Fantasy Stat Pack: Week 15

Ryan McDowell

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

Quarterbacks

Week Fifteen QB1s (top 12 scorers)

Rank Player
QB1 Lamar Jackson, BAL
QB2 Jameis Winston, TB
QB3 Drew Brees, NO
QB4 Ryan Tannehill, TEN
QB5 Patrick Mahomes, KC
QB6 Carson Wentz, PHI
QB7 Ryan Fitzpatrick, MIA
QB8 Russell Wilson, SEA
QB9 Matt Ryan, ATL
QB10 Dwayne Haskins, WAS
QB11 Gardner Minshew, JAX
QB12 Dak Prescott, DAL

 

Ravens’ breakout star Lamar Jackson did it again, passing for five scores and breaking Michael Vick’s single-season rushing record for a quarterback. Buccaneers’ gunslinger Jameis Winston became the first quarterback to ever pass for over 450 yards in consecutive games, while veteran Drew Brees set the all-time record for passing touchdowns. What a week at the quarterback position.

Year to Date QB1s

Rank Player
QB1 Lamar Jackson, BAL
QB2 Deshaun Watson, HOU
QB3 Russell Wilson, SEA
QB4 Dak Prescott, DAL
QB5 Jameis Winston, TB
QB6 Josh Allen, BUF
QB7 Kyler Murray, ARI
QB8 Aaron Rodgers, GB
QB9 Patrick Mahomes, KC
QB10 Carson Wentz, PHI
QB11 Kirk Cousins, MIN
QB12 Matt Ryan, ATL

 

The top ten quarterbacks hardly moved since last week, but Falcons’ veteran Matt Ryan did creep back into the top 12, replacing fellow veteran Tom Brady. Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz moved up slightly and is now the QB10 for the season.

QB1 Games this Season

QB1 Games Players
12 Lamar Jackson
11
10 Dak Prescott
9 Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes
8 Carson Wentz, Jameis Winston

 

Most QB1 Games Allowed

QB1 Games Allowed Teams
12 NYG
11 DET
10 ARI
9 HOU, OAK
8 CIN, MIA, TB
7 ATL, IND, PHI
6 DAL, KC, NO, SF, WAS
5 CAR, CLE, JAX, NYJ, SEA
4 DEN, GB, LAR, TEN
3 MIN, PIT
2 BUF, NE
1 BAL, CHI, LAC

 

The Giants stand alone as the team to target when searching for a fantasy quarterback, having allowed a dozen QB1 performances through 14 games. They have only kept two quarterbacks outside of the top twelve and they are both rookies, Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins. This week, they face Haskins again. He’s showing some potential, but is still nearly impossible to trust in fantasy championship week, even with this matchup.

The Lions have also struggled to stop the quarterback, which makes rookie Drew Lock an interesting option in fantasy leagues. Finally, the Cardinals have surrendered ten QB1 games and now must try to stop Russell Wilson.

The Ravens, Bears and Chargers have only given up a single QB1 game all year, which is bad news for Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes and Derek Carr. You can’t bench Mahomes regardless of the matchup but the other two are easy fades this week.

Running Backs

Week Fifteen RB1s (top 12 scorers)

Rank Player
RB1 Kenyan Drake, ARI
RB2 Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB3 Miles Sanders, PHI
RB4 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
RB5 Saquon Barkley, NYG
RB6 Chris Carson, SEA
RB7 Nick Chubb, CLE
RB8 Mark Ingram, BAL
RB9 Tony Pollard, DAL
RB10 Todd Gurley, LAR
RB11 Joe Mixon, CIN
RB12 Adrian Peterson, WAS

 

No one saw this coming! After weeks of frustrating play, Kenyan Drake exploded for four touchdowns and an overall RB1 game. Unfortunately, he did that work on the benches of many fantasy players. Ezekiel Elliott and rookie Tony Pollard each broke the 100-yard mark for the Cowboys as Dallas routed the Rams. Veteran Adrian Peterson found himself back among the RB1s with Derrius Guice’s season over.

