Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings

These rankings will be updated throughout the week up until Sunday at 1 PM ET for injuries or other reasons. [Note: our rankings are for standard (non-PPR) leagues, but you can simply move guys up or down based on how many passes they are expected to catch]

 

QUARTERBACK

1. Tom Brady (@ PIT)

2. Cam Newton (v GB)

3. Aaron Rodgers (@ CAR)

4. Ben Roethlisberger (v NE)

5. Russell Wilson (v LAR)

6. Drew Brees (v NYJ)

7. Matt Ryan (@ TB)

8. Philip Rivers (@ KC)

9. Matthew Stafford (v CHI)

10. Jared Goff (@ SEA)

11. Jameis Winston (v ATL)

12. Case Keenum (v CIN)

13. Alex Smith (v LAC)

14. Dak Prescott (@ OAK)

15. Kirk Cousins (v ARI)

16. Marcus Mariota (@ ARI)

17. Jimmy Garoppolo (v TEN)

18. Nick Foles (@ NYG)

19. Blake Bortles (v HOU)

20. Derek Carr (v DAL)

21. Joe Flacco (@ CLE)

22. Eli Manning (v PHI)

23. Jay Cutler (@ BUF)

24. Blaine Gabbert (@ WAS)

25. Tyrod Taylor (v MIA)

 

Tom Brady’s career numbers against Pittsburgh (including playoffs): 10-2 record, 294 yards per game, 29:3 touchdown-interception ratio… Cam Newton puts up a respectable fantasy performance against the league’s top defense, and he should continue to do damage as a runner down the stretch… Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for at least 351 yards in each regular season with New England this decade, and he will have to put up points this week… Aaron Rodgers might be a little rusty, but if he returns, fantasy owners should waste no time playing him… Russell Wilson is probably more volatile against the Rams than any other team, but this should be more of a shootout than their first meeting this year… Matt Ryan struggled on Thursday night, but hopefully he is better coming off a mini bye to face the 4-9 Bucs… Philip Rivers tossed three interceptions against Kansas City in Week 3 and has struggled against Andy Reid’s squad, but Los Angeles is clicking offensively… Jared Goff remains a QB1 with multiple touchdown passes in five-of-six games since the bye, with the only game he didn’t being against Minnesota… Alex Smith gets a difficult matchup with the Chargers on Saturday night, so it might be best to look elsewhere if possible… I think we will find out after the season that Marcus Mariota has been playing with a fairly serious or multiple injuries, and he’s off the QB1 map without the threat as a runner… Nick Foles is worth a look, but the Eagles should rely on the running game and nurse a lead against the Giants this week.

 

. . .

 

