Conner is likely always in your lineup when healthy, but he could
reach elite status in Week 16 facing the Carolina Panthers. The
Panthers’ run defense ranks last in the league, allowing
opposing RBs 28.3 FPts/G. Conner carries a majority of the workload
whether rushing (69.6% share) or receiving out of the backfield
(64.9% share). He should be in for a big day.
If a team is going to have any chance against the Bills these
days it means they will keep the ball away from Josh Allen and
the Buffalo offense. How do you do that? Run the football. For
New England that means Stevenson and quarterback Drake Maye. Stevenson
has double the rushing attempts of backup Antonio Gibson and surprisingly
more targets and catches than Gibson (a former wide receiver in
college). Ideally, Stevenson should see 20+ touches in Week 16.
Hubbard hasn’t been nearly as good as he was to start the
season and may be wearing down, but after two single-digit games
in the last three he should bounce back in Week 16. He will likely
surpass his 2023 total rushing attempts (238) in this game and
he’s already matched last season’s reception total
(39). The Cardinals have been very generous on the ground and
Bryce Young needs that production to balance the Panthers offense.
While Mixon is the No. 2 running back averaging 20.2 FPts/G and
no sane manager will sit him, don’t expect him to thrive
in a matchup against the top-rated Chiefs’ run defense.
Kansas City is one of two teams to allow less than 900 yards rushing
this season to opposing backs (the other is Baltimore). Meanwhile,
if you think he can also score while catching the ball out of
the backfield, the Chiefs have not allowed a running back a receiving
score in 2024. It’s the irresistible object versus the immovable
force.
Walker has missed two games with a calf injury, but could return
in Week 16 to muddy the waters for both himself and Charbonnet.
Walker had produced well before the injury and Charbonnet led
all backs in Week 14, but the pair splitting the workload would
nullify each other against a particularly tough opponent in Week
16. The Vikings’ run defense ranks second behind Kansas
City, allowing just 17.4 FPts/G and split two ways doesn’t
make for much production for either Seahawks running back.
The Denver running game has been missing in action for most of
the season. Neither Williams (9.8 FPts/G) or Jaleel McLaughlin
(5.9) have produced much. Between them they have one 20-point
effort all year (Williams in a two-touchdown game versus New Orleans
in Week 7). The Chargers have allowed just three rushing touchdowns
to running backs in 15 games. The best runner currently in Denver
is probably quarterback Bo Nix.
