Week 16 is fantasy football’s pressure cooker. For many leagues, this is the championship round. For others, it’s the final hurdle before glory. At no position is the balance between volume, matchup, and game script more important than running back. Touches are king. However, efficiency and pass-game involvement often decide who delivers a league-winning performance and who leaves managers agonizing over ‘what ifs.'
With no bye weeks remaining, fantasy football managers technically have access to every back in the league. Still, injuries, role volatility, and matchup quirks make the decision-making process more complex than ever.
Below is a breakdown of the running backs you can trust as foundational plays in Week 16, followed by sleeper options capable of swinging championship matchups if deployed correctly.
Week 16 Top Fantasy Football Picks – 2025
De’Von Achane, MIA (vs. CIN)
De’Von Achane reasserted himself as the focal point of Miami’s offense in Monday night’s loss to Pittsburgh. He piled up 127 scrimmage yards while leading the team in both rushing and receiving. Coming off a rib injury in Week 14, Achane looked fully healthy. He carried the ball 12 times for 60 yards and hauled in all six of his targets for 67 yards.
What stood out most was his involvement in the passing game. That neutralized concerns about negative game script. When Miami fell behind, Achane became even more valuable. That versatility makes him one of the safest fantasy football options on the board. Against a Bengals defense that has struggled to contain backs in space, Achane profiles as an elite RB1.
Bijan Robinson, ATL (@ ARI)
Bijan Robinson delivered one of his most complete performances of the season in Thursday night’s win over Tampa Bay. He rushed 19 times for 93 yards and a touchdown while adding eight receptions for 82 yards on 11 targets. The result was 175 total yards and a dominant showing in all phases of the offense.
Atlanta leaned heavily on Robinson both between the tackles and as a receiver.. His usage in the passing game continues to elevate his weekly floor, especially in PPR formats. With Arizona struggling to consistently limit explosive running back performances, Robinson enters Week 16 as a locked-in top-five option. He is a potential league-winner if the Falcons continue to feed him at this rate.
Christian McCaffrey, SF (@ IND)
Christian McCaffrey battled through a back issue in Week 15. He still delivered, though, carrying the ball 22 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. Sure, his receiving role was quieter than usual with just one catch for 14 yards. However, McCaffrey extended his touchdown streak to four straight games with a one-yard plunge in the second quarter.
Even at less than 100 percent, McCaffrey remains one of the safest fantasy plays in football due to his red-zone role and workload security. Indianapolis presents a favorable matchup. That's particularly true if San Francisco controls the tempo. Expect McCaffrey to reclaim a larger share of passing-game work in Week 16. That keeps him firmly entrenched as a top-three fantasy running back.
Week 16 Fantasy Football Sleepers – 2025
Jonathan Taylor, IND (vs. SF)
Jonathan Taylor logged another workhorse performance in Week 15. He rushed 25 times for 87 yards while adding three receptions for 14 yards in a narrow loss to Seattle. Yes, the efficiency wasn’t spectacular. Still, the volume remains encouraging, especially this late in the season.
Taylor continues to be the centerpiece of the Colts’ offense. That alone gives him value in fantasy lineups. San Francisco’s defense is formidable, but heavy usage can overcome difficult matchups. Taylor profiles as a volume-driven RB2 who could sneak into RB1 territory if he finds the end zone.
Bucky Irving, TB (@ CAR)
Bucky Irving’s Week 15 performance didn’t jump off the stat sheet. He had 16 carries for 60 yards and one catch for 11 yards. However, the underlying usage tells a more optimistic story. Irving dominated backfield touches for Tampa Bay, even if the efficiency wasn’t there.
Workload stability is often the deciding factor in championship matchups. Irving has that going for him. Carolina has been vulnerable to sustained rushing attacks. That makes Irving a sneaky bounce-back candidate. He’s a strong flex option with RB2 upside if Tampa Bay leans on him early and often.
TreVeyon Henderson, NE (@ BAL)
TreVeyon Henderson exploded in Week 15. He ripped off 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries. That included long scoring runs of 52 and 65 yards. He also chipped in with two catches for 13 yards. That showed his ability to contribute beyond the ground game.
Henderson’s recent scoring streak makes him impossible to ignore. Baltimore is a tough matchup on paper. His big-play ability means he doesn’t need 25 touches to change a fantasy football matchup. He’s a high-variance RB2/flex option who could tilt a championship with one explosive run.
Injury and Late-Week Notes
With no bye weeks remaining, health is the primary variable fantasy football managers must monitor. Keep a close eye on Alvin Kamara, Devin Neal, Dylan Sampson, Woody Marks, and Chris Rodriguez as practice reports roll in. Any late-week downgrade could force managers into emergency pivots, especially in leagues with limited bench depth.
Week 16 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings – 2025
30. Jordan Mason, MIN (@ NYG)
29. Michael Carter, ARI (vs. ATL)
28. Blake Corum, LAR (@ SEA)
27. Kenneth Walker, SEA (vs. LAR)
26. Ashton Jeanty, LV (@ HOU)
25. Javonte Williams, DAL (vs. LAC)
24. D'Andre Swift, CHI (vs. GB)
23. Kyren Williams, LAR (@ SEA)
22. Kareem Hunt, KC (@ TEN)
21. Quinshon Judkins, CLE (vs. BUF)
20. Bucky Irving, TB (@ CAR)
19. Breece Hall, NYJ (@ NO)
18. Rico Dowdle, CAR (vs. TB)
17. Tyrone Tracy, NYG (vs. MIN)
16. Omarion Hampton, LAC (@ DAL)
15. Derrick Henry, BAL (vs. NE)
14. Aaron Jones, MIN (@ NYG)
13. Chase Brown, CIN (@ MIA)
12. Josh Jacobs, GB (@ CHI)
11. Travis Etienne, JAX (@ DEN)
10. RJ Harvey, DEN (vs. JAX)
9. Tony Pollard, TEN (vs. KC)
8. Christian McCaffrey, SF (@ IND)
7. Jonathan Taylor, IND (vs. SF)
6. Saquon Barkley, PHI (@ WAS)
5. De'Von Achane, MIA (vs. CIN)
4. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (vs. PIT)
3. TreVeyon Henderson, NE (@ BAL)
2. James Cook, BUF (@ CLE)
1. Bijan Robinson, ATL (@ ARI)
Bottom line
Week 16 is about trusting volume, respecting momentum, and understanding matchup context. Achane, Robinson, and McCaffrey provide elite floors with ceiling-breaking upside. Meanwhile, Taylor, Irving, and Henderson offer strategic flexibility depending on roster construction. One correct running back decision could be the difference between hoisting a trophy and finishing just short, so choose wisely.
