Advertisement

Fantasy Football: Week 15 running back rankings

By Alex Butler
Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) celebrates his touchdown in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 26 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
1 of 4 | Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) celebrates his touchdown in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 26 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Steelers star Le'Veon Bell is my top fantasy football running back for Week 15.

Bell is taking on a New England Patriots defense which was just torched by the Miami Dolphins, especially by running back Kenyan Drake.

Advertisement

Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard is my No. 2 running back, ahead of LeSean McCoy, Todd Gurley and Alvin Kamara in my top-five for Week 15.

While there are some solid matchups down the line, be careful not to get cute. Start the star players that helped you get to this position in your fantasy football playoffs.

That being said, if you don't have an every week starter, take advantage of some ascending talents set to break out in great matchups.

Advertisement

Read the descriptions below for some of my favorite running backs from Week 15.

Here are my Top 30 options at the position this week.

FULL TOP 30 WEEK 15 RANKINGS BELOW

TOP SHELF

Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard was benched in some leagues in Week 14 after combining for just 44 yards in Week 12 and Week 13. Last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, he got loose for 147 yards and two scores on 23 carries. This week he is my No. 2 option at running back. Howard and the Bears are facing the Detroit Lions, a unit allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game and second-most rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs.

When it comes to an ascending talent this season, Kenyan Drake is near the top of that list. The Miami Dolphins running back is coming off of back-to-back games with 100 yards rushing, for the first time in his career. He has also scored twice in the last three weeks. Who does he face this week? One of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL. When it comes to fantasy football, no defense gives up more points to opposing running backs than the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are allowing the most fantasy points per game, second-most rushing yards and the most touchdowns to opposing running backs. Drake comes in as an RB1 again this week as my No. 8 option.

Advertisement

SNEAKY PLAYS

Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams is playing as good as any running back in football right now. Williams has five touchdowns in last last three games. He has also eclipsed 100 yards from scrimmage in three consecutive games. This week the Packers don't have the easiest matchup, but Williams is hard to bench. He is my No. 14 option for Week 15, coming in as a low-end RB1.

With Carson Wentz now out for the season, I expect the Philadelphia Eagles to ramp up their rushing attack. That means Jay Ajayi should get some more run. Ajayi had his biggest workload in Week 14 for the Eagles, piling up 78 yards on 15 carries. Although he only has one touchdown this season, he has had a bounty of long runs which should have ended in scores. This week he faces the New York Giants, a defense allowing the most rushing yards and third-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Start Ajayi as an RB2 in this matchup. He is my No. 17 option for Week 15.

Advertisement

LONGSHOTS

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry might be worth your time this week as a midrange RB2. Henry only had 20 rushing yards on eight carries in Week 14, but he also scored a touchdown. That effort came after his game with 109 yards and a score on 11 carries in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. I fully expect Henry to produce at an RB2 level in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers. This season, the 49ers are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game and seventh-most rushing yards to opposing running backs. Henry is my No. 19 option.

Week 15 Running Back Rankings

Seattle Seahawks running back Mike Davis is my No. 21 option for Week 15, coming in as a low-end RB2. Davis has gotten at least 15 carries in each of the last two games. In Week 13, he had 101 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches. In Week 14, he plowed for 66 yards on 15 carries against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This week, he gets a more porous defense in the Los Angeles Rams, a unit allowing the second-most fantasy points per game and third-most rushing yards to opposing running backs.

Advertisement

Latest Headlines