Welcome to the Week 16 NFL DFS RB Coach article!! Looking back at my Week 15 recommendations, Bijan Robinson and Travis Etienne had huge games, and De’Von Achane, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley all had good to modest success. Unfortunately, in-game injuries to Woody Marks and Devin Neal limited their fantasy production, and Chris Rodriguez being inactive due to a groin injury was not expected as I was writing last week’s column. We fantasy football managers, both in DFS and season-long leagues, have had to contend with unexpected injuries to RBs all season. It’s been that kind of a year.

 

 

 

NFL Week 16 NFL DFS RBs

It’s pretty obvious, and I mentioned it last week, but the key to creating a winning NFL DFS lineup is knowing who to start, but, just as importantly, knowing who not to include in your DFS lineups.

This might be the week that you may want to pay up for high-tier NFL DFS RBs. There are a lot of question marks about the availability and health of some NFL DFS RBs in Week 16. There are also several NFL DFS RBs who’ve been borderline DFS starters in past weeks who have tough matchups this week. 

I’m steering clear of Los Angeles Chargers RBs Kimani Vidal and Omarion Hampton in DFS. Vidal is playing significantly more snaps than Hampton, but they continued to split carries in Week 15. 

I’m on the fence as to whether I want to use Los Angeles Rams NFL DFS RBs in DFS on a weekly basis. Blake Corum’s snap rate continues to gradually increase, and that has somewhat lowered Kyren Williams’ ceiling.  In Week 15, Corum played a season-high 45.8% of the Rams’ offensive snaps compared to 54.2% for Williams. The Rams want Williams to have fresh legs for their own playoff run, and despite Corum’s increased usage, he managed to score two rushing TDs in Week 15. It was Williams’ third straight game with at least one TD. Corum has also scored at least one TD in each of his last three games. I’m starting to think they can co-exist as NFL DFS RBs, but I’m not using them this week because of their tough matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

If Washington Commanders NFL DFS RB Chris Rodriguez is out again in Week 16 and you’re a risk taker, Jacory Croskey-Merritt might make for an inexpensive (DK $5200/FD $6000) option for your DFS lineup. He takes on the Philadelphia Eagles, who have given up 5.50 YPC to NFL DFS RBs over their last three games.

I like Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL DFS RB Bucky Irving’s Week 16 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. However, after watching the Bucs use Sean Tucker as their goal-line back in Week 15, I’m thinking twice before putting Irving in my Week 16 DFS lineups.

I have, however, given a lot of thought as to which NFL DFS RBs to include in my Week 16 DFS lineups. These are some of my favorites! 

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Picks For Week 16

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

DraftKings: $8,900 | FanDuel: $9,300

You can almost never go wrong if you put McCaffrey in your DFS starting lineup. He’s cooled off over the past two weeks, but McCaffrey still managed to score close to 17 fantasy points and over 15 fantasy points on the DraftKings and FanDuel platforms, respectively. There have been just two games in which he didn’t score double-digit fantasy points on both platforms, and those were against the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams, both of whom have very good run defenses. McCaffrey doesn’t have a great Week 16 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, but there’s a good chance that he’ll find a way to score a TD in his fifth straight game this week.

De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins

DraftKings: $8,800 | FanDuel: $9,800

Whether the Dolphins win or lose, Achane just keeps putting up double-digit PPR fantasy points week after week. Achane hasn’t had a week in which he’s scored less than 12 and 11 fantasy points on the DraftKings and FanDuel platforms. He has a great matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, whom I target every week in this column. They’ve been consistently generous to the NFL DFS RB position this season, giving up the most per-game PPR fantasy points and the most rushing yards to the position.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

DraftKings: $8,700 | FanDuel: $9,600

Like Achane, Robinson has a very favorable matchup against a team that has been very friendly to NFL DFS RBs this season. The Arizona Cardinals have given up the second-most rushing TDs (15) to NFL DFS RBs and the fifth-most rushing yards to the position. Robinson played 90.1% of the Falcons’ offensive snaps in Week 15, his second-highest rate of the season. 

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

DraftKings: $8,500 | FanDuel: $9,500

Gibbs has a good matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are giving up the second-most rushing yards to RBs (648) over their last five games. David Montgomery, who sometimes gets in the way of Gibbs’ fantasy production, played a season low 28.1% of the Lions’ offensive snaps in Week 15. At the same time, Gibbs played a season-high 81.3% of the Lions’ offensive snaps. If this trend continues into Week 16, look for Gibbs to have a big week.

 

 

 

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

DraftKings: $8,000 | FanDuel: $9,100

I haven’t recommended using Taylor in DFS in a while, and frankly, his production has tailed off lately. Taylor is averaging just 3.7 YPC, and he has scored just one TD in his last four games. In his defense, Taylor was up against four teams that have been very tough against the run this season (Seahawks, Jaguars, Texans, Chiefs). He takes on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16, and they’ve given up 4.47 YPC to NFL DFS RBs in their last 4 games and 4.67 YPC to the position in their last 2 games. If Tony Pollard (who’s been hot lately) can rush for over 100 yards and score a TD against the 49ers, Taylor should be able to bounce back and have a big game in Week 16. Taylor’s $8000 DraftKings salary is especially enticing and could provide a good return on your investment.

Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

DraftKings: $7,200 | FanDuel: $8,900

I had been avoiding recommending Barkley for a while, but I suggested using him in DFS last week, and he did not disappoint. His DFS salaries seem very affordable based on his high ceiling, and he has a favorable matchup against the Washington Commanders in Week 16.  The Commanders have given up 4.61 YPC and six total TDs to NFL DFS RBs over their last four games. Keep an eye on Barkley’s status as kickoff approaches. He is dealing with a stinger, which forced him to miss practice earlier in the week.

Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

DraftKings: $5,900 | FanDuel: $7,300

Keep an eye on Hall’s health leading up to Week 16. He was dealing with a knee injury last week, but ultimately did carry his normal workload until the Jets’ matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars got out of hand. The Jets’ Week 16 matchup against the New Orleans Saints should be much more competitive, so if Hall is healthy, he’ll likely play the entire game. Hall is very affordable in DFS, and the Saints are giving up 4.72 YPC to NFL DFS RBs over their last three games.

Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings

DraftKings: $5,200 | FanDuel: $6,700

Despite the fact that he’s been dealing with nagging injuries lately, Jones is clearly the Vikings’ number one NFL DFS RB. His snaps played rate has increased over the last few weeks, and he played his highest rate (58.2) since Week 12, in Week 15. His Week 16 opponent, the New York Giants, is ready and gift-wrapped for him. They haven’t been able to stop the run all season and have given up the second-most PPR fantasy points per game to NFL DFS RBs.