Fantasy Football Week 16 Running Back Start Decision: Kendre Miller, Patrick Taylor, Bucky Irving, Isiah Pacheco, Najee Harris and More

After looking at several quarterbacks in a start decision story a couple days ago, running backs are starting to take over the FantasySP start/sit tool, so let’s take a look at several week 16 options.

We will cover Joe Mixon, Isiah Pacheco, Derrick Henry, Jaylen Warren, Najee Harris, Bucky Irving, Kendre Miller, Tyrone Tracy, Patrick Taylor, Travis Etienne, Rachaad White, Kenneth Walker, Jerome Ford, Tony Pollard and Brian Robinson.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Important Numbers

Mixon had been dealing with an ankle injury in practice, but doesn’t carry an injury designation going into Saturday’s game. He scored 11 fantasy points last week, and has at least 10 points in nine straight contests.

Pacheco has played in three games since returning from a long injury. He’s scored six fantasy points twice and eight in the other game. He got 16 touches in week 14 before 14 in week 15.

Henry only scored seven fantasy points last week, which was his first time in single digits all season. He hasn’t scored over 14 fantasy points in five straight games.

Warren only went for three fantasy points last week - he had between 9-15 points in the previous six contests. He’s finished below 15 rushing yards in two of the past three games.

Harris also had three fantasy points last week, marking the second time in four weeks he finished in single digits. He’s still the lead back in Pittsburgh.

Irving is dealing with back and hip injuries going into week 16. He scored 13 fantasy points while dealing with those ailments last week though, and has at least 13 points in four of the past five games.

Miller might get the start this week with Alvin Kamara banged up - I wrote about it Thursday. He’s gotten 19 rushing attempts the past two weeks, tallying 78 yards and a score combined.

Tracy is working through an ankle injury - if he doesn’t play, you can throw Devin Singletary in his place. Tracy only scored five fantasy points last week, but had 15 and 19 in the previous two contests.

Taylor might get a start in week 16 as Isaac Guerendo isn’t expected to play - I also wrote about that on Thursday. He scored nine fantasy points across seven touches in week 14 after Guerendo got banged up, but didn’t get a single touch in week 15.

Etienne has logged double-digit carries in four of the past five weeks, and had at least three catches in four of those games. He scored 11 fantasy points in week 14 and then had 13 in week 15.

White has double-digit carries in five straight games. He’s scored nine or more fantasy points in 10 of the past 11 games he’s played in.

Walker is working through a calf injury, but practiced in full on Thursday, so he’s trending toward playing. He scored seven fantasy points in his last appearance in week 13, but had 13 or 14 in the previous three contests.

Ford should be the lead back in Cleveland again after Nick Chubb was lost for the season - I wrote about that Wednesday. He scored 18 fantasy points last week, and had a couple double-digit outings when leading the backfield early in the season.

Pollard is working through an ankle injury. He scored nine fantasy points last week, a mark he’s hit in four straight contests.

Robinson tallied 12 fantasy points last week, which was a decent follow up to an 18-point showing in week 13. He was also in double figures in week 11.

Week 16 Matchups

Mixon and Pacheco are part of the same Saturday game. The matchups for each back are tough, with Mixon’s being the toughest in the league.

Henry, Warren and Harris play in the other Saturday game. Those are bottom-12 matchups for the backs, but all three have better tests than Mixon and Pacheco.

Irving and White play Sunday night against the Cowboys, who are a pretty favorable matchup. Miller plays Monday night against the Packers, who are a pretty average clash.

Tracy takes on Atlanta, which is a pretty tough clash. Taylor faces the Dolphins, who are a pretty average matchup.

Etienne takes on the Raiders, who are another average matchup. Walker battles the Vikings, who are one of the league’s toughest matchups for backs.

Ford faces the Bengals, who are another average test. Pollard faces Indy, which is a very favorable clash. Robinson takes on the Eagles, who are another brutal matchup.

Projections and Starting Recommendations

Henry and Mixon are the top-projected backs in this group at 17 PPR points. 

Irving is at 14 points, while Pollard and Walker are both at 13. Tracy and White both sit at 12 points.

Pacheco, Etienne, Ford and Robinson are projected for 11 points. Harris is at 10 points, Warren eight, Miller seven and Taylor six. I’m guessing Miller and Taylor would get significant bumps if/when Guerendo and Kamara are ruled out.

Henry has struggled a bit of late, but I trust him the most among these fantasy backs. He scored 11 fantasy points the last time he took on the Steelers, and I think he’s in store for a bigger game this time around. 

Mixon is second for me. If not for the tougher matchup and him coming dealing with an ankle injury, he’d be my top back here. I tend to trust the guys who have delivered all season at this critical juncture of the fantasy season, and that’s what I’m doing by having Henry and Mixon first and second.

I’d take Irving next. White has been a bit better fantasy option the past two weeks, but I like Irving’s ceiling more, so that’s why I have him ahead of White. In a favorable matchup though, both Tampa Bay backs are good starting options.

Pollard would go here if he’s active and not limited in any way. He’s had some lower fantasy outputs of late, but I still trust him to deliver in a pretty good matchup.

White checks in here. Like I just said, I like both Tampa Bay backs to deliver good fantasy scores, so I have no issue playing both. If I had to pick a couple players who could erupt this week among this list of backs, White and Irving are near the top of that list.

Walker appears here if he ends up playing. There’s some risk involved with him coming off an injury and being in a very tough matchup, but Walker has been a pretty good option most weeks when healthy, and I’m trusting him to deliver this week.

Etienne is next for me. I like what he’s been doing of late, and think he continues his upward trend this week.

Ford would go here for me. There’s a chance he could finish much higher in a solid matchup, but I’m skeptical about taking him any earlier because of the team’s quarterback change.

Tracy would go here if he plays - Singletary would fall a couple spots lower if Tracy is out. The matchup isn’t the best, and it’s hard to trust anyone on the Giants’ offense already.

Harris and Pacheco are the next two backs for me. Both have very tough matchups and split the backfield with other players. Based on what we’ve seen this season and their upside, I would still be fine starting either of these guys.

Robinson is next for me. The matchup is extremely tough, but he scored 14 points the last time he faced Philly. I’d also be OK starting Robinson this week.

Miller would go here if Kamara ends up sitting. The matchup is solid enough to consider him for a standard league start, but given the state of the Saints’ offense overall, I’d prefer to start Miller in deeper leagues only.

Taylor is on a better offense and has a pretty good matchup, but I just don’t think he’s as talented as Miller - I also don’t think the Niners would give Taylor as many touches as I expect the Saints to give Miller.

That leaves Warren for the final spot. He scored 11 fantasy points in the last clash with Pittsburgh, but four catches really boosted his final fantasy score. Warren should get enough touches to deliver another solid score, but in a big-time fantasy matchup, I’m not taking a team’s No. 2 back over a starter and would only want to start Warren in a deeper league.