Running Back Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 15 (2025)

December 13, 2025

Andy's running back start 'em, sit 'em picks for fantasy football Week 15 lineups (2025). Read his expert RB start/sit advice for Rico Dowdle, Kenneth Walker III, Tony Pollard, others.

The fantasy football playoffs are here. Congratulations to those who made it. However, the job is not even close to being finished. We still have three more weeks to set our lineups and maneuver the waiver wire.

In this week's edition, I will spotlight six running backs that are on the fringe of the RB2/FLEX territory and determine if we should trust them in Week 15. Some players include a veteran RB who is coming off his best showing of the season and three options that have been stuck in committee for the better part of the season.

In this weekly piece, we don't look at those must-start options because if you have them, you start them. Instead, we look at those mid-range RB2/flex options that are on the verge of start territory. Let's take a look at which running backs we should lock into our fantasy lineups and which ones are better off on our bench. Don't see the running back you're looking for? Be sure to check out more running back start 'em sit 'em content, and our Week 15 RB rankings on RotoBaller. Let's dive in!

Week 15 Starts - Potential Fantasy Football Booms

D'Andre Swift - Chicago Bears vs. Cleveland Browns

Starting things off will be veteran D'Andre Swift. Swift has lost opportunities to rookie Kyle Monangai, but he has still remained the lead back in Chicago, albeit as the "1A." Last weekend in their loss to Green Bay, Swift took 13 carries for 65 yards and brought in three of his four targets for 19 yards.

Since returning from injury in Week 10, Swift has been very efficient with his opportunities, averaging a stellar 5.1 YPC on 14.6 attempts per game. During this five-game stretch, the veteran RB has caught 10 of his 16 targets and punched in one score. Despite scoring only one touchdown during this stretch, Swift has averaged a solid 11.9 PPR points per game, keeping him on the RB2 radar.

Even though Monangai has been the Chicago running back who has found the end zone more often during this recent stretch, managers should still trust Swift as their RB2 in the opening round of the playoffs. Swift has logged 53% of the snaps or more in all but one of his last five games, while Monangai has hit this mark once.

Swift is still the team's primary RB and should continue to lead the backfield and see ample opportunities in a run-first offense. Seeing him enjoy success against a tough Green Bay defense, he should have his way against a Browns defense that allowed 161 yards and two scores to Tony Pollard last weekend.

D'Andre Swift finishes a statement drive with a TD

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— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2025

Tyrone Tracy Jr. - New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders

Tyrone Tracy Jr. and the Giants are coming off their much-needed Week 14 bye. In Week 13, Tracy exited the contest with a hip injury and feared having suffered a serious injury. However, entering Week 15, interim HC Mike Kafka noted that the RB is "good to go" for their Week 14 clash against the Commanders.

With Cam Skattebo (ankle) out for the season, Tracy has operated as the lead option, while veteran Devin Singletary has been a very competent change-of-pace option. In Weeks 11 and 12, Tracy turned in two solid fantasy showings, averaging 16.9 PPR points per game. During these two games, Tracy took 19.5 attempts per game and saw four targets in each contest.

Tracy averaged 3.8 YPC but was elite as a receiver, with a strong 17.0 YPR. Tracy logged 51% and 71% of the snaps, respectively.

While Singletary is still expected to have a role in short-yardage situations (similar to Monangai in Chicago), managers should lock Tracy in as their RB2 in all formats, especially in PPR.

The 26-year-old has one of the best matchups on paper this weekend, against the Commanders, who have allowed the seventh-most PPR points to opposing RBs this season. He has the upside to finish as a top-12 option.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. "Good to Go" for Week 15 https://t.co/x0tEKRdCe6

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 11, 2025

Kenneth Walker III - Seattle Seahawks vs. Indianapolis Colts

The final RB to put into your lineup this weekend is Kenneth Walker III. For those weekly readers of this column, Walker is typically a major talking point, given his frustrating role in the Seattle backfield. Last weekend, Walker was a major disappointment as he totalled just 3.8 PPR points against a weak Atlanta defence.

