Fantasy football enthusiasts, it's time to fine-tune your Week 16 lineups with some highly favorable running back matchups. These matchups could make a significant difference in your fantasy football season. Let's dive in and explore the details.

Unlock Fantasy Football Success with These Week 16 RB Matchups

James Conner vs. CAR

In Week 15, James Conner started the fantasy playoffs with an outstanding performance. He emerged as the RB1 overall, racking up 138 yards and two touchdowns from 21 touches. Remarkably, he earned 70% of the backfield opportunities, a slightly larger role than he's had this year. The Cardinals' backups were dealing with injuries, with Emari Demercado placed on IR before Week 15 and rookie Trey Benson injuring his ankle late in the game. Conner already had a significant role in the Arizona offense, but it seems to be even more prominent moving forward.This week, Conner faces what could be the best matchup for a running back. As a four-point favorite against the Panthers, who allow the most rushing yards per game and the second-most rushing touchdowns this season. Last week, the Panthers gave Rico Dowdle 149 yards on 25 carries. Conner is a top-10 RB this week and a must-start in all fantasy formats.

Rico Dowdle vs. TB

Dowdle is on a hot streak right now. In Week 15, he set a career-high in yardage for the third straight game, earning 149 rushing yards on 25 carries. It was a day of consistent strong runs against the Panthers. According to Ryan Heath of Fantasy Points, over the past four games, Dowdle has averaged 85% of the Cowboys' backfield carries and 120 rushing yards per game. He ranks second in rushing yards during this period and 14th in fantasy points per game.Dowdle has now had three straight games of at least 120 total yards and quietly has five games of 100+ yards this season. He's taken advantage of great matchups against the Giants, Bengals, and Panthers in the past three weeks. This week, he continues to shine against a Bucs team that allows the 10th-most rushing yards per play. Dowdle is a starter down the stretch and a true league winner.

Bucky Irving vs. DAL

There were doubts about Irving's Week 15 availability for the Bucs after re-injuring his back in Week 14 and not returning in the second half. Early reports were concerning as he missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but he was able to participate in limited fashion on Friday and played on Sunday against the Chargers. We were told he would have a near-normal role, and that's exactly what happened. He earned 17 opportunities in Week 15, totaling 113 total yards and topping 100 rushing yards for the second time this season. Irving looked healthy and explosive, forcing four broken tackles and having two explosive runs of 10+ yards. He's trending in the right direction as he enters a beneficial Week 16 matchup against the Cowboys.The Bucs are four-point road favorites against a Dallas defense that is dealing with injuries to key players. The Cowboys allow the fifth-most rushing yards per play and the most rushing touchdowns this season. Keep an eye on Irving's practice reports this week, but if he plays, he becomes a must-start in Week 16.

Jaguars RBs vs. LV

Tank Bigsby has had a rollercoaster season. He started strong, being one of the most explosive backs in the league in the first seven weeks, but then picked up an ankle injury in Week 8 and struggled with efficiency and production. In Week 14, we saw him healthy in a neutral game script against the Titans, where he commanded 19 touches for 62 yards and a score. However, in Week 15, his usage regressed a bit.The Jaguars played another close game against the Jets, and Bigsby earned double-digit carries for the second straight week but only turned 12 opportunities into 42 scoreless yards. Travis Etienne Jr. had a better fantasy day, turning 18 touches into 85 yards. But this week, the Jaguars RBs will face a weaker Raiders run defense. Las Vegas allows the ninth-most fantasy points per game to RBs. With a one-point spread, it should be a close game, favoring both Jaguars running backs. Both Etienne and Bigsby are viable FLEX options in Week 16.

James Cook vs. NE

Cook is primed for a big week after a strong performance in Week 15 against the Lions. The game had the highest projected point total of the season at 55 points, and both teams combined for 90 total points. The Bills alone put up over 550 yards of total offense, with 197 of those yards coming on the ground, where Cook shined. He took advantage of a banged-up Lions defense, turning 14 carries into 105 yards and two touchdowns and adding 28 yards on his lone reception.Cook finished as a top-three back in that game and has now been in the top 10 at his position in three of his past four games. He continues to be extremely efficient this season, averaging 5.3 yards per touch, which ranks 11th in the NFL according to Player Profiler. With the Bills being 14-point home favorites against the Patriots, who rank 26th in run defense according to PFF, Cook is set up to see plenty of second-half carries and is a top-10 RB in this matchup for Week 16.