RUNNING BACK

1. Le’Veon Bell (v NE)

2. Melvin Gordon (@ KC)

3. Todd Gurley (@ SEA)

4. Mark Ingram (v NYJ)

5. Jordan Howard (@ DET)

6. Alvin Kamara (v NYJ)

7. Devonta Freeman (@ TB)

8. LeSean McCoy (v MIA)

9. Christian McCaffrey (v GB)

10. Kareem Hunt (v LAC)

11. Latavius Murray (v CIN)

12. Kenyan Drake (@ BUF)

13. Alex Collins (@ CLE)

14. Rex Burkhead (@ PIT)

15. Jay Ajayi (@ NYG)

16. Carlos Hyde (v TEN)

17. Alfred Morris (@ OAK)

18. Dion Lewis (@ PIT)

19. DeMarco Murray (@ SF)

20. Samaje Perine (v ARI)

21. Lamar Miller (@ JAC)

22. Jamaal Williams (@ CAR)

23. Marshawn Lynch (v DAL)

24. Mike Davis (v LAR)

25. Derrick Henry (@ SF)

26. Giovani Bernard (@ MIN)

27. Jerick McKinnon (v CIN)

28. Peyton Barber (v ATL)

29. Theo Riddick (v CHI)

30. Isaiah Crowell (v BAL)

31. C.J. Anderson (@ IND)

32. Frank Gore (v DEN)

33. Jonathan Stewart (v GB)

34. LeGarrette Blount (@ NYG)

35. Wayne Gallman (v PHI)

36. Kerwynn Williams (@ WAS)

37. Doug Martin (v ATL)

38. Rod Smith (@ OAK)

39. Bilal Powell (@ NO)

40. Duke Johnson (v BAL)

41. Matt Forte (@ NO)

42. Danny Woodhead (@ CLE)

43. Corey Clement (@ NYG)

44. Ameer Abdullah (v CHI)

45. Tarik Cohen (@ DET)

46. James White (@ PIT)

47. Terron Ward (@ TB)

48. T.J. Yeldon (v HOU)

49. Devontae Booker (@ IND)

50. Orleans Darkwa (v PHI)

51. Aaron Jones (@ CAR)

52. Austin Ekeler (@ KC)

53. J.D. McKissic (v LAR)

54. Javorius Allen (@ CLE)

55. Chris Ivory (v HOU)

56. Marlon Mack (v DEN)

57. Matt Breida (v TEN)

58. DeAndre Washington (v DAL)

59. Charcandrick West (v LAC)

60. Jamaal Charles (@ IND)

 

Le’Veon Bell has been contained against New England, but he remains the top option with no clear challenger… Melvin Gordon needs more than 15 carries (his career average against Kansas City) on Saturday night with first place in the division on the line… Todd Gurley was held to 43 yards on 14 attempts earlier this season against Seattle, but he should be fed after coming off arguably his best game of the season with just 16 touches in a loss… Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara are both solid RB1 options against the Jets… I told people not to bet against Jordan Howard last week, and he exploded for 147 yards and two touchdowns on the ground… Devonta Freeman is the clear leader of the Atlanta backfield after carrying it 24 times in Week 14, and he will look for a multi-score performance on Monday Night Football… Leonard Fournette will look to top 1,000 rushing yards this week with at least 77 of them against Houston… Christian McCaffrey owners shouldn’t be worried about Jonathan Stewart going off last week; if Aaron Rodgers is back for Green Bay, this could be an up-and-down game that plays to McCaffrey’s strengths… Latavius Murray should get back on track after Cincinnati just allowed Jordan Howard to go off on Sunday… Kenyan Drake looks like the long-term answer at running back for Adam Gase… Tevin Coleman has seen limited touches since Devonta Freeman’s return, but he got behind the defense last Thursday night and deserves a spot in lineups as a high-upside RB2… Alex Collins has scored five touchdowns over the past four games and is averaging 5.1 yards per carry this season… The Eagles need to unleash Jay Ajayi with Carson Wentz out for the year… Alfred Morris should get all the work he can handle in his final start of the season… Marshawn Lynch had just seven carries last week and was saved by what was essentially a garbage-time touchdown; he’s seemed too uninterested at times to consider as anything more than a FLEX with a fantasy championship berth on the line, especially with Sean Lee in there for Dallas… Theo Riddick is a quality FLEX in standard leagues and an RB2 in PPR leagues if Ameer Abdullah is inactive again… Joe Mixon has a difficult matchup with the Vikings, and they aren’t likely to let up a big game after what they allowed in last week’s loss… Wayne Gallman had a career-high 19 touches last week, and the rookie is the best skill-position player on the roster in my opinion.

 

. . .

