Backfield Report: Jahmyr Gibbs enters bell cow territory

Arizona Cardinals

James Conner (Week 15: 46 snaps, 21 opportunities, 22 routes, 5 targets)
DeeJay Dallas (Week 15: 11 snaps, 4 opportunities, 3 routes, 0 targets)
Trey Benson (Week 15: 10 snaps, 5 opportunities, 0 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: In the Cardinals’ 30-17 win over the Patriots, James Conner rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries while adding another five receptions for 28 yards. Rookie Trey Benson ran for 22 yards on five carries but is still nothing more than a handcuff to Conner with two weeks left in the fantasy playoffs. Conner has had a tight grip on this backfield all season. His 33 percent opportunity share is tied with the likes of Breece Hall, Aaron Jones, and Kenneth Walker for the seventh-highest in the league among running backs, while his 526 offensive snaps are good for 11th-most. Conner gets what should be a plus matchup in Week 16 against a Panthers defense that’s fresh off allowing 149 rushing yards to Rico Dowdle in Week 15.

Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson (Week 15: 43 snaps, 23 opportunities, 13 routes, 1 target)
Tyler Allgeier (Week 15: 15 snaps, 12 opportunities, 1 route, 0 targets)

Notes: The Falcons had an atrocious offensive showing in Week 15’s win over the Raiders on Monday Night Football. If it wasn’t for a 30-yard touchdown pass to Drake London in the first quarter, there’s a good chance the Falcons would have walked away as losers to the now 2-12 Raiders. Bijan Robinson was arguably the lone bright spot on offense, rushing for 125 scoreless yards on 22 carries while adding one catch for another 10 yards, but he failed to find the end zone. Tyler Allgeier added 43 scoreless yards of his own on the ground but remains a touchdown-dependent fantasy option despite averaging 10.0 opportunities/gm over his last three games. Even in a juicy Week 16 matchup against the Giants, the only back we can trust in this offense is Robinson, who should do more than enough to propel his managers into Week 17 for a shot at fantasy glory.

Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Henry (Week 15: 27 snaps, 14 opportunities, 9 routes, 0 targets)
Justice Hill (Week 15: 22 snaps, 7 opportunities, 18 routes, 5 targets)
Rasheen Ali (Week 15: 10 snaps, 8 opportunities, 1 route, 0 targets)

Notes: Much to the disappointment of fantasy managers, the Ravens used their Week 15 game against the Giants as a bit of a test drive for the youngsters. Derrick Henry still led the team with 14 carries and 67 rushing yards, but rookie Rasheen Ali also saw his first action of the season in the victory. Ali ran eight times for 32 yards in the win and forced three missed tackles in what was an otherwise solid debut for the rookie fifth-rounder. That said, Ali has no fantasy upside as long as Henry is healthy and active. Justice Hill saw his normal workload and caught all five of his targets for 61 yards and a touchdown, which was good for his third receiving touchdown of the season. We should expect a much more normal workload for Henry in a pivotal Week 16 tilt against the Steelers in a game that could decide the winner of the AFC North.

Buffalo Bills

James Cook (Week 15: 29 snaps, 15 opportunities, 8 routes, 1 target)
Ty Johnson (Week 15: 20 snaps, 7 opportunities, 15 routes, 5 targets)
Ray Davis (Week 15P 17 snaps, 9 opportunities, 6 routes, 2 targets)

Notes: James Cook dominated a depleted Lions defense on the ground in Week 15’s win over the Lions, rushing for 14-105-2 in the 48-42 victory. While it was a solid outing for the Bills’ RB1, the surprise performance of the day went to Ty Johnson, who caught five passes while leading the team with 115 receiving yards. Johnson has been surprisingly involved in the Bills’ offense for most of the season. Opportunities have been hard for him to come by, but Johnson’s 254 are 55 more than Ray Davis, who has played in the same number of games (14) as Johnson has this season. However, Johnson has just 50 opportunities on the year to Davis’ 101. Whether or not Johnson remains a fixture in the passing game is to be determined. Over the last three weeks, Cook has run 38 routes to Johnson’s 32, and they have each run 27 routes in the last two weeks. Johnson’s usage needs to be more consistent before we can trust him as a fantasy asset, meaning he’s best left on the bench/waivers for Week 16 against the Patriots.

