The Week 15 RB rankings feature plenty of potential for movement due to injures. Josh Jacobs' shoulder issue could send DeAndre Washington rising up the ranks, while Jordan Howard and Damien Williams could continue to be out. On the bright side for fantasy owners still alive in the playoffs, Le'Veon Bell and James Conner look likely to return and make start 'em, sit 'em decisions a little easier in Week 15. We have the latest updates below.
For updates on injured QBs Patrick Mahomes, Jameis Winston, and Tom Brady, click here; for news on banged-up WRs Calvin Ridley, Mike Evans, DJ Chark, and DeVante Parker, go here; for the latest on injured RBs Derrius Guice, Derrick Henry, and more, go here; for the latest on ailing TEs Noah Fant, Ryan Griffin, Mark Andrews, and Jared Cook, click here; for updates on injured TEs Gerald Everett, Evan Engram, and Greg Olsen, go here; for updates on WRs Adam Thielen, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Will Fuller, and T.Y. Hilton, go here. Follow us on Twitter for more news and updates @ SN_Fantasy.
WEEK 15 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Josh Jacobs injury update
A shoulder that's reportedly been fractured since Week 7 kept Jacobs out for the first time in Week 14. In his place, DeAndre Washington dominated backfield touches for the Raiders with some Jalen Richard sprinkled in. Jacobs is scheduled for an MRI this week.
Washington is the priority waiver pickup here -- and maybe the top option available overall -- assuming Jacobs misses the rest of the season. Richard is worth considering in PPR leagues, as well.
WEEK 15: Top Waiver Pickups
Is Le'Veon Bell playing Thursday night?
Adam Gase told reporters Monday that Bell, who missed Week 14 due to illness, is "pretty close to 100 percent." That's good timing for the Jets, since Bilal Powell was a DNP Monday ahead of Thursday night's game against the Ravens.
Looks like Bell will be back to his usual three-down role and a spot in every fantasy squad he's on. Powell turns out to be a one-week play. If Bell were to regress and Powell not get better, Ty Montgomery would get the majority of backfield touches for New York.
WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
James Conner injury news
Conner has missed the Steelers' past three games with a shoulder injury, but NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Sunday that Conner is expected to return for Week 15 against the Bills. That would relegate Benny Snell Jr. and Jaylen Samuels to low-usage secondary roles.
(Update: Conner is expected to practice this week, Mike Tomlin told reporters.)
It's a big game for the Steelers on Sunday Night Football, so it's reasonable to expect Conner to want to make it back. Despite going up against a tough Buffalo defense, Conner is still an RB2 for that matchup. We wouldn't feel as good about Snell or Samuels if Conner was out again.
WEEK 15 DFS LINEUPS:
FD Cash | FD GPP | DK Cash | Y! Cash | Y! GPP
Is Jordan Howard playing Week 15?
Howard has practiced in limited fashion each of the past two weeks, but he still hasn't been cleared for contact for his shoulder injury that's kept him out through Monday night's Eagles win. In his absence, Miles Sanders has usually been the main back, although it was the Boston Scott show in the second half and overtime of Week 14.
The Eagles are firmly in the playoff hunt, so if Howard can make it back and play, we'd expect him to. It's just curious that it's taking him so long to be cleared for contact. His return would most likely vault him back atop the Philadelphia RB depth chart and turn Sanders into more of a boom-or-bust play. A continued absence for Howard would probably bring Scott into play as a sneaky option in deeper PPR leagues against the Redskins in Week 15.
MORE WEEK 15:
Waiver pickups | FAAB planner | Stock watch | Snap counts | Fantasy playoff tips
Damien Williams injury update
Williams (ribs) was ruled out on Friday for Week 14, his second-straight absence after being injured in Week 11 before the Chiefs' bye. Kansas City featured a three-headed backfield against New England of Spencer Ware, LeSean McCoy and Darwin Thompson.
Against the Broncos in Week 15, only McCoy is worth considering (after 11 carries against the Pats) if Williams is out. If Williams plays, we'd have to anticipate him being the lead back for KC and the only one worth starting in fantasy leagues.