 

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Julio Jones (@ TB)

2. Antonio Brown (v NE)

3. Keenan Allen (@ KC)

4. Jordy Nelson (@ CAR)

5. Brandin Cooks (@ PIT)

6. Adam Thielen (v CIN)

7. Devin Funchess (v GB)

8. Michael Thomas (v NYJ)

9. Larry Fitzgerald (@ WAS)

10. Davante Adams (@ CAR)

11. Demaryius Thomas (@ IND)

12. A.J. Green (@ MIN)

13. Josh Gordon (v BAL)

14. DeAndre Hopkins (@ JAC)

15. Sammy Watkins (@ SEA)

16. JuJu Smith-Schuster (v NE)

17. T.Y. Hilton (v DEN)

18. Stefon Diggs (v CIN)

19. Marvin Jones (v CHI)

20. Dez Bryant (@ OAK)

21. Tyreek Hill (v LAC)

22. Mike Evans (v ATL)

23. Dede Westbrook (v HOU)

24. DeVante Parker (@ BUF)

25. Doug Baldwin (v LAR)

26. Michael Crabtree (v DAL)

27. Jamison Crowder (v ARI)

28. Golden Tate (v CHI)

29. Robert Woods (@ SEA)

30. Nelson Agholor (@ NYG)

31. Alshon Jeffery (@ NYG)

32. Jarvis Landry (@ BUF)

33. Marqise Lee (v HOU)

34. Mohamed Sanu (@ TB)

35. Sterling Shepard (v PHI)

36. Cooper Kupp (@ SEA)

37. Jeremy Maclin (@ CLE)

38. Mike Wallace (@ CLE)

39. Marquise Goodwin (v TEN)

40. Corey Coleman (v BAL)

41. Martavis Bryant (v NE)

42. Paul Richardson (v LAR)

43. Emmanuel Sanders (@ IND)

44. Danny Amendola (@ PIT)

45. Tyrell Williams (@ KC)

46. Kelvin Benjamin (v MIA)

 

47. Robby Anderson (@ NO)

48. DeSean Jackson (v ATL)

49. Corey Davis (@ SF)

50. Keelan Cole (v HOU)

51. Randall Cobb (@ CAR)

52. Zay Jones (v MIA)

53. Eric Decker (@ SF)

54. Rishard Matthews (@ SF)

55. Seth Roberts (v DAL)

56. Kenny Stills (@ BUF)

57. Tyler Lockett (v LAR)

58. Chris Godwin (v ATL)

59. Cordarrelle Patterson (v DAL)

60. Kendall Wright (@ DET)

61. Damiere Byrd (v GB)

62. Willie Snead (v NYJ)

63. Kenny Golladay (v CHI)

64. Deonte Thompson (v MIA)

65. Josh Doctson (v ARI)

66. Jermaine Kearse (@ NO)

67. Brandon Coleman (v NYJ)

68. Dontrelle Inman (@ DET)

69. J.J. Nelson (@ WAS)

70. Travis Benjamin (@ KC)

71. Terrance Williams (@ OAK)

72. Albert Wilson (v LAC)

73. Cole Beasley (@ OAK)

74. Kenny Britt (@ PIT)

75. Brandon LaFell (@ MIN)

 

Julio Jones gets the top spot against Tampa Bay’s small cornerbacks, while Antonio Brown isn’t going to get single coverage against Bill Belichick’s defense… Keenan Allen will avoid Marcus Peters and Darrelle Revis enough to remain a top-three play… Jordy Nelson is back into the elite ranks if Aaron Rodgers is cleared to return… Brandin Cooks couldn’t create much separation against Xavien Howard on Monday night, but he should be better and have less attention with Gronk back… Devin Funchess has been phenomenal since taking over as the team’s number-one receiver… Demaryius Thomas is volatile on a bad offense, but getting him the ball should be a priority for Denver… A.J. Green and DeAndre Hopkins are in the WR2 ranks against Minnesota and Jacksonville, respectively… Sammy Watkins has scored in five of the past six games, as he’s turned into Jared Goff’s top red zone target… JuJu Smith-Schuster should benefit from AB and Le’Veon Bell being the focus for New England… Tyreek Hill is a high-upside FLEX against LA’s underrated defense… Dez Bryant has a good matchup according to the numbers, but Oakland’s cornerbacks are good against bigger receivers… Mike Evans hasn’t scored since October and doesn’t have a 100-yard game this season… Dede Westbrook should be picked in all leagues and is worth playing against Houston; he’s produced so far without even catching a pass of 30+ yards… Miami tried getting DeVante Parker going with short passes against the Patriots, and he will hopefully avoid Tre’Davious White on Sunday… Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor are just FLEX options in a game I think Philadelphia will ride their trio of ball-carriers and use conservative passes to get Nick Foles in a rhythm… Marquise Goodwin has at least 68 yards in every game since the beginning of November, but Adoree’ Jackson has the speed and coverage ability to stick with the speedster.