Carolina Panthers

Chuba Hubbard (Week 15: 47 snaps, 14 opportunities, 28 routes, 4 targets)
Mike Boone (Week 15: 3 snaps, 2 opportunities, 1 route, 0 targets)

Notes: With Jonathon Brooks (knee) out for the season, the Panthers, as expected, went back to heavy doses of Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard saw 14 of the team’s 16 running back opportunities in the 30-14 loss to the Cowboys. Not much came from those looks, as Hubbard totaled just 49 scoreless yards from scrimmage in the defeat, but fantasy managers can continue to count on him as a volume-based back in Week 16 against the Cardinals, who have allowed the 14th-most fantasy points to running backs since Week 10.

Chicago Bears

D’Andre Swift (Week 15: 44 snaps, 20 opportunities, 14 routes, 1 target)
Travis Homer (Week 15: 14 snaps, 3 opportunities, 5 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: With Roschon Johnson (concussion) still sidelined, Travis Homer stepped in as the Bears’ lightly-used RB2 against the Vikings. He had a forgettable seven rushing yards on three carries. Swift led the backfield with 19 carries for 79 yards and caught one pass for another 10 yards in what became the Bears’ eighth-straight loss. Swift will have a chance at a big outing in Week 16 against the Lions, who lost two more defensive starters in last week’s loss to the Bills.

Cincinnati Bengals

Chase Brown (Week 15: 59 snaps, 28 opportunities, 22 routes, 3 targets)
Khalil Herbert (Week 15: 3 snaps, 1 opportunity, 2 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Khalil Herbert remains an afterthought in Cincinnati’s offense. Since being acquired at the trade deadline, Herbert has seen exactly five opportunities in his four games with the team. Over that same span, Chase Brown has seen 94 opportunities. In Week 15’s win over the Titans, Brown totaled 113 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, finishing as the RB4 in fantasy with 26.3 PPR points. Brown has no finished as a top-10 PPR back in six straight weeks and will look to continue his hot running in Week 16 against the Browns.

Cleveland Browns

Jerome Ford (Week 15: 34 snaps, 9 opportunities, 16 routes, 2 targets)
Nick Chubb (Week 15: 22 snaps, 10 opportunities, 8 routes, 1 target)
Pierre Strong (Week 15: 5 snaps, 0 opportunities, 2 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Nick Chubb suffered a broken foot in the Browns’ Week 15 loss to the Chiefs, ending his season after just eight games. It’s a tough break for Chubb, who returned in Week 7 after suffering a devastating knee injury in Week 2 of last season. Chubb’s year ends with a rushing line of 102-332-3 (3.3 YPC). Now, Jerome Ford will be thrust back into the mix as the Browns’ RB1. Against the Chiefs, Ford totaled 7-84-1 on the ground thanks in part to a 62-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter and also caught two passes for another 20 yards. From Weeks 1-6, Ford played a 58 percent snap share and saw 73 of the team’s 136 running back opportunities. D’Onta Foreman could also work back into the fold, but during the first six weeks of the season, Foreman saw double-digit opportunities in just three games and never scored more than 7.0 PPR points in those games. Over that same span, Ford had two top-24 PPR weeks and averaged 13.7 opportunities/gm. He’ll be a volume-based play in Week 16 against the Bengals, teetering on the RB2/RB3 tier.

Dallas Cowboys

Rico Dowdle (Week 15: 51 snaps, 25 opportunities, 20 routes, 0 targets)
Ezekiel Elliott (Week 15: 14 snaps, 10 opportunities, 2 routes, 1 target)

Notes: Rico Dowdle SZN continued in Week 15 against the Panthers. Dowdle ran for a career-high 149 yards in last week’s win over the Panthers, setting a new high mark in three straight games after rushing for 112 yards in Week 13 and 131 yards in Week 14. Since Week 13, Dowdle has led the league in rushing with 392 yards while seeing a 36 percent opportunity share. His volume will keep him in the RB2 conversation for next week’s game against the Buccaneers, who have allowed the fewest points per game (13.9) to opposing running backs since Week 10.

