Here is the Week 15 Running Backs Coach with my recommendations first and some relevant data you should be keeping an eye on when doing your research and making lineup decisions.

High End Options

David Johnson continued his 100-yard total yard streak in every game last week but was a subpar game by his standards.  Arizona is 11th in run blocking per PFF, 10th in rushing YPC, 11th in YPG and 7th in rushing TD’s.  New Orleans is 24th in rushing TD’s allowed.  Johnson is averaging 7 catches per game in his last 7 games. 

Le'Veon Bell has 4 straight rushing games over 100+ yards and a whopping 42 touches last week.  He has also averaged 6.7 catches per game.  Pittsburgh is 9th in run blocking per PFF, 8th in YPC and 9th in YPG.  Cincinnati is 25th against in run defense per PFF, 28th YPC allowed and 25th YPG allowed. 

LeSean McCoy leads a Buffalo rushing attack that is 1st in YAC, 1st YPG, 1st in Rushing TD’s and 13th in run blocking per PFF.  Cleveland is 28th in run defense per PFF, 29th in YAC, 31st in YPG and 24th in rushing TD’s allowed.  McCoy also has 13 catches in his last two games.  The only negative is short yardage TD’s that Mike Gillislee vultures away.

Ezekiel Elliott leads in the NFL in rushing.  The Cowboys are 1st in run blocking per PFF, 2nd in YPC, 2nd YPG and 2nd in rushing TD’s.  Tampa Bay is 30th in run defense per PFF, 24th in YPC and 21st YPG.  Dak Prescott has struggled a bit lately so expect Dallas to lean more Elliot this week.  He averaging just over 2 catches per game so prefer him more on FanDuel.

Mid-Level Options

DeMarco Murray leads the Titans rushing attack.  Tennessee is 2nd in run blocking per PFF, 2nd YPC, 3rd in YPG and 7th in rushing TD’s scored.  Kansas City is 21st in run defense per PFF, 25th in YAC allowed and 27th in YPG allowed.  It is a tough game on the road but Murray and the running game is the best chance to win for the Titans.  I would limit to GPP’s.

Jordan Howard averaged 6.6 YPC last week even though he didn’t get nearly enough touches.  The Bears have been playing better but face a tough match-up against the Packers.  The game flow isn’t expected to be great but the Bears will try to run the ball.  Chicago is 10th in run blocking per PFF and 9th YPC.  Howard is averaging a strong 5.0 YPC.  He should only be used in GPP’s.

Jeremy Hill has been the main ball carrier the last two weeks in Cincinnati.  He has 53 touches in the last two weeks.    The Bengals are 7th in run blocking per PFF, 8th in YPG and 7th in rushing TD’s scored. Pittsburgh is 18th in run defense per PFF, 16th in YPC and 19th in rushing TD’s allowed so they sit very middle of the road.

Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman get their chance to attack the 49ers pathetic run defense.  Coleman is slightly cheaper but both are in good spots.  Atlanta is 4th in run blocking per PFF and 3rd in rushing TD’s.  The 49ers are 31st in run defense per PFF, 32nd in YPC allowed, 32nd in YPG allowed and 32nd in rushing TD’s allowed.  A few weeks back we saw the Saints tandem tear apart the San Francisco so no reason both Freeman and Coleman can’t do the same.

Carlos Hyde ripped through the Jets defense last week for 193 rushing yards.  He has 2 receiving TD’s in the last 3 games and takes on the Falcons who have given up 97 catches to RB’s this season which is far and away the most in the league.  The 49ers are 4th in YPC and 4th in YPC rushing.  The Falcons are 24th in run defense per PFF, 23rd in YPC and 23th in rushing TD’s allowed.

Thomas Rawls and the Seattle offense have been a completely different team in their home & road games.  Seattle is coming off a short week and a dreadful performance in Green Bay.  Rawls had 100+ yards and 2 rushing TD’s in their last home game.  The Rams got destroyed last week so coming off a short week they could be a mess after firing their head coach.  If you want Thursday night exposure, Rawls is a good spot to start.

Jay Ajayi and the Dolphins are going a far different direction than the Jets.  Miami is 11th in YPC, 7th in YPC and 12th in rushing TD’s.  New York has no offense at all these days and were shredded for over 200 rushing yards last week.  Miami has gotten a few guys back on the offensive line over the last few weeks which has helped.  I would stick to GPP’s with Ajayi.

