Fantasy Football Week 16 Must-Sit Running Backs: Kenneth Walker, Rachaad White, Najee Harris and Tyrone Tracy
These running backs should be left on your bench this week if at all possible.
Sit
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Walker has been sidelined the past couple of weeks with a calf injury, but is trending towards returning this week. This is a situation we would rather not touch.
First off, calf injuries are highly prone to re-aggravation. Anyone who has been following me for any amount of time knows I'll go out of my way to avoid any player with a calf, hamstring, or groin injury. They are far too risky in their first game back after a stint on the sidelines. Granted, some players are worth that risk and Walker himself is worth that risk at times. This week isn't one of those times.
The Seahawks take on the Minnesota Vikings this week in what has been an awful matchup for running backs all season. They are only allowing the third-fewest points to the position on the year. Zach Charbonnet has also been running very well in Walker's absence and was beginning to eat into the running back workload even before Walker got injured.
There is no reason to believe that the touches won't be split this week. Overworking Walker would be an unnecessary risk the Seahawks won't take. You don't want to be starting a running back coming off injury in a split backfield in this kind of matchup. Leave him on your bench if at all possible.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
White has become the RB2 in Tampa Bay behind Bucky Irving and he's become a more distant No. 2 with each passing week. There was some hope that Irving would be limited or inactive while fighting through his current hip/back injury, but that simply hasn't been the case.
Irving is far superior on the ground and is also splitting the passing-down work as well. When White is seeing a ton of targets, he's not a very useful fantasy option, especially when you consider Irving will also get most of the goal-line work. Irving slowly stealing the passing down work shouldn't come as a surprise. We actually projected him as a potential elite pass-catching back during the draft process. This was what we saw on film:
"A horrific combine has driven down Irving's stock this offseason. It was absolutely terrible, but his film tells a much different story. He is the best pass-catching back in this draft and as good a pass-catching back you'll see coming out of college in a lot of years. What he did at the combine does not match what he put on film."
As you can see, we saw this coming and expected this to eventually be the case. His role is only going to grow moving forward. There is a good chance White's days in Tampa Bay could even be numbered because of how good Irving is in the passing game, leaving White virtually obsolete.
Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants
Tracy has been visibly hindered by an ankle injury as of late. The injury combined with a few fumbles has led to Devin Singletary regaining a significant role in the backfield - a role that Tracy looked to have a stranglehold on not too long ago.
Last week, Tracy out carried Singletary just 10-6 and saw four targets to his three. That's simply not enough volume for a running back on an offense this bad.
The incompetence of the Giants is already limiting offensive snaps and scoring opportunities since they moved on from Daniel Jones. Without at least around 18 opportunities, it's hard to rely on any running back on a team like this, especially if that running back is less than 100%.
This week is a tough matchup too against the Atlanta Falcons, who are an above-average defense when it comes to slowing down fantasy running backs. The lack of upside Tracy currently holds is not worth the risk of playing a banged up running back in what is probably the worst offense in the entire NFL.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers' offense has fallen off the rails since George Pickens went down with a hamstring injury and he's already been ruled out again for Week 16. They just can't move the ball and it's hurting every player on the offense.
Last week, Harris only managed to average 2.3 yards per carry taking six carries for 14 yards. Defenses simply don't have to respect the passing attack.
This week Harris is looking a both a bad matchup and a bad game script, much like last week. We expect Pittsburgh to be trailing against the Ravens, who are allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. In this game, Harris has both a low ceiling and a low floor.
