RB Fantasy Football Playoffs Strength of Schedule - Best/Worst Running Back Matchups

Mitch looks at RB fantasy football playoffs strength of schedules, the best/worst running back matchups for 2025 fantasy football playoffs (Weeks 15, 16, 17).

If you've made it this far in fantasy football and are still competing for a title, congratulations. The rest of the push is tougher.

In many leagues, the playoffs start this week. Thankfully, the bye weeks are all finished. Unfortunately, injuries are piling up. Therefore, in my fantasy playoffs RB strength of schedule rankings, I include some handcuffs who could come in big in crunch time.

I will include RB1s to lean on and those to avoid, as well as streamers who will be available in more leagues. Let's jump into my recommendations for fantasy football playoff running backs based on strength of schedule.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Best RB1 Stud for Fantasy Football Playoffs

Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley hasn't had the league-leading year he did last season, but he's still a borderline RB1. His play has left a lot to be desired, but he's also been dragged down by a failing Philadelphia Eagles offense with predictable and low-efficiency play calling.

After topping 2,000 yards and having the eighth-best rushing season of all time, Barkley is only No. 12 in rushing this season. The Eagles' cratering offensive production has further dampened his fantasy outlook. Philly is only scoring the 19th-most points per game, and Barkley, with five rushing touchdowns, is tied with nine players for No. 17.

Still a useful receiving back, Barkley gets a boost in PPR, as his 35 receptions are the ninth-most, and he has scored two receiving touchdowns.

Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule:

Each of the Eagles' three fantasy playoff opponents (Las Vegas, Washington, and Buffalo) ranks amongst the 11 easiest fantasy opponents in terms of fantasy scoring.

The Raiders actually hold opponents to the fifth-fewest yards per rush, but they are a lot worse on the field than the raw numbers suggest. Their defensive scheme is outdated. Overall, their run defense is actually the fourth-worst on a play-to-play basis, according to PFF, and they've allowed 14 rushing touchdowns.

The Commanders have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards to opposing running backs and the seventh-most RB receiving yards. They are allowing the seventh-most yards per rush (4.7). The Bills are even worse. They are allowing 5.1 yards per rush, the fourth-most, and the most rushing touchdowns to RBs (16).

Honorable Mentions for Best RB1 Fantasy Playoff Schedules:

• Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers - TEN, @IND, CHI
• TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots - BUF, @BAL, @NYJ
• De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins - @PIT, CIN, TB

Best RB Handcuff for Fantasy Football Playoffs

Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Wright had a disappointing career in his first two seasons until his Week 14 breakout against the New York Jets. As a rookie, he carried the ball 68 times for 249 yards. While he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, 3.25 of those yards came after contact. His rate of missed tackles was also relatively high, so there was optimism that he would take a jump in his second year.

However, that has not happened yet. Through six games, he has only had 42 carries for 172 yards. His numbers are improving. His yards per attempt are up to 4.1, including 3.33 after contact. His PFF offensive grade and rushing grade are up, but he hasn't played enough to make an impact.

He missed the first four games of this season with a knee injury, but even after returning to full health, he was a scratch in Weeks 5 and 6. Though he was activated in Week 7, he didn't take any carries. In each of his next four games, he had fewer than 10 carries and fewer than five carries in three of them.

But with De'Von Achane getting injured early in Miami's victory over the New York Jets, Wright took over as the running back and blew up. On 24 carries, he ran for 107 yards and one touchdown.

Film Breakdown: Jaylen Wright SHINES with More Opportunities for the Miami Dolphins vs Jets

Wright finally got more chances and showed his burst, power and contact balance. #PhinsUp

Link to full video- https://t.co/CPjcun678q pic.twitter.com/bqWSXWgt3G

— Ryder McConville (@RyderM25) December 8, 2025

It was Wright's first game with over 20 carries and only his second with double-digit carries. He played well the last time, going for 86 yards on 13 carries in Week 5 of 2024. He just needs the volume to get into a rhythm.

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Achane might require rest in Week 15. If so, that would mean more carries for Wright. Earlier in the season, rookie Ollie Gordon II took carries in the games Wright missed, but he is primarily used as the short-yardage back. Gordon only carried the ball five times against the Jets. Wright is the direct handcuff to Achane for the receiving and early-down role.

If Achane is healthy, he's a league-winning RB1.

Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule:

With games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Dolphins face two below-average rushing defenses and a mediocre Steelers defense. The Bengals are the worst in the league, while the Bucs are underwhelming.

The Week 16 matchup against the Bengals is the real gem you are seeking with the Dolphins' running backs. The Bengals allow 155.5 yards on the ground per game, the most in the league. They've allowed over 180 rushing yards in four games and were shredded by the Jets and Bears for over 250.

The Dolphins have the eighth-most rushing yards in the league, just behind the Jets.

