Kate Magdziuk shares her Week 15 running back rankings for standard scoring leagues and highlights several streaming options.
Welcome to Week 15 of the fantasy football season! After last week’s byepocalypse, all teams are back in commission this week with a full 16-game slate, which means more opportunity
To help you navigate your start/sit decisions in this very crucial Week 15 (perhaps your playoff week), here’s a look at my top-60 RB rankings (non-PPR), two flex options and two deep sleepers for those in need.
Week 15 RB flex plays
Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys vs. CAR
The Dallas Cowboys have finally handed over the keys to the offense to lead back Rico Dowdle, and the results have been nothing to sniff at. Unfortunately, there haven’t been a ton of scoring opportunities; Dowdle has had just three goal-line carries all season long, tallying just a single rushing touchdown all year. The good news is that Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers could just be the cure for that. The Panthers lead the league in both rushing yards (1,802) and rushing touchdowns this year (15), averaging 4.99 yards per carry to opposing RBs with the third-lowest stuffed run percentage (5.5%) this year.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks vs. GB
Charbonnet is one of the most obvious starts of the week coming off a finish as the overall RB1 on the week. He totaled a career high 29 touches for 193 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns for 31.3 total fantasy points — 6.5 more points than any other RB on the week. Charbonnet should have another opportunity to keep it rolling in Week 15, as Kenneth Walker III is still dealing with a calf injury and is set to undergo more testing this week per HC Mike Macdonald. In a limited role this season, Charbonnet has notched eight total scores with plenty of additional work as a receiver to help pad his total yardage. The Packers have been an average matchup against the run this year — 17th in fantasy points allowed to opposing RBs — but the opportunity to lead the Seahawks’ backfield with upwards of 20+ touches can’t be understated at this point in the fantasy season.
Week 15 RB deep sleepers
Isaiah Davis, New York Jets vs. JAC
After going all in on Braelon Allen as the intended waiver wire hero of the week, fantasy football managers got a shock when Braelon Allen ended up in a timeshare with his backup in the absence of Breece Hall. Fifth-round pick Isaiah Davis saw 16 opportunities in Hall’s absence, who’s currently managing an MCL injury, on which he totaled 67 yards and a score — his second consecutive week with a touchdown. This week, the Jets get a matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, currently 3.5-point road favorites with an opportunity to establish the run against this struggling defense. The Jaguars have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing RBs this season as one of nine teams to allow 12+ rushing scores to opposing backs on the year.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints vs. WAS
Former third-round pick Kendre Miller didn’t get off to a particularly smooth start in New Orleans working under former HC Dennis Allen. In fact, you might call it disastrous. He’s dealt with several injuries in his two-year career, resulting in multiple IR stints — the most recent of which (for a hamstring issue) ended just ahead of Week 14. In his first game returning from injury, Miller played just 18 total offensive snaps but was more efficient than lead back Alvin Kamara with his opportunities, outpacing him in YPC average, yards after contact per attempt and missed forced tackle rate. There continues to be plenty of opportunity in the offense with Taysom Hill out for the year with a knee injury, a key aspect of New Orleans’ scoring offense, and Miller could be just the guy to take advantage of those opportunities moving forward.
In Week 15, the Saints will take on the Washington Commanders, who are tied for the second-most rush attempts of 20+ yards (10) and fifth-most rush yards (114.4) per game to opposing RBs. Those in need pf a desperation play could do worse.
