As fantasy champions begin to separate themselves from the rest of the pack, the running back position offers plenty of productive choices in a crucial Week 15 for both real teams and fake teams alike.
Here are my Top 60 RBs for Week 15 vs. FantasyPros' ECR rankings:
Fantasy Football rankings - Week 15
View Available Players# | Player (team) | Matchup | ECR™ | vs. ECR |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Le'Veon Bell (PIT) | at CIN | 2 | +1 |
2 | LeSean McCoy (BUF) | vs. CLE | 3 | +1 |
3 | David Johnson (ARI) | vs. NO | 1 | -2 |
4 | Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) | vs. TB | 4 | 0 |
5 | DeMarco Murray (TEN) | at KC | 5 | 0 |
6 | Thomas Rawls (SEA) | vs. LA | 9 | +3 |
7 | Latavius Murray (OAK) | at SD | 8 | +1 |
8 | Devonta Freeman (ATL) | vs. SF | 6 | -2 |
9 | Jordan Howard (CHI) | vs. GB | 10 | +1 |
10 | Carlos Hyde (SF) | at ATL | 7 | -3 |
11 | Lamar Miller (HOU) | vs. JAC | 12 | +1 |
12 | LeGarrette Blount (NE) | at DEN | 11 | -1 |
13 | Spencer Ware (KC) | vs. TEN | 14 | +1 |
14 | Jay Ajayi (MIA) | at NYJ | 13 | -1 |
15 | Tevin Coleman (ATL) | vs. SF | 19 | +4 |
16 | Jeremy Hill (CIN) | vs. PIT | 15 | -1 |
17 | Bilal Powell (NYJ) | vs. MIA | 18 | +1 |
18 | Jonathan Stewart (CAR) | at WAS | 17 | -1 |
19 | Doug Martin (TB) | at DAL | 20 | +1 |
20 | Mark Ingram (NO) | at ARI | 24 | +4 |
21 | Isaiah Crowell (CLE) | at BUF | 22 | +1 |
22 | Robert Kelley (WAS) | vs. CAR | 16 | -6 |
23 | Frank Gore (IND) | at MIN | 21 | -2 |
24 | Todd Gurley (LA) | at SEA | 23 | -1 |
25 | Kenneth Farrow (SD) | vs. OAK | 25 | 0 |
26 | Kenneth Dixon (BAL) | vs. PHI | 26 | 0 |
27 | Theo Riddick (DET) | at NYG | 36 | +9 |
28 | Rashad Jennings (NYG) | vs. DET | 27 | -1 |
29 | Jerick McKinnon (MIN) | vs. IND | 28 | -1 |
30 | Ryan Mathews (PHI) | at BAL | 29 | -1 |
31 | Devontae Booker (DEN) | vs. NE | 38 | +7 |
32 | Dion Lewis (NE) | at DEN | 32 | 0 |
33 | Mike Gillislee (BUF) | vs. CLE | 30 | -3 |
34 | Terrance West (BAL) | vs. PHI | 31 | -3 |
35 | T.J. Yeldon (JAC) | at HOU | 33 | -2 |
36 | Matt Asiata (MIN) | vs. IND | 34 | -2 |
37 | Tim Hightower (NO) | at ARI | 35 | -2 |
38 | Duke Johnson (CLE) | at BUF | 37 | -1 |
39 | Charles Sims (TB) | at DAL | 42 | +3 |
40 | Justin Forsett (DEN) | vs. NE | 39 | -1 |
41 | Dwayne Washington (DET) | at NYG | 40 | -1 |
42 | Darren Sproles (PHI) | at BAL | 41 | -1 |
43 | James White (NE) | at DEN | 43 | 0 |
44 | Derrick Henry (TEN) | at KC | 44 | 0 |
45 | Matt Forte (NYJ) | vs. MIA | 45 | 0 |
46 | Christine Michael (GB) | at CHI | 47 | +1 |
47 | Jalen Richard (OAK) | at SD | 48 | +1 |
48 | Paul Perkins (NYG) | vs. DET | 53 | +5 |
49 | DeAngelo Williams (PIT) | at CIN | 87 | +38 |
50 | Chris Thompson (WAS) | vs. CAR | 49 | -1 |
51 | Chris Ivory (JAC) | at HOU | 51 | 0 |
52 | Rex Burkhead (CIN) | vs. PIT | 46 | -6 |
53 | Damien Williams (MIA) | at NYJ | 52 | -1 |
54 | Ronnie Hillman (SD) | vs. OAK | 54 | 0 |
55 | Jacquizz Rodgers (TB) | at DAL | 55 | 0 |
56 | James Starks (GB) | at CHI | 56 | 0 |
57 | Darren McFadden (DAL) | vs. TB | 76 | +19 |
58 | Shaun Draughn (SF) | at ATL | 58 | 0 |
59 | Alfred Blue (HOU) | vs. JAC | 60 | +1 |
60 | Charcandrick West (KC) | vs. TEN | 61 | +1 |
-
Notes & Analysis:
- Le’Veon Bell sits atop my Week 15 running back rankings after his monstrous, historic, and down-right ridiculous Week 14 performance over the Bills. Regardless of opponent or weather conditions, this is the NFL’s premier back in both fantasy and real life.
