We have finally arrived at the fantasy football playoffs, and what a wild ride it's been. Especially at running back, most fantasy owners would describe this season as a rollercoaster of emotions, but the ones who made it into the dance still have plenty of start-or-sit decisions to make and ups and downs to endure. Our Week 15 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues will make your life easier, serving as a beacon of light in an otherwise-stormy landscape.
No byes this week — shout it from the rooftops! While that gives us more options by expanding our player pools, it also gives us more potential landmines. Of course, the top-20 backs are basically must-starts. There are varying levels, with Derrick Henry (@ Chargers in Week 15) and Christian McCaffrey (@ Seahawks) clearly the cream of the crop, but no workhorse studs in the top 20 should be benched.
That includes Miles Sanders (@ Bears), who exploded in Week 14 and now gets a Bears D that has surrendered 160.6 rushing yards per game over the past three weeks. It also includes Chiefs rookie Isiah Pacheco (@ Texans) — the clear RB1 in Kansas City's offense, who netted 93 scrimmage yards last week — but consider teammate Jerick McKinnon a plus-start, too. McKinnon put up seven catches, 112 yards, and two TDs in Week 14, and against Houston's last-ranked RB defense, there are plenty of yards to go around for him and Pacheco.
WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
They aren't nearly where we expected them to be 15 weeks ago, but Najee Harris (@ Panthers) and Jonathan Taylor (@ Vikings) are still easy RB1s with little competition, especially in these juicy matchups. Carolina has surrendered the sixth-most standard RB points this season, while Minnesota has allowed 125.6 rushing yards per game over the past five weeks. Other inconsistent backs with plus matchups include Alvin Kamara (vs. Falcons), Ezekiel Elliott (@ Jaguars), Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. Giants), and Zonovan Knight (vs. Lions).
WEEK 15 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Don't worry too much about tough matchups for guys like David Montgomery (vs. Eagles), Joe Mixon (@ Buccaneers), or Travis Etienne Jr. (vs. Cowboys). These guys are undisputed RB1s in run-first offenses, and that volume gives them nice floors and potentially high ceilings, regardless of opponent. The same would be true for Dameon Pierce, but an ankle injury will likely leave him on the sidelines, paving the way for Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale (vs. Chiefs) to have flex value.
WEEK 15 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Pierce isn't the only key RB dealing with an injury. Kenneth Walker III (ankle), Josh Jacobs (finger), Jeff Wilson Jr. (hip), and Damien Harris (thigh) all bear watching. Travis Homer (vs. 49ers) or DeeJay Dallas, if he's over his ankle injury, and Zamir White (vs. Patriots) figure to take over if Walker and Jacobs are out, respectively, but neither would be recommended plays in brutal matchups. Raheem Mostert (@ Bills) is also in a tough spot, but having the Dolphins' backfield to himself should lead to flex-worthy numbers. Harris (@ Raiders) would be worth a flex spot in standard leagues if he's back, but that backfield figures to be dominated by Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Raiders) regardless.
WEEK 15 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
Some backs in committees — like Aaron Jones (vs. Rams) — clearly have more talent than their running mate (AJ Dillon, in this case) but get used in ways that frustrate fantasy owners. We'd still start Jones, but we'd probably shy away from the inconsistent Dillon. We also like Antonio Gibson (vs. Giants) in addition to Robinson, although Gibby is better suited for PPR formats. And don't hesitate to start both JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards in standard leagues against a Browns' defense allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to RBs.
WEEK 15 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
James Conner (@ Broncos) gets downgraded due to a tough matchup in Denver, but Pacheco and McKinnon proved last week that the Mile High D isn't a brick wall. D'Onta Foreman (vs. Steelers) is in a similar situation against a Pittsburgh D that just allowed Baltimore to amass 215 ground yards and a TD. We're more worried about him losing touches to Chuba Hubbard, who's received 31 carries in the past two games and generally looked better than Foreman last week. Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. Saints) is also in a tough spot and losing carries to Tyler Allgeier, but he always seems to find a way to produce. And don't sleep on D'Andre Swift (@ Jets) just because he had a down Week 14 against Minnesota. New York has surrendered 63 catches to receiving backs, so Swift could turn some targets into fantasy points even in standard leagues.
If you're stuck with players ranked in the mid-30s or 40s, thoughts and prayers, but let's talk about upside, which should be in your consideration in a single-elimination setting. Devin Singletary and James Cook (vs. Dolphins) have higher floors and ceilings in PPR leagues in a game that could set a record for drop-backs. We're also intrigued by Rachaad White and Leonard Fournette (vs. Bengals) for the same reason, though neither receives enough carries to excite us in standard leagues. That's true for most backs below them in the rankings, as you shouldn't need to chance it with a backup in a middling matchup during a week with every team in action.
Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 15 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues
Rank Player
1 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Chargers
2 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Seahawks
3 Dalvin Cook, Vikings vs. Colts
4 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Raiders
5 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Jaguars
6 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Patriots
7 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Commanders
8 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Titans
9 Nick Chubb, Browns vs. Ravens
10 Miles Sanders, Eagles @ Bears
11 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Texans
12 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Panthers
13 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Vikings
14 Jamaal Williams, Lions @ Jets
15 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Falcons
16 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys @ Jaguars
17 Cam Akers, Rams @ Packers
18 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Giants
19 Zonovan Knight, Jets vs. Lions
20 David Montgomery, Bears vs. Eagles
21 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Buccaneers
22 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Cowboys
23 JK Dobbins, Ravens @ Browns
24 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. 49ers
25 Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Rams
26 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Browns
27 Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Cardinals
28 Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. Giants
29 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Texans
30 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Bills
31 James Conner, Cardinals @ Broncos
32 D'Onta Foreman, Panthers vs. Steelers
33 Rex Burkhead, Texans vs. Chiefs
34 D'Andre Swift, Lions @ Jets
35 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons @ Saints
36 Devin Singletary, Bills vs. Dolphins
37 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers vs. Bengals
38 AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Rams
39 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Bengals
40 James Cook, Bills vs. Dolphins
41 Michael Carter, Jets vs. Lions
42 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs. Steelers
43 Dare Ogunbowale, Texans vs. Chiefs
44 Jordan Mason, 49ers @ Seahawks
45 Samaje Perine, Bengals @ Buccaneers
46 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Bears
47 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Saints
48 Kyren Williams, Rams @ Packers
49 Pierre Strong Jr., Patriots @ Raiders
50 Joshua Kelley Chargers vs. Titans
51 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Ravens
52 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Colts
53 Marlon Mack, Broncos vs. Cardinals
54 Ameer Abdullah, Raiders vs. Patriots
55 Travis Homer, Seahawks vs. 49ers
56 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Panthers
57 Justin Jackson, Lions @ Jets
58 Darrynton Evans, Bears vs. Eagles
59 Zamir White, Raiders vs. Patriots
60 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals @ Broncos
61 Raheem Blackshear, Panthers vs. Steelers
62 Caleb Huntley, Falcons @ Saints
63 JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars vs. Cowboys
Week 15 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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