Week 15 Positional Rankings

If you’re reading this article, it likely means one thing: you still have something to play for. For that, congratulations!! Whether it be for a spot in the coveted fantasy football finals or a toilet bowl victory for that extra draft pick, lineups this week mean more than they ever have this season. If you have been a consistent reader for this article series throughout the season, thank you for leaning on this analysis as guidance beyond simply your fantasy platform’s projected points. Let’s keep it up for two more weeks; the goal is to be 2-0.

One of the most challenging aspects of providing this article each week is the possibility of COVID delays. Hence, I will assume that – as of this writing – all games will be played. That way, I can provide the most information possible for you in case these games do wind up occurring.

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.

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

Quarterback

Start ‘em: Jared Goff, QB LAR

Since the Rams week nine bye, Goff has been very hit-or-miss in regards to fantasy football. While surpassing 23 fantasy points twice over this stretch, Goff has also been held to under 15 points in three of his last five games. Goff has simply been a fine QB2/superflex option for fantasy managers throughout most of the year, ranking as the QB16 overall. However, in week 15, he looks likely to beat his seasonal ranking as the Rams take on the winless Jets.

The Rams have a massive 30.5 implied team total on the week, and the Jets have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing signal-callers. Of course, one might be worried about a largely positive game script affected Goff’s fantasy output, but fantasy gamers often get this wrong. Just back in week 13, the Vikings faced the Jaguars and it was expected to be a big Dalvin Cook game, but it was Kirk Cousins who wound up throwing three touchdown passes. Don’t overthink starting Goff because of game script; there will likely be a lot of points on the board, and Goff should be a part of that scoring.

Sit ‘em: Teddy Bridgewater, QB CAR

If you’ve gotten this far in your league – even as it relates to the “toilet bowl” bracket – it likely hasn’t been because of Bridgewater. However, the veteran has gone over 19 fantasy points in three of his last four games played, and he’s looking to prove himself as the Panthers’ starting quarterback for 2021. Despite his recent success, Bridgewater should remain on your bench for a pivot in week 15 in fantasy football.

The Panthers have a low implied team total of just 21.25 points against a solid Green Bay defense, who have allowed just the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks on the season. The weakness of the Packers’ defense is against the run, where Mike Davis should be the focal point this weekend. Overall, it’s a difficult matchup to trust Bridgewater in, and you likely have far better options if you’re still in the hunt for fantasy gold.

If you’re desperate: Ben Roethlisberger, QB PIT

Put simply, Roethlisberger is throwing an absolutely crazy amount of passes this season. Since week seven, Big Ben has thrown 40 or more times in six of eight games. Despite the enormous volume, however, Roethlisberger has been hit-or-miss for fantasy football. He ranks as the QB12 in points per game, but he has surpassed 17 fantasy points just once over his last four games, where he went for 18 fantasy points. The Steelers and their low average depth of target passing attack has lead to minimal yardage for Roethlisberger despite this high volume.

In week 15, the Steelers play the Bengals and have a solid implied team total of 26.5 points. Despite being a bad team overall, the Bengals have been towards the middle in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. If the matchup was better, Big Ben would find himself as a low-end QB1. However, consider him just a desperation high-end QB2 play in start-one quarterback formats.

Running Back

Start ‘em: Cam Akers, RB LAR

When you play the New York Jets, it’s possible to have both the QB and RB start of the week from the same team. This matchup is simply too good to avoid for the rising star running back to be near the top of this week’s rankings. After a breakout game on national television in week 14, many fantasy managers (myself included) were kicking themselves for not starting Akers. The rookie has taken complete control of this backfield with a whopping 50 carries over his last two games to go along with a solid 45 yards receiving as well.

Do not hesitate to start Akers as a solid RB1 option in a game where the Rams have a massive 30.5 point implied team total. If you got this far without starting Akers, you now have yourself a solid RB1 to play in week 15.

Sit ‘em: Le’Veon Bell, RB KCC

Since joining the Chiefs, Bell has not been fantasy relevant as anything more than an absolute desperation play in a good matchup. The veteran back only surpassed ten touches when rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire was surprisingly sidelined, and Bell has scored just one touchdown in the Chiefs potent offense.

Last week, Bell earned just four touches in a close game in Miami while Edwards-Helaire returned and racked up over 90 yards from scrimmage on 21 touches. Bell is clearly the secondary running back for the Chiefs, and while that may give him the occasional fantasy appeal because of random touchdowns, you can bench him against a good Saints run defense.