Year to Date RB1s

Rank Player
RB1 Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB2 Dalvin Cook, MIN
RB3 Austin Ekeler, LAC
RB4 Aaron Jones, GB
RB5 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
RB6 Derrick Henry, TEN
RB7 Leonard Fournette, JAX
RB8 Nick Chubb, CLE
RB9 Chris Carson, SEA
RB10 Mark Ingram, BAL
RB11 Alvin Kamara, NO
RB12 Todd Gurley, LAR

 

Todd Gurley scored a pair of touchdowns against despite limited volume and that was enough to get him back inside the season-long RB1 range, replacing rookie Josh Jacobs. Despite a shoulder injury, Jacobs suited up last week, though that could prove to be the final game of his rookie year.

RB1 Games this Season

RB1 Games Players
12 Christian McCaffrey
11
10
9
8 Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry
7 Austin Ekeler, Leonard Fournette
6 Aaron Jones, Nick Chubb, Le’Veon Bell, Todd Gurley

 

Most RB1 Games Allowed

RB1 Games Allowed Teams
10 CAR
9 DET, MIA
8 JAX, LAC, WAS
7 ARI, BUF, CIN, KC, LAR
6 ATL, CLE, GB, HOU, NYJ, OAK, SEA
5 CHI, NYG
4 BAL, DAL, IN, MIN, PHI, SF, TB, TEN
3 DEN, NE, NO
2
1
0 PIT

 

The Panthers have now allowed ten RB1 games and most of those coming in the past six weeks. This could be just the matchup Marlon Mack needs to get going again after an injury-derailed his season. The Lions and Dolphins are the other two teams to target, making Phillip Lindsay and Joe Mixon exciting plays this week.

Only two weeks left, and the Steelers are still pitching a shutout, not allowing an RB1 game all year. This week, Pittsburgh faces the Jets and veteran Le’Veon Bell, who doesn’t seem to be the candidate who breaks this streak.

The Broncos (vs. Wes Hills?), Patriots (vs. Devin Singletary) and Saints (vs. Derrick Henry) have only allowed three RB1 games this year.

Wide Receivers

Week Fifteen WR1s (top 12 scorers)

Rank Player
WR1 Julio Jones, ATL
WR2 Breshad Perriman, TB
WR3 Michael Thomas, NO
WR4 Jamison Crowder, NYJ
WR5 Anthony Miller, CHI
WR6 Tyler Lockett, SEA
WR7 AJ Brown, TEN
WR8 Terry McLaurin, WAS
WR9 Tyreek Hill, KC
WR10 Davante Adams, GB
WR11 DeVante Parker, MIA
WR12 Chris Conley, JAX

 

Breshad Perriman took advantage of the absence of Mike Evans and then really stepped up when Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller left the game with leg injuries. Perriman scored three times, which is the same number he scored in his first two years in the league.

Year to Date WR1s

Rank Player
WR1 Michael Thomas, NO
WR2 Chris Godwin, TB
WR3 DeAndre Hopkins, HOU
WR4 Julian Edelman, NE
WR5 Cooper Kupp, LAR
WR6 Mike Evans, TB
WR6 (tie) Julio Jones, ATL
WR8 DJ Moore, CAR
WR9 Allen Robinson, CHI
WR10 Keenan Allen, LAC
WR11 Amari Cooper, DAL
WR12 Kenny Golladay, DET

 

The wide receiver position saw quite a bit of movement with some huge performances along with duds in week 15. Julio Jones was the most notable, moving from outside of the top-twelve to the WR6 with his monster game. Cooper Kupp and DJ Moore also moved up two spots each while Amari Cooper tumbled from WR6 to WR11, barely hanging on as he tries to notch the first WR1 season his career. Sitting out with an injury, Jaguars’ breakout receiver DJ Chark fell from the WR1 range.

