NFL Week 16 Predictions: Running Backs Ready to Light It Up on Christmas Eve

I hope you've finished your shopping, my friend. Because on Christmas Eve, you have an awful lot of football to watch.

That's what we get for being good this year, and the gift will be even sweeter if the NFL's brightest stars come out.

If you asked Santa for some great running back performances, I think you're going to be in luck. There are a bunch of good ones in action on Saturday, and there are five in particular that I think are going to light it up.

Let's count them down.

Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders

Per the Associated Press, Darren McFadden is a no-go once again, and that means Michael Bush is going to have to do the heavy lifting for the Raiders this weekend.

That should be just fine with the Raiders, as Bush has been solid as a rock in relief of McFadden. He's been productive running the football, and he's been productive catching it.

Bush should be able to do both against the Kansas City Chiefs. He rushed for 99 yards against them the first time the Raiders and Chiefs hooked up, and he's coming into this contest off a game in which he caught seven passes.

Expect Bush to get upwards of 25 total touches against the Chiefs, resulting in plenty of yards and at least one touchdown.

Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos

Willis McGahee has a tendency to get come up with some kind of nagging injury in games that he plays, but he's managed to be productive all the same.

McGahee should have no trouble being productive against the Buffalo Bills. The Broncos will look to get back to running the football as much as possible after having to take to the air in Week 15 against the New England Patriots, and the Bills are a good team for them to run against.

The Bills have allowed 100-yard rushers in each of their last three games, the most recent of which saw them get torched by Reggie Bush for more than 200 yards.

McGahee won't be that good, but I would expect roughly 20 carries and over 100 rushing yards.

Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rashard Mendenhall hasn't gotten a whole lot of work in recent weeks, but the Pittsburgh Steelers pretty much have no choice but to change things up against the St. Louis Rams.

As you may have heard, Ben Roethlisberger is dealing with a pretty bad ankle sprain, and it was announced on Friday that he will be taking a seat against the Rams. Charlie Batch will start in his stead, and that will mean a big workload for Mendenhall.

It helps that the Rams have the league's worst rush defense. Giving up over 100 yards rushing is the norm for them, and Mendenhall is due for a 100-yard game.

Assuming Big Ben doesn't miraculously heal and get in this game, Mendenhall should go off.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars don't have much in the way of offense, but whatever offense they do have comes from Maurice Jones-Drew's legs.

It could be worse. MJD is the NFL's leading rusher, and he's pretty much a lock to gain over 100 total yards week in and week out. I expect that trend to hold against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday.

In case you missed it, the Titans were last seen giving up 161 yards to Donald Brown. That's a lot of yardage to give up to a guy who isn't exactly Adrian Peterson.

Or Jones-Drew, for that matter. MJD will get plenty of touches against the Titans, and they're not going to get in his way.

LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

This hasn't been a fun season for the Eagles, but LeSean McCoy has certainly done his part to keep things interesting. He typically goes about doing that by being totally awesome every time he touches the ball.

The Dallas Cowboys will vouch. McCoy rushed for over 180 yards against the Cowboys back in Week 8, and they are hoping he doesn't do so again on Saturday.

The Cowboys may be able to keep McCoy's yardage totals in check, but they're not about to keep him out of the end zone. McCoy has score eight touchdowns in the last four weeks, and I expect to tack on a couple more against the Cowboys.

Be afraid, Jerry Jones. Be very afraid.