Fantasy football managers know that every lineup decision can make or break a week, and choosing the right players to start or sit is where championships are won. With the 2025 NFL season underway, matchups, stats, and trends are more important than ever. From favorable matchups and scoring trends to players you should avoid in tough spots, my weekly positional start and sit guide is built to give you an edge.
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Running Backs to Start
Chris Rodriguez WAS
Chris Rodriguez enters Week 15 with a steadily increasing role and enough rushing volume to keep him in the starting conversation, even if his profile remains touchdown-dependent. Since Week 11, he has averaged 12.3 touches and 59.3 total yards per game, solidifying himself as Washington’s backfield leader. His control of the red-zone work is meaningful, as 64.2% of the running back red-zone carries have gone his way in that span. While he offers virtually nothing as a receiver, with just two targets all season, he has been excellent on the ground. Rodriguez ranks first in yards after contact per attempt among all qualified running backs, showcasing legitimate rushing talent. Even in last week’s 31-0 loss, he still managed 52 yards on 10 carries, demonstrating the team’s commitment to his role. Over his last five games, he has 253 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 54 carries, giving him the kind of consistency that keeps him on the start radar.
That usage sets him up as a strong start this week against the Giants, who remain the worst run defense in the NFL. Since Week 10, New York has allowed the most rushing yards per game, the highest explosive run rate, the third-highest missed tackle rate, and the most yards after contact per attempt. Running backs are averaging a staggering 6.10 yards per carry against them, creating one of the most favorable matchups on the entire Week 15 slate. Rodriguez has also separated from Jacory Croskey-Merritt by earning more touches in three straight weeks, further strengthening his weekly floor. He has delivered at least 52 scrimmage yards or a touchdown in five consecutive games, a level of stability rarely found among waiver-wire options. With elite matchup indicators and a secure rushing role, he should find his way into fantasy football lineups as a clear start this week.
Woody Marks HOU
Woody Marks continues to operate as a heavy-usage option in the Texans’ backfield, offering RB2-level opportunity despite RB3-level fantasy football output. Since Week 10, he has played 71.1% of the snaps while averaging 20 touches and 69 total yards per game, showing a workload that typically yields stronger results. His biggest issue has been touchdowns, as he has only two over his last five games despite consistent volume. Marks remains active in the passing game and functions as Houston’s primary receiving back, which provides a floor even in tougher matchups. The overall offensive ecosystem has held back his ceiling, but the usage itself is strong enough to take seriously. His metrics indicate he’s one score away from turning weekly RB35 finishes into mid-tier RB2 production.
That pushes him into start territory for Week 15 in a premium matchup against a collapsing Cardinals defense. Since Week 10, Arizona has allowed the fifth-highest explosive run rate, the fourth-most rushing yards per game, and the highest missed tackle rate in football. Backfields facing Arizona over the last five weeks have combined for 712 rushing yards, 157 receiving yards, and 10 total touchdowns, highlighting just how friendly the matchup is. Marks just handled 28 touches last week, including 26 carries, and found the end zone despite modest rushing efficiency. With Nick Chubb potentially limited or absent, Marks could again see 20-plus touches in a game environment that heavily favors the run. Six running backs have scored at least 14 PPR points against Arizona over this same stretch, and Marks fits perfectly into that profile. He is a strong fantasy football start and a locked-in RB2 across all formats.
Rico Dowdle CAR
Rico Dowdle heads into Week 15 after another week of impressive per-touch efficiency, even if the snap distribution in Carolina’s backfield continues to fluctuate. He played only 43.5% of the snaps last week but still handled 20 touches and accumulated 79 total yards, showing just how much work the Panthers give him when he’s on the field. Dowdle has significantly outperformed Chuba Hubbard on a per-touch basis all season, ranking 13th in explosive run rate and sixth in yards after contact per attempt among qualifying backs. His touch-per-snap rate was unusually high last week, making it difficult to expect the same workload unless his snap share ticks upward. Even so, Carolina appears comfortable leaning on him as a primary ballcarrier when the offense gets moving. The concern is volatility, but his talent has consistently earned him opportunities despite the snap split.
Those factors move him into starting consideration against a Saints defense that has been far more vulnerable to the run than its reputation suggests. The Saints have allowed an opposing running back to score at least 12.7 PPR points in five straight games, making this an advantageous matchup. Dowdle is expected to remain the lead option in Week 15 and has already had success against New Orleans, posting 18 carries, 53 yards, a touchdown, and three receptions in their Week 10 meeting. Carolina’s backfield may remain a timeshare, but Dowdle’s efficiency and red-zone involvement keep him ahead of Hubbard for starting purposes. He profiles as a strong start and an RB2 this week.
