RADIO
In the fantasy playoffs, it is crucial to make the tough calls when setting your lineup. In this piece, we will look at three running backs who all carry solid RB2 upside in Week 16.
Rookie Bucky Irving has taken the lead in the Tampa Bay backfield but has dealt with numerous lingering injuries. Jerome Ford will now step into the top role with Nick Chubb (foot) injured, while Rico Dowdle has quietly been very productive over the past month.
Should we start these running backs in Week 16? Let's dive in.
Should I Start Bucky Irving for Fantasy Football?
After logging just four attempts during Week 14 before leaving with back and hip injuries, Irving returned to his normal 1A role within the Tampa Bay backfield as he logged 15 attempts for 117 yards this past weekend. He added two catches for -4 yards.
Excluding his Week 15 performance, Irving has eclipsed 70+ rushing yards in each of his previous four games. During this span, he has found the end zone three times.
Bucky Irving is absolutely ridiculous
pic.twitter.com/1uoRuvgP3R— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) December 15, 2024
This weekend, he has a great matchup facing the Dallas Cowboys, who have allowed the eighth-most PPR points to opposing running backs this season. Given his lead role on the offense and the stellar 6.3 yards per carry he has held since Week 10, he should be viewed as a must-start RB2 in all formats.
Should I Start Jerome Ford for Fantasy Football?
With Nick Chubb (foot) hitting injured reserve with a foot fracture, Jerome Ford is set to lead the Cleveland backfield during the final weeks of the season. Last weekend, Ford tallied 84 yards and a score on seven attempts once Chubb left the game.
Dude, Jerome Ford is fast pic.twitter.com/TjsmtDSQ4z
— The Sports Geek (@TheSports_Geek) December 15, 2024
Through 12 games this season, Ford has averaged a solid 5.2 yards per carry and 5.8 yards per reception. He should be in a good position to produce solid RB2 production on Sunday facing the Cincinnati Bengals, who have allowed the 14th-most PPR points to the position this season.
In addition, with Dorian Thompson-Robinson slated to start, the Browns will likely lean on their rushing attack even more.
Should I Start Rico Dowdle for Fantasy Football?
Over his past four games, Dowdle has eclipsed 100+ rushing yards in all but one contest. During this span, he has also seen at least two targets in all but one game while averaging over 120+ all-purpose yards per game.
Rico Dowdle explosive runpic.twitter.com/C5YQH19uMH
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) November 28, 2024
Even though he has a tough matchup facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have held opposing running backs to the 14th-fewest PPR points this season, Dowdle should be viewed as a high-floor RB2 in all formats.
With Dowdle seeing at least 21 rushing attempts in each of his past four games, fantasy managers should feel confident starting him in all formats as a safe RB2. However, he may not carry as much upside as the other two options in this piece given the matchup.
Popular Week 16 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 16 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for Bucky Irving, Jerome Ford, Rico Dowdle compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Breece Hall or Jerome Ford
Brian Robinsonjr or Jerome Ford
Rico Dowdle or Bucky Irving
Rhamondre Stevenson or Jerome Ford
Tyrone Tracyjr or Jerome Ford
Jerry Jeudy or Jerome Ford
Bucky Irving or Rico Dowdle
Joe Mixon or Bucky Irving
Adam Thielen or Jerome Ford
Jerome Ford or Rico Dowdle
Ladd Mcconkey or Bucky Irving
Bucky Irving or Jerome Ford
