Weekly Positional Rankings: Week 15

In this series, I’ll give you my top 30 quarterbacks, 60 running backs, 60 wide receivers, and 30 tight ends each week to help you with your start/sit decisions in your leagues. To generate this list each and every week, I examine team trends, Vegas over/unders, implied points, pace of play, among various other factors to build a projection for each player and subsequently adjust rankings for upside and more detailed matchup specifics.

Among the rankings, there will surely be some that surprise you or that you may disagree with. At the end of each position section, I’ll give you my thoughts on some players that perhaps are ranked higher/lower than you might expect and insights as to why they are a good/bad play this week. Ultimately, these rankings should help your start/sit dilemmas and ensure you have the requisite resources to make an informed decision.

If you’ve made it this far in the fantasy football playoffs, congratulations! Just two more matchups to win before taking home that championship. Needless to say, sit/start decisions can be all the difference at this point in the year.

Without further ado, let’s dive into Week 15’s positional rankings!

Quarterbacks

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 15 Rank
QB	Lamar Jackson	NYJ	1
QB	Deshaun Watson	@TEN	2
QB	Jimmy Garoppolo	ATL	3
QB	Ryan Tannehill	HOU	4
QB	Drew Brees	IND	5
QB	Patrick Mahomes	DEN	6
QB	Kyler Murray	CLE	7
QB	Dak Prescott	LAR	8
QB	Carson Wentz	@WAS	9
QB	Russell Wilson	@CAR	10
QB	Jameis Winston	@DET	11
QB	Baker Mayfield	@ARI	12
QB	Aaron Rodgers	CHI	13
QB	Jared Goff	@DAL	14
QB	Josh Allen	@PIT	15
QB	Kirk Cousins	@LAC	16
QB	Ryan Fitzpatrick	@NYG	17
QB	David Blough	TB	18
QB	Derek Carr	JAC	19
QB	Tom Brady	@CIN	20
QB	Mitchell Trubisky	@GB	21
QB	Eli Manning	MIA	22
QB	Gardner Minshew	@OAK	23
QB	Matt Ryan	@SF	24
QB	Jacoby Brissett	@NO	25
QB	Philip Rivers	MIN	26
QB	Drew Lock	@KC	27
QB	Kyle Allen	SEA	28
QB	Dwayne Haskins	PHI	29
QB	Sam Darnold	@BAL	30
QB	Andy Dalton	NE	31
QB	Devlin Hodges	BUF	32

 

Start ‘em: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB SF

Week 14’s shootout in New Orleans was one of the most unpredictably high scoring games in recent memory. Garoppolo went back and forth with Drew Brees as they each led their offenses to over 45 points. While another 28-point performance should not be the expectation for Garoppolo this week, he is one of the safest options of the week paired with a high ceiling. Against the Atlanta Falcons this week, the 49ers have the second-highest implied team total of the week with 29 points. The Falcons have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and their 23 total sacks on the season rank third-worst in the NFL. Jimmy G should have another strong performance in week 15 and can be started confidently as a high-end QB1 in a great matchup.

Sit ‘em: Kirk Cousins, QB MIN

Cousins has certainly outperformed expectations on the season, particularly so when you consider the absence of Adam Thielen for much of the year. Cousins is fantasy football’s QB10: a solid low-end QB1. In week 15, though, it would be wise to look for other options on your roster. Cousins does likely get veteran Adam Thielen back this week, but the overall matchup against the Chargers is one to avoid. LA has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks on the year, including a lackluster 15-point performance to Patrick Mahomes in week 11. Cousins has a solid floor each week with his offensive weapons, and the Vikings are road favorites. However, his projected upside is not high enough to warrant a playoff start in a start-one QB league.

If you’re desperate: Baker Mayfield, QB CLE

When the 2019 season began, few expected Baker Mayfield to be outside the top 18 quarterbacks on the season. Alas, we enter week 15 with Baker Mayfield as fantasy football’s QB19 on the year, helped partly due to him playing every game. This week, however, desperate fantasy players looking for a key victory can look to Baker for help. The Arizona Cardinals have been the worst team against opposing quarterbacks this season, and it hasn’t been particularly close. Arizona’s 23.8 fantasy points per game allowed to the position is nearly two points per game better than the second-worst team. In fact, if you played the quarterback facing Arizona every week this season, you would have the QB2 overall. In the best matchup possible, start Baker as a low-end QB1 with upside if you’re desperate.

