2011 NFL Fantasy Football Week 16: Running Backs (RB) Rankings and Projections

LeSean McCoy @ Cowboys

Only time will tell how the season finally ends for LeSean McCoy, but if I had to give out an award for the overall fantasy MVP of 2011, he would get my vote. It’s not just McCoy’s almost 1,600 total yards from scrimmage or his 20 touchdowns, it’s the consistency in which he’s totaled these numbers.

McCoy has failed to score a touchdown in only one game this year, and with Super Bowl aspirations on the line, he closed out a victory for many owners this week with over 100 yards rushing and three touchdowns against the Jets defense. As good as Aaron Rodgers has been over the course of the season, he’s been average in recent weeks, and it’s not like many fantasy owners are hurting for quarterback production this year.

As for running backs, it’s been a short list of players you can count on over the year, as you will find names like Reggie Bush, Ryan Mathews, Felix Jones, Shonn Greene and even C.J. Spiller in my top 10 this week. All of those running backs have had their irrelevant moments this year, and a few of those names might have been on your waiver wire a few weeks ago.

As for McCoy, he’s more than lived up to his late first round ADP this summer, and will likely be one of the first picks in all fantasy formats, even if Andy Reid gets canned. Playing the Cowboys, McCoy will matchup against a defense he dominated in week eight as he posted 185 yards rushing and two touchdowns. This should be another great performance for McCoy, as he tops the list this week.

More WK 16 Rankings – QB | WR | TE | Waivers | Start/Sit |

1	LeSean McCoy	@ Cowboys
2	Arian Foster	@ Colts
3	Reggie Bush	@ Patriots
4	Ray Rice	Browns
5	Ryan Mathews	@ Lions
6	Maurice Jones-Drew (I)	@ Titans
7	Felix Jones	Eagles
8	Rashard Mendenhall	Rams
9	Shonn Greene	Giants
10	C.J. Spiller	Broncos
11	Beanie Wells	@ Bengals
12	Marshawn Lynch	49ers
13	DeAngelo Williams	Buccaneers
14	Chris Johnson	Jaguars
15	Michael Bush	@ Chiefs
16	Roy Helu	Vikings
17	Adrian Peterson (I)	@ Redskins
18	Michael Turner	@ Saints
19	Cedric Benson	Cardinals
20	Frank Gore (I)	@ Seahawks
21	Lance Ball	@ Bills
22	Donald Brown	Texans
23	Ahmad Bradshaw	@ Jets
24	Ben Tate	@ Colts
25	Brandon Jacobs	@ Jets
26	Peyton Hillis (I)	@ Ravens
27	Steven Jackson	@ Steelers
28	LeGarrette Blount	@ Panthers
29	Willis McGahee (I)	@ Bills
30	Jackie Battle	Raiders
31	Ryan Grant	Bears
32	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	Dolphins
33	Mike Tolbert	@ Lions
34	Toby Gerhart	@ Redskins
35	Jonathan Stewart	Buccaneers
36	Kevin Smith (I)	Chargers
37	Darren Sproles	Falcons
38	Kalil Bell	@Packers
39	Danny Woodhead	Dolphins
40	Marion Barber	@ Packers
41	LaDainian Tomlinson	Giants
42	Pierre Thomas	Falcons