Chuba Hubbard or Bucky Irving
Isaac Guerendo or Jerome Ford
Joe Mixon or Jerome Ford
Tyjae Spears or Jerome Ford
Chuba Hubbard or Jerome Ford
Joe Mixon or Rico Dowdle
Jonathan Taylor or Jerome Ford
Rachaad White or Jerome Ford
Zach Charbonnet or Jerome Ford
Courtland Sutton or Jerome Ford
Patrick Taylorjr or Jerome Ford
Tank Bigsby or Jerome Ford
Courtland Sutton or Bucky Irving
Jayden Reed or Jerome Ford
Aaron Jones or Bucky Irving
Isiah Pacheco or Jerome Ford
Jerry Jeudy or Rico Dowdle
Dandre Swift or Rico Dowdle
Ladd Mcconkey or Rico Dowdle
Cooper Kupp or Jerome Ford
Brian Thomasjr or Bucky Irving
Khalil Shakir or Rico Dowdle
Breece Hall or Bucky Irving
Jordan Addison or Jerome Ford
Chuba Hubbard or Rico Dowdle
Isaac Guerendo or Bucky Irving
Josh Downs or Jerome Ford
Najee Harris or Jerome Ford
Dj Moore or Jerome Ford
Brian Robinsonjr or Rico Dowdle
Courtland Sutton or Rico Dowdle
Isaac Guerendo or Rico Dowdle
Kenneth Walkeriii or Jerome Ford
Tony Pollard or Bucky Irving
Alexander Mattison or Jerome Ford
Deandre Hopkins or Jerome Ford
Garrett Wilson or Jerome Ford
Keenan Allen or Jerome Ford
Travis Etiennejr or Rico Dowdle
Aaron Jones or Jerome Ford
Alvin Kamara or Jerome Ford
Jauan Jennings or Rico Dowdle
Jonathan Taylor or Bucky Irving
Rico Dowdle or Jerome Ford
Terry Mclaurin or Rico Dowdle
Tyreek Hill or Jerome Ford
Dandre Swift or Jerome Ford
Gus Edwards or Jerome Ford
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Bucky Irving
Jerome Ford or Bucky Irving
Kyren Williams or Bucky Irving
Tony Pollard or Jerome Ford
Breece Hall or Rico Dowdle
Calvin Ridley or Jerome Ford
Jalen Mcmillan or Jerome Ford
Ladd Mcconkey or Jerome Ford
Tee Higgins or Bucky Irving
Derrick Henry or Bucky Irving
Dj Moore or Bucky Irving
Isiah Pacheco or Bucky Irving
James Cook or Bucky Irving
Kareem Hunt or Jerome Ford
Kendre Miller or Jerome Ford
Malik Nabers or Jerome Ford
Romeo Doubs or Jerome Ford
Zay Flowers or Rico Dowdle
Khalil Shakir or Bucky Irving
Rachaad White or Rico Dowdle
Drake London or Rico Dowdle
Jakobi Meyers or Jerome Ford
Jauan Jennings or Jerome Ford
Khalil Shakir or Jerome Ford
Travis Etiennejr or Jerome Ford
Tyreek Hill or Bucky Irving
Devonta Smith or Bucky Irving
Sincere Mccormick or Bucky Irving
Zay Flowers or Bucky Irving
Dj Moore or Rico Dowdle
Isiah Pacheco or Rico Dowdle
Rhamondre Stevenson or Rico Dowdle
Alvin Kamara or Rico Dowdle
Derrick Henry or Jerome Ford
Derrick Henry or Rico Dowdle
Devonta Smith or Rico Dowdle
Drake London or Jerome Ford
Javonte Williams or Jerome Ford
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Jerome Ford
Jerry Jeudy or Bucky Irving
Jonnu Smith or Jerome Ford
Kenneth Walkeriii or Rico Dowdle
Terry Mclaurin or Bucky Irving
Alvin Kamara or Bucky Irving
James Cook or Rico Dowdle
Jonathan Taylor or Rico Dowdle
Kyren Williams or Jerome Ford
Rhamondre Stevenson or Bucky Irving
Terry Mclaurin or Jerome Ford
Tyrone Tracyjr or Bucky Irving
Tyrone Tracyjr or Rico Dowdle
Cooper Kupp or Rico Dowdle
David Njoku or Jerome Ford
Dk Metcalf or Bucky Irving
Jalen Mcmillan or Rico Dowdle
Sam Laporta or Jerome Ford
Tee Higgins or Rico Dowdle
Tony Pollard or Rico Dowdle
Aj Brown or Jerome Ford
Aj Brown or Rico Dowdle
Cedric Tillman or Jerome Ford
Cooper Kupp or Bucky Irving
Dandre Swift or Bucky Irving
Darnell Mooney or Jerome Ford
Davante Adams or Rico Dowdle
Devon Achane or Rico Dowdle
Devonta Smith or Jerome Ford
Drake London or Bucky Irving
James Conner or Bucky Irving
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Rico Dowdle
Jerome Ford or Jerome Ford
Jordan Addison or Rico Dowdle
Malik Nabers or Rico Dowdle
Marvin Harrisonjr or Bucky Irving
Najee Harris or Bucky Irving
