It can be difficult to project who will perform well this late in the season. Of course, there are backfields with running backs who have been reliable all season long. But in this series, we’ve focused on splits that have been erratic — either due to injuries or inconsistent play. We got a lot of that in Week 16 and saw that teams playing for very little this late in the year seem to favor spreading the ball around a bit more.

Let’s break down some of those backfield splits and how to approach their RBs going into Week 17 and the fantasy football championship round.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Player

Touches

Total Yards

Touchdowns

Bucky Irving

19

71

0

Rachaad White

7

60

0

Sean Tucker

4

3

1

We all anticipated this to be a big week for Bucky Irving. That was not the case on Sunday against the Panthers. While Irving had far-and-away the most usage with 19 total touches, he didn’t get any catches or targets and again ceded goal-line duties to Sean Tucker. Backups Tucker and Rachaad White combined for nine rushes for 48 yards and a TD, plus two catches and 15 yards (all to White).

Overall, Tampa Bay’s running game was held in check by the Panthers outside of a 39-yard rush for White and a 26-yard run by QB Baker Mayfield. If you eliminate those two rushes, the Bucs had 31 attempts for 104 yards (3.3 yards per attempt). A lot of that was Irving. So, should we be concerned going into Week 17 or was something else to blame here?

Well, the Bucs get a good matchup against the Dolphins in Week 17. We just saw Chase Brown tear up Miami for 30.9 fantasy points with over 100 total yards and three scores. Irving still got a huge share of the carries and the Bucs’ passing game remains very inconsistent. Week 17 feels like a spot Irving can get back on track and you shouldn’t question starting him as an RB2. White and Tucker aren’t playable.

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New Orleans Saints

Player

Touches

Total Yards

Touchdowns

Taysom Hill

17

78

1 (passing)

Audric Estimé

8

36

0

Evan Hull

5

3

0

First, the Saints have won three games in a row and the offense is looking pretty impressive with at least 20 points in each of those games. We knew the Saints would be without RB Devin Neal, who was placed on IR, as well as lead back Alvin Kamara, who remains out with a knee injury. Audric Estimé was expected to lead the backfield against the Jets in Week 17.

It was a familiar fantasy face, instead.

While not technically a running back, tight end Taysom Hill emerged from the fantasy depths to have a relevant week, using 17 touches (including one pass) for 78 total yards and a 38-yard TD pass to WR Chris Olave. Hill finished with 13.32 fantasy points on the week. Estimé only had eight touches for 36 yards. Evan Hull was also ineffective on five carries.

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New Orleans’ passing game is clicking with rookie Tyler Shough and the team has a good matchup against the Titans in Week 17. The issue is what to do with Estimé going forward. We’ve seen the team incorporate the versatile Hill in the past, so we can expect him to be involved again. We also know the type of ceiling Hill has if he’s getting goal-line work, throwing the ball and catching passes. Estimé will be a risky RB3/flex play against Tennessee. Hill (1% rostered in Yahoo leagues) is an interesting TE target who has flex value if he sees a similar workload next week.

Cleveland Browns

Player

Touches

Total Yards

Touchdowns

Quinshon Judkins

13

51

0

Raheim Sanders

12

46

0

Trayveon Williams

7

55

0

The Browns have had a rough season and things didn’t get any easier in Week 16 when RB Quinshon Judkins went down with a gruesome leg injury, ending the rookie’s season.

With Judkins down, the Browns leaned on Raheim Sanders, who had 11 carries for 42 yards on Sunday against the Bills. Trayveon Williams was also involved in the passing game with four catches for 38 yards. Rookie back Dylan Sampson has missed the past two games with hand and calf injuries. TE Harold Fannin Jr. also had a one-yard TD carry, something we could see more of next week.

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This is likely a situation you’ll want to avoid at all costs in Week 17. Cleveland will face the Steelers, who sport one of the best run defenses in the NFL and will still have plenty to play for in the AFC playoff picture and AFC North division standings. If Sampson is back, he’s the most appealing play given his previous role in the passing game. Sanders and Williams would be desperation plays in such a big spot. Either look to your bench or other waiver options if you had Judkins and don’t land Sampson/he isn’t healthy.

New York Jets

Player

Touches

Total Yards

Touchdowns

Breece Hall

18

63

0

Isaiah Davis

7

60

0

I want to talk a bit about the Jets despite the team being a complete dumpster fire on offense right now. New York isn’t playing for anything and we saw a bit of a shift in Week 16 against the Saints. Breece Hall still led the backfield split with 18 total touches but only turned that into 63 yards. Isaiah Davis was more heavily involved, particularly as a pass-catcher with four receptions for 52 yards.

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The passing game isn’t going to move the ball much under Brady Cook. With the Jets looking toward 2026, might we see Davis get more work against the Patriots in Week 17? New York will have some motivation to spoil New England’s hopes of an AFC East title. Hall might be looking to free agency and Davis could be hungry to prove himself. If we see some of that narrative take shape, Davis could be a sneaky add off the waiver wire (he’s available in 97% of Yahoo leagues) and an okay start in deeper formats with multiple flex spots on your roster. Davis clearly has PPR upside and if the carries are split more, he could surprise in Week 17.