- Sliding in at the No. 2 spot in this week’s rankings is LeSean McCoy. Up against a miserable Browns defensive unit, I see McCoy as a potentially 150+ yard, week-winning, multi-TD option in Week 15...
- David Johnson is having an astounding 2016 campaign as Arizona’s talented bell-cow. Squaring off against the Saints leaky run defense at home, DJ should offer elite RB1 stats this week.
- Thomas Rawls gets the Rams on a short week this Thursday night in a game that could get ugly quick. I know these two teams usually end up in a defensive battle when they play each other, a blowout is entirely possible. Either way, Rawls has a high floor and and even higher ceiling at home in Week 15.
- Despite the Raiders struggling to produce on offense in Week 14, one player’s fantasy output was unaffected: Latavius Murray. The large, yet shifty, runner with a nose for the endzone is a solid RB1 in San Diego this weekend.
- I still view Devonta Freeman as a low-end RB1 in this week’s great matchup, but Tevin Coleman’s dynamic presence certainly cuts into his upside. Against San Fransisco, however, Coleman can be treated like an upside RB2 even with D-Free leading the pack.
- Fresh off a huge performance against the Jets, Carlos Hyde is a borderline RB1 this week against the Falcons. Game flow may not be working in his favor though, so don’t expect big numbers if the 49ers find themselves digging out of an early hole in Atlanta.
- One of this season’s biggest fantasy bargains has been LeGarrette Blount, who continues to not only find paydirt at an alarming rate, but also sprinkle in some yardage with a few big runs every game - he’s over 1000 yards on the year. With the Pats rolling and Blount seeing major usage, especially at the goal line, he’s on the RB1/RB2 fence against the no-longer-elite Broncos run D.
- Look for Spencer Ware to bounce back with high-end RB2 numbers in Week 15 after a mediocre performance last week that saw him get a TD vultured by backup Charcandrick West.
- Matt Forte’s status is up in the air (knee), but if Bilal Powell were to get the start against Miami, he would be a quality RB2 who would likely receive workhorse opportunity.
- Doug Martin, although losing carries to now-healthy RBs Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers, should be a decent RB2 bet against the Cowboys this week. With the Bucs playing better on defense, Martin could near the 20-touch territory on SNF.
- Mark Ingram is going to struggle when Brees and the passing game fails to get in rhythm, and that’s precisely what happened last week. With Arizona’s somewhat underwhelming offense up to bat in Week 15, he is a fine low-end RB2.
- Todd Gurley certainly won’t get any worse after the firing of Jeff Fisher, but his Week 15 matchup in Seattle has him looking like a fantasy RB3 at best.
- Although Melvin Gordon avoided a season-ending injury, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kenneth Farrow started a game or two in his place, especially with the Chargers out of the playoff race. He’d be an intriguing RB3 against the Raiders this week and should earn significantly more work than Ronnie Hillman.