Bilal Powell had 34 touches for 179 total yards last week after Matt Forte was injured.  He should be the lead back with Forte likely done for the season.  Miami defense is 20th in run blocking per PFF, 31st in YAC allowed and 30th in YPG allowed.  The Jets despite their struggles overall are a respectable 12th in YPC and 10th in YPG.

Low Cost Options

Kenneth Dixon looked great last Monday night even if the stat lines weren’t fantastic.  He had 8 catches and showed great power.  Dixon had 3 times more snaps than Terrence West so it appears he has taken over as the main ball carrier.  This was well overdue.  Philadelphia is more susceptible via the run than the pass though both parts have been struggling.

Kenneth Farrow takes over the running back duties for the injured Melvin Gordon.  Gordon is technically day-to-day with a hip injury but I doubt he plays.  Farrow had 24 touches after Gordon was injured last week though not terribly effective but the yards per touch by Gordon wasn’t great either.  Farrow had 6 catches which is great for PPR formats.  Oakland is 26th in run defense per PFF, 30th YPC allowed and 26th in YPG allowed.

Robert Kelley didn’t get the touches we wanted last week but was still able to find the endzone as Philadelphia controlled the clock.  The Redskins are 6th in run blocking per PFF, 6th in YPC, 12th in YPC and 10th in rushing TD’s.  Carolina has decent run defense ratings and ranks but that was before injuries wrecked them.  If Luke Kuechly is cleared to play, I would downgrade Kelley.  The Panthers are not motivated right now and have given up 75 points in their last two road games.

Justin Forsett draws a tough match-up vs New England but the price tag is hard to ignore.  He is minimum price on Draftkings and near minimum on FanDuel.  Denver has been decent at run blocking at 8th per PFF.  In his first game back playing for Kubiak, he had 9 touches compared to 5 by Booker even after fumbling on his first carry so appears he may have taken over as the lead back.

