Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 15: Running backs

Welcome to Week 15 of the fantasy football season. Christmas is right around the corner and the fantasy playoffs are in full swing. With next week’s championship game deciding fantasy titles, your start/sit decisions will be more crucial than ever.

If you’re in a shallower league and still alive in the title hunt, chances are you won’t have to think about your running back position too much. However, some owners don’t have the luxury of plugging in Le’Veon Bell or David Johnson, so they still have to think about their RB starters. We’ll try to help you chase fantasy glory with these recommended starters, along with players you should be avoiding in this crucial week.

Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons (vs. San Francisco 49ers)

One of the truest mantras of this year’s fantasy season is this: Start every RB against the 49ers. Coleman and Devonta Freeman should have little effort slicing up a defense that went from bad to pathetic after losing NaVorro Bowman to injury. This could easily be Coleman’s biggest game of the year.

Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears (vs. Green Bay Packers)

Howard has long been a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable Bears season, but he’s in a particularly good situation this week. The temperatures at Soldier Field are expected to dip well below zero, so Chicago would be wise to double down on the running game. Howard should get plenty of volume and has RB2 upside against the Packers’ defense.

LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots (@ Denver Broncos)

Blount was in a tough spot against the Baltimore Ravens’ elite run defense, but he still ground out 72 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Now at 14 touchdowns on the year (doubling his previous career-high), Blount is a must-start against the Broncos’ defense, which struggles to stop the run.

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

Making a shocking early return from knee surgery, Peterson has been activated from injured reserve and will play this week. It’d be extremely tempting to chase his name recognition, but fantasy owners should take caution. Peterson will probably be eased into action and play limited snaps, and let’s not forget how bad he was at the start of the season. Peterson had just 50 yards on 31 carries before getting injured, and his offensive line has only gotten worse since then. The 31-year-old has surprised us before, but starting him in his first game back is a foolish gamble.

Ryan Mathews, Philadelphia Eagles (@ Baltimore Ravens)

With Wendell Smallwood done for the year and Darren Sproles in the concussion protocol, Mathews will have the backfield all to himself. He should have lots of volume, but the Ravens have one of the best run defenses in the league and Mathews hasn’t been terribly inspiring this year. His ceiling is too low to justify using him.

Kenneth Farrow, San Diego Chargers (vs. Oakland Raiders)

Melvin Gordon is out with a hip injury, so Farrow will get the start. He got 22 touches in place of Gordon last week and the Raiders’ defense isn’t an imposing matchup, but Farrow is kind of an unknown quantity. His struggles in pass protection mean that Ronnie Hillman could eat into his snaps, and his ceiling isn’t quite high enough to trust in the fantasy playoffs. Farrow is a pure lottery ticket.