Week 15 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Ben Tate and More Backup RBs Worth Starting

These three running backs may be coming off the bench for their real-life teams, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put them in your imaginary starting lineup.

Feel free to use these guys and still be confident about advancing in the fantasy playoffs.

Ben Tate, Houston Texans

Despite the “backup” label, Tate has gotten double-digit carries in three of Houston’s last five games. Against Carolina this week, expect him to get there yet again.

Quarterback T.J Yates has been solid, but Houston doesn’t want to rely on him. Against Carolina’s weak run defense (24^th in yards per rush), they won’t have to.

Starter Arian Foster will still get his 20 carries, but don’t be surprised if Tate gets 10-12. Against this defense, he can turn that into a good flex start.

Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers

You don’t have to go very far to find the next option as Stewart will be lining up on the other side of the field as Tate.

DeAngelo Williams is technically the starter in Carolina, but Stewart is both the goal-line back and gets more work in the receiving game.

In a game in which Carolina will likely be playing from behind, Stewart will be used more and will be the more valuable back. Feel free to roll with him as you normally would.

Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers

As it turns out, Aaron Rodgers is really good. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he has the Packers up by 28 in the first quarter.

That means the Packers will likely shut down Rodgers by the middle of the third quarter or so and turn to the run. James Starks, who appears ready to start, will get his fair share of carries, but the Pack will also turn to Grant after they get up big.

John Kuhn got 10 carries in a back-up role last week, so expect Grant to get close to the same in Week 15.

If you’re in a deeper league, you could do a lot worse than Grant.