Running Backs

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 15 Rank
RB	Christian McCaffrey	SEA	1
RB	Leonard Fournette	@OAK	2
RB	Dalvin Cook	@LAC	3
RB	Saquon Barkley	MIA	4
RB	Chris Carson	@CAR	5
RB	Derrick Henry	HOU	6
RB	Ezekiel Elliott	LAR	7
RB	Aaron Jones	CHI	8
RB	Austin Ekeler	MIN	9
RB	Alvin Kamara	IND	10
RB	Melvin Gordon	MIN	11
RB	Todd Gurley	@DAL	12
RB	Phillip Lindsay	@KC	13
RB	Marlon Mack	@NO	14
RB	Devin Singletary	@PIT	15
RB	Nick Chubb	@ARI	16
RB	Mark Ingram	NYJ	17
RB	Le’Veon Bell	@BAL	18
RB	Joe Mixon	NE	19
RB	Josh Jacobs	JAC	20
RB	Miles Sanders	@WAS	21
RB	Kareem Hunt	@ARI	22
RB	Raheem Mostert	ATL	23
RB	Patrick Laird	@NYG	24
RB	Devonta Freeman	@SF	25
RB	James Conner	BUF	26
RB	James White	@CIN	27
RB	Kenyan Drake	CLE	28
RB	David Montgomery	@GB	29
RB	Duke Johnson	@TEN	30
RB	Ronald Jones	@DET	31
RB	Jamaal Williams	CHI	32
RB	Sony Michel	@CIN	33
RB	Matt Breida	ATL	34
RB	Carlos Hyde	@TEN	35
RB	Alexander Mattison	@LAC	36
RB	Royce Freeman	@KC	37
RB	LeSean McCoy	DEN	38
RB	Adrian Peterson	PHI	39
RB	Latavius Murray	IND	40
RB	Nyheim Hines	@NO	41
RB	Peyton Barber	@DET	42
RB	DeAndre Washington	JAC	43
RB	Bo Scarborough	TB	44
RB	Chris Thompson	PHI	45
RB	David Johnson	CLE	46
RB	Darwin Thompson	DEN	47
RB	Frank Gore	@PIT	48
RB	Boston Scott	@WAS	49
RB	Tarik Cohen	@GB	50
RB	Jaylen Samuels	BUF	51
RB	JD McKissic	TB	52
RB	Dare Ogunbowale	@DET	53
RB	CJ Prosise	@CAR	54
RB	Brian Hill	@SF	55
RB	Malcolm Brown	@DAL	56
RB	Bilal Powell	@BAL	57
RB	Gus Edwards	NYJ	58
RB	Tevin Coleman	ATL	59
RB	Spencer Ware	DEN	60

Start ‘em: Phillip Lindsay, RB DEN

Over the last four weeks, Lindsay has been the clear starting running back in the Denver backfield. Compared to teammate Royce Freeman, Lindsay has seen 39 more rushing attempts and one more target over this stretch. While his passing game usage has not been what it was earlier in the season, Lindsay is making up for it with the vast majority of the team’s rushing attempts. The Broncos face the Chiefs this week, who are a great matchup for opposing running backs. Having allowed the most fantasy points per game and nearly five yards per carry to opposing running backs in the league, the Chiefs provide Lindsay with a high-floor, high-ceiling combination. Lindsay is a high-end RB2 with upside this week. Start him where you have him.

Sit ‘em: Latavius Murray, RB NOS

In the two weeks teammate Alvin Kamara was injured, Latavius Murray saw 62 total touches. In the other 11 games this season combined, Murray has seen a total of 80 touches, just over seven per game. Murray has been solid at times but has been largely unpredictable in guessing what games he will thrive in. He has shown a weekly floor of under one fantasy point and a ceiling of just 12.7 points all the way back in week one in games where Kamara has played.

In week 15, the Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts. While the Saints should be able to move the ball – they have a 27.75 implied team total – the Colts have been great against opposing running backs this season, ranking fifth-best in the league in points per game allowed. Further, the points they do allow have come through the receiving game, where Kamara shines. The Colts have allowed 79 receptions to opposing backs this season, which ranks fifth-most in the NFL. Ultimately, Murray looks to be a high variance option this week with a low ceiling. Bench him where you can.

