Week 15 Fantasy Rankings: Best Starting Running Backs

Rank Name Notes RA Yds Y/G Avg TD
1 LeSean McCoy Arguably the best Running Back in the NFL right now. 242  1172  90 4.8  14
2 Maurice   Jones-Drew Huge 4 touchdown game, been playing great all   year. 294 
1334  95.3 4.5 
7
3 Ray   Rice Ravens are in the playoffs, but that does not mean   we will not see more of the Ray Rice Show. 234  1029  79 4.4  10
4 Arian Foster Texans have wrapped up playoff spot so it would be   dumb to risk Foster any more than necessary.  Still, with Matt Schaub out Foster will be an important   factor in their offense. 239  957  87 4.0  8
5 Roy   Helu Been making the most out of a big workload with the   Redskins. Used to be just a PPR   play, now a must start in most fantasy formats that score rushing stats. 124  582  45 4.7  2
6 Shonn Greene Has turned his season around scoring 4 touchdowns last two games while rushing for 217 yards and catching 6 passes for 84   yards. 207  868  67 4.2  6
7 Adrian   Peterson No reason for Vikings to risk Peterson on 15 touches   per game, but if he is playing you should start him. 186  872  87 4.7  11
8 Reggie   Bush A potential break out year for Bush, he has rushed   for over 100 yards his last two games with one touchdown plus 5   receptions for 27 yards. 
169  770  59 4.6  5
9 Michael   Bush As long as McFadden is out, you should probably play   him. 196  764  59 3.9  7
10 Beanie   Wells May have cooled down, but he's been too good to   sit. Fumbled two games in a row against the 49ers and the Rams. 216  943  79 4.4  9
Rank Name Notes RA Yds Y/G Avg TD
11 Chris   Johnson A little too late for his fantasy owners, but Johnson is   playing better. 217  875  67 4.0  4
12 Ryan   Mathews Not playing bad at all. Rushing for an average of   121 yards his last 3 games, he's scored once and caught 10 passes for   41 yards. 185  943  79 5.1  4
13 Willis   McGahee Tebow Time includes "McGahee Time" whenever   they need it. 199  920  77 4.6  4
14 Felix   Jones Jones   is playing well now that he is the feature Cowboys back with DeMarco Murray   injured. 90  413  46 4.6  1
15 Steven   Jackson The Rams offensive woes have handicapped all their   players' fantasy value, but Jackson remains a decent start. 202  895  75 4.4  5
16 Marshawn   Lynch Cooled a bit against the Rams' notorious rush defense, but still playing too well to sit. 225  969  81 4.3  9
17 Rashard   Mendenhall With  Ben Roethlishberger hurt, Mendenhall may continue to get some playing time. 187  710  59 3.8  8
18 Kevin   Smith If he can manage to go a game without leaving   injured, Smith can put up huge rushing and receiving stats. 33  229  57 6.9  3
19 Ben   Tate If Texans rest Foster, Tate could see a bigger   workload. 146  820  68 5.6  3
20 Michael   Turner Turner is playing alright, but he definitely seems to   have a lingering groin injury. He will probably get rest unless the   Falcons are losing. 254  1068  82 4.2  8
Rank Name Notes RA Yds Y/G Avg TD
21 Frank   Gore When he plays he can play well, but would you want   your fantasy season to rely on it? He's clearly not completely healthy. You never really know with Gore. 234  1054  81 4.5  6
