• Omarion Hampton touches the ball more than Kimani Vidal despite being outsnapped: In his second game back returning from injury, Hampton didn’t receive a significantly higher snap rate or workload, but he did earn more touches than Vidal – a promising sign ahead of the fantasy playoffs.
• Kenneth Gainwell outperforms Jaylen Warren in primetime: Warren has seen a dip in efficiency recently, but Gainwell has been trending up with a steady role in the receiving game.
• Get PFF+ for 30% off: Use promo code HOLIDAY30 to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more — everything you need to win your season.

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Below are the top running back takeaways from Week 15 that could have a significant impact on fantasy points in Week 16 and beyond.

Kimani Vidal continues to play more than Omarion Hampton

Despite it being Omarion Hampton’s second game returning from injured reserve, Kimani Vidal once again started and played the majority of the Chargers’ offensive snaps (64% to Hampton’s 36%). Hampton played just one more snap than he did in his return, seeing just one more opportunity from the week prior with 15 carries and a single target on the day. Despite the lopsided snap share, Hampton did touch the ball more than Vidal in Week 15, which is a promising step in the right direction despite the limited playing time. He touched the ball on 16 of his 24 total snaps – a 67% touch rate – while Vidal earned a touch on just 31% of his snaps. 

All signs are trending up for Hampton as a workhorse in the league, but he does have some challenging matchups ahead, facing the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos in two of the last three weeks, who each rank in the bottom six in fantasy points allowed to opposing RBs since Week 8.

Upcoming matchups: at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos

Blake Corum plays a career-high 46% of the Los Angeles Rams‘ offensive snaps 

Blake Corum has officially established himself as a key producer in the Los Angeles Rams’ offense over the last month, while also somehow not affecting Kyren Williams‘ fantasy production all too much. Both Corum and Williams have each hit 70-plus rushing yards and one-plus rushing touchdown in three straight games dating back to Week 13. They are the first teammate duo to have 50-plus rushing yards and a touchdown apiece in a three-game span in the Super Bowl era. In that span, Corum has averaged 17.8 fantasy points per game, while Williams is averaging 17.6 points per game. 

Last Sunday, in a tough matchup against the Detroit Lions‘ defense, Corum played a career-high 46% of the Rams’ offensive snaps while logging 71 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in the game. He has been incredibly efficient over the last three weeks, averaging 9.3 yards per carry and finding the end zone four times. Since Week 13, Williams and Corum have split goal-line duties, as Williams earned four carries and Corum received three carries inside the opponent’s five-yard line. Both have four rushing touchdowns over the last three weeks, while Corum leads the team with 280 rushing yards. 

The Rams have a tough matchup against the Seattle Seahawks this weekend, but the Lions game was supposed to be tricky for this backfield, and neither Corum nor Williams had any issues putting up fantasy points. They get two fantastic matchups against the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals to close out the season in Weeks 17 and 18. Corum should be considered a solid RB2/flex play the rest of the way. 

Upcoming matchups: at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals

Ashton Jeanty continues to disappoint fantasy managers in frustrating rookie season

If you made it to the fantasy playoffs starting Ashton Jeanty, congratulations. He probably didn’t help your cause much. Among the 16 RBs with 200-plus carries so far this season, Jeanty ranks dead last in yards per carry, averaging 3.5 yards per carry with the fourth-lowest yards after contact per attempt and the second-fewest runs of 10-plus yards. Among that cohort, Jeanty is averaging the fourth-fewest fantasy points per touch and third-fewest fantasy points per game (13.7). The Las Vegas Raiders‘ offensive line hasn’t been much help to his efficiency, ranking second-lowest in run-blocking grade at 50.8. 

After scoring 12 or fewer PPR points in four of his last five games with a matchup against the Houston Texans in Week 16, don’t be surprised if Jeanty disappoints once again. However, he could have a bounce-back game against the New York Giants in Week 17 – for most, championship week – who are currently allowing a league-high 5.9 yards per carry average to opposing running backs and second-most fantasy points per game this season. 

Upcoming matchups: at Texans, vs. Giants, vs. Chiefs

Kenneth Gainwell outshines Jaylen Warren on Monday Night Football

Jaylen Warren entered Week 16 under the weather after waking up with an illness on gameday. While that definitely didn’t help his case for efficiency, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry on 12 attempts, it’s not the first game he’s struggled with efficiency in lately. Over his past four games, Warren has averaged just 3.1 yards per attempt, gaining 149 yards and two touchdowns on 48 attempts. It’s been a stark contrast to backup Kenneth Gainwell, who’s averaged 6.5 yards per carry in that span, gaining 207 yards and a score on 32 attempts. Gainwell also continues to see plenty of usage as a receiver with six-plus targets in four of his last five games. Don’t be surprised if his recent surge in efficiency has Pittsburgh leaning on Gainwell in the upcoming weeks, making Warren a risky play through the fantasy playoffs.

Upcoming matchups: at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens

Michael Carter plays 80% of the Arizona Cardinals’ snaps with Bam Knight injured 

The Arizona Cardinals can’t seem to keep running backs healthy this year, as they have lost James Conner, Trey Benson and now Bam Knight for the year, the latter of which was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. The next man up is Michael Carter, who had a solid day in Week 15, stepping up once Knight was carted off with the injury. He totaled 94 scrimmage yards on 18 touches through the game for 13.4 fantasy points. He has two nice upcoming matchups: the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, during championship week. The Falcons have allowed the sixth most fantasy points on average to running backs since Week 7, and the Bengals lead the league with 129.2 rushing yards and 30.6 fantasy points per game allowed to RBs this season.

Upcoming matchups: vs. Falcons, at Bengals, at Rams