If you’re desperate: Ronald Jones, RB TB

Ronald Jones once again split work with Peyton Barber in week 14, a trend that is likely to continue through the rest of the season. However, Jones did see five targets to Barber’s two and overall was slightly more effective against a strong Colts run defense. In week 15, the Bucs take on the Lions and their defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. It’s a good matchup for Jones to take advantage of. With teammate Mike Evans out, the Bucs will look to rely on other weapons to make plays in the passing game. The combination of a good matchup and opportunity in the passing game makes Jones a solid desperation play in week 15. He’s ranked as an RB3 because of his wide range of outcomes, but don’t be surprised if Jones finishes the day as a top-20 running back.

Wide Receivers

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 15 Rank
WR	Michael Thomas	IND	1
WR	DeAndre Hopkins	@TEN	2
WR	Chris Godwin	@DET	3
WR	Tyreek Hill	DEN	4
WR	Davante Adams	CHI	5
WR	Julian Edelman	@CIN	6
WR	DJ Moore	SEA	7
WR	Amari Cooper	LAR	8
WR	Keenan Allen	MIN	9
WR	Jarvis Landry	@ARI	10
WR	Kenny Golladay	TB	11
WR	Robert Woods	@DAL	12
WR	Stefon Diggs	@LAC	13
WR	Christian Kirk	CLE	14
WR	Julio Jones	@SF	15
WR	Courtland Sutton	@KC	16
WR	Allen Robinson	@GB	17
WR	Emmanuel Sanders	ATL	18
WR	Terry McLaurin	PHI	19
WR	Dede Westbrook	@OAK	20
WR	AJ Brown	HOU	21
WR	Deebo Samuel	ATL	22
WR	Michael Gallup	LAR	23
WR	Cooper Kupp	@DAL	24
WR	Odell Beckham Jr	@ARI	25
WR	Darius Slayton	MIA	26
WR	DK Metcalf	@CAR	27
WR	Adam Thielen	@LAC	28
WR	Danny Amendola	TB	29
WR	Tyler Lockett	@CAR	30
WR	Tyler Boyd	NE	31
WR	Marquise Brown	NYJ	32
WR	John Brown	@PIT	33
WR	Sterling Shepard	MIA	34
WR	Zach Pascal	@NO	35
WR	Mike Williams	MIN	36
WR	Curtis Samuel	SEA	37
WR	Robby Anderson	@BAL	38
WR	Juju Smith-Schuster	BUF	39
WR	Kenny Stills	@TEN	40
WR	Golden Tate	MIA	41
WR	Mecole Hardman	DEN	42
WR	Marcus Johnson	@NO	43
WR	Allen Hurns	@NYG	44
WR	Cole Beasley	@PIT	45
WR	Brandin Cooks	@DAL	46
WR	Chris Conley	@OAK	47
WR	Anthony Miller	@GB	48
WR	Jamison Crowder	@BAL	49
WR	Justin Watson	@DET	50
WR	Diontae Johnson	BUF	51
WR	Greg Ward	@WAS	52
WR	Randall Cobb	LAR	53
WR	Corey Davis	HOU	54
WR	Tyrell Williams	JAC	55
WR	Keke Coutee	@TEN	56
WR	Breshad Perriman	@DET	57
WR	Allen Lazard	CHI	58
WR	James Washington	BUF	59
WR	N’Keal Harry	@CIN	60

Start ‘em: Terry McLaurin, WR WAS

Over the last four weeks, McLaurin has earned a 23% target share and a 38% air yard share as part of Washington’s lackluster offense. His 38% air yard share ranks sixth-best in the NFL over this time. While he’s scored just over 10 fantasy points per game, his overall opportunity has been among the best in the NFL. In week 15, McLaurin and the Redskins take on the porous Philadelphia Eagles secondary. The Eagles have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and have allowed 14.75 yards per reception to the position. McLaurin should see extended, quality looks in a great matchup. He’s a confident WR2 play for the fantasy football semi-finals.

Sit ‘em: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR PIT

JuJu is set to make his return to NFL action on Sunday, but that does not mean a return to your fantasy lineups. Smith-Schuster has been one of the most disappointing fantasy players in 2019, with a combination of poor quarterback play and injuries derailing his season. Even before his injury, Smith-Schuster showed a low floor is possible each week, with four games under eight fantasy points. While new quarterback Devlin Hodges is not “captain checkdown” like Mason Rudolph was, don’t expect JuJu to light up the stout Buffalo Bills secondary that has allowed the fourth-fewest points to opposing wide receivers. JuJu is a volatile WR4 this week with not much-projected upside. Bench him for other options if you can.

