Running Back Start/Sit Advice | Week 16 of THE CUTBACK

Win Your Week 16

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The Dynasty Nerds writers are here to provide you with weekly start/sit advice all season long. We will be making our recommendations based on weekly consensus PPR rankings. Here is the Week 16 Running Back Start/Sit from Running Back Nerd Mychal Warno.

Hey Nerds, welcome to the Semifinals! One thing to keep in mind when making your Week 16 running back start/sit decisions for the playoffs; sometimes you need to take a realistic look at your team and situation. This time of year, one loss ends your season. But, if the odds are stacked against you, it’s time to come swinging.

Win Your Week 16 | QB | RB | WR | TE | IDP | CHEATCHART | FULL SLATE

NOTE: Rankings for the Week 16 Running Back Start/Sit are sourced from FantasyPros expert consensus expert rankings (ECR). Our terminology is for a 12-team PPR league: RB1 means top 12, or RB2 means top 24, etc.

START | Week 16 Running Back Start/Sit

Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers | RB 8

Week 15 Stats | RB 32 | FPts 8.9 | Att 10 | Yds 32 | Tgts 4 | Confidence 80%

Fantasy managers may be hesitant to put Chuba Hubbard in their starting lineup after a very disappointing Week 15 performance. Hubbard has the chance to redeem fantasy managers against the Arizona Cardinals.

Without Jonathon Brooks, Hubbard is seeing a massive workload as he played in 95% of the team’s snaps in Week 15. Arizona has allowed double-digit performances to running backs in 6 of their last 7 matchups. Hubbard is a strong rebound option this week.

START | Week 16 Running Back Start/Sit

Bucky Irving | Houston Texans | RB 11

Week 15 Stats | RB 17 | FPts 12.3 | Att 15 | Yds 117 | Tgts 2 | Confidence 80%

The health of Bucky Irving was a concern for fantasy managers entering Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Irving was able to play and had a fantastic game rushing for over 100 yards for the second time in his rookie season. Over his last 5 games, Irving has had double-digit performances in 4 of them. His single-digit game came against the Las Vegas Raiders where he left early due to injury.

According to Data Nerd Brad Custer‘s Positional Matchup Chart, Irving has a plus matchup against the Cowboys, who have allowed at least 18 fantasy points to running backs eight times this season. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, Dallas has the NFL’s 29th-ranked defense in rushing yards allowed per game (136.1) and yards allowed per carry (4.77).

START | Week 16 Running Back Start/Sit

Jerome Ford | Cleveland Browns | RB 24

Week 15 Stats | RB 8 | FPts 17.4 | Att 7 | Yds 84 | TDs 1 | Tgts 2 | Confidence 75%

When Nick Chubb exited Cleveland’s Week 15 matchup with a broken foot, Jerome Ford stepped up in a massive way finishing as the overall RB8 on the week. Ford’s RB8 finish against the Kansas City Chiefs was the second-highest finish of any running back on the season.

With Chubb likely out for the year, Ford will be the featured back in the Cleveland offense and has a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati is fresh off allowing a RB5 finish to Tyjae Spears. If you need a flex option, Ford is your man.

SIT | Week 16 Running Back Start/Sit

D’Andre Swift | Chicago Bears | RB 25

Week 15 Stats | RB 28 | FPts 9.9 | Att 19 | Yds 79 | Tgts 1 | Confidence 40%

D’Andre Swift is becoming an easy weekly candidate for the sit list. Over the past 4 games, Swift has failed to produce double-digit fantasy points. Swift has also seen his target share decrease during that time and hasn’t reached the endzone since Week 11.

In Week 16, Swift gets a revenge game against his former team the Detroit Lions. In Swift’s earlier matchup against Detroit, he rushed for 39 yards and finished with 8.4 fantasy points. Even though Detroit’s defense is banged up, I expect a similar performance for Swift.

SIT | Week 16 Running Back Start/Sit

Isiah Pacheco | Kansas City Chiefs | RB 29

Week 15 Stats | RB 39 | FPts 5.2 | Att 13 | Yds 32 | Tgts 1 | Confidence 45%

Since returning from injury in Week 13, Isiah Pacheco has been very disappointing for fantasy managers. Pacheco has yet to surpass 7.1 fantasy points and has not rushed for over 55 yards in a game. Pacheco has also split work with Kareem Hunt and has not surpassed a 46% snap share per Fantasypros.

Patrick Mahomes is dealing with an ankle injury that might force him to miss a Week 16 matchup against the Houston Texans, which may focus on a more run-heavy approach for Kansas City. The matchup is difficult against the Houston Texans, who have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, per Fantasy Points Data Suite. If at all possible, leave Pacheco on your bench.

SPOTLIGHT SIT | Week 16 Running Back Start/Sit

Breece Hall | New York Jets | RB 19

Week 15 Stats | RB 19 | FPts 11.1 | Att 9 | Yds 30 | TDs 1 | Tgts 2 | Confidence 65%

It has been a very rough fantasy season for Breece Hall managers. Hall has only rushed for 100 yards once this season and has only one RB1 finish over the past 8 games. Hall is also battling a knee injury that limited him to only 28 snaps and 11 touches in Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As with all spotlight sits, I am not recommending you outright sit Hall, but if you have better options such as Rico Dowdle or Aaron Jones, I would prefer starting them instead. If sitting Hall is not an option, I would temper my expectations.

For upcoming rookie content, check out one of our many NFL Prospect Big Boards! Our Draft Nerds are hard at work to make sure your rookie drafts go smoothly this offseason:

Win Your Week 16 | QB | RB | WR | TE | IDP | CHEATCHART | FULL SLATE

Week 16 Running Back PPR Rankings

NOTE: These rankings are made prior to final injury designations. Players may be ranked higher or lower based on the perceived likelihood of them playing and/or their effectiveness if they do play.

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