Denver Broncos

Javonte Williams (Week 15: 34 snaps, 9 opportunities, 20 routes, 3 targets)
Jaleel McLaughlin (Week 15: 15 snaps, 10 opportunities, 7 routes, 3 targets)
Audric Estime (Week 15: 11 snaps, 6 opportunities, 2 routes, 1 target)

Notes: Denver’s backfield remains in shambles. Jaleel McLaughlin, who led the backfield with seven carries for 21 yards in Week 15’s win over the Colts, suffered a quad injury and was a DNP on Monday but was spotted at Tuesday’s walkthrough. McLaughlin’s status for Thursday night’s game against the Chargers is up in the air, but fantasy managers still battling for a title should avoid this backfield at all costs. Javonte Williams (6-15-0) continues to be a non-factor, as does Audric Estime (5-13-0). A matchup against a stout Chargers defense makes this backfield even less attractive.

Detroit Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs (Week 15: 57 snaps, 15 opportunities, 43 routes, 7 targets)
David Montgomery (Week 15: 24 snaps, 9 opportunities, 15 routes, 4 targets)

Notes: David Montgomery suffered a torn MCL in Week 15’s loss to the Bills, ending his season. His exit from Sunday’s game resulted in Jahmyr Gibbs playing on a season-high 57 snaps. Gibbs also ran a season-high 46 routes, but that can be attributed to a game script that saw the Lions playing from behind for nearly the entirety of the game. Gibbs is on the verge of seeing a high-volume role for the remainder of the season and will have a chance to lead multiple fantasy managers to championships over the final two weeks. He currently ranks as the RB7 in fantasy points per game (18.0), and that’s while averaging 16.8 opportunities/gm. There’s not a lot of room for his role to increase, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him average 20-plus opportunities in the next several weeks. Gibbs gets a Week 16 game against a Bears team he totaled 104 yards against on Thanksgiving and profiles as a must-start RB1 in all formats.

Green Bay Packers

Josh Jacobs (Week 15: 46 snaps, 30 opportunities, 10 routes, 4 targets)
Chris Brooks (Week 15: 15 snaps, 2 opportunities, 4 routes, 1 target)
Emanuel Wilson (Week 15: 6 snaps, 3 opportunities, 2 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Josh Jacobs played like a man possessed in Week 15’s win over the Seahawks. In the first quarter, Jacobs rushed eight times for 46 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for another 38 yards. He would go on to total 136 yards from scrimmage on the night while seeing 30 of the Packers’ 35 running back opportunities. He gets a juicy Week 16 game against a Saints defense that’s been among the worst run defenses in the league this season.

Houston Texans

Joe Mixon (Week 15: 31 snaps, 18 opportunities, 16 routes, 6 targets)
Dare Ogunbowale (Week 15: 12 snaps, 1 opportunity, 7 routes, 0 targets)
Dameon Pierce (Week 15: 7 snaps, 0 opportunities, 4 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Joe Mixon briefly exited Week 15’s game against the Dolphins with an injury he suffered due to an illegal hip drop tackle. He didn’t look like himself when he returned, but head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that Mixon “will be fine,” leaving us to believe the Texans will have their RB1 in Week 16 against the Chiefs. Mixon ran for just 23 yards on 12 carries while catching five passes for another 33 scoreless yards. He’s been too valuable to fantasy managers to sit if he’s active, but Mixon doesn’t come without his risk. Between the injury and a tilt against a vaunted Chiefs defense, Mixon may need a touchdown to return value as an RB1.

Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor (Week 15: 48 snaps, 24 opportunities, 16 routes, 2 targets)
Trey Sermon (Week 15: 18 snaps, 3 opportunities, 12 routes, 2 targets)
Tyler Goodson (Week 15: 5 snaps, 1 opportunity, 4 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Jonathan Taylor ran for 107 scoreless yards on 22 carries in Week 15’s loss to the Broncos, but he gave away (literally) a touchdown in the third quarter when he dropped the ball before getting into the end zone on what would have been a 41-yard score. Taylor’s gaffe marked the beginning of the end for the Colts, who went on to allow 24 unanswered points after the play in the 31-13 defeat. Taylor’s mistake cost fantasy managers more than it did him, as he’ll remain locked in as the Colts’ RB1 in Week 16’s game against the Titans. Hopefully he’ll make the most of any scoring opportunities that may come his way in his next outing.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Travis Etienne (Week 15: 54 snaps, 19 opportunities, 33 routes, 5 targets)
Tank Bigsby (Week 15: 22 snaps, 12 opportunities, 5 routes, 1 target)

Notes: After seeing 18 carries to Travis Etienne’s four in Week 14’s win over the Titans, Tank Bigsby saw a more balanced touch share in Week 15 against the Jets. Bigsby rushed 11 times for 42 scoreless yards in the defeat, while Etienne ran for 65 yards on 14 carries and added four catches for another 20 yards. The Jaguars scored 25 points in the defeat, but both touchdowns came via Mac Jones, who connected twice with Brian Thomas for scores. The Jaguars get a generous Week 16 matchup against the Raiders, but neither back should be viewed as more than an RB3. Etienne has just one top-24 PPR finish in his last six games and has yet to post a top-12 PPR week. Bigsby has two top-12 finishes to his name but just one top-24 finish since Week 8.

