The fantasy football playoffs have finally arrived, which means there is almost no room for mistakes when making decisions on who to start in your lineup with the fantasy championship on the line. Here are some of my early start/sit options at the RB position for Week 15 of NFL action.
Which RB Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?
Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. MIN)
Oddly enough, Cincinnati Bengals RB Joe Mixon has looked more like the fantasy back many expected when they drafted him in the second or third round earlier this year with Jake Browning under center than with Joe Burrow at quarterback.
Joe Mixon will not be denied!
Mixon’s second effort ties it up. pic.twitter.com/rl4jSzCCZE
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 5, 2023
Mixon has produced 68+ rushing yards and a rushing score in two straight games. He continues to be heavily involved in the passing game, which is consistently landing him in the top 10 in terms of fantasy points scored at the RB position.
MORE: Positional Start/Sits — QB | WR | TE
If this offense continues to produce with Browning under center, then Mixon should be a comfortable high-end RB2 option for your fantasy lineup as you contend for a fantasy football championship.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at GB)
After failing to rush for 80 yards through the first 10 games of the season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Rachaad White has hit that threshold in three straight games, which includes a pair of 100-yard rushing performances.
White also registered his second receiving touchdown of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, which gives the Bucs’ bell-cow back a ton of momentum heading into their matchup against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15.
Which RB Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?
D’Andre Swift, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (at SEA)
Just one week after seeing just 42% of the offensive snaps against the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles RB D’Andre Swift posted a second straight fantasy dud against the Cowboys with just 39 rushing yards on 11 carries with no touchdowns and zero receptions.
Swift is still a very talented RB in an explosive offense, but his recent usage makes him a risky play against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, despite an enticing matchup.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks (vs. PHI)
Speaking of the Seahawks, RB Kenneth Walker III returned to the lineup after a two-game hiatus due to an oblique injury. And the results were… underwhelming to put it very gently.
His 21 yards rushing on eight attempts mark the third time in the last four games that Walker has failed to top 25 yards rushing. Making matters worse is that rookie RB Zach Charbonnet saw one more carry than Walker in this game, making this backfield feel like a complete timeshare.
Seattle’s RB duo doesn’t have a great fantasy outlook in Week 15 heading into a matchup against the stout Eagles rushing defense, which means Walker is a risky RB2 play at best this week.
Trending Searches for RB Start/Sit
Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use, and it allows you to enter up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!
It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, and we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity on!
Should You Start Mixon or Breece Hall?
Despite the ineptitude of the Jets’ passing game in 2023, Breece Hall has been a mainstay inside the top 15 of my weekly RB fantasy rankings for one reason alone… his consistent production as a pass catcher.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Hall’s 52 receptions for 435 yards and three scores on the season are amongst the league leaders for pass-catching stat lines at the RB position. While Mixon has certainly been involved out of the backfield since Browning took over, Hall has caught 21 passes over the last three games, which leads all running backs during that stretch.
It’s very close, but I’m going to stick with Hall in Week 15.
Should You Start Swift or Derrick Henry?
Fantasy managers faced with choosing between Swift or the Tennessee Titans’ Derrick Henry in their starting lineup are probably going to hold their breath, cross their fingers, and hope neither of them gets scripted out of the game.
When Henry gets scripted out of the game, you can see it coming from a mile away. The Titans fall behind, have to abandon the running game, and favor Tyjae Spears as a pass catcher in a negative game script.
However, Swift managers don’t have the luxury of a rhyme or reason as to why he’s coming off the field. Against the Cowboys, Swift saw 11 rush attempts, while Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott saw a combined seven carries.
While I trust the Eagles’ offense far more than the one in Tennessee, I feel more confident that Henry will see more work in Week 15 against a Houston Texans team that is banged up on the offensive side of the ball. Roll with King Henry in Week 15.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!