FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: Week 15 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings & Tiers: Studs, Sleepers, and Must-Starts (Ep. 1891)
Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmaurice ("Fitzy"), Andrew Erickson

Overview

This episode dives deep into the Week 15 running back rankings for fantasy football, with the FantasyPros hosts presenting their top 36 RBs. With the fantasy playoffs upon us and no significant byes, the crew analyzes "set and forget" stars, mid-tier questions, volume-based landmines, sleepers, and risky plays. They also unpack some notable disagreements amongst themselves, provide stat-backed recommendations, and debate lineup dilemmas in the crucial first week of the fantasy postseason.

Top 12 Running Backs: Reliable Studs, Minor Matchup Concerns

Timestamps: 00:35–07:25

Main Points:

• With byes out of the way, fantasy managers can enjoy a "full arsenal" of healthy RBs.
• The consensus top 12 for the week:
  Christian McCaffrey, Jameer Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Devon Achane, Derrick Henry, James Cook, Jonathan Taylor, Bucky Irving, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Travis Etienne, Chase Brown.
  (“Chalk, chalk, chalk. All the players that there aren't big questions about,” - Chris Welsh, 01:56)

Spotlight: Travis Etienne (Jaguars vs. Jets)

• Erickson: Pound the table for Etienne’s upside against a collapsing Jets run defense (“Absolutely salivating… Not only is he a locked and loaded RB1 this week, I think he could flirt with number one RB1 overall status on the week in week 15” – 02:55)
  • Jets have ceded big weeks to recent opponents: Achane (RB8, only a half), Bijan (RB1), Derrick Henry (RB4), Travion Henderson (RB3).
  • Etienne’s volume is safe due to Bchelle Tutin's fumbling issues.
  • “He’s been on an absolute heater inside the top 10 running backs six of his last seven games… ECR is actually slacking here on Etienne.” (03:37)
• Fitz: Agrees, notes he’ll consider bumping Etienne up. Workload, matchup, and Tutin’s ball security all reinforce Etienne’s locked-in RB1 value. (04:25)

Other Brief Notes

• James Cook faces a tough New England run D (“kind of laid an egg” last time, 07:25)
• Jonathan Taylor and Josh Jacobs both have iffy matchups, but consensus is their role and touchdown equity keep them as safe starters.

RB2 Range (RB13–24): Splits, Workload Worries, and Question Marks

Timestamps: 07:42–16:22

Featured Backs

• Javonte Williams
• Trevion Henderson (Patriots)
• Kyron Williams
• Quinshon Judkins
• RJ Harvey

Trevion Henderson vs. Ramondre Stevenson (13-15)

• Erickson: Henderson won’t see a workhorse role with Stevenson back. “Can he dominate with 12 to 14 touches? … Probably not in his range of outcomes.” (09:17)
  • Henderson more efficient, more explosive, worth mid-RB2 ranking.
  • Goal-line touch split is unpredictable.
• Fitz: Only mid-range RB2 for Henderson: “Rankers … giving Henderson this ECR of RB13 are forgetting that last time … Ramondre outsnapped him 38–32 and out-touched him 15–14.” (10:57)

Breece Hall: Volume vs. Disaster Potential

• Fitzy (initially RB15, adjusts to RB17):
  • “It's not that comfortable…” Jets' QB chaos and Jags’ run defense (fewest RB rush yards allowed) limit upside. (12:13, 13:26)
  • “If we have a QB change … it’s going to be challenging for him on the ground.”
• Erickson (RB23):
  • “He feels like a landmine player this week… we’re always searching for upside. Does he have upside against the #1 run defense … with this QB mess?” (14:18)
  • Volume is undeniable, but “just too inconsistent… I am really concerned about him this week.”

Woody Marks: Workhorse with a Dream Matchup

• Erickson (RB14!):
  • The Cardinals are “buns against the run.” Even after dogging Marks last week, he's all-in for Week 15:
  • “The matchup is divine. The workload is divine.” (16:22)
• Fitz (RB19):
  • Workload isn’t in question, but “I just don’t know if Woody Marks is good.” (19:43)
  • Volume feels like Tony Pollard-ish empty stats: “If I have to play Woody Marks, I’m okay with it, but he just hasn’t really done anything to get me excited.”

RB2/3 Fringe and Deep Cuts: Chasing Touches, Avoiding Landmines

Timestamps: 21:06–29:07

Rico Dowdle Desperation Play

• Fitzy (RB26):
  • “He is a very fringy starter … now it’s to the point where Chuba is back in this thing and it’s more like a 50/50 backfield.” (22:35)
• Erickson (slightly higher):
  • Acknowledges doubts, but in this matchup, “We’ve seen him … as a full-blown workhorse at times this year … and in this exact matchup against the Saints earlier, he was RB15.” (24:13)
  • Says Saints’ rush D is vulnerable where Rico fits best.

