The fantasy football playoffs have arrived, and the remaining teams are just two games away from their Fantasy Football Championship. An underused Sunday preparation strategy is predicting your players fantasy output for the week. Do not use the website projections, do the math yourself. \u00a0It is a vital practice to predict how your team matches up by position with potential opponents.<\/p>\n
This process continues\u00a0by examining the critical fantasy running back position. In the second installment of the LWOPF<\/strong> fantasy playoff positional series, here are the top ten fantasy plays for the running back\u00a0position in Week 15. (All statistics from PlayerProfiler.com<\/a><\/strong>)<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Ezekiel Elliott<\/a> (Dallas Cowboys)<\/strong> Skinny: \u00a0<\/strong>Elliott has become as much of a “sure thing” in fantasy football as any player. The Cowboys have played great all season and are looking to lock up the top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Elliott gets fed behind the best offensive line in football, is leading the league in rushing yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, and has over 30 receptions as well. Tampa Bay’s run defense, while solid, does not pose enough of a threat on the road in Dallas. Elliott owners should expect a top fantasy running back performance from the rookie.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0LeSean McCoy<\/a> (Buffalo Bills)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong>\u00a0 The only reason to not have LeSean McCoy<\/a> <\/strong>as the top Week 15 running back is because of Buffalo’s occasional tendency to give goal line touches to Mike Gillislee<\/a><\/strong> or quarterback\u00a0Tyrod Taylor<\/a>.<\/strong> McCoy has produced a tremendous year, averaging 19.8 fantasy points per game. He ranks first among all backs in Breakaway Runs (15 yards or more), and is fourth in Evaded Tackles with 67. \u00a0The Browns rank 31st on the season against the run, and playing Buffalo on the road in December is never easy. McCoy’s floor is the highest of any running back in Week 15.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0David Johnson<\/a> (Arizona Cardinals)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> \u00a0The undisputed number one running back in fantasy football gets the New Orleans Saints at home in Week 15. While the Saints rank 30th against the run this season, they have been significantly better of late giving up 50, 40, and 66 rushing yards to their opponents’ lead back in each of the last three games. In a must win for Arizona’s slim playoff chances, Johnson will be featured early and often. He ranks first among all running backs in total touchdowns (15) and receptions (69). \u00a0Johnson also ranks third in red zone touches with 47. \u00a0He’s a definite top three Week 15 finish for the player that should be this year’s NFL MVP.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Le’Veon Bell<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Pittsburgh Steelers)<\/strong> Skinny: \u00a0<\/strong>Bell\u00a0had an incredible 51.8 fantasy points last week. This week, the Steelers go on the road to play rival Cincinnati. There is a lot of bad blood between these teams, and the Bengals would love nothing more than to beat the Steelers at home to salvage something from their season. That is the only reason Bell isn’t higher. The Bengals have a run defense that only ranks 19th in points allowed to fantasy running backs. If you have Bell? \u00a0Simply sit back and enjoy. \u00a0Again, he scored 51.8 fantasy points last week.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0LeGarrette Blount<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(New England Patriots)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> \u00a0It can be very nerve racking to start a running back on the road in the fantasy playoffs. However, while the Broncos secondary\u00a0sports the “no fly zone,” their run defense has been less than stellar. \u00a0Currently ranked 22nd against the run, they will have a difficult time against the Patriots and LeGarrette Blount. \u00a0Another perfect illustration of the success of the “Zero RB” drafting formula, Blount ranks second among all running backs in total touchdowns (14) and red zone carries (50). He ranks fifth in the league in rushing yards (1025) and fourth in evaded tackles (67). \u00a0The game script here will be short passes and a ton of Blount attacking Denver’s rush defense. Blount is a lock for a rushing touchdown, and maybe two.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Devonta Freeman<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(Atlanta Falcons)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong>\u00a0 It’s all about the matchups in fantasy football. Always. The Falcons at home playing against the defense that is worst against fantasy running backs is truly ideal. The trick here is to pick between Devonta Freeman<\/a><\/strong> and Tevin Coleman<\/a><\/strong>. Knee-jerk reactionaries will go with Coleman after his 16 fantasy points last week at Los Angeles. A deeper dive however, shows that his performance was mainly touchdown dependent. Coleman scored twice on just eight rushing attempts and two receptions. Freeman’s last three games at home have produced 17, 19, and 21 fantasy points. \u00a0Don’t get fooled: Freeman will be the better play and a potential top five play in Week 15.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Kenneth Dixon<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(Baltimore Ravens)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> The changing of the guard has occurred in the Baltimore backfield. Kenneth Dixon has supplanted Terrance West<\/a><\/strong> as the lead running back, and fantasy owners should reap the benefits in this playoff matchup. Dixon’s scoring the last three weeks as been ultra-consistent: 12.0, 11.7, and 22.1 fantasy points. Last week against New England, he out touched West 19-6, and seems primed to be a huge fantasy playoff difference maker. Dixon is elusive in space as proven\u00a0by his sixth best positional juke rate (33.7 percent). Philadelphia’s run defense has been average at best on the road, and this ranking represents\u00a0Dixon’s absolute fantasy floor.<\/p>\nFantasy Football Playoffs Part II: Week 15 Running Backs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong> \u00a01st
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a0<\/strong>22.2 (3rd)
\nOpponent: \u00a0Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a0<\/strong>19th<\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a02nd
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a0<\/strong>19.8\u00a0(5th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0Cleveland Browns<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a0<\/strong>31st<\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a03rd
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a0<\/strong>26.2\u00a0(2nd)
\nOpponent: \u00a0New Orleans Saints<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a0<\/strong>30th<\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a04th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a0<\/strong>27.0\u00a0(1st)
\nOpponent: \u00a0Cincinnati Bengals<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a0<\/strong>19th<\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a05th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a0<\/strong>15.1
\nOpponent: \u00a0at Denver Broncos<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a0<\/strong>22nd<\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a06th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a0<\/strong>15.9 (9th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0San Francisco<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a0<\/strong>32nd<\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a07th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a0<\/strong>7.9\u00a0(44th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0Philadelphia<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a0<\/strong>13th<\/p>\n