Kansas City Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco (Week 15: 28 snaps, 14 opportunities, 7 routes, 1 target)
Kareem Hunt (Week 15: 28 snaps, 14 opportunities, 8 routes, 1 target)
Samaje Perine (Week 15: 19 snaps, 2 opportunities, 11 routes, 1 target)
Carson Steele (Week 15: 3 snaps, 0 opportunities, 0 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt saw the same number of snaps, opportunities, and targets, while Hunt ran one more route than Pacheco. Pacheco ran 13 times for 32 yards and caught another pass for 15 yards, while Hunt led the team with 13-45-0 on the ground and had one catch for four yards. Neither back was particularly efficient, but the bigger concern is for Pacheco, who hasn’t looked like himself since returning from the fractured leg he suffered in Week 2. Since Week 13, Pacheco has rushed 34 times for 131 scoreless yards. His 3.9 YPC is just below the Mendoza line for a passable per-carry average, and he’s forced only two missed tackles on his rush attempts. His 2.65 YCO/ATT also ranks 22nd amongst 31 running backs (min. 30 rush attempts) over that span. Pacheco will hope to find his groove in Week 16 against the Texans, but if the Chiefs continue to split his touches while he looks to get back to form, he’ll make for a tough fantasy asset to trust the rest of the way.

Don’t miss episodes of Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry and Rotoworld Football Show all season long for the latest player news, waiver wire help, start/sit advice, and much more.

Las Vegas Raiders

Ameer Abdullah (Week 15: 30 snaps, 10 opportunities, 22 routes, 7 targets)
Alexander Mattison (Week 15: 21 snaps, 11 opportunities, 10 routes, 4 targets)
Sincere McCormick (Week 15: 14 snaps, 9 opportunities, 4 routes, 2 targets)

Notes: Speaking of backfields to avoid, the Raiders continue to be off my fantasy radar with just three weeks left in the regular season. In Monday night’s loss to the Falcons, it was quarterback Desmond Ridder who led the Raiders with 28 rushing yards. Alexander Mattison, Sincere McCormick, and Ameer Abdullah combined for 17 carries for 37 rushing yards, and McCormick left in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return to the game. Abdullah made the most of his PPR scam, catching all seven targets for 58 yards and a touchdown, but he’s a hard player to rely on in Week 16 against the Jaguars. Entering Week 15, Abdullah had seen three targets or less in five of his last six games. He had double-digit opportunities in just two of those games. He shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than an RB4 against the Jaguars, while Mattison can be viewed in a similar light.

Los Angeles Chargers

Kimani Vidal (Week 15: 31 snaps, 6 opportunities, 13 routes, 3 targets)
Gus Edwards (Week 15: 14 snaps, 8 opportunities, 2 routes, 0 targets)
Hassan Haskins (Week 15: 1 snaps, 0 opportunities, 1 route, 0 targets)

Notes: Rookie Kimani Vidal more than doubled Gus Edwards’ snap count in Week 15’s loss to the Buccaneers, but a negative game script forced the Chargers to throw at a 79 percent clip in Sunday’s defeat, which is much higher than the 56 percent neutral pass rate they’re used to. Despite the increased snaps, Vidal totaled a forgettable 22 yards from scrimmage on five touches, while Gus Edwards rushed for 23 scoreless yards. Like most AFC West backfields, there’s little fantasy utility to be had here. This backfield is a full fade in Week 16 against the Broncos.

Los Angeles Rams

Kyren Williams (Week 15: 56 snaps, 31 opportunities, 16 routes, 2 targets)
Blake Corum (Week 15: 9 snaps, 6 opportunities, 4 routes, 3 targets)

Notes: It was business as usual for the Rams in Thursday night’s win over the 49ers. In a game where neither offense found the end zone, Kyren Williams saw his usual opportunity share and racked up 112 yards from scrimmage on 31 touches. Rookie Blake Corum ran for five yards on three carries and caught two passes for another 15 yards. There’s not much to go into here. Williams is a must-start in Week 16 against the Jets, while Corum is a handcuff who has one more week left to be stashed as either a potential league-winner or a disappointing backup.

