Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 15: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 15: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football image

If you're still paying attention in your fantasy football league, then either you made the playoffs or you're just overly competitive. Either way, this is a must-win week, and no position is more important to get right than running back. Our Week 15 fantasy RB PPR rankings can help you wade through the injuries (D'Andre Swift, Elijah Mitchell, Tevin Coleman, Austin Ekeler) and illnesses (Myles Gaskin, Darrell Henderson, Jamaal Williams) and make the right start 'em, sit 'em decisions.

Fortunately, the byes are over, but we still have some intrigue with a couple teams coming off byes. Both the Patriots (Damien Harris) and Eagles (Miles Sanders, Jordan Howard) had injury issues going into Week 14, so we'll have to watch the injury reports throughout the week. It doesn't help that the Patriots (@ Colts) and Eagles (vs. Washington) have tough matchups, putting all of their backs on the start-sit bubble.

WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Wide Receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

There are plenty of other backs with poor matchups, but many, such as Jonathan Taylor (vs. Patriots), Leonard Fournette (vs. Saints), Najee Harris (vs. Titans), and Aaron Jones (@ Ravens), remain must-starts. Whoever starts for the Lions (vs. Cardinals) is much more questionable, though Swift (shoulder) is always a must-play in PPR leagues when healthy and Williams is in play if he's active and Swift is out. If both are out again, then Craig Reynolds -- yes, the Craig Reynolds -- has some flex value.

WEEK 15 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide Receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

There are a slew of favorable matchups for some ailing RBs. Myles Gaskin (vs. Jets), Darrell Henderson (vs. Seahawks), and Chase Edmonds (@ Lions) have three of the top-five matchups, so if they're active, they're must-starts. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (@ Chargers) and James Robinson (vs. Texans) are also in good spots, as are several of the the backups from these teams. Even though Sony Michel (vs. Seahawks), Phillip Lindsay (vs. Jets) and Darrel Williams (@ Chargers) aren't necessarily known for catching passes, they still have flex value in PPR leagues because of their raised floors this week.

WEEK 15 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo

If you're looking for more borderline plays in good situations this week, Tennessee's D'Onta Foreman (@ Steelers) and Houston's duo of David Johnson and Rex Burkhead (vs. Jaguars) should pay off as flexes. Assuming Ekeler (ankle) is out, both Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley have upside against the Chiefs. Jackson is a better pass-catcher, so gets the nod in PPR leagues, but it wouldn't be a surprise if either back -- or even rookie Larry Rountree III -- led this backfield in fantasy points.

MORE WEEK 15 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup builder

Overall, roster decisions can't be finalized until later in the week, as more guys than expected will undoubtedly wind up on the injury report and/or reserve/COVID list. Have your pivots ready so you don't get caught off guard. 

WEEK 15 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

Note: We'll be updating these RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 15: Who to start at running back

Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring

UPDATE: We're not ranking players on the reserve/COVID list

Rank Player
1 Austin Ekeler, LAC vs. KC
2 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ NYG
3 Jonathan Taylor, IND vs. NE
4 Dalvin Cook, MIN @ CHI
5 Joe Mixon, CIN @ DEN
6 Nick Chubb, CLE vs. LV
7 David Montgomery, CHI vs. MIN
8 Najee Harris, PIT vs. TEN
9 Alvin Kamara, NO @ TB
10 Myles Gaskin, MIA vs. NYJ
11 Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL @ SF
12 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC @ LAC
13 James Robinson, JAX vs. HOU
14 Antonio Gibson, WAS @ PHI
15 Aaron Jones, GB @ BAL
16 Javonte Williams, DEN vs. CIN
17 Saquon Barkley, NYG vs. DAL
18 James Conner, ARI @ DET
19 Josh Jacobs, LV @ CLE
20 Devonta Freeman, BAL vs. GB
21 Chase Edmonds, ARI @ DET
22 Leonard Fournette, TB vs. NO
23 Darrell Henderson, LAR vs. SEA
24 Jeff Wilson Jr., SF vs. ATL
25 D'Onta Foreman, TEN @ PIT
26 Chuba Hubbard, CAR @ BUF
27 Melvin Gordon, DEN vs. CIN
28 Michael Carter, NYJ @ MIA
29 Rhamondre Stevenson, NE @ IND
30 Rashaad Penny, SEA @ LAR
31 Miles Sanders, PHI vs. WAS
32 David Johnson, HOU @ JAX
33 Jordan Howard, PHI vs. WAS
34 Tony Pollard, DAL @ NYG
35 Devin Singletary, BUF vs. CAR
36 Craig Reynolds, DET vs. ARI
37 Sony Michel, LAR vs. SEA
38 Darrel Williams, KC @ LAC
39 Justin Jackson, LAC vs. KC
40 Joshua Kelley, LAC vs. KC
41 AJ Dillon, GB @ BAL
42 Salvon Ahmed, MIA vs. NYJ
43 Ty Johnson, NYJ @ MIA
44 Dontrell Hilliard, TEN @ PIT
45 Jeremy McNichols, TEN @ PIT
46 Mark Ingram, NO @ TB
47 Latavius Murray, BAL vs. GB
48 Matt Breida, BUF vs. CAR
49 Boston Scott, PHI vs. WAS
50 Tevin Coleman, NYJ @ MIA
51 D'Ernest Johnson, CLE vs. LV
52 Nyheim Hines, IND vs. NE
53 Ameer Abdullah, CAR @ BUF
54 Royce Freeman, HOU @ JAX
55 Devontae Booker, NYG vs. DAL
56 Godwin Igwebuike, DET vs. ARI
57 Samaje Perine, CIN @ DEN
58 Mike Davis, ATL @ SF
59 Jermar Jefferson, DET vs. ARI
60 Peyton Barber, LV @ CLE
61 Jaret Patterson, WAS vs. PHI
62 Brandon Bolden, NE @ IND
63 Ronald Jones II, TB vs. NO
64 Khalil Herbert, CHI vs. MIN

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.