Running back non-PPR rankings for Week 15 fantasy football

Friday injury report

Most notably for Week 15, both Christian McCaffrey and Antonio Gibson are formally listed as doubtful. Peyton Barber and J.D McKissic will be sharing snaps for Washington while Mike Davis takes the lead for Carolina.

Ezekiel Elliott finds himself questionable for the second week in a row, managing a calf injury. Though he’s expected to play, indications are that the calf injury hasn’t improved since Week 14. It’s worth wondering if he’ll see limited snaps in Sunday’s outing, but he’s difficult to sit regardless.

Though Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay were each limited in practices ahead of Week 15, there doesn’t seem to be any concern that either of them will miss time. If either is ruled out, the active back gets a major boost as a volume-based RB2 with upside.

Out: N/A
Doubtful: Christian McCaffrey (thigh), Antonio Gibson (toe)
Questionable: Ezekiel Elliott (calf), Chase Edmonds (ankle), Salvon Ahmed (shoulder), Damien Harris (ankle), James White (foot), Alexander Mattison (illness), Phillip Lindsay (hip), Melvin Gordon (shoulder)

Thursday injury report

Christian McCaffrey is officially doubtful heading into the Panthers Saturday game. There looks to be yet another big day ahead for Mike Davis.

James Robinson continues to be limited in practice, but again, the team has been careful with practice reps during the second half of the season. He should be fine for game day barring any changes to the practice report.

Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay each look as though they’ll be ready for Sunday with another limited practice logged.

James Conner managers should be sounding the alarm right about now for his availability on Monday Night Football. He played just 40% of snaps last week and looked gimpy while doing so. Given that this is a MNF matchup, fantasy managers will need an insurance policy if they decide to roll the dice with Conner. Outside of a score, neither Benny Snell nor Jaylen Samuels would make a great play in the semi-finals of fantasy leagues given the Steelers’ inability to get the run game going.

Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Raheem Mostert’s practice reports heading into Sunday.

While Duke Johnson Jr. snagged the DNP tag Thursday, David Johnson managed to get a full practice. He was held out in Week 14 with the Week but has been removed from the COVID-19 reserve list. He has a tough match up ahead against the Colts rushing defense who are allowing

DNP: Christian McCaffrey (thigh), Duke Johnson Jr. (neck), Chase Edmonds (ankle), Ezekiel Elliott (calf), Antonio Gibson (toe), James Conner (quad)
Limited: Melvin Gordon (shoulder), Phillip Lindsay (hip), Alexander Mattison (illness), Derrick Henry (not injury related), James Robinson (knee), Damien Harris (ankle), Salvon Ahmed (shoulder), Raheem Mostert (ankle)
Full: Adrian Peterson (forearm), David Johnson (not injury related)

Wednesday injury report

The Chargers formally listed RB Austin Ekeler as questionable with a quad injury heading into Week 15. He got in two limited practices ahead of his scheduled appearance on Thursday Night Football.

Melvin Gordon played just 46% of offensive snaps Week 14 against the Panthers after leaving with a shoulder injury. He was upgraded to a full practice Wednesday — a step in the right direction toward a start on Sunday. If active, he’ll get a decent matchup against the Bills.

Fantasy managers should be happy to hear that the Washington Football team is reporting good progress for Antonio Gibson’s toe injury. However, he is still dealing with the DNP designation. It seems unlikely that he’ll play in Week 15, but continue to monitor his progress through the week.

Christian McCaffrey also logged a DNP. He suffered a thigh injury as he was recovering from a shoulder injury; fantasy managers will play him if active regardless.

Ezekiel Elliott didn’t practice Wednesday, listed with a calf injury. However, he was listed with the same heading into Week 14 and still handled 14 touches on the week. It’s likely a rest day for the vet as the Cowboys look to close out a losing season.

Following Week 14’s contest against the Vikings, Bruce Arians announced that Ronald Jones had suffered a finger injury. He’ll have surgery on his pinky this week, but regardless, he’s been placed on COVID-IR. It remains to be seen whether he had a positive test or was deemed a close contact. Even though it seems unlikely, Jones has yet to be ruled out of Week 15.

