Fantasy Football 2013 Running Back Rankings: Week 16
DeMarco Murray
Even though he had just 20 yards rushing, is there any question who sits atop Athlon Sports' fantasy football Week 16 running back rankings? Jamaal Charles probably single-handedly won many a fantasy game last week after scoring five total touchdowns, four of those coming through the air, and producing a grand total of 55.5 fantasy points (Athlon scoring).
Besides not only posting one of the biggest fantasy performances ever, Charles became just the fifth player in the past 50 seasons in NFL history to produce more than 200 yards from scrimmage and score five touchdowns. His 195 yards receiving also were the most by a running back since 1999. While it's pretty much unfathomable to think that Charles can top what he did last week, that doesn't mean he can't potentially help carry a team to a fantasy championship by putting up decent numbers against Indianapolis and the 27th-ranked rushing defense.
Those who aren't as fortunate to have Charles on their roster could still enjoy plenty of success, thanks to matchups such as Chicago vs. Philadelphia and Dallas vs. Washington, which set up nicely for the likes of LeSean McCoy, Matt Forte, DeMarco Murray and Alfred Morris. Murray in particular has been hot lately, leading all running backs with 429 yards rushing over the past four weeks. He also has averaged more than 19 fantasy points per game during this stretch and gets a Redskins defense that is giving up the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Fret not Morris owners, because it's the the Cowboys who are allowing the most, especially after getting run over by Eddie Lacy (141 yards rushing, TD) and Forte (175 total yards, TD) the last two games.
Another thing to keep an eye on this week is injuries. Adrian Peterson (sprained foot/groin) and Maurice Jones-Drew (hamstring) both did not play last week because of their ailments. Peterson is expected back against Cincinnati and we have him ranked in the top five. MJD's outlook is much cloudier, which is he is not ranked, but his backup Jordan Todman (24th) is. Why is that you ask? Because Tennessee is yielding the second-most fantasy points to running backs.
The other big piece of injury new is that Houston's Ben Tate has been placed on injured reserve after breaking his fifth rib in last week's loss to Indianapolis. Dennis Johnson and Deji Karim will share the load out of the backfield, but unlike Todman, we are not too encouraged by either backup's potential this week against Denver.
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2013 NFL Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings — Running Back
Rk | Player | Team | OPP |
1 | Jamaal Charles | KC | vs. IND |
2 | LeSean McCoy | PHI | vs. CHI |
3 | Matt Forte | CHI | at PHI |
4 | Eddie Lacy | GB | vs. PIT |
5 | Adrian Peterson | MIN | at CIN |
6 | Marshawn Lynch | SEA | vs. ARI |
7 | DeMarco Murray | DAL | at WAS |
8 | Knowshon Moreno | DEN | at HOU |
9 | Alfred Morris | WAS | vs. DAL |
10 | Reggie Bush | DET | vs. NYG |
11 | Le'Veon Bell | PIT | at GB |
12 | Frank Gore | SF | vs. ATL (Mon.) |
13 | Zac Stacy | STL | vs. TB |
14 | Ryan Mathews | SD | vs. OAK |
15 | Chris Johnson | TEN | at JAC |
16 | Rashad Jennings | OAK | at SD |
17 | Giovani Bernard | CIN | vs. MIN |
18 | C.J. Spiller | BUF | vs. MIA |
19 | Shane Vereen | NE | at BAL |
20 | Bobby Rainey | TB | at STL |
21 | Andre Brown | NYG | at DET |
22 | Ray Rice | BAL | vs. NE |
23 | Fred Jackson | BUF | vs. MIA |
24 | Jordan Todman | JAC | vs. TEN |
25 | DeAngelo Williams | CAR | vs. NO |
26 | Chris Ivory | NYJ | vs. CLE |
27 | Danny Woodhead | SD | vs. OAK |
28 | Steven Jackson | ATL | at SF (Mon.) |
29 | Lamar Miller | MIA | at BUF |
30 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | CIN | vs. MIN |
31 | Rashard Mendenhall | ARI | at SEA |
32 | Pierre Thomas | NO | at CAR |
33 | Andre Ellington | ARI | at SEA |
34 | Darren Sproles | NO | at CAR |
35 | Chris Ogbonnaya | CLE | at NYJ |
36 | Montee Ball | DEN | at HOU |
37 | Joique Bell | DET | vs. NYG |
38 | Dennis Johnson | HOU | vs. DEN |
39 | Daniel Thomas | MIA | at BUF |
40 | Stevan Ridley | NE | at BAL |
Rankings are based upon Athlon Sports' standard scoring system:
OFFENSIVE SCORING
All touchdowns are 6 points
1 point for 25 yards passing
1 point for 10 yards rushing/receiving
Receptions are .5 points
Interceptions/fumbles are minus-2 points
Additional Week 16 Positional Rankings
Quarterbacks
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Defense/Special Teams
Kickers