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Running Backs to Sit
Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal LAC
The Chargers’ backfield is trending toward a true committee, making both Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal risky plays heading into Week 15. Hampton returned from injury with 15 touches and 67 total yards, showing solid involvement but not enough volume to trust in a difficult matchup. Vidal maintained his lead role with a 69% snap share and 56.1% route share, but his red-zone usage dipped significantly while Hampton handled five attempts inside the 20. Both players produced respectable yardage last week, yet neither separated from the other in a meaningful way that would increase their reliability. Los Angeles clearly wants to use both backs, which caps the fantasy ceiling for each player. The workload split should become even more evenly distributed as Hampton’s conditioning improves. Because of that split and a brutal matchup, both backs should be viewed as sits in Week 15.
The matchup against Kansas City pushes them further out of startable territory, as the Chiefs have quietly become one of the toughest run defenses in football. Since Week 10, Kansas City has allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game, the third-lowest missed tackle rate, and the fewest yards after contact per attempt. Hampton may see his snap count rise this week, but increased usage does little to help in such a restrictive defensive environment. Vidal, meanwhile, falls into middling FLEX territory at best due to reduced scoring opportunities and a shrinking margin for efficiency. With both backs splitting red-zone touches and early-down work, neither has a stable path to fantasy scoring in this matchup. The Chargers’ offense also remains inconsistent, which further compresses touchdown chances. Both Hampton and Vidal profile as sits this week unless managers are desperate for volume.
Aaron Jones MIN
Aaron Jones enters Week 15 slumping, scoring 8.7 PPR points or fewer in three straight games. Minnesota continues to use Jones and Jordan Mason in tandem, limiting Jones’ ability to command a high-value workload. Since Week 10, Jones has averaged a 57.1% snap rate, 13.4 touches, and only 61.6 total yards per game, well below the expectation for a reliable RB2. His efficiency has plummeted this season, evidenced by a 7% missed tackle rate and just 1.98 yards after contact per attempt. The Vikings appear content deploying him as a lead back despite the efficiency struggles this season. Without consistent red-zone usage or receiving volume on top of the ineffectiveness of breaking off big runs, Jones’ weekly floor has become extremely fragile
Complicating matters further is a difficult matchup against an improving Dallas run defense that has transformed since acquiring Quinnen Williams. Since Week 10, the Cowboys have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game, the 12th-fewest yards before contact per attempt, and have posted a top-10 stuff rate. Although Detroit gashed them in Week 14, Dallas had previously shut down Ashton Jeanty, Saquon Barkley, and Kareem Hunt, holding them all to under 100 yards combined. The Vikings will continue rotating backs, and Jones’s lack of efficiency makes that even more concerning. He profiles strictly as a low-end FLEX option, and most fantasy managers should consider alternative choices. With a depressed ceiling and declining role, Jones is firmly a sit this week.
Kenneth Walker SEA
The Seahawks’ backfield continues to frustrate fantasy managers, and Kenneth Walker remains one of the toughest players to trust heading into Week 15. Over the last several games, he has played a 54.1% snap share with a 40.4% route rate and a 9.5% target share, which reflects a lead role but far from a dominating one. Walker has averaged 15 touches and 78.6 total yards since Week 11, but the inconsistent distribution of red-zone work, eight attempts for him versus ten for Zach Charbonnet, creates unpredictable scoring chances. While Walker remains elite in efficiency metrics, ranking top-four in explosive run rate and missed tackle rate, the Seahawks’ inconsistent offensive line frequently neutralizes his strengths. Game script issues and stalled drives have further limited his overall opportunities. He has scored single-digit fantasy points in six of his last nine games, making his weekly floor dangerously low. That workload volatility places him squarely in sit territory this week.
This matchup does him no favors either, as Indianapolis has quietly emerged as a tough run defense. Since Week 10, the Colts have allowed the eighth-lowest missed tackle rate and the sixth-fewest yards after contact per attempt. Walker has struggled to overcome strong defensive fronts this season, and this is another environment in which yardage will likely come at a premium. While Indy has surrendered touchdowns to backs, relying on touchdown luck is a poor approach for a player already stuck in a volatile committee. Walker’s snap share, combined with his inconsistent usage, makes it difficult to start him over more stable alternatives in a tough matchup. Unless fantasy managers lack options, Walker profiles as a sit in Week 15.