If you’re desperate: Danny Amendola, WR DET

Amendola has quietly had a great season as the Detroit Lions’ primary slot receiver. The expectations for a number three receiving on any offense to be fantasy-relevant should be low, but Amendola has shown a consistent floor and some upside throughout the season. He has three games over 17 fantasy points and since week seven, Amendola has seen fewer than five targets in a game just once. With Marvin Jones on IR for the season, Amendola has the opportunity to step into a key role Sunday against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have been by far the worst team against opposing wide receivers on the season, setting up Amendola for a solid opportunity/matchup combination. He’s a WR3 play this week with a solid floor.

Tight Ends

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 15 Rank
TE	Zach Ertz	@WAS	1
TE	Travis Kelce	DEN	2
TE	George Kittle	ATL	3
TE	Mark Andrews	NYJ	4
TE	Austin Hooper	@SF	5
TE	Tyler Higbee	@DAL	6
TE	Hunter Henry	MIN	7
TE	Ian Thomas	SEA	8
TE	Darren Waller	JAC	9
TE	Jack Doyle	@NO	10
TE	Jimmy Graham	CHI	11
TE	OJ Howard	@DET	12
TE	Jared Cook	IND	13
TE	Noah Fant	@KC	14
TE	Mike Gesicki	@NYG	15
TE	Jacob Hollister	@CAR	16
TE	David Njoku	@ARI	17
TE	Kyle Rudolph	@LAC	18
TE	Cameron Brate	@DET	19
TE	Dallas Goedert	@WAS	20
TE	Jason Witten	LAR	21
TE	Kaden Smith	MIA	22
TE	Darren Fells	@TEN	23
TE	Hayden Hurst	NYJ	24
TE	Blake Jarwin	LAR	25
TE	Irv Smith	@LAC	26
TE	Dawson Knox	@PIT	27
TE	Vance McDonald	BUF	28
TE	Jonnu Smith	HOU	29
TE	Tyler Eifert	NE	30

 

Start ‘em: Ian Thomas, TE CAR

With Greg Olsen out, Thomas racked up ten targets and finished as fantasy’s TE7 in week 14 with 16.7 fantasy points. Thomas’s ten targets were good for both a team-high in target share (24%) as well as a team-high in air yard share (31%). Last season, when Greg Olsen was also out for an extended period of time, Thomas was the TE6 overall from weeks 13-16. He can be a league-winning start at tight end. This week, the Panthers take on Seattle. The Seahawks have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends on the season. The only real difference between Seattle and the infamous Arizona Cardinals tight end defense is that Arizona has allowed 13 tight end touchdowns, by far the most in the league. This is a really good matchup for Thomas to repeat his TE1 performance from last week. Start him as a mid-tier TE1.

Sit ‘em: Jacob Hollister, TE SEA

On the other side of this matchup, Hollister comes in as this week’s “sit ‘em” choice predominantly because of the strength of the Carolina Panthers defense. The Panthers have been arguably the worst defense against the running game, but they’ve been great at stopping opposing tight ends. Carolina ranks fourth-best in fantasy points allowed to the tight end position. Seattle’s gameplan projects to be very run-heavy in what should be a good matchup for Chris Carson. Hollister, meanwhile, has a low ceiling in a game where his projected usage and efficiency is not particularly inspiring. He’s ranked as a mid-TE2 because of his weekly usage in this offense, but look to other options for higher upside.

If you’re desperate: Jimmy Graham, TE GB

Graham has been uninspiring for most the 2019 season outside of a few games. The veteran tight end has seen five or more targets in just five games this season, and week 14 was his first such game since week eight. While Graham’s performances have been largely hit-or-miss, his big games have actually been pretty predictable. Against teams that rank bottom-third in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, Graham has scored 12, 7.1, 16.5, and 7.9 fantasy points. This week, the Packers take on the Chicago Bears who rank eighth-worst against opposing tight ends on the season. Additionally, they have given up the third-most tight end receptions on the year, behind only Arizona and Seattle. Graham is a worthy low-end TE1 if you’re desperate.

That concludes this week’s rankings article! As this series is released on Thursdays, be sure to follow any lingering injuries and changing injury status updates for players as Sunday approaches. If you’re wondering about a player I didn’t dive into detail about, feel free to reach out to me @FFzinger on Twitter. Best of luck in your fantasy playoffs this week, and I’ll be back next week to give Week 16’s positional rankings.