Miami Dolphins

De’Von Achane (Week 15: 41 snaps, 19 opportunities, 27 routes, 7 targets)
Raheem Mostert (Week 15: 23 snaps, 9 opportunities, 14 routes, 3 targets)
Jaylen Wright (Week 15: 3 snaps, 1 opportunity, 0 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: The Dolphins’ attempt to establish Achane in the ground game resulted in a 12-41-0 line against the Texans. He bailed out his fantasy managers in PPR leagues with seven receptions for 35 yards on seven targets, but Achane was largely held in check in Sunday’s loss. Achane’s performance won’t excite fantasy managers, but he continues to play well ahead of his fellow backfield mates. His 70 opportunities since Week 12 are 50 more than the next closest back (Raheem Mostert, 20), while his 145 snaps over that span are 99 more than Mostert. When he’s not blowing away defenses on the ground, Achane is keeping fantasy rosters competitive with his elite PPR scam. He has seen seven or more targets in three straight games, and his 120 routes run are the most of any running back since Week 12. He’s set up for a nice Week 16 tilt with a 49ers team that’s allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game (23.3) to opposing running backs since Week 11.

Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Jones (Week 15: 44 snaps, 21 opportunities, 23 routes, 3 targets)
Cam Akers (Week 15: 19 snaps, 10 opportunities, 7 routes, 0 targets)
Ty Chandler (Week 15: 1 snap, 1 opportunity 0 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Aaron Jones did his part for the Vikings and his fantasy managers in Week 15’s win over the Bears. Jones ran for 18-86-1 and caught two passes for 20 yards. He has now finished as a top-25 PPR back in four straight weeks and five times in his last six games. Some late-game touches to Cam Akers saw him finish with a 10-24-1 line on the ground, but Jones is the only Vikings back worth starting in Week 16 against the Seahawks.

New England Patriots

Rhamondre Stevenson (Week 15: 32 snaps, 14 opportunities, 10 routes, 1 target)
Antonio Gibson (Week 15: 15 snaps, 9 opportunities, 6 routes, 2 targets)
JaMycal Hasty (Week 15: 2 snaps, 0 opportunities, 2 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: The Cardinals held the Patriots’ offense in check for most of Sunday’s matchup. Rhamondre Steven, as usual, led the Patriots in rush attempts (13) and rushing yards (69) but failed to find the end zone. The only rushing touchdown scored by the Patriots came on a five-yard run by Drake Maye. Antonio Gibson totaled 64 yards from scrimmage on nine touches but is now sitting on eight straight games in which he failed to see double-digit opportunities. Gibson’s lack of opportunities continues to keep him off the fantasy radar despite him averaging a solid 5.6 YPT since Week 7. Stevenson has rushed for 142 yards on 31 carries in his last two games, but he’s averaging just 9.0 PPR points/gm since Week 10. He continues to be a boom-or-bust RB2 heading into Week 16 against the Bills.

New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara (Week 15: 25 snaps, 10 opportunities, 14 routes, 5 targets)
Kendre Miller (Week 15: 24 snaps, 10 opportunities, 11 routes, 1 target)
Jamaal Williams (Week 15: 4 snaps, 0 opportunities, 4 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Alvin Kamara exited Week 15’s contest against the Commanders with a groin injury and did not return to the field. The injury came on a 21-yard touchdown catch, as Kamara’s day ended with nine total touches, 70 yards from scrimmage, and a touchdown. Kendre Miller took over for Kamara in the second half and turned out a solid performance on the ground (9-46-0) while ripping off three runs of 10-plus yards. There’s a good chance we won’t know about Kamara’s Week 16 availability until later in the week. His name will be one to watch for on Thursday’s injury report. If Kamara can’t go, Miller would presumably slot in as the Saints’ RB1 against the Packers and could be on the radar as an RB3/FLEX play. The one problem that comes with Miller is the timing of this game. With the Saints not playing until Monday, we may not know about Kamara’s availability until inactives are announced 90 minutes before kickoff. If we don’t know Kamara’s availability before games start on Sunday, Miller may best be left on fantasy benches to avoid a potential dud should Kamara suit up.

