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If you're still playing in Week 15, then you're most likely already past the first round of your fantasy playoffs and are focusing on getting to that championship game. There were a lot of running back injuries from Sunday, and this could have implications for your fantasy teams and needing to make moves on the waiver wire. Below are some RB options to consider on the Week 15 waiver wire, based on your team situations and league formats. Good luck RotoBallers!
Waiver Wire Pickups – Running Backs for Week 15
Toby Gerhart - RB, Cleveland Browns - 8% owned in Yahoo leagues
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This Week: 89 rushing yards, 1 TD - 11.90 points
Analysis: The NFL's best running back Adrian Peterson was knocked out of the Viking's Week 14 game with a foot injury. The good news is the MRI came back clean, and AP will not need any surgery. The bad news is that he's in a walking boot, and the Vikings season is a lost one. Gerhart stepped in for AP on Sunday and played well, racking up 89 yards and a touchdown. We can reasonably expect that Gerhart will start the Week 15 game, and is the top RB waiver wire pickup for Week 15 in all leagues.
Daniel Thomas - RB, Miami Dolphins - 11% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 105 rushing yards, 1 TD, 1 reception, 4 receiving yards - 17.90 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: Lamar Miller was forced from Sunday's game with a concussion, and Daniel Thomas was thrust into the lead running back role for the Dolphins. He played surprisingly well, coming fresh off an injury of his own, and racked up 105 rushing yards with a touchdown. It's not yet known whether Miller will be able to play, but if he can't go it would make Thomas a viable waiver wire RB pickup for Week 15. If Miller does play, then Thomas would be nothing more than a low-end FLEX option.
Jordan Todman - RB, Jacksonville Jaguars - 2% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 14 rushing yards, 1 reception, 21 receiving yards, 1 TD - 10.50 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: Maurice Jones-Drew had to leave Sunday's game with a hamstring injury, and is now being called very questionable to start in Week 15 versus the Bills. After the MRI results came back, the injury was deemed a hamstring strain, and MJD is promising to play in Week 15 and hopes to return to practice by Friday. He may be overly optimistic though, and if he misses any time Todman will function as the lead running back for the Jaguars. If you are an MJD owner, or have some bench space to spare for a running back flier, Todman is a decent Week 15 pickup off the waiver wire.
Chris Ogbonnaya - RB, Cleveland Browns - 22% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 8 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 25 receiving yards - 6.30 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: Ogbonnaya has been functioning as the third-down running back for the Browns all season, with a few rushes sprinkled in as well. Old man Willis McGahee was removed from Sunday's game with a concussion, which left Ogbonnaya and Fozzy Whittaker as the remaining running backs for the Browns. If McGahee can't play this week, there will most likely be a timeshare between Ogbannaya and Whittaker - but Ogbonnaya would be the preferred RB pickup, especially in PPR leagues, since he catches passes out of the backfield as well. Even with a great matchup against the Bears in Week 15, he is better left for deeper leagues.
James Starks - RB, Green Bay Packers - 12% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 19 rushing yards - 1.90 points
Analysis: Eddie Lacy and the Green Bay running attack have been the focal point of the Packers offense for most of this season. Lacy has been fantastic in his first year of NFL action, but sustained an ankle injury in Sunday's game. Although he played through the injury, the Packers aren't sure yet if he'll be able to go in Week 15. If you're a Lacy owner, or are looking for a RB flier for the playoffs, pickup Starks off the waiver wire. But he will only hold relevant fantasy value if Lacy can't suit up for the Week 15 matchup against the Cowboys.
Mike Tolbert - RB, Carolina Panthers - 30% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 12 rushing yards, 2 catches, 17 receiving yards - 4.90 points
Analysis: Tolbert has been part of the running back committee in Carolina all season, having his best games when he scores goal-line touchdowns, or when either DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart are injured. In Sunday's game, Stewart suffered another injury and the Panthers fear he may be lost for the season with a torn MCL. Tolbert will function as the sole backup RB to Williams going forward, and can be viewed as a low-end FLEX option in deeper leagues. He would become a much more viable RB start if Williams were to go down as well, but for now he can be targeted off the Week 15 waiver wire in deeper leagues.
LeGarrette Blount - RB, New England Patriots - 11% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 42 rushing yards, 1 catch, 32 receiving yards - 8.40 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: The Patriots seem to be pretty much done with Stevan Ridley, as this running back's fumbling issues have diminished his role in the offense severely. A week after being a healthy inactive, Ridley only played on 17 snaps and go 8 carries. Blount also received 8 carries of his own, and played on 21 snaps. Blount probably won't hold too much fantasy value down the stretch, as Vereen is dominating this backfield and has earned the trust of Tom Brady and the Patriots. But if you're desperate for a running back FLEX for Week 15, then Blount can be added off the waiver wire. He would really only pay dividends if he found the end zone, or if the Patriots got off to a huge lead versus the Dolphins and went into clock-killing mode.
Marcel Reece - RB, Oakland Raiders - 12% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 123 rushing yards, 1 TD, 2 receptions, 38 rushing yards - 24.10 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: With Rashed Jennings and Darren McFadden both inactive for Sunday's game, Reece was the workhorse running back for Oakland and played very well. For fantasy owners hoping to scoop him up and start him in Week 15, they should think twice as Jennings has now been cleared from his concussion and is expected to resume the lead RB role with a normal workload. Reece will most likely function as the backup running back, and could get enough touches to make him a low-end FLEX play, but it's a risky proposition to start Reece in your playoff matchup. If you are a Jennings owner, or desperate at RB, then feel free to pickup Reece off the Week 15 waiver wire and stash him in case Jennings goes down again.
Other running backs to consider that may still be available in your leagues:
- Chris Ivory - 13.60 points, 58% owned
- Andre Ellington - 14.30 points, 58% owned
- Rashard Mendenhall - 10.10 points, 60% owned
- Donald Brown - 6.90 points, 49% owned
