Week 16 Fantasy Football AFC Backfield Update: Joe Mixon vs. Chase Brown, Jerome Ford vs. Kareem Hunt, Derrick Henry vs. Tyjae Spears and More

Discussing AFC backfield situations heading into week 16 of the NFL season.

The fantasy football playoffs are in full swing now. Week 15 of the NFL season provided some clarity on some backfields - some because of injury and others because of playing time and touches - so let’s discuss each team’s backfield just like we did a week ago.

We will start with the AFC. Check back for the NFC backfield writeup.

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Ravens Backfield Fantasy Outlook

The Ravens’ backfield was kind of a mess going into week 15, but an injury to Keaton Mitchell has cleared a lot of things up. Unfortunately, Mitchell will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

That leaves Gus Edwards and Justice Hill to carry the load again. Edwards is the lead back and best fantasy option - he went for 58 rushing yards and a score on 16 attempts, while adding an 11-yard reception in week 15. Hill had just five touches across 18 snaps played. He rushed for 23 yards on five carries and failed to bring in his lone target.

Baltimore faces the San Francisco 49ers in week 16, which sets up as a pretty average matchup for the two backs. Edwards should get enough of the workload to be start worthy.

Steelers Backfield Fantasy Outlook

Jaylen Warren outperformed Najee Harris in week 15. Warren went for 68 total yards on 15 touches, while Harris had 33 yards on 12 touches. The backs were pretty even in rushing stats, but Warren got the edge for his work as a pass catcher.

The two backs have now shifted getting the most touches in each of the past four games. There’s no clear leader in the backfield, and they aren’t getting much help from their quarterback.

Pittsburgh will be starting Mason Rudolph in week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. That sets up as a pretty average matchup for the backs. Both are borderline starting options as flex players, and it really comes down to what other options you have available. I probably would lean toward Warren for the coming week.

Bengals Backfield Fantasy Outlook

Joe Mixon continues to lead the Cincy backfield, but Chase Brown has continued to deliver in his secondary role.

Mixon had 61 total yards and a touchdown across 13 touches last week. Brown had 51 yards on 10 touches. 

Mixon is still the guy you’d want to start against the Steelers in week 16. Brown is a high upside flex option, but a better starting option in deeper leagues. It’s a pretty solid matchup for the Cincy backs.

Browns Backfield Fantasy Outlook

Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt continue to guide the Cleveland backfield, while Pierre Strong also got some work in week 15.

Ford tallied 31 total yards across 12 touches, while Hunt had 20 total yards on eight touches. Strong went for just 11 yards on four touches. 

It wasn’t a very good day for any Cleveland back, and fantasy owners aren’t going to feel great about any of their outlooks in week 16. The matchup ahead with the Houston Texans is a pretty average one. I still like Ford the most as a fantasy starting option, but wouldn’t feel great about him.

Texans Backfield Fantasy Outlook

Devin Singletary dominated the Houston backfield in week 15. He rushed 26 times for 121 yards and caught 4-of-5 targets for an additional 49 yards. 

No other backs on the team got over 16 snaps or one touch. Dameon Pierce only had one touch on four snaps.

Singletary is all of a sudden a pretty great fantasy option going into week 16. The matchup with the Browns is a tough one, but given his workhorse status last week, I’d feel pretty good about starting Singletary in week 16.

Titans Backfield Fantasy Outlook

The Tennessee backs had a rough go of things in week 15. Derrick Henry led the way with 20 touches, while Tyjae Spears had 10.

Henry rushed 16 times, but for only 9 yards. He caught all four of his targets, but for just 1 yard. Spears rushed nine times for 30 yards and caught a 7-yard pass.

Both are still pretty strong fantasy assets going into week 16 because of their high touch amounts. The next matchup is with the Seattle Seahawks, and with a favorable matchup, I like the idea of starting Henry and Spears if you don’t have any clear better options.

Colts Backfield Fantasy Outlook

The Colts’ backfield is an absolute mess right now. Jonathan Taylor has missed the past couple games. Zack Moss got injured in week 15, allowing Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson to lead the backfield.

Sermon had 88 total yards on 17 touches, while Goodson had 79 total yards on 13 touches. Moss finished with 33 total yards and a score on seven touches. 

Taylor could return this week, and would most likely go back to being the lead back. Moss would back him up if he’s cleared to play, and then Sermon and Goodson would be back to being backup options that only play if there’s injuries ahead of them.

It’ll be a tough matchup for whoever is playing, as the Colts play the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta is one of the best defenses in the league in slowing opposing backs. 

Jaguars Backfield Fantasy Outlook

The Jacksonville backfield is really easy to explain. Travis Etienne is the workhorse, and nobody else plays enough to be a fantasy asset in any format.

Etienne had 59 total yards on 14 touches in week 15. D’Ernest Johnson finished with 5 yards on two touches, while Tank Bigsby went backwards 2 yards on one touch.

With quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the concussion protocol, the Jacksonville backs could be a bit more involved this week, regardless of if the QB ends up playing or not.  Etienne is still the only one you should be starting, as the team’s week 16 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is a tougher one. 

Broncos Backfield Fantasy Outlook

Denver’s backfield is split between Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin. It limits any of them from really big fantasy showings, and none of them did much this past week.

Williams had just 22 total yards on 14 touches. Perine tallied 48 total yards on seven touches, while McLaughlin had 18 total yards on four touches. 

The next matchup is the New England Patriots, which is an average fantasy matchup for the Broncos’ backs. Williams is the guy you’d want to start, but he’s a borderline starting option because he splits the workload.

Chiefs Backfield Fantasy Outlook

Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon led the Chiefs’ backfield again this week with Isiah Pacheco out again. Pacheco is expected to play this coming week.

In week 15, CEH had 101 total yards and a touchdown on 17 touches, while McKinnon had 30 total yards and a score on seven touches.

The Chiefs play the Raiders this week, which sets up as a good matchup for the Chiefs’ backs. I think Pacheco regains his workhorse role, with McKinnon still factoring in as a pass catcher. I’d feel confident starting Pacheco in standard leagues and also try McKinnon in deeper leagues.

Raiders Backfield Fantasy Outlook

Josh Jacobs missed week 15, and his status for this week against the Chiefs is still unknown.

Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah led Las Vegas in week 15. White went for 85 total yards and a score on 20 touches, while Abdullah had 45 total yards on eight carries. Brandon Bolden rushed twice for 25 yards, and stole a touchdown.

The Chiefs’ defense pose a pretty average test for the Raiders’ backs. Jacobs is the guy you want to start if he plays, but if he doesn’t then I’m not sure I’d feel great about starting any of the team’s backs.

Chargers Backfield Fantasy Outlook

None of the Chargers’ backs performed well in the team’s lopsided loss to the Raiders in week 15. Isaiah Spiller ended up leading the team, with Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley also getting involved a bit.

Spiller went for 50 yards on 16 touches. Ekeler had 38 total yards on nine touches, while Kelley had 28 yards on six touches.

I wouldn’t feel great about starting any of the three backs in week 16, when they take on the Bills. Buffalo’s defense is an average one when it comes to slowing opposing RBs, but with a split workload and no clear leader, I’d rather sit Spiller, Ekeler and Kelley in standard leagues.

Patriots Backfield Fantasy Outlook

Ezekiel Elliott again dominated the backfield touches for the Patriots with Rhamondre Stevenson out with an injury. Kevin Harris stole a touchdown from Elliott, which left the starter with a subpar fantasy showing.

Elliott had 46 total yards on 16 touches. Harris had 25 yards and the score on four touches. 

Elliott would lead the backfield again in week 16 against the Broncos if Stevenson misses the game again. Otherwise, Stevenson and Elliott would likely split the workload. The matchup is a great one for any New England back.

I’d start Elliott again if Stevenson is out. If Stevenson is cleared to play, then Elliott and Stevenson are both flex options because of the favorable matchup.

Jets Backfield Fantasy Outlook

The Jets’ backfield clearly belongs to Breece Hall, but the lack of a competent quarterback makes Hall a borderline starter every week.

In week 15, Hall had just 18 total yards on seven touches. Israel Abanikanda went for 19 yards on six touches, while Dalvin Cook had 10 total yards on two touches.

The matchup is more favorable in week 16, as the Jets play the Washington Commanders and their defense that allows 24 fantasy points to opposing RBs. You should feel pretty good about Hall’s fantasy outlook this week, even after last week’s disaster.

Bills Backfield Fantasy Outlook

James Cook erupted in week 15, and now looks like the workhorse for the Bills. Ty Johnson and Latavius Murray each got a decent amount of work too though.

Cook finished with 221 total yards and two touchdowns across 27 touches. Johnson had 58 total yards on 10 touches, while Murray had 11 yards and a score on five touches. 

Buffalo ran early and often and overpowered the Dallas Cowboys’ defense last week. While the showing was surprising, I wouldn’t expect a similar gameplan the rest of the season. 

The Bills play the Chargers this week, so there’s a chance this becomes a lopsided game and Buffalo runs a bunch again. The matchup is a good one for the Buffalo backs. I’d confidently start Cook. I’d consider Johnson as a flex option, but would feel more comfortable starting him in deeper leagues. Murray is another deep league option. 

Dolphins Backfield Fantasy Outlook

Raheem Mostert scored twice to finish as the top fantasy option in the Dolphins’ backfield in week 15. De’Von Achane tallied more yards, however.

Mostert went for 43 total yards and the two scores across 17 touches, while Achane had 62 total yards on 12 touches. Jeff Wilson only had three touches and 6 total yards. 

The Dolphins now face the Cowboys’ defense that the Bills just shredded, so although it’s a tough matchup on paper, fantasy owners are going to feel pretty good about the outlook for Mostert and Achane. I’d confidently start Mostert given his knack for finding the end zone, and also would consider Achane for my flex spot because of his high upside.

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