Tj Hockenson or Jerome Ford
Tyreek Hill or Rico Dowdle
Aaron Jones or Rico Dowdle
Amari Cooper or Jerome Ford
Brian Thomasjr or Rico Dowdle
Brock Bowers or Bucky Irving
Devon Achane or Bucky Irving
Dk Metcalf or Jerome Ford
Dk Metcalf or Rico Dowdle
Jakobi Meyers or Bucky Irving
Jaylen Waddle or Jerome Ford
Jaylen Warren or Jerome Ford
Jordan Addison or Bucky Irving
Justice Hill or Jerome Ford
Keenan Allen or Rico Dowdle
Kenneth Walkeriii or Bucky Irving
Marvin Harrisonjr or Jerome Ford
Nico Collins or Rico Dowdle
Patrick Taylorjr or Rico Dowdle
Sincere Mccormick or Jerome Ford
Tank Dell or Jerome Ford
Travis Kelce or Jerome Ford
Trey Mcbride or Jerome Ford
Tyjae Spears or Rico Dowdle
Zay Flowers or Jerome Ford
Antonio Gibson or Jerome Ford
Brenton Strange or Jerome Ford
Brock Bowers or Rico Dowdle
Ceedee Lamb or Bucky Irving
Davante Adams or Jerome Ford
Deandre Hopkins or Bucky Irving
Garrett Wilson or Bucky Irving
Garrett Wilson or Rico Dowdle
George Kittle or Jerome Ford
Hunter Henry or Jerome Ford
Jakobi Meyers or Rico Dowdle
Jalen Mcmillan or Bucky Irving
James Cook or Jerome Ford
Jameson Williams or Bucky Irving
Jameson Williams or Jerome Ford
Jauan Jennings or Bucky Irving
Jayden Reed or Rico Dowdle
Jonnu Smith or Bucky Irving
Jonnu Smith or Rico Dowdle
Josh Jacobs or Rico Dowdle
Kendre Miller or Bucky Irving
Kendre Miller or Rico Dowdle
Keon Coleman or Jerome Ford
Kyren Williams or Rico Dowdle
Malik Nabers or Bucky Irving
Marvin Harrisonjr or Rico Dowdle
Mike Evans or Bucky Irving
Najee Harris or Rico Dowdle
Quentin Johnston or Jerome Ford
Rachaad White or Bucky Irving
Raheem Mostert or Jerome Ford
Rome Odunze or Bucky Irving
Sincere Mccormick or Rico Dowdle
Tank Bigsby or Bucky Irving
Tee Higgins or Jerome Ford
Trey Sermon or Jerome Ford
Ty Johnson or Jerome Ford
Tyjae Spears or Bucky Irving
Tyler Allgeier or Jerome Ford
Xavier Worthy or Jerome Ford
Xavier Worthy or Rico Dowdle
Adam Thielen or Bucky Irving
Adam Thielen or Rico Dowdle
Aj Brown or Bucky Irving
Alexander Mattison or Bucky Irving
Alexander Mattison or Rico Dowdle
Ameer Abdullah or Jerome Ford
Anthony Richardson or Bucky Irving
Austin Ekeler or Rico Dowdle
Bijan Robinson or Rico Dowdle
Brian Robinsonjr or Bucky Irving
Brian Thomasjr or Jerome Ford
Brock Bowers or Jerome Ford
Bryce Young or Jerome Ford
Chase Brown or Bucky Irving
Chase Brown or Jerome Ford
Chase Brown or Rico Dowdle
Christian Watson or Bucky Irving
Christian Watson or Jerome Ford
Craig Reynolds or Jerome Ford
Davante Adams or Bucky Irving
David Montgomery or Jerome Ford
David Montgomery or Rico Dowdle
Deebo Samuelsr or Jerome Ford
Devon Achane or Jerome Ford
George Kittle or Bucky Irving
Jahmyr Gibbs or Bucky Irving
Jahmyr Gibbs or Rico Dowdle
Jalen Coker or Jerome Ford
James Conner or Rico Dowdle
Jared Goff or Bucky Irving
Jayden Daniels or Bucky Irving
Jk Dobbins or Rico Dowdle
Josh Downs or Bucky Irving
Josh Downs or Rico Dowdle
Josh Jacobs or Bucky Irving
Justice Hill or Bucky Irving
Justice Hill or Rico Dowdle
Justin Jefferson or Jerome Ford
Kareem Hunt or Bucky Irving
Keenan Allen or Bucky Irving
Kimani Vidal or Jerome Ford
Kyler Murray or Jerome Ford
Mark Andrews or Rico Dowdle
Michael Pittmanjr or Jerome Ford
Mike Evans or Rico Dowdle
Quentin Johnston or Rico Dowdle
Rashod Bateman or Jerome Ford
Ray Davis or Jerome Ford
Rome Odunze or Jerome Ford
Sam Darnold or Rico Dowdle
Tank Bigsby or Rico Dowdle
Tank Dell or Rico Dowdle
Travis Etiennejr or Bucky Irving
Travis Kelce or Bucky Irving
Trey Mcbride or Rico Dowdle
Trey Sermon or Bucky Irving
Zach Charbonnet or Bucky Irving
Zach Charbonnet or Rico Dowdle
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