Fantasy Football Week 15 Rankings: Running Backs Matchups to Exploit

LeGarrette Blount (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Detroit

What a setback for Blount in Week 14. After running over a very good Atlanta run defense in Week 13, many expected Blount to run all over a struggling Washington Redskins team. However, he managed just 68 yards on 15 carries without a touchdown.

A lot of fantasy owners were likely relying on Blount in a big week and he disappointed in a big way. If you managed to survive Blount’s bad game and moved on in the playoffs, while you may not like it, you should probably give him another shot.

Sure he didn’t score, but all other Bucs backs combined for just four carries, so Blount is clearly still the main option in Tampa.

He remains a very good option in Week 15 against the Detroit Lions who, while coming off a good week against an Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay offense, are still allowing over 20 fantasy points a week to opposing backs. Give him a chance to redeem himself.

Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) vs. Arizona

Stewart’s second-half surge continued in Week 14, with 133 yards on 18 carries against a very good Atlanta Falcons run defense. While he did lose a fumble, he’s now put up solid points in three straight weeks since returning from injury and has consistently received more carries than Mike Goodson (who got nine).

Goodson is still taking some value away from Stewart and scored in the game for the third straight time, but the amount of carries Stewart’s getting makes him the back to own in Carolina.

While the Panthers offense is nothing to write home about, Stewart managed at least 95 rushing yards the last three weeks and that should continue in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals are allowing over 144 YPG and are worst in the league allowing 23.3 fantasy points per game on the season. Get Stewart in your lineup at all costs.

Felix Jones (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Washington

Jones led the Cowboys in carries and yardage on the ground this week as he had 41 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Tashard Choice had just 16 yards on seven carries as Jones continues to be the focal point in the backfield even after Choice’s big game a week ago.

Jones had 54 total yards back in Week 1 against the Washington Redskins, but his workload has increased since then. Even though the Redskins did a nice job against LeGarrette Blount and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, their 4.9 YPC average against is worst in the NFL.

Tampa allows an average of 18.5 fantasy points to opposing backs, and while Jones likely won’t reach that number, he’ll come close as long as he continues to get the carries.

Javarris James (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Jacksonville

To say that James has a “nose for the end zone” is an understatement. The rookie scored another touchdown Thursday night against Tennessee with 49 yards on 17 carries and now has six touchdowns in six games with very limited carries.

He has emerged as the goal line option in Indy and can be a very good start in Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

James continues to split carries with Donald Brown, but Brown hasn’t done anything and isn’t an option near the end zone, so give James a shot against the Jaguars this week. The Jags have allowed 15 touchdowns to opposing backs this season. The odds of him scoring again are high.

Read more content here:

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Week 15 Fantasy Football Start 'Ems

Week 15 Fantasy Football Sit 'Ems

 Week 15 - 10 Matchups to Exploit

Week 15 Quarterback Rankings

Week 15 Running Back Rankings

Week 15 Wide Receiver Rankings

Week 15 Tight End Rankings

Week 15 Kicker Rankings

Week 15 Team Defense Rankings

Week 15 Pick Them Up

Week 15 Cut Them Loose