The 2021-22 NFL season has only four weeks left. Bye weeks are over which means the fantasy playoffs have begun in most standard leagues. Now that playoffs are here it is important to have backup options on your fantasy roster because injuries are continuing to mount up. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 15 running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and causes a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
Must Start | Christian McCaffrey* | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB1 |
Must Start | Derrick Henry | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB2 |
Must Start | Austin Ekeler | vs Tennessee Titans | RB3 |
Must Start | Josh Jacobs* | vs New Engand Patriots | RB4 |
Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB5 |
Starting RB1 | Rhamondre Stevenson* | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB6 |
Starting RB1 | Tony Pollard | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB7 |
Starting RB1 | James Conner | vs Denver Broncos | RB8 |
High-End RB2 | Miles Sanders | vs Chicago Bears | RB9 |
High-End RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB10 |
High-End RB2 | Dalvin Cook | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB11 |
High-End RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB12 |
High-End RB2 | Saquon Barkley | vs Washington Commanders | RB13 |
High-End RB2 | Alvin Kamara | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB14 |
Starting RB2 | Kenneth Walker III | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB15 |
Starting RB2 | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB16 |
Starting RB2 | Nick Chubb | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB17 |
Starting RB2 | David Montgomery | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB18 |
Starting RB2 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB19 |
Starting RB2 | Isiah Pacheco | vs Houston Texans | RB20 |
Starting RB2 | Najee Harris | vs Carolina Panthers | RB21 |
Low RB2 | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs New York Giants | RB22 |
Low RB2 | Jerick McKinnon | vs Houston Texans | RB23 |
Low RB2 | Zonovan “Bam” Knight | vs Detroit Lions | RB24 |
Low RB2 | J.K. Dobbins | vs Cleveland Browns | RB25 |
Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Miami Dolphins | RB26 |
Flex | Leonard Fournette | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB27 |
Flex | D’Onta Foreman | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB28 |
Flex | D’Andre Swift | vs New York Jets | RB29 |
Flex | Rachaad White | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB30 |
Deep League Flex | Latavius Murray | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB31 |
Deep League Flex | Antonio Gibson | vs New York Giants | RB32 |
Deep League Flex | Damien Harris | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB33 |
Deep League Flex | Jamaal Williams | vs New York Jets | RB34 |
Deep League Flex | Jeff Wilson Jr.* | vs Buffalo Bills | RB35 |
Deep League Flex | Cordarrelle Patterson | vs New Orleans Saints | RB36 |
Deep League Flex | Cam Akers | vs Green Bay Packers | RB37 |
Deep League Flex | Raheem Mostert | vs Buffalo Bills | RB38 |
Deep League Flex | Dare Ogunbowale | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB39 |
Leave on the Bench | Gus Edwards | vs Cleveland Browns | RB40 |
Leave on the Bench | Michael Carter | vs Detroit Lions | RB41 |
Leave on the Bench | A.J. Dillon | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB42 |
Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB43 |
Leave on the Bench | Chuba Hubbard | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB44 |
Leave on the Bench | James Cook | vs Miami Dolphins | RB45 |
Leave on the Bench | Jeff Mason | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB46 |
Leave on the Bench | Justin Jackson | vs New York Jets | RB47 |
Leave on the Bench | Rex Burkhead | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB48 |
Leave on the Bench | Marlon Mack | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB49 |
Leave on the Bench | Kareem Hunt | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB50 |
Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs New Orleans Saints | RB51 |
Leave on the Bench | Kyren Williams | vs Green Bay Packers | RB52 |
Leave on the Bench | Boston Scott | vs Chicago Bears | RB53 |
Leave on the Bench | Travis Homer | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB54 |
Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB55 |
Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Chicago Bears | RB56 |
Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB57 |
Leave on the Bench | David Johnson | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB58 |
Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Tennessee Titans | RB59 |
Leave on the Bench | Raheem Blackshear | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB60 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB1 Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey was limited in practice on Tuesday with a knee injury. If McCaffrey cannot play this week against the Seattle Seahawks Jeff Mason will move up to RB21 between Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr.
RB4 Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs hurt his pinkie finger last week against the Los Angeles Rams. He was able to return to Thursday’s game but this injury is worth following throughout the week. If he cannot play this week the Raiders backfield becomes a committee between Ameer Abdullah, Zamir White, and Brandon Bolden. Abdullah would become the RB40 between Gus Edwards and Michael Carter. White would become the RB48 between Justin Jackson and Rex Burkhead.
New England Patriots Running Backs: RB6 Rhamondre Stevenson & RB33 Damien Harris
Rhamondre Stevenson suffered an ankle injury against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night. Damien Harris has missed the past two games with a thigh injury. If neither can play this week against the Las Vegas Raiders Pierre Strong Jr. becomes the RB25 between J.K. Dobbins and Devin Singletary. Kevin Harris will become the RB35 between Jef Wilson Jr. and Cordarrelle Patterson.
If Stevenson is inactive and Harris is active Harris will become the RB18 between David Montgomery and Travis Etienne Jr. Strong Jr. will become the RB42 between A.J. Dillon and Samaje Perine.
If Harris is inactive but Stevenson is active Strong Jr. will become the RB43 between Samaje Perine and Chuba Hubbard.
RB35 Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins
Jeff Wilson Jr. missed practice on Tuesday because of a hip injury. If Wilson Jr. misses this week’s game against the Buffalo Bills Raheem Mostert will move up to RB28 between Leonard Fournette and D’Onta Foreman. Myles Gaskin joins the list at RB56 between Kenneth Gainwell and Kyle Juszczyk.
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