Week 16 Fantasy Rankings: Marshawn Lynch and RBs Who Will Ruin Your Season

It’s hard to think that you should bench someone like Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch this week. However, Lynch, and these other running backs’ brutal matchups this week make for players that you have to avoid playing. 

Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

Four words on why you should bench Lynch this week: San Francisco’s rushing defense. 

This 49ers defense ranks No. 1 in defending the run. They have only given up 1,001 rushing yards while holding opposing running backs to just 71 rushing yards per game. If you were thinking that you would get some points from a Lynch rushing touchdown, well, forget about that. 

In 14 games this year, San Francisco has yet to give up a rushing touchdown. 

Lynch has had an amazing stretch of games since Week 9. However, you have to sit the Lynch this week, because he will not go into “Beast Mode.” 

Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints

Sproles gives his fantasy owners a dual threat with his ability to be a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. 

However, this week against the Atlanta Falcons, you have to sit him. Sproles’ last five games have been productive with two touchdowns and four games where he went over a combined 70 yards. 

Against the Falcons this year, Sproles had one of his worst games of his 2011 season. 

He only had two carries for one yard, while having four catches for two yards. If you happened to start Sproles that week, you probably were very upset with his zero-point effort. 

Sit Sproles or else you risk seeing him put up another zero. 

Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals

Beanie has been on a fantasy roller coaster for his owners this year. One week he’s rushing for over 200 yards or scoring three touchdowns. Then the next week he’s rushing for 20 yards on 10 carries. 

Against a good Cincinnati Bengals rushing defense, Wells will frustrate his owners as they try to win a championship, or advance to their Super Bowl. 

Cincinnati has had an excellent year at keeping running backs contained. They rank in the Top 10 in rushing yards with 1,395, rushing yards per game 97.2 and yards per attempt 3.7. 

Wells will see another stat line where he rushes the ball for 15 times and has 30-40 yards. Which means, you will see another point total for Wells of under five. 

These three running backs have been must-starts for most of this year. However, you absolutely cannot afford to make a misstep this week with these players and their horrific matchups. 

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