If you’re desperate: Gus Edwards, RB BAL

If you play Edwards in your fantasy semi-finals, you are playing the ultimate risk-reward game, but few running backs in this range can put up 20+ points in week 15 without a massive overperformance. Edwards has been a consistent part of an elite Baltimore rushing attack despite rookie star JK Dobbins seeing a growing opportunity share. Over the last two weeks, Edwards has seen just 15 total touches but has turned that volume into a very solid 28.4 fantasy points.

In week 15, Baltimore has a 30.5 implied team total against a woeful Jaguars team that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs on the season. Expect both Dobbins and Edwards to get their fair share on Sunday, and Edwards is a fine flex play for desperate fantasy managers.

Wide Receiver

Start ‘em: Terry McLaurin, WR WAS

McLaurin is so good for fantasy football that he doesn’t normally need a callout as a start ‘em choice. However, after two straight weeks of under five fantasy points, it’s reasonable to question if McLaurin should find his way into your lineup for a pivotal week 15 fantasy game. While there are still questions about who exactly is starting under center for Washington this week, McLaurin has generally been QB-proof throughout his young career; it has not mattered the quality of quarterback under center for McLaurin to succeed.

The Football Team plays the Seahawks in week 15, and while the Seahawks defense has been slightly better over the last month, they still have allowed by far the most fantasy points to wide receivers in the 2020 season. McLaurin’s target share, as well as air yard share, remain among the best in the league, and he should have every opportunity to carve up a beatable secondary. Start McLaurin as a low-end WR1 wherever you have him.

Sit ‘em: Jamison Crowder, WR NYJ

Even playing for the absolutely awful New York Jets football organization, Crowder consistently found himself in the top 15 WR discussion early on in 2020. This has not been the case recently, however, as Crowder has eclipsed just seven PPR points just once over his last four games.

Week 15 is not looking to be any easier for Crowder, as the Jets take on a stout Rams defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers all season. Crowder is still a target hog of this Jets offense, but he has a low ceiling for this week and should be sat wherever possible. He’s a WR4 play if you truly need him.

If you’re desperate: Marvin Jones, WR DET

Jones has been terrific for dynasty players over the last few months. After a slow start, Jones has been a solid WR2 for fantasy managers since week seven. He has seen fewer than six targets in just one game over this stretch. While the matchup is good for Jones in week 15, as the Titans have allowed the third-most points to opposing wide receivers, but as of this writing, it is unclear if starting quarterback Matthew Stafford will be playing in week 15.

Sports books actually are struggling to place an implied team total on the Lions for this very reason, but as of right now the Lions are 10.5 point underdogs. Overall, while the matchup is good, downgrade all Lions skill position players with Matthew Stafford unlikely to play.

Tight End

Start ‘em: Noah Fant, TE DEN

Throughout the fantasy season, Fant has consistently been a low-end TE1 for dynasty players. Since a strong start to the season, Fant has cooled off to average roughly nine PPR points per game since his week five bye. Overall, the Broncos passing offense has steadily improved under Drew Lock throughout the season.

This week, the Broncos have one of their higher implied team totals of the season at a decent 22 points against a beatable Bills defense. The Bills have been a matchup tight ends have taken advantage of all season; the Bills defense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to the position. Fant comes in a low-end TE1 on the week and should be started with confidence over more variable TE options.

Sit ‘em: Zach Ertz, TE PHI

Ertz’s fantasy value has taken a big hit over the course of the 2020 season, and even in his return from injury he has and performed as the star tight end we once knew. With just six targets and 39 total yards over the last two weeks, it’s incredibly difficult to trust Ertz heading into a pivot week 15 in fantasy football.

Jalen Hurts will once again be under center for the Eagles, and as such the Eagles project to have a low-volume passing offense with Hurts playing as a Lamar Jackson-lite style player. The Arizona Cardinals have allowed just the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season. It’s difficult to trust Ertz as anything more than a TE2 play, and it’s best to look for alternatives if possible.

If you’re desperate: Evan Engram, TE NYG

Engram has earned great volume this season on a weekly basis, registering eight or more targets in five of his last seven games. From a pure opportunity perspective, Engram ranks towards the top of the league, but this has not translated into fantasy points on a consistent basis in the Giants poor offense.

otentially without Daniel Jones in week 15, the Giants may struggle to move the ball at all against the Cleveland Browns. They have just a 19.25 implied team total. However, the Browns have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends on the season, making this a great matchup for Engram to take advantage of. Due to a projected low-scoring offense, Engram is just a desperation play this week, but you could certainly do worse.

That concludes this week’s rankings article! 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 this week, and I’ll be back next week to give week 16’s positional rankings.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Michael Zingone

Latest posts by Michael Zingone (see all)

• Week 17 Positional Rankings - January 1, 2022
• Week 16 Positional Rankings - December 23, 2021
• Week 15 Positional Rankings - December 16, 2021