 

. . .

 

TIGHT END

1. Rob Gronkowski (@ PIT)

2. Jimmy Graham (v LAR)

3. Zach Ertz (@ NYG)

4. Travis Kelce (v LAC)

5. Hunter Henry (@ KC)

6. Kyle Rudolph (v CIN)

7. Jack Doyle (v DEN)

8. Evan Engram (v PHI)

9. Delanie Walker (@ SF)

10. Jason Witten (@ OAK)

11. Jared Cook (v DAL)

12. Greg Olsen (v GB)

13. Ricky Seals-Jones (@ WAS)

14. Vernon Davis (v ARI)

15. Eric Ebron (v CHI)

16. Cameron Brate (v ATL)

17. Charles Clay (v MIA)

18. David Njoku (v BAL)

19. Stephen Anderson (@ JAC)

20. Jesse James (v NE)

21. Benjamin Watson (@ CLE)

22. O.J. Howard (v ATL)

23. Austin Hooper (@ TB)

24. Austin Seferian-Jenkins (@ NO)

25. Julius Thomas (@ BUF)

 

Rob Gronkowski should have a huge game after serving his one-game suspension… Jimmy Graham was held without a reception last week, but he scored earlier this season against the Rams, and they just allowed three tight end touchdowns against the Eagles… Even without Carson Wentz, Zach Ertz should be ready to go in a cupcake matchup… Travis Kelce is obviously a must-start, but he was held to one yard against Los Angeles in Week 3, and he could be taken away again… Hunter Henry needs to be involved against the Chiefs on Saturday night… Kyle Rudolph has four touchdowns over the past three weeks… Jason Witten is worth playing as a low-end TE1 for the second-straight week in another good matchup… Greg Olsen re-aggravated his foot injury again and didn’t catch a pass, so he’s a volatile, borderline starting option… Ricky Seals-Jones is a strong streamer against the Redskins… Benjamin Watson is worth a look against the Browns.

 

. . .

 

DEFENSE

1. Jacksvonille Jaguars (v HOU)

2. Baltimore Ravens (@ CLE)

3. New Orleans Saints (v NYJ)

4. Minnesota Vikings (v CIN)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (@ NYG)

6. Denver Broncos (@ IND)

7. Buffalo Bills (v MIA)

8. Atlanta Falcons (@ TB)

9. Detroit Lions (v CHI)

10. Los Angeles Chargers (@ KC)

11. Arizona Cardinals (@ WAS)

12. Indianapolis Colts (v DEN)

13. Dallas Cowboys (@ OAK)

14. Tennessee Titans (@ SF)

15. San Francisco 49ers (v TEN)

16. Los Angeles Rams (@ SEA)

17. New England Patriots (@ PIT)

18. Washington Redskins (v ARI)

19. Seattle Seahawks (v LAR)

20. Miami Dolphins (@ BUF)

 

. . .

 

KICKER

1. Stephen Gostkowski (@ PIT)

2. Justin Tucker (@ CLE)

3. Matt Bryant (@ TB)

4. Wil Lutz (v NYJ)

5. Matt Prater (v CHI)

6. Dan Bailey (@ OAK)

7. Harrison Butker (v LAC)

8. Greg Zuerlein (@ SEA)

9. Mason Crosby (@ CAR)

10. Jake Elliott (@ NYG)

11. Chris Boswell (v NE)

12. Graham Gano (v GB)

13. Brandon McManus (@ IND)

14. Josh Lambo (v HOU)

15. Kai Forbath (v CIN)