22 Donald   Brown Only Colts rusher to consider at this point. 99  425  33 4.3  4
23 Ryan   Grant 2 touchdowns last week, neither at the goal-line. 102  401  33 3.9  2
24 C.J.   Spiller At least he is part of a lot of plays with Fred   Jackson out. 66  299  23 4.5  2
25 DeAngelo   Williams Rushing well, but Cam Newton takes many of the   goal-line rushes. 
126  656  51 5.2  4
26 Brandon   Jacobs Has 4 touchdowns over his last 3 games and is really   running well. 130  480  44 3.7  7
27 Cedric   Benson Having a decent year for fantasy owners. 222  883  74 4.0  5
28 Marion   Barber Still the feature back of an offense tied to a   backup quarterback. Cannot keep   blowing plays and still expect to get as many touches though. 103  389  39 3.8  6
29 Mark   Ingram Has 51 rush attempts his last 4 games for 236 yards   and 2 touchdowns. 122  474  40 3.9  5
30 LaRod Stephens-Howling Well, he has scored lots of points lately.
Rank Name Notes RA Yds Y/G Avg TD
31 Toby   Gerhart Should still see some touches despite Peterson's   return. 81  343  26 4.2  1
32 Darren   Sproles Sproles is getting in on 15 or so offensive plays   per game, including kick returns. He has 7 total touchdowns and 74 receptions   this year. 68  463  36 6.8  2
33 Dexter   McCluster Battle is not doing great so McCluster may get more   work. 94  426  33 4.5  0
34 Pierre   Thomas The Saints' offensive play callers do not trust   Thomas with the ball more than a dozen times or so times a game. It's too bad because he's   not playing all that bad. 88  435  34 4.9  3
35 LeGarrette Blount Not playing great of late. 167  737  67 4.4  5
36 Mike   Tolbert Still getting touchdowns, playing better. 99  385  32 3.9  6
37 Jonathan   Stewart Williams, Newton and Stewart are amazingly all   putting up decent fantasy stats. 115  551  42 4.8  3
38 James   Starks Might not need him enough even with Jennings out and   Grant running well. 127  565  47 4.4  1
39 Derrick   Ward Ward is back and ready to give one of his teammates some rest. 33  104  12 3.2  2
40 Kahlil   Bell I think Caleb   Hanie likes Bell a lot. 24  97  10 4.0  0
Rank Name Notes RA Yds Y/G Avg TD
41 Marcel   Reece Bush is good, but the Raiders need Reece to catch   the passes meant for McFadden while he heals. 14  85  9 6.1  0
42 John   Kuhn Goal-line vulture. 26  73  6 2.8  4
43 Chris   Ogbonnaya The Browns would be stupid at this point not to get the ball more to Ogbonnaya. Hardesty and Hillis have had   their chances. 76  340  34 4.5  1
44 Maurice   Morris The Lions backups for Kevin Smith might get a chance   to play, hard to say which one will do better. 71  281  22 4.0  1
45 Lance   Ball I think Tim Tebow really likes Ball. 72  302  23 4.2  0
46 Kregg Lumpkin Good play in PPR leagues. 22  81  6 3.7  0
47 Keiland Williams The Lions run game has been roller-coaster all year. 57  195  16 3.4  2
48 Peyton   Hillis Not playing well. 101  346  49 3.4  2
49 Daniel   Thomas Bush is playing well and Thomas is alright. Like so   many things in Fantasy Football, we will have to wait and see. 140  508  51 3.6  0
50 BenJarvus Green-Ellis Patriots run game is unreliable, but that does not   mean they do not try to run it. Green-Ellis ran for a total of 3 touchdowns   in 2 games against Philadelphia and Indiana on just 20 carries. 161  618  46 3.8  8
51 Christopher   Ivory Turned 28 rushes in last two games into 171 yards. 34  138  46 4.1  0
52 LaDainian   Tomlinson With Greene running well we may be seeing less of   Tomlinson than fantasy owners would like. 56  186  17 3.3  1
53 Jackie   Battle Looks awful, we will see what Kyle Orton can do with   him 125  504  39 4.0  1

54 Shane   Vereen Has a touchdown on just 15 carries in 2 games. 15  57  11 3.8  1
55
Ahmad   Bradshaw Has been getting touches, but not completely   healthy.  Definitely the kind of   player to check health status. 130  490  50 3.8  5
56
Matt   Forte My guess is Forte will not come back this season,   but who knows. 203  997  83 4.9  3
57
