One more round till we make it to Championship Sunday. This Sleepers and Streamers column has revolved around match-ups which are more crucial than ever with a chance to play for a fantasy football championship. The obvious stars will be in your lineup, but a few running backs out there deserve a shot to help you win in round two.
In round one, Rico Dowdle and Rhamondre Stevenson were streamers. Stevenson was a letdown, but Dowdle had his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game.
Week 16 Running Back Sleepers
Tyjae Spears @ Indianapolis Colts
The Tennessee Titans are moving forward with Mason Rudolph and benching Will Levis. Spears has dealt with injuries for most of the year but finished as the RB3 last week. He found the endzone twice with an impressive 87 receiving yards. With the horrid Rudolph under center, I like Spears to continue to produce in the passing game. Tony Pollard found the endzone, too, but he was inefficient and saw no work in the passing game. The Titans face the Indianapolis Colts, who are allowing the 11th most receptions to running backs. They also allow the sixth most fantasy ppg to running backs this season.
Kendre Miller @ Green Bay Packers
Kendre Miller has a chance to be a perfect league winner in fantasy football. The starting running back, Alvin Kamar, hurt his groin, and I believe he will not play in round two. The diagnosis for Kamara is an adductor injury. If he does, then Miller can be left on the bench, but I don’t think that will be the case. Miller, in games where he has seen 12 or more touches, has seen 79 yards and a touchdown and then 90 yards in the other game. The Packers are allowing the 15th most fantasy ppg to running backs with 13 total touchdowns. They have also allowed 71 receptions to the position, which is the sixth most this season.
Week 16 Running Back Streamers
Jerome Ford @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals allowed Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears to find the endzone in Week 15. They also allowed Spears to finish as an RB1. The previous week, in Week 14, they let Rico Dowdle have 131 rushing yards, and then in Week 13, Najee Harris finished as the RB3. The point here is that the Bengals’ run defense has been suspected lately. Jerome Ford gets the RB1 duties for the Cleveland Browns now, with Nick Chubb done for the season. Jameis Winston will not be starting for reasons the world will never know. Ford will be needed heavily with a quarterback like Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center in Week 16.
Rachaad White @ Dallas Cowboys
It is clear now that Bucky Irving and Rachaad White can both be started in fantasy. Bucky Irving is better, and the RB1, in my opinion, but White can still and has thrived in some weeks. White has found the endzone in consecutive weeks with an RB3 and RB16 finish. In those games, Bucky Irving finished as the RB51 (left early) and RB18. Irving is more efficient, but White is needed in the Buccaneers offense due to his pass-catching ability. Up next for the NFC South-leading Buccaneers is a Monday night match-up against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are allowing the eighth most fantasy ppg with 16 total touchdowns allowed to running backs. White is my favorite running back among my Week 16 Sleepers and Streamers for round two of the fantasy football playoffs.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!