We are now in the final week of the 2022 fantasy football regular season, and for several others, the playoffs are set to begin. These decisions quite literally make or break our season. Let’s take a look at our RB start/sit Week 15 plays. Before setting your lineups, check out our complete Week 15 fantasy football PPR rankings.
Week 15 Fantasy Football RB Start ’ems
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (at HOU)
Last week was the Jerick McKinnon show. The super athlete led the Chiefs’ backfield in snaps and posted the best game of his career with 134 total yards and two touchdowns. However, he only carried the ball six times for 22 yards. Everything else came through the air. This week, the Chiefs should be able to dominate on the ground.
Despite McKinnon’s success, we’ve seen incredibly encouraging usage from Isiah Pacheco. He’s led the team in carries for five consecutive weeks, averaging 16 per game over that span. His lowest rushing yardage total during that time period is 66 yards. Pacheco has also punched in two touchdowns on the ground.
We’re also seeing a tick up in targeting. Pacheco caught one pass three weeks ago, two in Week 13 against Cincinnati, and three last week. Even a little bit through the air will go a long way to supplement Pacheco’s floor.
MORE: Jerick McKinnon Waiver Wire Week 15
With all that said, the real story here is the Texans’ league-worst run defense. No team allows more fantasy points per game or rushing yards on average. They’ve also surrendered the most touchdowns on the ground.
This is a fantastic spot for Pacheco to see his usual 15-18 touches. He’s a great bet to score a touchdown. I will be taking a very close look at Pacheco’s highers on Underdog Fantasy. You should take a very close look at your starting lineup and see if you can get Pacheco in there.
Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders (vs. NYG)
It’s always scary starting a touchdown-dependent running back who doesn’t catch passes. However, Brian Robinson actually has two receptions in each of his past two games. That’s all he needs to solidify a solid floor because the volume on the ground is there.
Robinson has dominated carries for the Commanders since Week 9. He’s averaging 18.6 carries per game over his last five contests.
Against the Giants prior to their bye (which, coincidentally, is the last game they played), Robinson ran the ball 21 times for 96 yards and caught two passes for 15 yards. He’s been playing around 45-50% of the snaps.
Antonio Gibson remains involved, but this has already proven to be a good spot for Robinson. The Giants allow 5.3 yards per carry, the second-worst rate in the league. They’ve also allowed the sixth-most rushing touchdowns.
The only thing missing from Robinson’s performance against the Giants two weeks ago was a touchdown. At home as favorites, I think he gets there this week, making him a rock-solid RB2 for your fantasy team.
Week 15 Fantasy Football RB Sit ’ems
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (at NYJ)
In Week 13, D’Andre Swift look poised to retake the Lions’ backfield, as he was off the injury report for the first time since Week 1. What that tells us is the Lions want this to be Swift’s backfield; he just needs to be healthy enough to take it.
Unfortunately, Swift found himself right back on the injury report ahead of Week 14. Sure enough, this devolved right back into a three-man committee led by Jamaal Williams. Swift played just ahead of Justin Jackson, which had been the trend prior to Swift’s apparently, but short-lived return to full health.
MORE: Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups
It’s no secret that Swift hasn’t been 100% since his September ankle injury. Since Week 9, Swift has played more than 36% of the snaps just once (Week 13). Last week, Swift handled six carries and saw four targets. That’s about the level of usage we can expect.
The Jets allow the 11th-fewest fantasy points to running backs. They allow 4.1 ypc and just 0.5 touchdowns per game. This is a tough road matchup, and Swift will not see nearly enough volume through the air to make up for the lack of it on the ground and his lack of goal-line work. Sit him.
Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills (vs. MIA)
Devin Singletary spent about two months as a true three-down back. He dominated snaps like few running backs do in the modern era. But over the past two weeks, we’ve seen a sizable shift.
With James Cook’s emergence, Singletary has played fewer than 50% of the snaps for two straight weeks, and it’s a trend I expect to continue.
Singletary carried the ball just eight times against the Jets and saw only two targets. He hasn’t been targeted more than two times in a single game since Week 9.
Additionally, the Dolphins are actually a pretty good run defense. They allow 3.8 ypc and 70.2 rushing yards per game. Both of those rank in the top five (or bottom five, depending on your perspective) in the league.
Singletary will need to find the end zone to have a useful fantasy day. That’s not a gamble I’m willing to make. Sit him if you can.