Week 15 Fantasy Football NFC Backfield Update: Jahmyr Gibbs vs. David Montgomery, Chuba Hubbard vs. Miles Sanders, Kenneth Walker vs. Zach Charbonnet and More
Discussing NFC backfield situations heading into week 15 of the NFL season.
As the NFL regular season winds down and fantasy playoffs get going, fantasy owners are always wondering which running backs are safe to play and which ones should be benched.
Let’s take a look at the backfield situations for NFC teams and then predict how things might look in week 15. We took a look at AFC teams yesterday.
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Eagles Backfield Fantasy Outlook
PhIladelphia's backfield has pretty much belonged to D’Andre Swift all season. Kenneth Gainwell has played a decent amount of snaps, but has less than half as many touches as Swift.
Last week, Swift turned 11 touches into 39 yards, while Gainwell had 28 yards on four touches.
The backs have a favorable matchup this coming week against the Seahawks. That makes Swift a more solid starting option. Gainwell might have a solid day too, but I don’t think he’ll get enough touches to produce a start-worthy fantasy score.
Cowboys Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Tony Pollard owns the Dallas backfield, but Rico Dowdle has played himself into a decent secondary role of late. Pollard is at 16 or more touches in each of the past four games, while Dowdle has between 4-13 touches.
The Cowboys have the Bills this week, which is a pretty average matchup for the backs. Pollard could be started, while Dowdle is probably only a starting option in deeper leagues.
Giants Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Saquon Barkley has a stranglehold on the New York backfield. He got 23 of the 25 running back touches for the team in week 14, tallying 101 total yards and two touchdowns along the way.
Matt Breida is the backup, but doesn’t get many touches. He had the other two touches last week, tallying 16 yards on two carries.
The Giants’ backs have a tougher test against the Saints’ run defense this coming week. Barkley should still be started, and Breida should be avoided in all formats.
Commanders Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Washington has a nice 1-2 punch in the backfield between Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson.
The Commanders didn’t play last week, but Robinson left the team’s previous game with a hamstring injury. The extra time off should have helped him, but his status will be one to watch as the week progresses.
If Robinson cannot play, Gibson would be the workhorse, but with Washington going up against a tough Rams’ defense, I’d try to avoid Gibson as a starter this week. I’d also try not to start Robinson if he plays.
Vikings Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Minnesota’s backs have underwhelmed all season. Alexander Mattison and Cam Akers split the workload for a while, and now Ty Chandler has replaced Akers. Mattison is injured going into week 15, which complicates the situation some more.
The status of Mattison will affect how fantasy owners proceed with the Vikings’ backs this week. If Mattison plays, I’m most comfortable playing him against the Bengals. However, I think the backfield work would be split about 50/50, so I’d try to avoid starting either. If Mattison is out, then I like Chandler as a starter, as he’d likely be the workhorse.
Packers Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Green Bay’s backfield is also complicated. Aaron Jones is supposed to be the No. 1 guy, but he’s been injured on and off all season. AJ Dillon has done some nice things over the past four weeks - with at least 17 touches in each contest - while Patrick Taylor backs him up.
Dillon went for 78 total yards on 17 touches in week 14, while Taylor had 52 yards on six touches.
If Jones returns, then I think he and Dillon split the workload against the Buccaneers in week 15. With it being a tougher matchup, I’d try to avoid both RBs if that’s what happens. If Jones is out again, then I’d start Dillon this week. Taylor likely won’t get enough touches to be startable in any formats.
Bears Backfield Fantasy Outlook
D’Onta Foreman appears to have won the lead role in Chicago, which is surprising given the couple young backs the Bears have and the team’s current record.
Foreman tallied 72 total yards on 13 touches last week. Khalil Herbert had just 8 yards on three touches, while rookie Roschon Johnson was at 6 yards on one touch.
The Chicago RBs have a tough matchup ahead against the Browns. I’d only feel good about starting Foreman in any format.
Lions Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Detroit’s backfield is a split one, but both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have been able to consistently produce.
With them taking on the worst run defense (Denver) in week 15, I’m all for starting both guys, and you should be very confident in having both of them produce big fantasy outings again.
Falcons Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Atlanta’s backfield has been a frustrating one for fantasy owners all season. Bijan Robinson is clearly the team’s best back, but he continues to lose snaps and touches to Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson.
They face a weak Carolina run defense in week 15, so you definitely need to be starting Robinson in all formats. I’d also feel pretty good about Allgeier in all formats, while Patterson is a possible starting option in deeper leagues.
Buccaneers Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Rachaad White typically dominates the touches for Tampa Bay, but Chase Edmonds is coming off a strong showing.
They have a favorable matchup ahead with the Packers. I’m all in on White this week, and Edmonds is a possible flex option, but should definitely be starting in deeper leagues.
Panthers Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Chuba Hubbard appears to be the top option in the Carolina backfield again, but Miles Sanders is still getting a decent amount of work.
Last week, Hubbard went for 86 yards on 25 touches, while Sanders had 74 yards on 10 touches. Hubbard has 19-25 touches the past three weeks, while Sanders is between 9-15.
The Carolina duo has a tough matchup against the Falcons’ defense this week. The last time these teams met, they combined for 132 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards, so maybe it’s not nearly as tough a test as it appears. I’d put both guys on the start/sit line and decide their fates based on your other options. I’d start both in deeper leagues, and believe Hubbard will lead the way.
Saints Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Alvin Kamara is the No. 1 back for New Orleans, but Jamaal Williams got a good amount of work last week too.
Kamara should be starting in week 15 against the Giants. I’d consider Williams in deeper leagues.
Rams Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Kyren Williams is dominating the touches again in the Los Angeles backfield.
Williams had 28 of the 31 running back touches in week 14, going for 113 yards. Royce Freeman has just four touches over the past two games combined.
Williams is a must start against a weak Commanders’ defense in week 15. I’d avoid Freeman in all formats.
Seahawks Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Kennther Walker and Zach Charbonnet now share the Seattle backfield.
Last week, Walker tallied 54 total yards on 12 touches, while Charbonnet had 48 yards on 10 touches.
With a tough matchup against the Eagles looming, I’d try to avoid both guys in standard leagues. They can start in deeper leagues, though.
49ers Backfield Fantasy Outlook
Christian McCaffrey powers the San Francisco backfield.
He went for 153 total yards on just 17 touches last week. Jordan Mason was the only other back with any touches, gaining 26 yards on five touches.
McCaffrey has a great matchup ahead against the Cardinals’ defense and is probably the favorite to finish as RB1 this week. The favorable matchup makes Mason an possible starting option in deeper leagues.
Cardinals Backfield Fantasy Outlook
James Conner is the lead back in Arizona and should be ready for the stretch run after the team did not play a week ago.
Conner had 25 touches, 105 yards and two touchdowns the last time the team played. Michael Carter got the other four RB touches in the contest.
With a tough matchup looming against the 49ers, Conner is still startable for me because he is the workhorse. Avoid Carter in all formats.