Ashton Gentry vs. Dowdle: PPR Lifeline

• Erickson: “I lean towards Gentry still … [he] plays all the snaps, sees a ton of targets out of the backfield.” (27:07)
• Fitzy: Agrees, “I’m starting Gentry just because the Snapchat thing terrifies me with Rico.” (28:30)

RB3 Range and Flex Fliers: The Ugly Gets Uglier

Timestamps: 29:07–42:17

Chris Rodriguez: Touchdown or Bust

• Fitzy (RB37): “If Chris Rodriguez doesn’t score a TD, you aren’t going to get your money’s worth … I find this profile utterly unappealing and do NOT want to start him in a playoff game.” (31:09)
• Erickson (RB29): “I just think he’s going to score a touchdown… doesn’t mean a top 12 running back, but around RB29.” (32:09)
• Fitzy humorously: “Bet him for an anytime touchdown, but do not start him in your fantasy matchup.” (32:40)

Tony Pollard: Trap or Opportunity?

• Erickson (RB30, moves higher):
  • “Feels like such a sucker play this week… now you have him going on the road against the 49ers as nearly two TD underdogs. This is the quintessential point-chasey play.” (33:24)
• Welsh: Pushes back, noting only flex-range value baked in; “I think if you’re in a desperate situation, Tony Pollard has maybe more upside because of potential volume than even Chris Rodriguez.” (34:50)
• Fitzy (RB33): “I agree that I'd start him ahead of Chris Rodriguez… I just want to proceed as if last week’s Tony Pollard game didn’t happen.” (36:01)

Devin Singletary vs. Blake Corum

• Fitz (Singletary RB30, Corum RB29):
  • Likes Singletary’s continued role, even with Tyrone Tracy seemingly healthy, but slightly prefers Corum for offense upside. (39:53)
• Erickson (Singletary RB40):
  • Has significant Tracy injury status concerns; prefers Corum if Tracy’s active. “If Tracy does not play and it is Singletary’s backfield, Singletary over Corum.” (41:12–42:13)

MEMORABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS

• “Not only is [Etienne] a locked and loaded RB1 this week, I think he could flirt with number one RB1 overall status on the week.” – Andrew Erickson (02:55)
• “He feels like a landmine player this week.” – Andrew Erickson, on Breece Hall (14:18)
• “If Chris Rodriguez doesn't score a touchdown, you are not going to get your money's worth… bet him for an anytime touchdown, but do not start him in your fantasy matchup.” – Pat Fitzmaurice (31:09/32:40)
• “Tony Pollard feels like such a sucker play this week… this is like the quintessential point-chasey type of play.” – Andrew Erickson (33:24)
• [On Woody Marks] “The matchup is divine. The workload is divine.” – Andrew Erickson (16:22)

Key Takeaways & Strategic Advice

• Ride the Chalk: The top 12 RBs (with the exception of a couple, like James Cook and Josh Jacobs) all have fantastic matchups or secure usage. Start your studs as usual.
• Volume < Role: Just having snaps/touches (a la Chris Rodriguez, some of Woody Marks) isn’t enough if efficiency, matchup, or run D is a problem.
• Trust Rankings, but Adjust for News: Especially mid-tier and fringe backs depend heavily on injury/game-time updates (e.g., Tyrone Tracy’s role, Saints’ snap-splits, etc.).
• Beware the Trap: RB names with recent spike weeks (Tony Pollard) could let you down if underlying trends (game-script, offensive line, split-backfields) remain negative.
• Ceiling Chasers vs. Safe Floors: Most of the “startable” RB2/3 options have some type of landmine element (Breece Hall, Ashton Gentry, Rico Dowdle, Chris Rodriguez). Know your need for risk vs. safe volume/high-floor plays.

Segment Timestamps

• 00:35–02:52 – Celebrating full RB stables, Top 12 intro
• 02:52–05:17 – Travis Etienne: case for top-5 finish
• 05:17–07:25 – Deeper chalk, matchup & injury notes (Jacobs, Taylor, Cook)
• 07:42–09:06 – RB2s intro, snap/volume questions
• 09:06–11:34 – Trevion Henderson vs Ramondre Stevenson
• 11:34–15:32 – Breece Hall: upside or bust?
• 15:59–19:43 – Woody Marks breakout week?
• 21:06–24:13 – Desperation tier: Rico Dowdle and co.
• 24:13–28:30 – Ashton Gentry/PPR discussion
• 29:07–32:40 – Chris Rodriguez: TD-or-bust/waiver-wire play
• 33:24–38:52 – Tony Pollard: trust or trap?
• 39:53–42:17 – Singletary vs. Corum and Tracy injury impact

Final Advice

• Check news up to kickoff – especially injury/snap share developments.
• For start/sit questions and nervous tiebreakers, join the FantasyPros Start & Sit livestreams Thursdays at 3pm Eastern.

Hosts: Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmaurice, Andrew Erickson
Listen on: iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube