Fantasy Football Week 15 Running Back Start/Sit: Devin Neal, Omarion Hampton and More

The fantasy football playoffs start this week (tonight, in fact). This is what the entire season has been building toward, so it's more important than ever to make sure you start the best possible team. This article is here to help you do that by breaking down some of the toughest start/sit decisions at the running back position for Week 15.

First, however, I'd like to take a look back at my results from Week 14. I started strong with an all-rookie start section, as RJ Harvey (19 half-PPR points), Omarion Hampton (13.7), and Devin Neal (14.9) all had productive days. 

However, the points didn't stop flowing there. Kareem Hunt (9) and Kyle Monangai (8.2) both failed to finish as top-24 backs but still had respectable outings. More importantly, I massively missed on Travis Etienne, who took advantage of Bhayshul Tuten's early fumble to rack up 20.7 half-PPR points. 

This week (and for the rest of the season), the standards to make a fantasy lineup are extra high with all 32 teams in action. This means I will once again be taking risks in the sit section, and the names in the start section might be bigger than usual. With that in mind, let's get started. 

For more help with your toughest Week 15 start/sit decisions, check out FantasySP's NFL Start/Sit tool!

Running Backs to Start Week 15

Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints

At this point, I'm just going to list Neal every week until Alvin Kamara gets back or his start rate reaches a more respectable number. The veteran didn't practice on Wednesday, and the rookie is currently being started in just 20% of ESPN leagues, so we haven't reached either scenario yet.

Over the last two weeks, with Kamara sidelined, Neal has been a workhorse for the Saints. He has averaged a 77% snap rate, a 73% backfield rush share, and a 7% target share on a 65% route participation rate. This has turned into a solid 11.7 half-PPR points per game.

This week, Neal and the Saints have a decent matchup with the Panthers. Carolina's defense allows the 10th most points per game to opposing backs. The Saints are also just 2.5-point underdogs, which still isn't ideal but is not bad for a 3-10 team. On volume alone, Neal is a solid option in this spot.  

Woody Marks, Houston Texans

Speaking of rookie running backs who are more appealing because of their volume than anything else, we have Marks. The fourth-round pick out of USC hasn't been particularly efficient this season, but, since taking over as the Texans' RB1 a few weeks ago, he has seen genuinely excellent volume. 

Since Week 10, Marks has averaged a 72% snap rate, a 79% backfield rush share, and a 5% target share on a 40% route participation rate. That has been good for 14.7 expected half-PPR points per game, which he has underperformed to the tune of exactly 10 points per game. 

Marks' efficiency should improve this week, as the Texans face the woeful Cardinals, who give up the fourth-most points per game to opposing backs. In fact, his volume might get even better, too, as Nick Chubb has yet to practice this week and seems to be genuinely questionable with a rib injury. If Chubb is out, Marks could legitimately see every carry in this backfield, making him a borderline must-start given the soft matchup.

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders

I said in the introduction that standards would be higher this week, but this is more of a play for those of you in deeper formats.

Even since taking over as the Commanders' lead rusher a few weeks ago, Rodriguez's usage has been mediocre. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is still also involved, and Jeremy McNichols is the lead pass-catcher in this backfield. Rodriguez has seen just around 10-15 carries per game, and he hasn't exactly been racking up the fantasy points. 

However, if there was ever a week for Rodriguez to turn those 10-15 carries into a usable fantasy outing, it would be this one. The Giants' defense is incredibly soft against opposing backs. Not only do they allow the second-most points per game to the position, but they actually allow a full yard per carry more than any other team.

He's by no means a must-start, but Rodriguez is a more exciting play this week than you might think. 

Running Backs to Sit Week 15

Breece Hall, New York Jets

Honestly, I'm scared just writing this. Hall is a very talented player, and his workload is elite (and trending up in recent weeks). But I promised bold calls, and there are genuinely some red flags in his profile for this week. If you have another good option, it might be safest to sit the fourth-year RB as the fantasy playoffs begin.

For one, Hall is dealing with an injury — he missed Wednesday's practice and was limited on Thursday with a knee issue. I'm assuming he plays, but he might be less efficient or see fewer touches than usual.

However, Hall's injury isn't the most concerning one for his fantasy value. What is more concerning is that both of the Jets' top-two quarterbacks, Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields, have yet to practice this week with groin and knee injuries, respectively. New York's offense has completely imploded multiple times this season even with one of those guys (especially Fields) under center. I don't want to imagine what they will look like with Brady Cook.

Adding to this list of issues, the Jets have a tough matchup this week with a strong Jaguars' defense. Jacksonville allows the fourth-fewest points per game to opposing backs. In this matchup, the Jets are massive 13.5-point underdogs with a disgusting 13.5-point team total.

Hall certainly still could get there in this spot, but I wouldn't feel comfortable staking my fantasy playoff hopes on him. 

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

Don't look now, but Montgomery's time as a standalone fantasy asset alongside Jahmyr Gibbs in the Lions' offense may be coming to an end. Over the last four weeks, “Knuckles” has averaged just a 30% backfield rush share. And he's not exactly making up for it through the air with just a target or two per game.

To be fair, Montgomery is coming off back-to-back solid outings despite this decreased usage. A goal-line TD against the Packers two weeks ago and a 35-yard scamper to pay dirt last Thursday have buoyed his production. 

But we simply can't count on him scoring a TD every week. That's especially true this week as the Lions are actually six-point underdogs on the road against an elite Rams' team. Montgomery is closer to Tyler Allgeier at this point than the weekly RB2 he once was … and do you really want to start Allgeier in a bad matchup in the fantasy playoffs?

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Last week, I listed Hampton as a start, and he had a decent performance. But I feel fortunate that he did, as the rookie was the Chargers' clear RB2 against the Eagles. He trailed Kimani Vidal in snap share (31% to 69%), carries (14 to 13), routes (23 to seven), and targets (three to two).

To be fair, it's encouraging that Hampton finished with just two fewer opportunities than his second-year counterpart despite playing less than half as many snaps. That indicates that the Chargers wanted to get him the ball, even if he wasn't yet fully healthy. There's a real chance he takes over from Vidal as the team's 1A as early as this Sunday.

But I don't see Vidal going away entirely — he played well in Hampton's absence and arguably outplayed him last week. That means that Hampton will at best be the leader of a committee this week. And he is headed for a tough matchup on the road against a Chiefs' defense that has allowed the seventh-fewest points to opposing RBs this season. 

If you managed to make it to the playoffs with Hampton on IR for most of the season, you probably have other decent RB options. I recommend giving them one more week while the rookie ramps back up. 

Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasySP. Find him on Twitter and Bluesky @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.