2016 Fantasy Football RB Rankings

Todd Gurley started off the 2015 NFL season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and missed the entire preseason and the first two weeks of the regular season before getting on the field in the second half of the St.Louis Rams week 3 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He only had six carries for 9 yards and one catch. That was his preseason. Over the next four weeks, Gurley exploded for an average of 141.5 yards, 9 receptions, and 3 touchdowns. That explosion led to a consistency that kept him on top of all rookie running backs. He finished with 1,294 total yards, 10 touchdowns, and 21 receptions leading to the eventual Rookie of the Year award.

The 2016 season is going to be a maturing process for him as team’s have been able to prepare for his power and speed but much like Adrian Peterson, you can’t stop a bulldozer that goes 55 mph. He leads the way in almost all fantasy football RB rankings and it is well-deserved. But who else is worth a high draft choice? Here is our list of the NFL’s top fantasy football running backs using the PPR, point-per-reception, scoring method.

25. Matt Forte

Team: New York Jets

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 825
• Receptions: 25
• Receiving Yards: 250
• Total TDs: 5

24. Ryan Mathews

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 950
• Receptions: 25
• Receiving Yards: 150
• Total TDs: 5

23. Matt Jones

Team: Washington Redskins

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 875
• Receptions: 25
• Receiving Yards: 225
• Total TDs: 6

22. DeMarco Murray

Team: Tennessee Titans

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 900
• Receptions: 28
• Receiving Yards: 275
• Total TDs: 6

21. Jeremy Hill

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 900
• Receptions: 20
• Receiving Yards: 200
• Total TDs: 9

20. Jeremy Langford

Team: Chicago Bears

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 750
• Receptions: 35
• Receiving Yards: 305
• Total TDs: 8

19. Thomas Rawls

Team: Seattle Seahawks

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,200
• Receptions: 22
• Receiving Yards: 200
• Total TDs: 5

18. Eddie Lacy

Team: Green Bay Packers

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 950
• Receptions: 30
• Receiving Yards: 300
• Total TDs: 7

17. C.J. Anderson

Team: Denver Broncos

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 780
• Receptions: 35
• Receiving Yards: 245
• Total TDs: 10

16. Arian Foster

Team: Miami Dolphins

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 750
• Receptions: 35
• Receiving Yards: 300
• Total TDs: 10

15. Jay Ajayi

Team: Miami Dolphins

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 550
• Receptions: 55
• Receiving Yards: 550
• Total TDs: 6

14. Carlos Hyde

Team: San Francisco 49ers

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,000
• Receptions: 35
• Receiving Yards: 245
• Total TDs: 8

13. Danny Woodhead

Team: San Diego Chargers

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 400
• Receptions: 70
• Receiving Yards: 650
• Total TDs: 6

12. Latavius Murray

Team: Oakland Raiders

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,100
• Receptions: 28
• Receiving Yards: 300
• Total TDs: 8

11. Doug Martin

Team: Tampa Bay Bucs

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,150
• Receptions: 35
• Receiving Yards: 300
• Total TDs: 7

10. Ezekiel Elliott

Team: Dallas Cowboys

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,200
• Receptions: 45
• Receiving Yards: 450
• Total TDs: 6

Outlook: It is rare that a rookie RB can become such a fantasy stud before he has ever had a single carry in the NFL but Ezekiel Elliott has the benefit of playing behind one of the greatest offensive lines in NFL history. DeMarco Murray, for example, rushed for 1,845 yards behind that same line in 2014 while Darren McFadden, who had become a joke during his troubles in Oakland, rushed for 1,089 yards last season proving that all you need is a solid RB that doesn’t fumble and they will put up killer numbers behind that O-Line. Elliott is good enough to become a star in the NFL one day but given this chance, he is easily a top ten fantasy pick.

9. Mark Ingram

Team: New Orleans Saints

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,100
• Receptions: 48
• Receiving Yards: 425
• Total TDs: 8

Outlook: Before an injury ended his 2015 season in week 12, Mark Ingram was heading for a very productive 2015 campaign. His ability to run 20 or more times a game, as well as catch 5 or more balls too, makes him a fantasy stud with a ton of upside. He is part of the NFL’s top offense too.