New York Giants

Tyrone Tracy (Week 15: 40 snaps, 14 opportunities, 14 routes, 4 targets)
Devin Singletary (Week 15: 21 snaps, 11 opportunities, 10 routes, 3 targets)
Eric Gray (Week 15: 3 snaps, 0 opportunities, 2 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: The Ravens held Tyrone Tracy and the Giants’ offense in check all afternoon in the Meadowlands. Tracy managed just 35 yards of offense on 11 touches to finish the day with just 4.5 PPR points. Devin Singletary, whose 11 opportunities were his most since Week 4, didn’t fare much better, totaling 41 yards on 11 touches, but he did find the end zone on a two-yard run to turn in the better fantasy day. The Giants are simply trying to get through the remaining three games on their schedule. They also lost Tommy DeVito (concussion) and could be looking to start Tim Boyle in Week 16 against the Falcons. Things are going from bad to worse for Big Blue. Tracy is the only back worth considering for fantasy purposes, but it’s possible we’ll want know parts of this offense if Boyle draws the start.

New York Jets

Breece Hall (Week 15: 27 snaps, 11 opportunities, 15 routes, 2 targets)
Isaiah Davis (Week 15: 21 snaps, 6 opportunities, 14 routes, 1 target)
Braelon Allen (Week 15: 10 snaps, 2 opportunities, 4 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: As any smart organization would do while in the midst of a 3-10 season, the Jets allowed Breece Hall to play in a meaningless Week 15 game against the Jaguars despite a knee injury that slowed him in previous weeks, sidelined him in Week 14, and led to him missing two practices last week. Things went about as expected with Hall in the lineup. The Jets RB1 ran nine times for 30 yards and a score and caught two passes for another 21 yards. Rookie Isaiah Davis appeared to have usurped Braelon Allen on the depth chart, as Davis ran five times for 24 yards while playing on 11 more snaps than Allen. Assuming he didn’t suffer any setbacks, Hall should be in line to play in Week 16 against the Rams, who have allowed 23.6 PPR points/gm to opposing running backs since Week 11. Davis and Allen are both off the fantasy radar next week.

Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley (Week 15: 46 snaps, 21 opportunities, 20 routes, 2 targets)
Kenneth Gainwell (Week 15: 31 snaps, 10 opportunities, 12 routes, 3 targets)

Notes: Saquon Barkley was sidelined for a significant portion of the first half in Sunday’s win over the Steelers, citing a “minor” injury that he downplayed after the game. As a result of Barkley’s injury, Kenneth Gainwell wound up seeing 10 opportunities — his most since Week 7 — and churned out 60 yards from scrimmage on the day. Barkley would return in the second and ended his day with 19 carries for 65 scoreless yards. Whether Barkley was slowed by his injury or a stout Steelers defense is anybody’s guess, but the fact he was able to come back and finish the game is a good sign for his Week 16 outlook against the Commanders. His name will be one to monitor on the team’s injury report, but it sounds like everything should be good to go for Barkley come Sunday. He’ll look to replicate his Week 11 performance against the Commanders when he rushed 26 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Najee Harris (Week 15: 14 snaps, 7 opportunities, 5 routes, 1 target)
Jaylen Warren (Week 15: 21 snaps, 5 opportunities, 14 routes, 1 target)
Cordarrelle Patterson (Week 15: 6 snaps, 3 opportunities, 3 routes, 1 target)

Notes: Pittsburgh’s running backs were bottled up by the Eagles all afternoon. The trio of Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Cordarrelle Patterson combined to rush for 35 yards on 12 carries while also catching a combined three passes for nine yards. It was an unmitigated disaster for the Steelers’ backfield from start to finish, as their inefficient ways were exposed against Philly’s physical front. The Steelers will be in for another tough challenge in Week 16 against the Ravens, where both Harris and Warren will both profile in the RB3 range.

