Week 16 sets up a fascinating landscape at RB for DFS on DraftKings, with backfields tightening, injuries reshaping workloads, and cold‑weather games pushing teams toward more ground‑heavy scripts. This is the time of year when true workhorses emerge, committees shift unexpectedly, and value plays pop as teams adjust to playoff races or look ahead to the offseason. With several elite matchups on the slate and a handful of under‑the‑radar volume boosts, this week’s RB pool offers a mix of safe floor options and explosive tournament pivots that can define your lineup’s ceiling.
Salary Savers for Week 16
Here are a few of the players we are trusting and starting in Week 16 due to the savings we get on DraftKings.
Kenneth Gainwell @ Detroit Lions ($5.1K DraftKings)
Kenneth Gainwell is Aaron Rodgers‘ guy in PPR for the Steelers, as this is set to be a high-scoring matchup indoors against the Lions, who can score like 30+ points against a weak Pittburgh defense due to injuries. There will be plenty of opportunities for dump-offs to Gainwell and scoring opportunities.
- Other Options: Audric Estime vs. New York Jets ($5K DraftKings); Chuba Hubbard vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4.8K DraftKings)
Pay Up Option for Week 16
Jahmyr Gibbs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers ($8.5K Draft Kings)
When Jahmyr Gibbs doesn’t get 3 touchdowns, he gets absolutely nothing the following week. Good news for managers is that he gets a Steelers run defense that has been porous all season, and Gibbs is coming off a dud game, so he should bounce back in a massive spot in Detroit.
- Other Options: De’Von Achane vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($8.8K DraftKings); James Cook @ Cleveland Browns ($7.7K DraftKings)
Contrarian Play for Week 16
Quinshon Judkins vs. Buffalo Bills ($6K DraftKings)
When you see the Buffalo Bills play run defense, any running back that’s starting vs. them, it’s an instant smash spot. Quinshon Judkins is due for a smash game. This could be it in the elements in Cleveland, as the Browns will lean on him despite some inefficiency the past few weeks.
- Other Options: Omarion Hampton @ Dallas Cowboys ($5.8K DraftKings); Tyrone Tracy Jr. vs. Minnesota Vikings ($5.8K DraftKings)
Fade RBs for Week 16
On the flip side of things, here are a few of the players we are sitting.
Travis Etienne @ Denver Broncos ($7K DraftKings)
In Mile High, Denver is the second-ranked defense against the running back position for fantasy, so even though Travis Etienne got there last week through the air, he wasn’t that efficient on the ground even against a week Jets defense. This could be a game that goes through the air.
- Other Options: R.J. Harvey vs. Jacksonville Jaguars ($6.2K DraftKings); Breece Hall @ New Orleans Saints ($5.9K DraftKings)