Honorable Mentions for Best Fantasy Playoff Handcuff RBs:

• Zonovan Knight, Arizona Cardinals - @HOU, ATL, @CIN
• Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals - @HOU, ATL, @CIN
• Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots - BUF, @BAL, @NYJ
• Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns - @CHI, BUF, PIT

Best RB Streamer for Fantasy Football Playoffs

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders

Rodriguez emerged as the Commanders' RB1 in Week 9 when he ran for 65 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Including that game, Rodriguez has had double-digit carries in four of his last five, while rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has not had double-digit carries since Week 10.

Rodriguez has more yards per carry, more yards after contact per carry, and a higher rate of rushes going for over ten yards. Crucially for his fantasy production, Rodriguez also has 22 red zone carries, including 14 inside of the opponents' 10-yard line, where he scored all four of his touchdowns, both of which are more than Croskey-Merritt. JCM is used more often in the middle of the field.

Rodriguez takes a hit in PPR formats, as he has only been targeted twice for one catch for six yards. Croskey-Merritt is only slightly better as a receiving option, making nine catches for 68 yards. Jeremy McNichols is the best pass catcher and pass blocker on the team, but he doesn't get enough rushing work to be considered in fantasy football.

Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule:

The Commanders face two of the absolute worst rushing defenses in football in Weeks 15 and 17—the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. Sandwiched between those games is the Philadelphia Eagles, which has a slightly below-average run defense. All three teams rank in the top eight for most fantasy points allowed to RBs.

The Giants have allowed the second-most rushing yards in the league and the fifth-most touchdowns to running backs. The analytics say the Giants allow the most estimated points added (EPA) per rushing play. The team that allows the second-most EPA on the ground? The Dallas Cowboys. They also allow the sixth-most real rushing yards per play.

The Eagles allow the seventh-most rushing yards per game and allow the 21st-most yards per attempt. They're not quite bottom feeders, but these aren't the championship-caliber Eagles of the past.

Honorable Mention for Best Fantasy Playoff Streamers:

• Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings - @DAL, @NYG, DET
• Devin Singletary, New York Giants - WAS, MIN, @LVR

Tough RB1 Matchups for Fantasy Football Playoffs

Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

Gibbs is one of seven running backs to already have surpassed 1,000 yards by Week 15. He's top-5 in rushing yards, receptions, and receiving yards, and he's second in yards per carry, behind only Achane.

Jahmyr Gibbs joins HOF Barry Sanders as the only players in NFL history to score at least 45 TDs prior to turning 24 years old 🔥@Lions | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/m0gMiwl7LY

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) December 5, 2025

But Gibbs could bust when it matters most. His production is extremely reliant on splash plays. He has the fourth-most rushes of over 10 yards and 15 yards. In fact, 46.8% of Gibbs' rushing yards come on breakaway plays that go for over 15 yards. That's good in big-play-oriented leagues, but in a one-week fantasy football championship when Gibbs is facing tough defenses, it could cause your team to fall flat.

Gibbs has struggled against tough defenses. He was held to 19 yards against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, 25 yards against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9, and just 65 scrimmage yards against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6. Who does Gibbs face in the fantasy playoffs?

Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule:

The Lions have a rematch against a familiar team in Week 17: the Vikings. The last time Gibbs faced Brian Flores's defense, he had one of the worst games of the season. He gained just 2.8 yards per carry and put up a 51.9 PFF rushing grade. The Lions played poorly in a 24-27 upset loss, and Gibbs was getting hit on average behind the line of scrimmage.

But that's not all. The Lions face the Rams in Week 15 and the Steelers in Week 16. The Rams are the third-toughest opponent for fantasy running backs, and the Steelers have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to RBs.

Honorable Mentions for RB1s with Tough Fantasy Playoff Schedules:

• Breece Hall, New York Jets - @JAX, @NO, NE
• Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams - DET, @SEA, @ATL
• D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears - CLE, GB, @SF
• James Cook, Buffalo Bills - @NE, @CLE, PHI

Tough Rookie RB Matchups for Fantasy Football Playoffs

RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

Harvey may have helped you navigate to the playoffs as a late-round lotto ticket or a hot waiver wire find. Like the Broncos' offense, he's been inconsistent, but he's made an impact with his receiving work and touchdown-scoring. Of late, he's also had strong rushing games since J.K. Dobbins suffered a foot injury in Week 11.

In the past three games, Harvey has had ten or more carries, and he's scored rushing touchdowns in each of the past two. Including receiving, he has eight touchdowns in the past seven games. But he could have a lot fewer in the next three weeks.

Fantasy Playoffs Strength of Schedule:

The Broncos' Week 15 schedule includes two teams that rank in the top six in scoring defense. The Packers (Week 15) and Chiefs (Week 17) both allow fewer than 2.2 touchdowns per game, and the Jaguars (Week 16) are in the middle of the pack with just 2.5 touchdowns allowed per game.

Without his precious touchdowns, RJ Harvey is a relatively middling asset. He ranks below players such as Croskey-Merritt, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Rachaad White in terms of scrimmage yards.

Honorable Mentions for Rookie RBs with Tough Fantasy Playoff Schedules:

• Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears - CLE, GB, @SF
• Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers - @KC, @DAL, HOU

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