Shout it from the rooftops — the playoffs have arrived! That means you're either in the postseason, you're competing in the toilet bowl, you're a DFS enthusiast, or you have tremendous pride. Either way, we're here for you with our Week 15 RB PPR rankings, and we'll do our best to help you optimize your lineup in this all-important week.
As we have all season, we will update you on the entire PPR landscape of the RB position. We'll go over the cream of the crop for the upcoming weekend of action, highlight the sleepers and worthwhile waiver-wire pickups, warn you about the bust candidates, and update you on the most noteworthy injuries (of which there are plenty this week).
There's no time to waste in this must-win week, so let's get into our Week 15 RB rankings.
Who are the best fantasy RBs in Week 15?
The PPR studs have become "the usual suspects" at the top of our rankings, although you might notice that Austin Ekeler (@ Raiders) has fallen just outside of the top 10. We'll talk about that in a bit, but for now let's focus on the cream of the crop: Christian McCaffrey (@ Cardinals in Week 15), De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert (vs. Jets) are all elite, matchup-proof PPR assets with above-average matchups. If you have one of these guys, you have a great shot at a title.
WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Is there a better PPR back on a worse team than Breece Hall (@ Dolphins)? He looked stupendous in Week 14 against the Texans, hauling in eight passes and finishing with 126 all-purpose yards and a TD. New York should continue utilizing its explosive second-year back, no matter who fields the snaps. Breece Lightning is the key to avoiding mediocrity.
WEEK 15 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
There's nothing mediocre about Travis Etienne (vs. Ravens), who finished with a hard-fought 72 scrimmage yards and a score against a nasty Browns front-seven. ETN can blow a game open with one play, so we're continuing to regard him as a weekly top-five talent.
Favorable matchups await for Alvin Kamara (vs. Giants), Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery (vs. Broncos), and Bijan Robinson (@ Panthers). Kamara and Gibbs are two of the most exciting PPR backs in the game, and they often save their offenses from mundane stretches by making something big happen. Montgomery has been the more reliable early-down and goal-line back, but that role yields plenty of value in a run-first Detroit offense (especially with his consistent snap and touch share).
Fellow veteran Saquon Barkley (@ Saints) knows a little something about volume and dependability — he's a high-upside PPR back even against the Saints, who actually gave up 170 combined all-purpose yards to Carolina's Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard last week.
Who are the best fantasy RB sleepers, waiver pickups Week 15?
Don't fret after poor Week 14 performances from Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris (@ Colts in Week 15) — they faced the Patriots, who might have the defense of the year but won't ever get any credit for it because their offense is so bad. Indianapolis has been much more beatable on the ground and via the pass-catching back, so both Steelers should be regarded as high-upside RBs or must-start flex options.
Let's talk about some dudes we probably didn't think we would be starting in the playoffs two months ago. Chiefs veteran Jerick McKinnon (@ Patriots) broke out in a major way at this time last season, scoring the second-most PPR points (behind only CMC) between Weeks 13 and 18. Now that Isiah Pacheco has re-injured the shoulder he had surgery on during the offseason, it might be rocket-launching time again for JMC, who scored last week.
We still don't quite know the ceiling of Baltimore rookie Keaton Mitchell (@ Jaguars), but we do know that he's lightning-quick and the Jaguars struggle mightily to defend pass-catching backs. Only one team has surrendered more receiving yards to RBs this season, so fire Mitchell up as a high-ceiling flex.
Devin Singletary (@ Titans) gets the nod from us in standard formats, and we're also rolling with the veteran Texans back in PPR leagues, too. Dameon Pierce was basically fazed out of DeMeco Ryans' offense in Week 14, seeing just four carries for nine yards and one catch for negative yards. Singletary is the man to own and start in this backfield, and the Titans' run D ain't what it used to be. Since Week 5, Mike Vrabel's squad has surrendered 145.5 rushing yards per game.
We're even okay with starting Washington's Antonio Gibson (@ Rams) and Indy's Zack Moss (vs. Steelers). Gibson should see a lot of passing-down work against Matthew Stafford's high-flying offense (especially if Brian Robinson Jr.'s hamstring injury keeps him out), while Moss should remain busy with Jonathan Taylor (thumb) likely out and a low-key juicy matchup with Pittsburgh. Ezekiel Elliott just destroyed the Steelers through the air last Thursday, catching seven passes for 72 yards and a TD.
Stash (but don't feel the need to immediately start) the following RBs: Ty Chandler (@ Bengals) with Alexander Mattison suffering a Week 14 ankle injury against the Raiders; Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah (vs. Chargers) with Josh Jacobs hurting his knee in that same game; Cincy's Chase Brown (vs. Vikings), who has looked awesome lately but still trails Joe Mixon on the depth chart; Kareem Hunt (vs. Bears), who is oddly available in a ton of leagues since returning from injury and still plays for the run-heavy Browns; D'Onta Foreman (@ Browns), who we think is the preferred RB of choice in Chicago.
WEEK 15 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start-sit
Who are the biggest potential fantasy RB busts in Week 15?