              Opp RuOpp OvOpp Ru      
PlayerTmOppGSnapsRuAttRuYdsRuTDYPCRecReYdReTDTarFumDef RkDef RkYds/GDVOAO/U$Line$FD$DK$FA
David JohnsonARINO137612481,085114.469745410441724106.60.090050-135$9800$10100$6650
Le'Veon BellPITCIN1057718081734.56350117732320129.00.024044150$9400$9800$6750
LeSean McCoyBUFCLE1247817494995.53523614023232158.30.179042.5-510$9000$8900$6100
Ezekiel ElliottDALTB135812871,392124.9283221364217119.9-0.045046-320$8500$8200$6500
Melvin GordonSDOAK13650254997103.94141925722621130.30.059050125$8000$6500$5600
Devonta FreemanATLSF1348218279174.33933025003131185.00.131051.5-800$7700$6700$5700
DeMarco MurrayTENKC136632501,13594.54530935631911133.2-0.043043-240$7400$6900$5550
Lamar MillerHOUJAC1354222590334.02814713621613122.7-0.022039-249$7200$5400$5200
Carlos HydeSFATL1144017468663.92212612622827109.50.106051.5-800$7000$5900$5200
Jay AjayiMIANYJ1241219395675.0231280313629111.00.115038115$6900$5900$4750
Latavius MurrayOAKSD11395162656124.029228039015999.6-0.058050125$6800$5800$5100
Spencer WareKCTEN1243118379034.3284022362132893.80.076043-240$6700$5700$5300
Jeremy HillCINPIT1335219578884.0201660260101097.6-0.047044150$6600$5600$5250
Matt ForteNYJMIA1346821178473.72925614212216144.9-0.012038115$6600$6800$4950
Jordan HowardCHIGB1249419496955.0242661431915104.3-0.024042.5230$6600$6000$4900
Tevin ColemanATLSF102598732873.82335323103131185.00.131051.5-800$6500$5000$4900
Doug MartinTBDAL723710531323.012115014142390.00.041046-320$6500$5300$5000
Mark IngramNOARI1337914375835.335264441274104.8-0.142050-135$6400$4700$4750
Thomas RawlsSEALA61557229324.1119101401118119.5-0.018038.5-948$6400$5700$5100
LeGarrette BlountNEDEN134242481,029144.1738082251137.8-0.17500 $6300$5000$4950
Bilal PowellNYJMIA133194931116.33724715102216144.9-0.012038115$6200$5000$4700
Jonathan StewartCARWAS1037916257783.654301522726122.30.074051-225$6100$5200$4900
Todd GurleyLASEA1353322773953.335272046236107.0-0.114038.5-948$6000$5000$4550
Kenneth FarrowSDOAK11513612503.57270902621130.30.059050125$6000$4400$4500
Robert KelleyWASCAR1222312858754.6629111081297.7-0.034051-225$5900$4700$4700
Frank GoreINDMIN1352019874943.8292043371148110.6-0.110044.5-204$5900$4400$4600
Terrance WestBALPHI1335516565254.0231461331125109.8-0.12000 $5700$3900$4550
Rashad JenningsNYGDET1031413645923.43018913602430105.80.159041.5-225$5700$4500$4400
Jerick McKinnonMININD1234412938813.02614013403025125.00.130044.5-204$5600$4000$4000
Matt AsiataMININD1331910735463.32518203013025125.00.130044.5-204$5500$3400$4100
Isaiah CrowellCLEBUF1341915571854.63329904212922136.30.051042.5-510$5500$4100$4300
Theo RiddickDETNYG104239235713.953371567053100.4-0.135041.5-225$5500$5400$4350
T.J. YeldonJACHOU1348212043213.64527816121819114.6-0.027039-249$5400$4100$4200
Darren SprolesPHIBAL134247836614.74740026401281.8-0.15500 $5400$4000$4300
Tim HightowerNOARI1321210542214.017170120074104.8-0.142050-135$5400$4100$4000
Justin ForsettDENNE3118319803.21136014021797.80.02900 $5400$3000$4400
Chris IvoryJACHOU92559335023.81611702141819114.6-0.027039-249$5300$3700$4300
Wendell SmallwoodPHIBAL131737731214.165501311281.8-0.15500 $5300$3800$3900
Devontae BookerDENNE1337414951133.421153029221797.80.02900 $5200$4200$4650
James StarksGBCHI92586314502.31913422502014116.0-0.008042.5230$5200$3300$4200
Chris ThompsonWASCAR133826032125.437269146181297.7-0.034051-225$5100$3700$4000
Kenneth DixonBALPHI91405724504.3261421330125109.8-0.12000 $5100$3800$4200
Dion LewisNEDEN464198804.612760180251137.8-0.17500 $5100$3900$4300
Ryan MathewsPHIBAL1118411748774.2119411221281.8-0.15500 $5000$3900$4500
Mike GillisleeBUFCLE122006437565.984011003232158.30.179042.5-510$5000$4600$4000
Dwayne WashingtonDETNYG91266921213.174909053100.4-0.135041.5-225$5000$3500$3900
Alfred BlueHOUJAC111315126305.2370611613122.7-0.022039-249$5000$4400$3300
Christine MichaelGBCHI934011746964.0209612612014116.0-0.008042.5230$4900$3500$4100
Derrick HenryTENKC121878235424.31011201201911133.2-0.043043-240$4900$5100$4200
Charcandrick WestKCTEN122575419513.6221270280132893.80.076043-240$4900$4800$3800
Jalen RichardOAKSD121736838615.721173130015999.6-0.058050125$4900$3200$3500
Charles SimsTBDAL51784111612.814112119142390.00.041046-320$4900$3800$0
Jeremy LangfordCHIGB91684415133.414790211915104.3-0.024042.5230$4800$4000$3800
Alfred MorrisDALTB131106123123.828040217119.9-0.045046-320$4800$4900$3800
Duke JohnsonCLEBUF133676029514.94643106512922136.30.051042.5-510$4800$3200$4200
Jacquizz RodgersTBDAL82149542214.41079013042390.00.041046-320$4800$4200$3500
Damien WilliamsMIANYJ111123011033.7181753240629111.00.115038115$4700$3900$3500
Kenjon BarnerPHIBAL12812412325.13170601281.8-0.15500 $4700$3600$3800
Zach ZennerDETNYG101305318613.5878010053100.4-0.135041.5-225$4700$3000$3800
Aaron RipkowskiGBCHI13181258923.67310802014116.0-0.008042.5230$4600$3000$3500
Shane VereenNYGDET41003114714.798501512430105.80.159041.5-225$4600$4000$0
Kenyan DrakeMIANYJ1279209714.99460100629111.00.115038115$4500$3000$3500
Rex BurkheadCINPIT13772815105.49770110101097.6-0.047044150$4500$3500$3500