Eye on the Prize: Week 16 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

It's playoff time! In what should be championship week, FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to your possible lineup dilemmas. If you need further assistance, please feel free to shoot us an email question.

Just as I said in the quarterback rankings, this is a crazy game we play -- this fantasy football. What if I told you, heading into the season, that Pierre Thomas, Matt Forte, Steve Slaton, and DeAngelo Williams would trail only Adrian Peterson in the championship week running back rankings?

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have been back here to read any follow-ups.

Why Pierre? That's easy. The Lions are an embarrassment against the run and Reggie Bush is out of the way. There's more to it than that, however. I've been watching Thomas the past few weeks, and had a special glimpse of him last week against my favorite team. He's got everything a featured back needs. He's not just a between the tackles guy, like Deuce McAllister has become, and he's not just an outside the tackles guy like Bush. He's both. The Saints have to leave him on the field pretty much all game now, and they are playing the Lions. He's going to light up the fantasy scoreboard ... again.

More notes after the rankings.

1. Adrian Peterson, vs. ATL
2. Pierre Thomas, at DET
3. Matt Forte, vs. GB
4. Steve Slaton, at OAK
5. DeAngelo Williams, at NYG
6. Marshawn Lynch, at DEN
7. Brian Westbrook, at WAS
8. Maurice Jones-Drew, vs. IND
9. Thomas Jones, at SEA
10. Steven Jackson, vs. SF
11. Michael Turner, at MIN
*12. Frank Gore, at StL
13. LaDanian Tomlinson, at TB
14. Ronnie Brown, at KC
15. Clinton Portis, vs. PHI
*16. Brandon Jacobs, vs. CAR
17. Kevin Smith, vs. NO
18. Sammy Morris, vs. ARI
19. Chris Johnson, vs. PIT
20. Ryan Grant, at CHI
21. Dominic Rhodes, at JAX
22. Larry Johnson, vs. MIA
23. LeRon McClain, at DAL
24. Darren McFadden, vs. HOU
25. Cedric Benson, at CLE
26. Tashard Choice, vs. BAL
27. Willie Parker, at TEN
28. Derrick Ward, vs. CAR
29. Jonathan Stewart, at NYG
30. Maurice Morris, vs. NYJ
31. Jamal Lewis, vs. CIN
32. Chester Taylor, vs. ATL
33. Leon Washington, at SEA
34. Cadillac Williams, vs. SD
35. Warrick Dunn, vs. SD
*36. Joseph Addai, at JAX
*37. Marion Barber, vs. BAL
38. LenDale White, vs. PIT
39. Kevin Faulk, vs. ARI
40. Tim Hightower, at NE

*injured and may not play

- To me, there is a distinct division line after Michael Turner (number 11). I could easily see some shuffling in those top 11, but the gap is big enough between 11 and 12 I'm thinking any person who has two of those starting this week against someone with none of them will easily cruise to victory. The only one who is not a featured back against a vulnerable defense is DeAngelo, and he qualifies under neither. Still, can you even think about not playing him this week?

- Brandon Jacobs has sat out twice this season when I believe he could have played if it was a must-win. Well, this game amounts to the closest to qualifying the Giants have had all season. The winner will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, so I firmly believe he will play. The Giants will limit him a bit, but he's still a beast, and a multiple-touchdown game wouldn't shock me.

- Sammy Morris at home against Arizona? Loving it. I remember that half against Denver earlier in the season, and I'm hoping he brings more of the same. Regardless, it's a nice matchup.

- This feels like one of those weeks where Leon Washington springs for a long touchdown.

- I trust Dominic Rhodes tons more than Joseph Addai, even if Addai plays. I've said that before, but I just wanted to hammer it home.