We simply can't trust this Brandon Staley/Kellen Moore offense, never mind the volume Austin Ekeler (@ Raiders) sees on a week-to-week basis. He finally got back into the end zone and (just barely) cracked 100 scrimmage yards in Week 14, but that was against the Broncos, the most generous run defense in fantasy. So, before you @ me on Twitter, understand that we're just tempering expectations a bit based on situational concerns, including Justin Herbert (finger) likely being out (not to mention Vegas being a suddenly stingy defense).
We wouldn't feel very comfortable playing Brian Robinson Jr. (@ Rams) even if he was fully healthy in PPR formats right now. The Commanders have been awful, turning the ball over a ton and failing to stay competitive with higher-octane offenses. Garbage time could be the third quarter against Matthew Stafford and company, which means B-Rob sits for Antonio Gibson and DC's pass-catching unit.
Are either Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon (vs. Buccaneers) worthy of your trust? Methinks not. Jones has battled injuries all season, and Dillon remains the biggest plodder in the NFC. Tampa sucks against the pass, which happens to be Green Bay's biggest strength since Jordan Love decided to be a good NFL QB. Don't expect much from the Pack backs this postseason, but temper your expectations, especially against Tampa's front-seven.
Speaking of plodders, the Chiefs' Clyde Edwards-Helaire (@ Patriots) probably won't do much against a New England defense that just stifled Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris. CEH should probably only be viewed as a low-end flex in standard formats anyway, so we're not going anywhere near him in PPR formats for the playoffs unless we find ourselves in utter despair at the position.
WEEK 15 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
What are the biggest RB injuries in Week 15?
Jerome Ford (hand), Josh Jacobs (knee), and Alexander Mattison (ankle) were all banged up in Week 14. Mattison (@ Bengals) and Jacobs (vs. Chargers) seem more doubtful than questionable to suit up this week, but the outlook for Ford (vs. BearS) is a little more up in the air. Kareem Hunt (and, to a lesser extent, Pierre Strong Jr.), Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah, and Ty Chandler would fill in for them, respectively.
Jonathan Taylor (thumb), Isiah Pacheco (shoulder), and Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) all missed last week, and all will likely miss Week 15, as well. Only Taylor seems to have an outside shot to play, but even that would be a surprise.
Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) exited his last game early and failed to return, but with the Commanders on bye, there haven't been any updates on his status. Antonio Gibson (@ Rams) would see the bulk of the touches if Robinson can't go, but Chris Rodriguez Jr. would also be involved.
We'll be updating these RB PPR rankings all week, so check back for the latest player movement.
Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 15: Who to start, sit at running back
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring formats
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Cardinals
2 De'Von Achane, Dolphins vs. Jets
3 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Jets
4 Breece Hall, Jets @ Dolphins
5 Travis Etienne, Jaguars vs. Ravens
6 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Giants
7 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions vs. Broncos
8 David Montgomery, Lions vs. Broncos
9 Bijan Robinson, Falcons @ Panthers
10 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Saints
11 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Raiders
12 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Packers
13 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Bills
14 Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Texans
15 Kyren Williams, Rams vs. Commanders
16 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Colts
17 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Vikings
18 Javonte Williams, Broncos @ Lions
19 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots vs. Chiefs
20 D'Andre Swift, Eagles @ Seahawks
21 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Rams
22 Jerome Ford, Browns vs. Bears
23 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Colts
24 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Eagles
25 James Conner, Cardinals vs. 49ers
26 Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Buccaneers
27 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Patriots
28 Keaton Mitchell, Ravens @ Jaguars
29 Devin Singletary, Texans @ Titans
30 James Cook, Bills vs. Cowboys
31 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Jaguars
32 Zack Moss, Colts vs. Steelers
33 Ty Chandler, Vikings @ Bengals
34 Zamir White, Raiders vs. Chargers
35 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs. Falcons
36 Chase Brown, Bengals vs. Vikings
37 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks vs. Eagles
38 Tyjae Spears, Titans vs. Texans
39 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs @ Patriots
40 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Bears
41 D'Onta Foreman, Bears @ Browns
42 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Panthers
43 Miles Sanders, Panthers vs. Falcons
44 Joshua Kelley, Chargers @ Raiders
45 Dameon Pierce, Texans @ Titans
46 Dalvin Cook, Jets @ Dolphins
47 Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders @ Rams
48 Ameer Abdullah, Raiders vs. Chargers
49 Samaje Perine, Broncos @ Lions
50 Chase Edmonds, Buccaneers @ Packers
51 Rico Dowdle, Cowboys @ Bills
52 Patrick Taylor, Packers vs. Buccaneers
53 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins vs. Jets
54 Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Browns
55 D'Ernest Johnson, Jaguars vs. Ravens
56 Jamaal Williams, Saints vs. Giants
57 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Seahawks
58 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons @ Panthers
59 Latavius Murray, Bills vs. Cowboys
60 Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos @ Lions
61 Kene Nwangwu, Vikings @ Bengals
62 Royce Freeman, Rams vs. Commanders
63 Roschon Johnson, Bears @ Browns
64 Tank Bigsby, Jaguars vs. Ravens
65 Matt Breida, Giants @ Saints
66 Boston Scott, Eagles @ Seahawks
67 Justice Hill, Ravens @ Jaguars