Darren   McFadden I think the Raiders would be nuts at this   point to risk aggravating McFadden's feet. 113  614  88 5.4  4
Rank	Name	Notes	RA	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD
1	LeSean McCoy	Arguably the best Running Back in the NFL right now.	242	1172	90	4.8	14
2	Maurice Jones-Drew	Huge 4 touchdown game, been playing great all year.	294	1334	95.3	4.5	7
3	Ray Rice	Ravens are in the playoffs, but that does not mean we will not see more of the Ray Rice Show.	234	1029	79	4.4	10
4	Arian Foster	Texans have wrapped up playoff spot so it would be dumb to risk Foster any more than necessary. Still, with Matt Schaub out Foster will be an important factor in their offense.	239	957	87	4.0	8
5	Roy Helu	Been making the most out of a big workload with the Redskins. Used to be just a PPR play, now a must start in most fantasy formats that score rushing stats.	124	582	45	4.7	2
6	Shonn Greene	Has turned his season around scoring 4 touchdowns last two games while rushing for 217 yards and catching 6 passes for 84 yards.	207	868	67	4.2	6
7	Adrian Peterson	No reason for Vikings to risk Peterson on 15 touches per game, but if he is playing you should start him.	186	872	87	4.7	11
8	Reggie Bush	A potential break out year for Bush, he has rushed for over 100 yards his last two games with one touchdown plus 5 receptions for 27 yards.	169	770	59	4.6	5
9	Michael Bush	As long as McFadden is out, you should probably play him.	196	764	59	3.9	7
10	Beanie Wells	May have cooled down, but he's been too good to sit. Fumbled two games in a row against the 49ers and the Rams.	216	943	79	4.4	9
Rank	Name	Notes	RA	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD
11	Chris Johnson	A little too late for his fantasy owners, but Johnson is playing better.	217	875	67	4.0	4
12	Ryan Mathews	Not playing bad at all. Rushing for an average of 121 yards his last 3 games, he's scored once and caught 10 passes for 41 yards.	185	943	79	5.1	4
13	Willis McGahee	Tebow Time includes "McGahee Time" whenever they need it.	199	920	77	4.6	4
14	Felix Jones	Jones is playing well now that he is the feature Cowboys back with DeMarco Murray injured.	90	413	46	4.6	1
15	Steven Jackson	The Rams offensive woes have handicapped all their players' fantasy value, but Jackson remains a decent start.	202	895	75	4.4	5
16	Marshawn Lynch	Cooled a bit against the Rams' notorious rush defense, but still playing too well to sit.	225	969	81	4.3	9
17	Rashard Mendenhall	With Ben Roethlishberger hurt, Mendenhall may continue to get some playing time.	187	710	59	3.8	8
18	Kevin Smith	If he can manage to go a game without leaving injured, Smith can put up huge rushing and receiving stats.	33	229	57	6.9	3
19	Ben Tate	If Texans rest Foster, Tate could see a bigger workload.	146	820	68	5.6	3
20	Michael Turner	Turner is playing alright, but he definitely seems to have a lingering groin injury. He will probably get rest unless the Falcons are losing.	254	1068	82	4.2	8
Rank	Name	Notes	RA	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD
21	Frank Gore	When he plays he can play well, but would you want your fantasy season to rely on it? He's clearly not completely healthy. You never really know with Gore.	234	1054	81	4.5	6
22	Donald Brown	Only Colts rusher to consider at this point.	99	425	33	4.3	4
23	Ryan Grant	2 touchdowns last week, neither at the goal-line.	102	401	33	3.9	2
24	C.J. Spiller	At least he is part of a lot of plays with Fred Jackson out.	66	299	23	4.5	2
25	DeAngelo Williams	Rushing well, but Cam Newton takes many of the goal-line rushes.	126	656	51	5.2	4
26	Brandon Jacobs	Has 4 touchdowns over his last 3 games and is really running well.	130	480	44	3.7	7
27	Cedric Benson	Having a decent year for fantasy owners.	222	883	74	4.0	5
28	Marion Barber	Still the feature back of an offense tied to a backup quarterback. Cannot keep blowing plays and still expect to get as many touches though.	103	389	39	3.8	6
29	Mark Ingram	Has 51 rush attempts his last 4 games for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns.	122	474	40	3.9	5
