likely won’t have a large role against the Cardinals in Week 16. Look for Coleman to have the change of pace role and McKinnon to be active on passing downs. Wilson has had a nose for the end zone this season and has scored all seven of his touchdowns in games where he’s had at least 12 carries. Look for him to have at least that many carries this week.

 

AFC EAST
 Buffalo BillsMiami DolphinsNew England PatriotsNew York Jets
Primary RBZack MossSalvon AhmedDamien HarrisFrank Gore
Change of Pace Matt Breida/Patrick Laird/Malcolm Perry
Sony Michel
 
3rd Down  James WhiteTy Johnson
Handcuff
Devin Singletary
 Sony Michel 
Injured  Rex BurkheadLa'Mical Perine was placed on the IR (ankle)
Notes
 
Gaskin tested positive for COVID-19, missed Wk 14 and Wk 15. DeAndre Washington did not receive a carry or target Wk 15.
Harris (ankle) was out Week 15
 
AFC SOUTH
 Indianapolis ColtsJacksonville JaguarsHouston TexansTennessee Titans
Primary RBJonathan TaylorJames RobinsonDavid JohnsonDerrick Henry
Change of PaceJordan Wilkins/Nyheim HinesDare Ogunbowale/Devine OzigboDuke Johnson/C.J. ProsiseDarrynton Evans/Jeremy McNichols/D'Onta Foreman
3rd DownNyheim Hines Duke Johnson/Dontrell Hilliard 
Handcuff Dare Ogunbowale/Devine OzigboDuke JohnsonDarrynton Evans
InjuredMarlon MackChris Thompson/Ryquell Armstead  
Notes
Wilkins played 0 snaps in Wk 15
Watch Robinson's availability for Week 16 (ankle)
Johnson (neck) & Prosise (ankle) were out Wk 15. Buddy Howell & Scottie Phillips filled the change of pace role
D'Onta Foreman was a healthy scratch Week 14 & 15
AFC NORTH
 Baltimore RavensCincinnati BengalsCleveland BrownsPittsburgh Steelers
Primary RBJ.K. DobbinsGiovani BernardNick Chubb/Kareem HuntJames Conner
Change of PaceGus Edwards/Mark Ingram/Justice HillSamaje Perine/Trayveon WilliamsD'Ernest JohnsonBenny Snell
3rd Down   Jaylen Samuels
HandcuffGus Edwards Nick Chubb/Kareem Hunt 
Injured Joe Mixon (foot) has been out since Week 7 and was placed on the IR. He was eligible to return in Week 14.  
Notes
Ingram was inactive (team decision) Week 15
 
 
Conner was out Week 15 (quad)
AFC WEST
 Denver BroncosKansas City ChiefsLas Vegas RaidersLos Angeles Chargers
Primary RBMelvin Gordon/Phillip LindsayLe'Veon BellJosh JacobsAustin Ekeler
Change of PaceRoyce Freeman Devontae Booker/Jalen RichardKalen Ballage/Justin Jackson/Joshua Kelley
3rd Down Darrel Williams Gabe Nabers
Handcuff Darrel WilliamsDevontae BookerKalen Ballage
Injured    
Notes
 
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is expected to miss Week 16 due to a high ankle sprain and hip injury.
Ignore Josh Jacobs Instagram posts
Jackson was a healthy scratch in Week 15. The Chargers waived Troymaine Pope (neck) who was inactive since Wk 13.
NFC EAST
 Dallas CowboysNew York GiantsPhiladelphia EaglesWashington Football Team
Primary RBEzekiel ElliottWayne GallmanMiles SandersAntonio Gibson
Change of PaceTony Pollard/Rico DowdleAlfred Morris/Dion LewisBoston Scott/Corey ClementPeyton Barber
3rd Down Dion Lewis
Boston Scott
 J.D. McKissic
HandcuffTony PollardAlfred MorrisBoston ScottJ.D. McKissic / Peyton Barber
Injured Saquon Barkley & Devonta Freeman  
Notes
Elliott (calf) was inactive Week 15
 
Clement did not log a carry in Week 15
Antonio Gibson has been out since Week 14 (toe)
NFC SOUTH
 Atlanta FalconsCarolina PanthersNew Orleans SaintsTampa Bay Buccaneers
Primary RBIto SmithMike DavisAlvin KamaraRonald Jones
Change of PaceBrian Hill/Todd GurleyRodney SmithLatavius MurrayLenard Fournette/Ke'Shawn Vaughn
3rd Down   LeSean McCoy
Handcuff Rodney Smith/Trenton CannonLatavius MurrayLeonard Fournette
Injured Reggie Bonnafon  
Notes
 
Watch Christian McCaffrey's (quad) progress for Week 16.
 
Jones (finger) was out Wk 15 and is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He's unlikely to play in Wk 16.Fournette would be the lead back with Vaughn as the change of pace option
NFC NORTH
 Chicago BearsDetroit LionsGreen Bay PackersMinnesota Vikings
Primary RBDavid MontgomeryD'Andre SwiftAaron JonesDalvin Cook
Change of PaceRyan Nall/Cordarrelle PattersonAdrian Peterson/Kerryon JohnsonJamaal Williams/A.J. DillonAlexander Mattison
3rd Down  Jamaal Williams 
Handcuff
Cordarrelle Patterson
Adrian Peterson/Kerryon JohnsonJamaal WilliamsAlexander Mattison
InjuredTarik Cohen Tyler Ervin 
Notes
 
 
Watch Williams' status (quad) for Week 16
Mattison is in the league's concussion protocol. Watch his progress for Friday's game.
NFC WEST
 Arizona CardinalsLos Angeles RamsSan Francisco 49ersSeattle Seahawks
Primary RBKenyan DrakeDarrell HendersonJeff WilsonChris Carson
Change of PaceChase EdmondsMalcolm BrownKyle Juszczyk/Tevin ColemanCarlos Hyde/Rashaad Penny/DeeJay Dallas
3rd Down  Jerick McKinnon 
HandcuffChase EdmondsDarrell Henderson Carlos Hyde
Injured  Jamycal Hasty/Raheem MostertTravis Homer/Bo Scarbrough
Notes
 
Cam Akers is expected to miss "at least" Week 16 due to a high ankle sprain.
Raheem Mostert was placed on the IR (ankle)
Dallas & Penny (ankle) may miss multiple weeks