However, before this rough outing, Walker was beginning to establish himself as a weekly starter, averaging 14.5 PPR points during Weeks 11 through 13. Throughout these three games, the Michigan State product was elite with the ball in his hands, posting a stellar 4.8 YPC mark and 10.2 YPR mark. More importantly, during this stretch, Walker began to emerge as the lead option over Zach Charbonnet.

After splitting the backfield throughout the first half, Walker logged over 50% of the snaps in each of these three games and even hit a season-high 63% back in Week 12. During this stretch, Charbonnet fell under the 40% snap mark in all but one game.

Even though he was a major bust in Week 14, Walker still logged 52% of the snaps while Charbonnet took 41%. This is Walker's backfield, and managers should view him as a solid RB2.

In a projected positive game script against a Colts team that may turn to Philip Rivers to lead their offense, expect a heavy dose of Walker.

Week 15 Concerns - Potential Fantasy Football Busts

Tony Pollard - Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers

Pollard had a career showing last Sunday. Entering the contest as a low-end RB3, Pollard ran for 161 yards and two scores over the Cleveland Browns in their thrilling victory. While this was one of the most impressive showings of the season, managers should pump the brakes in their opening playoff matchup.

Over Pollard's first 12 games of the season, the veteran RB posted an average of just 3.9 YPC with 9.5 PPR points per game. In Weeks 11 through 13, his efficiency was even lower, as he posted a 3.3 YPC and even fell under the 25-yard rushing mark in two of the three games.

This weekend, Pollard will face the 49ers, who have allowed the 16th-most PPR points to opposing RBs, placing them in the middle of the pack in the sport. However, the 49ers sit as heavy favorites, with a -12.5 spread on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Given that the Titans are likely to be behind (by multiple scores), do not expect a major workload for Pollard. He will need to make the most of his receiving work to produce as a high-end FLEX.

Ashton Jeanty - Las Vegas Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles

The Raiders are likely to be without starting QB Geno Smith (shoulder), which could make an already struggling offense even worse. The 22-year-old rookie has leaned heavily on his receiving work to put together a comparable RB2 rookie campaign. He has scored just four touchdowns and has averaged a modest 3.5 YPC on the ground.

However, his 45 receptions for 259 yards and four additional scores have kept his fantasy value afloat.

Over his last four games, Jeanty has seen his efficiency drop further, posting a minuscule 2.5 YPC on 12.0 attempts per game. During this stretch, Jeanty has run for only 118 yards but has remained a high-value receiver, averaging 5.5 receptions and 30.8 yards per game.

However, despite a favorable matchup against the Eagles in Week 15, who have allowed the eighth-most PPR points to opposing RBs, Jeanty could be in for a tough outing. With Kenny Pickett under center, expect the Eagles to focus much of the attention on shutting down any spark Jeanty brings to the offense.

He is a low-end FLEX in PPR and a fringe startable option in half-PPR/standard leagues given his struggles as a rusher. His projected opportunities as a pass catcher keep him on the FLEX radar in PPR formats.

Rico Dowdle - Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

The final RB to consider holding on your bench in the opening week of the fantasy playoffs is Rico Dowdle. Dowdle enjoyed a dominant stretch as the team's starter when Chuba Hubbard was injured and working his way back. From Weeks 5 through 11, Dowdle looked like a league-winner, averaging an elite 20.1 PPR points per game.

However, in Week 13, Hubbard reclaimed the lead job. In this game, Dowdle was still involved, taking 18 carries for 58 yards, but his upside was significantly capped. Hubbard took a similar 17 carries and brought in both of his targets for 41 yards and a score. More importantly, Hubbard was the more efficient option, totalling 83 yards while Dowdle ran for just 58.

Hubbard finished the game, logging 58% of the snaps, while Dowdle took only 42%, his lowest mark since Week 8. Coming out of the bye, the backfield appears to be trending in Hubbard's favor.

Rico Dowdle Settling in as Early-Down Back in Carolina https://t.co/GqUD6kNvQ0

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 3, 2025

While both running backs could split the workload again, Hubbard is expected to see the majority given their deployment in Week 13. Dowdle still carries FLEX upside, but managers relying on him as an RB2 should look elsewhere, as he will need to find the end zone to reach this status.

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