30	LaRod Stephens-Howling	Well, he has scored lots of points lately.
Rank	Name	Notes	RA	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD
31	Toby Gerhart	Should still see some touches despite Peterson's return.	81	343	26	4.2	1
32	Darren Sproles	Sproles is getting in on 15 or so offensive plays per game, including kick returns. He has 7 total touchdowns and 74 receptions this year.	68	463	36	6.8	2
33	Dexter McCluster	Battle is not doing great so McCluster may get more work.	94	426	33	4.5	0
34	Pierre Thomas	The Saints' offensive play callers do not trust Thomas with the ball more than a dozen times or so times a game. It's too bad because he's not playing all that bad.	88	435	34	4.9	3
35	LeGarrette Blount	Not playing great of late.	167	737	67	4.4	5
36	Mike Tolbert	Still getting touchdowns, playing better.	99	385	32	3.9	6
37	Jonathan Stewart	Williams, Newton and Stewart are amazingly all putting up decent fantasy stats.	115	551	42	4.8	3
38	James Starks	Might not need him enough even with Jennings out and Grant running well.	127	565	47	4.4	1
39	Derrick Ward	Ward is back and ready to give one of his teammates some rest.	33	104	12	3.2	2
40	Kahlil Bell	I think Caleb Hanie likes Bell a lot.	24	97	10	4.0	0
Rank	Name	Notes	RA	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD
41	Marcel Reece	Bush is good, but the Raiders need Reece to catch the passes meant for McFadden while he heals.	14	85	9	6.1	0
42	John Kuhn	Goal-line vulture.	26	73	6	2.8	4
43	Chris Ogbonnaya	The Browns would be stupid at this point not to get the ball more to Ogbonnaya. Hardesty and Hillis have had their chances.	76	340	34	4.5	1
44	Maurice Morris	The Lions backups for Kevin Smith might get a chance to play, hard to say which one will do better.	71	281	22	4.0	1
45	Lance Ball	I think Tim Tebow really likes Ball.	72	302	23	4.2	0
46	Kregg Lumpkin	Good play in PPR leagues.	22	81	6	3.7	0
47	Keiland Williams	The Lions run game has been roller-coaster all year.	57	195	16	3.4	2
48	Peyton Hillis	Not playing well.	101	346	49	3.4	2
49	Daniel Thomas	Bush is playing well and Thomas is alright. Like so many things in Fantasy Football, we will have to wait and see.	140	508	51	3.6	0
50	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	Patriots run game is unreliable, but that does not mean they do not try to run it. Green-Ellis ran for a total of 3 touchdowns in 2 games against Philadelphia and Indiana on just 20 carries.	161	618	46	3.8	8
51	Christopher Ivory	Turned 28 rushes in last two games into 171 yards.	34	138	46	4.1	0
52	LaDainian Tomlinson	With Greene running well we may be seeing less of Tomlinson than fantasy owners would like.	56	186	17	3.3	1
53	Jackie Battle	Looks awful, we will see what Kyle Orton can do with him	125	504	39	4.0	1

54	Shane Vereen	Has a touchdown on just 15 carries in 2 games.	15	57	11	3.8	1
55	Ahmad Bradshaw	Has been getting touches, but not completely healthy. Definitely the kind of player to check health status.	130	490	50	3.8	5
56	Matt Forte	My guess is Forte will not come back this season, but who knows.	203	997	83	4.9	3
57	Darren McFadden	I think the Raiders would be nuts at this point to risk aggravating McFadden's feet.	113	614	88	5.4	4