8. Jamaal Charles

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,100
• Receptions: 45
• Receiving Yards: 375
• Total TDs: 10

Outlook: Jamaal Charles was once the most dangerous NFL RB in fantasy football. But after suffering his second season ending knee injury in 2015, he has become a candidate that will bust your fantasy football team. At least, that’s what all the “experts” are claiming which is causing his stock to drop tremendously. So while those people pass on him, you can steal him late in the 1st round, maybe even the second. When he isn’t injured he is shockingly consistent having only missed 3 games over the previous three seasons (2012, 2013, 2014). Do not pass on JC if you have a chance at taking him once the rest of the RBs are gone.

7. Lamar Miller

Team: Houston Texans

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,200
• Receptions: 40
• Receiving Yards: 400
• Total TDs: 9

Outlook: The time for Lamar Miller is finally here. He went from inconsistent in Miami to a legit elite fantasy RB now that he is in Houston, a place that turned Arian Foster into a fantasy legend, at least for a couple of seasons. Under the Texans offense, Lamar Miller finds himself in an offense where Alfred Blue put up 700 yards last year alone. If he can’t produce in Houston, all bets are off for the future of Mr. Miller.

6. LeSean McCoy

Team: Buffalo Bills

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,200
• Receptions: 45
• Receiving Yards: 450
• Total TDs: 8

Outlook: Everyone expected LeSean McCoy’s production to decrease after being traded to Philadelphia and after the first 7 weeks, things were going much worse than anyone thought. He missed two games and only had 304 yards rushing with 1 touchdown. But then he turned it around and over the next 7 games, he went for 591 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns while also adding 21 catches for 169 yards and another score. So while these aren’t numbers that represent what he can do, he showed everyone that he still has that breakaway speed and elusiveness out of the backfield. Will Rex Ryan know how to use him correctly or will he end up running him into another sub-par year?

5. Adrian Peterson

Team: Minnesota Vikings

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,350
• Receptions: 25
• Receiving Yards: 200
• Total TDs: 14

Outlook: Last season was the 3rd time that Adrian Peterson has finished his career as the NFL’s top rusher. His 1,485 yards was easily the best in the NFL. Only Doug Martin came close with his 1,402 yards. At 30 years old, he isn’t finished be the best but because of his lack of pass-catching in the Minnesota offense, AP drops a few spots in our rankings. The 14 total touchdowns, however, would tie him with Todd Gurley for first in scoring.

4. David Johnson

Team: Arizona Cardinals

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,100
• Receptions: 55
• Receiving Yards: 500
• Total TDs: 9

Outlook: Arizona is on the verge of a Super Bowl. Their offense finished 1st in yardage, 2nd in scoring, and 2nd in 1st Downs last season while their defense finished 5th in total defense. That is a deadly combo for a team with talent like David Johnson. He will have ample opportunities to run the ball, catch the ball, and score touchdowns this season. If you haven’t already gotten on board with his potential, you better do so fast.

3. Devonta Freeman

Team: Atlanta Falcons

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,000
• Receptions: 60
• Receiving Yards: 475
• Total TDs: 11

Outlook: No one in the NFL took advantage of an opportunity like Devonta Freeman did in 2015 when Tevin Coleman started to battle injuries in the preseason. He ended up taking his chance to be their starter and never look back. However, can he continue being one of the best in the NFL knowing Tevin Coleman is more physically talented than he is? If the Falcons are to remain true to themselves, Freeman will be their true starter and they will not risk it over the potential of a second year player with almost no experience.

2. Le’Veon Bell

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,000
• Receptions: 60
• Receiving Yards: 525
• Total TDs: 11

Outlook: Le’Veon Bell will start the 2016 season suspended, yet again, and will miss the first three games. Even with the suspension, and even with just about every fantasy football writer dropping Bell out of their top ten, we still think he is going to be one of the top three RBs in the league mainly because he plays in a Pittsburgh offense that is becoming the deadliest in the league. He also catches a ton of passes from Big Ben every year making his PPR value remain high. He can do more in 13 games than most players in 16.

1. Todd Gurley

Team: Los Angeles Rams

2016 Projections:

• Rushing Yards: 1,200
• Receptions: 45
• Receiving Yards: 350
• Total TDs: 14

Outlook: In only one season, Todd Gurley has become exactly what the rest of the NFL was afraid of, a balanced runner with the speed to break free and the power to break loose of any tackle. The Giants, Jets, Redskins, Falcons, and Bears are all regretting their decisions during the 2015 draft when they passed on him because of his bad knee but it was only two games into the season before he made an appearance. He averaged 4.83 yards per attempt and has the chance to be the best RB in the NFL in only his second season.