Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns. (Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)
These running backs could be the difference in winning your fantasy football championship.
It’s official, we’ve made it to the fantasy football championship. It’s been the longest fantasy football season in the history of the sport. There have been major injuries, huge COVID pauses, star players on the shelf for weeks, and serious uncertainty about who is playing from week to week.
The sleeper running back has been one to bring players to the championship. Justin Jackson was the top scorer of the week. He had 34 points in PPR leagues. Whoever was able to snag him likely won their matchup (unless they were playing Joe Burrow or Tee Higgins). Anyone who was bold enough to play Rex Burkhead got just under 29 points. Chase Edmonds returned to the lineup in a big way with 26 points. Sony Michel broke 20 points, and Devin Singletary and Rashaad Penny both came close.
Which sleeper running backs can win you a fantasy football championship?
15 running backs got at least 15 points in Week 16. That includes Dare Ogunbowale and Ronald Jones. It was hard to pick the wrong player last week, but will that happen again this week? Jonathan Taylor came in 24th in fantasy points among running backs last week, so teams needed some players who were once deep on their bench or on the waiver wire to step up. Who will play that role this week?
10. Kareem Hunt/D’Ernest Johnson – Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are facing a Pittsburgh Steelers team that just doesn’t have it. They aren’t the big, bad Steelers team that will hit to hurt. There’s just a softness to them this season. And that shows when they face opposing running backs. The Steelers have allowed the most points to the running back position in fantasy over the last month. They’ve allowed more than 33 points per game to the position over the last four games.
Kareem Hunt should return to the lineup for the Cleveland Browns. Nick Chubb is going to have a huge week this week, but the Steelers defense gives up enough for two. If Hunt is ruled out, then start D’Ernest Johnson. The Browns second running back is a great start this week no matter who it ends up being.