Seattle Seahawks

Zach Charbonnet (Week 15: 44 snaps, 12 opportunities, 32 routes, 4 targets)
Kenny McIntosh (Week 15: 9 snaps, 3 opportunities, 4 routes, 0 targets)
George Holani (Week 15: 3 snaps, 3 opportunities, 0 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Zach Charbonnet broke out for 223 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the Seahawks’ Week 14 win over the Cardinals. Unfortunately, he didn’t enjoy nearly that success in Week 15’s loss to the Packers. Kenneth Walker missed a second-straight game with a calf injury, which opened the door for Charbonnet to have another big week. While he still dominated in snaps and opportunities, Charbonnet managed just 66 yards from scrimmage on nine touches, but those totals were buoyed by a 24-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks trailed the Packers 20-3 at halftime, which created a pass-heavy game script the Seahawks were unable to deviate from. Speaking on Monday, head coach Mike Macdonald was unwilling to commit to Walker returning in Week 16. If he can’t go, Charbonnet will be in line for another busy day but will face a stout Vikings defense that’s allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (89.1) and the third-lowest yards per carry (3.9) this season. The likelihood of double-digit touches will make whichever back starts a viable RB2 on the week, but Charbonnet should be left on fantasy benches if Walker is active.

San Francisco 49ers

Isaac Guerendo (Week 15: 41 snaps, 20 opportunities, 22 routes, 4 targets)
Patrick Taylor (Week 15: 2 snaps, 0 opportunities, 2 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Isaac Guerendo overcame a foot injury he suffered in Week 14 to suit up on a short week to face the Rams on Thursday night. The explosive rookie was anything but in the defeat, as he managed just 57 rushing yards on 18 carries while adding four receptions for 18 additional yards. Guerendo was the only 49ers running back to see an opportunity in the Week 15 defeat and will be a fringe RB1/RB2 in Week 16 against the Dolphins.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rachaad White (Week 15: 35 snaps, 17 opportunities, 14 routes, 2 targets)
Bucky Irving (Week 15: 29 snaps, 17 opportunities, 9 routes, 2 targets)
Sean Tucker (Week 15: 8 snaps, 7 opportunities, 1 route, 0 targets)

Notes: Bucky Irving played through a hip and back injury in Week 15’s win over the Chargers but didn’t appear too slowed in the 40-17 victory. Irving’s 117 rushing yards led the Buccaneers’ backfield, while Rachaad White trailed him with rushing yards of his own. White also caught two passes for 17 yards and a touchdown, while Sean Tucker rushed for 7-17-0 in the win. Both Irving and White could flirt with top-24 performances in Week 16 against a woeful Cowboys defense.

Tennessee Titans

Tyjae Spears (Week 15: 36 snaps, 11 opportunities, 24 routes, 7 targets)
Tony Pollard (Week 15: 29 snaps,17 opportunities, 6 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: Tony Pollard led the Titans’ backfield in opportunities in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals. Pollard rushed 17 times for 45 yards and a score, but a nagging ankle injury may have been what led to Tyjae Spears seeing an increased workload. Spears rushed for a paltry 4-5-1 on the day but dominated in the passing game. Spears led all Titans players with 87 receiving yards on six catches and also found the end zone on a 17-yard reception midway through the fourth quarter. Spears’ 11 opportunities were his most since Week 10 and marked just the third time this season that he double-digit looks. His inconsistent usage makes him a tough player to trust in Week 16 as long as Pollard is healthy. In the unlikely event Pollard misses next week, Spears would slot in as a fringe RB2/RB3.

Washington Commanders

Brian Robinson (Week 15: 54 snaps, 24 opportunities, 18 routes, 3 targets)
Jeremy McNichols (Week 15: 21 snaps, 3 opportunities, 14 routes, 1 target)
Chris Rodriguez (Week 15: 3 snaps, 1 opportunity, 2 routes, 0 targets)

Notes: In what should have been a plus matchup for Brian Robinson and the Commanders, the Saints kept Robinson and Washington’s ground game at bay. Robinson ran for 65 scoreless yards on 21 carries and caught three passes for 22 additional yards. He played well ahead of Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez, but Washington’s offense stalled for much of the second half and averaged just 4.4 yards per play to New Orleans’ 4.8. Life doesn’t get any easier for Robinson in Week 16. With a rematch against the Eagles on tap, Robinson profiles as an RB3 who could provide fantasy managers with a top-24 finish should he find the end zone. In Week 11, Robinson ran for 16-63-1 against the Birds to finish as the RB15 in PPR leagues.

NOTE: Stats and information courtesy of PFF.com, RotoViz.com, ProFootballReference.com, NextGenStats.NFL.com, 4For4.com, FantasyPoints.com and RBSDM.com. All scoring is based on full-PPR leagues.