Fantasy football: Week 15 standard RB rankings
| # | Player (team) | Matchup | ECR | vs. ECR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saquon Barkley (PHI) | vs. PIT | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Derrick Henry (BAL) | at NYG | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Bijan Robinson (ATL) | at LV | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Joe Mixon (HOU) | vs. MIA | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | De’Von Achane (MIA) | at HOU | 5 | 0 |
| 6 | Josh Jacobs (GB) | at SEA | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | David Montgomery (DET) | vs. BUF | 10 | +3 |
| 8 | Kyren Williams (LAR) | at SF | 7 | -1 |
| 9 | Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) | vs. BUF | 8 | -1 |
| 10 | Chase Brown (CIN) | at TEN | 9 | -1 |
| 11 | Jonathan Taylor (IND) | at DEN | 13 | +2 |
| 12 | James Conner (ARI) | vs. NE | 11 | -1 |
| 13 | Tony Pollard (TEN) | vs. CIN | 12 | -1 |
| 14 | James Cook (BUF) | at DET | 17 | +3 |
| 15 | Zach Charbonnet (SEA) | vs. GB | 20 | +5 |
| 16 | Rico Dowdle (DAL) | at CAR | 19 | +3 |
| 17 | Alvin Kamara (NO) | vs. WAS | 14 | -3 |
| 18 | Brian Robinson Jr. (WAS) | at NO | 16 | -2 |
| 19 | Aaron Jones Sr. (MIN) | vs. CHI | 18 | -1 |
| 20 | Najee Harris (PIT) | at PHI | 21 | +1 |
| 21 | Chuba Hubbard (CAR) | vs. DAL | 15 | -6 |
| 22 | Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) | at ARI | 23 | +1 |
| 23 | Rachaad White (TB) | at LAC | 22 | -1 |
| 24 | Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG) | vs. BAL | 26 | +2 |
| 25 | Isiah Pacheco (KC) | at CLE | 24 | -1 |
| 26 | D’Andre Swift (CHI) | at MIN | 25 | -1 |
| 27 | Isaac Guerendo (SF) | vs. LAR | 34 | +7 |
| 28 | Bucky Irving (TB) | at LAC | 33 | +5 |
| 29 | Braelon Allen (NYJ) | at JAC | 27 | -2 |
| 30 | Nick Chubb (CLE) | vs. KC | 29 | -1 |
| 31 | Tank Bigsby (JAC) | vs. NYJ | 28 | -3 |
| 32 | Gus Edwards (LAC) | vs. TB | 31 | -1 |
| 33 | Travis Etienne Jr. (JAC) | vs. NYJ | 32 | -1 |
| 34 | Jaylen Warren (PIT) | at PHI | 35 | +1 |
| 35 | Sincere McCormick (LV) | vs. ATL | 30 | -5 |
| 36 | Kareem Hunt (KC) | at CLE | 37 | +1 |
| 37 | Javonte Williams (DEN) | vs. IND | 36 | -1 |
| 38 | Justice Hill (BAL) | at NYG | 39 | +1 |
| 39 | Jerome Ford (CLE) | vs. KC | 38 | -1 |
| 40 | Isaiah Davis (NYJ) | at JAC | 42 | +2 |
| 41 | Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN) | vs. IND | 41 | 0 |
| 42 | Kendre Miller (NO) | vs. WAS | 47 | +5 |
| 43 | Tyler Allgeier (ATL) | at LV | 43 | 0 |
| 44 | Kimani Vidal (LAC) | vs. TB | 44 | 0 |
| 45 | Tyjae Spears (TEN) | vs. CIN | 46 | +1 |
| 46 | Devin Singletary (NYG) | vs. BAL | 48 | +2 |
| 47 | Patrick Taylor Jr. (SF) | vs. LAR | 40 | -7 |
| 48 | Cam Akers (MIN) | vs. CHI | 45 | -3 |
| 49 | Ray Davis (BUF) | at DET | 49 | 0 |
| 50 | Ameer Abdullah (LV) | vs. ATL | 51 | +1 |
| 51 | Antonio Gibson (NE) | at ARI | 52 | +1 |
| 52 | Blake Corum (LAR) | at SF | 54 | +2 |
| 53 | Trey Benson (ARI) | vs. NE | 53 | 0 |
| 54 | Kenneth Gainwell (PHI) | vs. PIT | 55 | +1 |
| 55 | Jeremy McNichols (WAS) | at NO | 50 | -5 |
| 56 | Audric Estime (DEN) | vs. IND | 58 | +2 |
| 57 | Jaylen Wright (MIA) | at HOU | 57 | 0 |
| 58 | Sean Tucker (TB) | at LAC | 56 | -2 |
| 59 | Ty Johnson (BUF) | at DET | 59 | 0 |
| 60 | Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) | at CAR | 62 | +2 |
Kate Magdziuk is an editor and contributor for Yahoo Fantasy and co-host of the Locked On Dynasty Football podcast. She is also the managing editor for Behind The Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s exclusive Pittsburgh Steelers blog. Her previous bylines include Pro Football Focus, NBC Sports Rotoworld and 4for4 Football, among others.
