Week 15 of the 2011 NFL season picks back up on Sunday after the Falcons-Jaguars and Cowboys-Bucs warmed us up. Maurice Jones-Drew and Felix Jones put together strong days, but there is plenty of talent remaining on the board. Fantasy football is officially into the playoffs for virtually any kind of league, which makes getting the right running backs starting essential.
Injuries have been an issue heading into this week, but guys like Adrian Peterson and probably Kevin Smith will all be starting on Sunday, which means the Toby Gerharts, Maurice Morris' and Keiland Williams' of the world will head back to fantasy benches. I would not recommend waiving them entirely, but there is not enough reason to start them.
One of the big question marks this week for some owners is what to do with Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall. He faces a stout 49ers rush defense that has been dominant this season. If you have limited depth, you have to start Mendenhall, but if you have some other options at running back or flex, it might be worth considering alternatives. It is not a must-sit, but given how the 49ers defense has performed this season, it is at least something to mull over.
Chris Ivory is a worthwhile start this week as he is likely to get a nice set of carries with Mark Ingram ruled out. He is not a fantastic start with Pierre Thomas expected to get a sizable share of carries, but if you are short-handed, Ivory has some value this week.
Here are the top 15 running back projections for Week 15. You can view all the projections at numberFire.com. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow us on twitter @sbnationfantasy.