WR1 Games this Season

WR1 Games Players
10 Michael Thomas
9
8
7
6 DeAndre Hopkins
5 Julian Edelman, Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, Kenny Golladay, Julio Jones, Mike Evans

 

Most WR1 Games Allowed

WR1 Games Allowed Teams
12 MIA
11 TB
10
9 NYG
8 DET, IND, OAK, PHI
7 ARI, CAR, MIN, NYJ
6 ATL, CHI, HOU, NO, SEA
5 DAL, DEN, JAX, LAR
4 CLE, GB, KC, LAC, SF, WAS
3 BAL, BUF, TEN
2 CIN, PIT
1 NE

 

The Dolphins’ defense is almost always a target but especially at the receiver position where they’ve allowed 12 WR1 games this season. This is good news for a struggling Bengals’ passing game as they look to get Tyler Boyd back on track. The Buccaneers are next in line and that means DeAndre Hopkins must be licking his chops as he prepares for Saturday’s game.

The Patriots have allowed one WR1 game all year and this week the division could be on the line as they try to stop Bills receiver John Brown. The Bengals and Steelers have each given up only two WR1 games. Cincy gets breakout star DeVante Parker and the Dolphins while Pittsburgh faces Jets receivers Jamison Crowder and Robby Anderson.

Tight Ends

Week Fifteen TE1s (top 12 scorers)

Rank Player
TE1 George Kittle, SF
TE2 Travis Kelce, KC
TE3 Tyler Higbee, LAR
TE4 Darren Waller, OAK
TE5 Zach Ertz, PHI
TE6 Jonnu Smith, TEN
TE7 Ricky Seals-Jones, CLE
TE8 Mark Andrews, BAL
TE9 Jason Witten, DAL
TE10 Dallas Goedert, PHI
TE11 Jared Cook, NO
TE12 Cethan Carter, CIN

 

Week 15 was another example of the studs emerging at the tight end position with Travis Kelce and George Kittle holding down the top two spots. Breakout seasons for Tyler Higbee, Darren Waller and Mark Andrews continued as they each added another TE1 game.

Year to Date TE1s

Rank Player
TE1 Travis Kelce, KC
TE2 Zach Ertz, PHI
TE3 Darren Waller, OAK
TE4 George Kittle, SF
TE5 Mark Andrews, BAL
TE6 Austin Hooper, ATL
TE7 Jared Cook, NO
TE8 Jason Witten, DAL
TE9 Hunter Henry, LAC
TE10 Tyler Higbee, LAR
TE11 Greg Olsen, CAR
TE12 Kyle Rudolph, MIN

 

With Tyler Higbee staying hot with a third straight 100-yard performance, he jumps into the TE1 range, replacing Evan Engram, who landed on the injured reserve list this week.

TE1 Games this Season

TE1 Games Players
12 Travis Kelce
11
10 George Kittle
9 Darren Waller, Mark Andrews, Zach Ertz
8 Jared Cook
7 Austin Hooper

 

Most TE1 Games Allowed

TE1 Games Allowed Teams
11 ARI
10
9
8 GB, OAK, SEA, TB, TEN
7 ATL, HOU, IND
6 CIN, KC, LAR, NE, NO
5 CAR, CLE, DAL, DET, JAX, NYJ, PIT, WAS
4 BUF, CHI, DEN, LAC, MIA, MIN, NYG, SF
3 PHI
2 BAL

 

The Cardinals avoided Browns David Njoku last week as he was a surprising healthy scratch, but backup Ricky Seals-Jones still scored twice and finished as the TE7 for the week. This week, they face the Seahawks. That makes it Jacob Hollister week!

The Ravens have given up two TE1 games all year, so whoever plays for the Browns deserves to be on the bench. The Eagles are a solid tight end defense, allowing three TE1 games, making Jason Witten a risky option with titles on the line this week.

Finally, here is the chart summarizing how teams have fared against each position. I’ve also included the schedule for this week for reference.

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ryan mcdowell
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