There's never a good time for a situation like the one we have with the Vikings running backs. But Week 16 may just be the worst time. Here's what we know:

Mike Zimmer told us on Monday that Dalvin Cook could play through the injury. Cook's backup, Alexander Mattison, missed Week 15 with an ankle injury and his status for Week 16 remains unclear. Mike Boone would lead the backfield if both Cook and Mattison are unable to go. That's the way we're ranking it as of Tuesday, and that makes Boone a borderline top-20 back in non-PPR and a PPR flex. He does not have one target this season, so you shouldn't expect anything out of him in the passing game. 

Of course, the bigger problem is that this game is a Monday night affair. It doesn't help anything that we have three games on Saturday. Hopefully we get more information as the week goes on, and we'll keep you updated if we do. For now, plan on being without Cook and make sure both Boone and Mattison are rostered. Both could be a league-winner this week. As of Tuesday morning, I would prioritize Boone.

Week 16 RB Preview

Who's Out
Numbers to Know
Matchups That Matter
Waiver Wire Targets
DFS Plays
Projections
RB Preview
Who's Out

The following players are not being projected to play Week 16 at this time. Here's what it means:

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Dalvin Cook RB
DAL Dallas • #20
Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.
If Cook and Mattison are both out, you're starting Mike Boone.
RB Preview
Numbers to know
  • 4.6 - Yards per carry for Mattison this season. He's cals caught 10 of 12 targets. If Mattison is active and Cook is out, the rookie is a top-12 option.
  • 23 - Touches for Kenyan Drake in Week 15. I don't believe we have to worry about a committee.
  • 10.2 - Alvin Kamara has not topped 10.2 non-PPR Fantasy points in the past month.
  • 13 - Targets for Boston Scott. He's in play as a PPR flex as long as Howard is out.
RB Preview
Matchups that matter
Matchups that Matter
Projections powered by Sportsline
Marlon Mack RB
ARI Arizona • #37
Age: 28 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ NO NO -8.5 O/U 49.5

OPP VS RB

4th

PROJ PTS

12.1

RB RNK

27th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

900

REC

12

REYDS

76

TD

5

FPTS/G

12.1
Devonta Freeman RB
BAL Baltimore • #34
Age: 32 • Experience: 9 yrs.
Joe Mixon RB
HOU Houston • #28
Age: 28 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ MIA MIA -1 O/U 46.5

OPP VS RB

28th

PROJ PTS

14.3

RB RNK

18th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

925

REC

32

REYDS

250

TD

6

FPTS/G

12.5
Phillip Lindsay RB
IND Indianapolis • #30
Age: 30 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs DET DEN -6.5 O/U 38

OPP VS RB

29th

PROJ PTS

12.1

RB RNK

15th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

849

REC

33

REYDS

187

TD

6

FPTS/G

11.6
RB Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
Week 15 Adds
Mike Boone RB
CAR Carolina • #34
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Ownership

0%
Boone is only at the top because he currently seems like the most likely to start. This list is fluid.
Kerryon Johnson RB
PHI Philadelphia • #34
Age: 27 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Ownership

31%
Johnson is angling to play in Week 16. There's no chance the Lions bring hm back unless he's 100%, so if he's active, I'd view him as No. 2 running back.
Alexander Mattison RB
LV Las Vegas • #22
Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Ownership

63%
Mattison has the highest upside on this list, but he needs a lot to change between now and Monday night.
Boston Scott RB
PIT Pittsburgh • #33
Age: 29 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Ownership

24%
Scott is a good fallback plan in PPR.
RB Preview
DFS Plays
Top Plays
Leonard Fournette RB
BUF Buffalo • #5
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Week 16 Prices

FanDuel

$7,500

DraftKings

$7,200
It feels like we're due one more regression special from Fournette before the season ends. He's on pace for nearly 1,800 yards and somehow only has three touchdowns.
Contrarian Plays
Patrick Laird RB
TB Tampa Bay • #25
Age: 29 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Week 16 Prices

FanDuel

$5,500

DraftKings

$4,600
It's a great matchup for Laird, who is still dirt cheap.
RB Preview
Heath's Projections

Non-PPR Rank

PPR Rank

RB

FPTs

PPR FPTs

1

1

Christian McCaffrey

21.71

28.74

5

2

Leonard Fournette

16.90

23.55

3

3

Ezekiel Elliott

17.87

21.83

2

4

Chris Carson

18.78

21.26

4

5

Joe Mixon

17.42

20.44

12

6

Austin Ekeler

14.31

19.41

7

7

Miles Sanders

15.25

18.96

11

8

Saquon Barkley

14.46

18.41

23

9

Alvin Kamara

12.48

17.96

10

10

Melvin Gordon

14.47

17.84

8

11

Mark Ingram

15.20

17.58

6

12

Derrick Henry

16.10

17.17

15

13

Kenyan Drake

13.50

16.77

13

14

Todd Gurley

14.09

16.66

20

15

Devonta Freeman

12.74

15.96

18

16

Devin Singletary

13.01

15.85

22

17

Aaron Jones

12.63

15.76

25

18

James Conner

12.39

15.34

16

19

Nick Chubb

13.32

15.01

9

20

Marlon Mack

14.80

15.00

14

21

Adrian Peterson

13.81

14.66

26

22

Patrick Laird

11.60

14.61

21

23

Phillip Lindsay

12.69

14.60

31

24

Kareem Hunt

8.91

14.40

17

25

Raheem Mostert

13.14

14.15

24

26

Josh Jacobs

12.40

14.03

30

27

James White

8.94

13.56

28

28

Le'Veon Bell

10.31

13.01

19

29

Mike Boone

12.99

12.99

29

30

Ronald Jones

9.03

11.85

38

31

Jamaal Williams

7.07

11.26

27

32

Carlos Hyde

10.70

11.10

34

33

Duke Johnson

8.09

11.03

36

34

Boston Scott

7.91

10.97

32

35

David Montgomery

8.81

10.16

35

36

LeSean McCoy

8.08

10.15

So who should you sit and start this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 16 rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big time last season.