DNP: Antonio Gibson (toe), Christian McCaffrey (thigh), Alexander Mattison (illness), Chase Edmonds (ankle), Ezekiel Elliott (calf), Ronald Jones (finger, COVID-IR)
Limited: Melvin Gordon (shoulder), Phillip Lindsay (hip), RB Adrian Peterson (forearm), James Robinson (knee), Salvon Ahmed (shoulder),
Full: N/A

Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor dominated headlines in non-PPR leagues for Week 14, posting 34.2 and 28.5 fantasy points, respectively. Henry was certainly no surprise, as he faced the Jaguars, who have been good for at least one game of 150 rushing yards and 2+ touchdowns per season since 2018.

Taylor continues on his rookie breakout campaign, totaling 64 touches in his past three games for 414 scrimmage yards and three scores. He should continue to roll in Week 15 against a Houston rushing defense that just allowed David Montgomery 150 scrimmage yards and a score.

While these two RBs should continue to carry you through the fantasy playoffs, some running backs are worth a cautionary line. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has had some peaks and valleys as a rookie, but Week 15 is bound to be another valley against a daunting Saints run defense. Don’t be fooled by Miles Sanders’ bounce-back performance in Week 14; the Saints have allowed just seven rushing touchdowns on the season to accompany the second-lowest rushing yards per attempt allowed by any NFL defense.

Fantasy managers may also want to temper expectations (but still start, of course!) for stud Dalvin Cook as he faces the Bears defense for the second time this season. Though he managed to rack up 90 rushing yards, take a word of caution that Akeim Hicks played just 52% of snaps in that outing, which certainly opened up lanes for Cook in the second half.

Injury news

Fantasy managers will have plenty of injuries to monitor heading into the Week 15 game slate. Notably, Austin Ekeler popped up with a “DNP” on Monday’s estimated practice report. He was one of 12 players who earned the tag, so hopefully, they’re just looking to get their starters some extra rest on a short week. He did get in a limited practice Tuesday, which is encouraging.

The Panthers are hoping to see the return of Christian McCaffrey in Week 15. They’ll play the Packers, who would provide fantasy managers with a plentiful reward for their patience. The Packers lead the league in receiving yards allowed to RBs per game.

The 49ers injuries keep piling up. Raheem Mostert is dealing (again) with an ankle issue that he’ll be having checked out ahead of Week 15. If he’s out (again), Jeff Wilson will see the bulk of the work.

D’Andre Swift returned to the lineup in Week 14 following a three-game absence due to a concussion followed by an illness. He played 53% of offensive snaps and led the team in rush attempts and rushing yards... though that doesn’t account for much considering the team’s lack of willingness to run the ball. Fantasy managers in PPR leagues should be excited for his return given his target share, but he’s a volatile play in standard leagues.

Bruce Arians noted that Ronald Jones may have fractured his pinkie finger in Week 14 though it has yet to be confirmed. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on practice reports heading into Sunday.

Bye weeks

There are no NFL teams on bye in Week 15.

Streaming options

Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers

As if it hadn’t become clear in recent weeks, head coach Kyle Shanahan came out to say that the offense is focusing on Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson as the team’s lead backs. Unfortunately, Mostert has dealt with a nagging ankle injury, which reports say he’ll get checked out once again ahead of Week 15. This could clear the path for Wilson to assume lead carries. Week 15 provides the perfect opportunity for a breakout game against a Dallas defense that has allowed a 100-rushing yard game in three of their last four matchups.

J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens

In case you had missed the memo, it’s officially #J.K.DobbinsSZN. Dobbins continues to dominate the snaps at RB for the Ravens and has had just one game over the last three weeks with fewer than 10 carries. He’s nabbed a score in each of the last three games with Jacksonville next up on the slate. This opposing defense has allowed some monstrous performances in each of the last three weeks to Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook and Nick Chubb. Throw Dobbins into the flex and enjoy the big day.