Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings: Breaking Down Each Position

The importance of the right lineup is never more important than the final stretch of the regular season, when fantasy managers are seeking to piece together the right players to maximize their point totals and score key victories amid the hunt for their league's playoffs.

Week 15 is no different.

Who are the top players at each position of significance and who are the sleepers who could prove the difference between a propelling win and deflating loss?

Find out with this preview.

Quarterbacks

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 01: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Quarterback rankings for Week 15 are:

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants
2. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders at New Orleans Saints
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions
4. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts
5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans
6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
8. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. New England Patriots
10. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers

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Sleeper: Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys

Don't look now but last year's No. 1 overall pick has finished in the top 20 at his position five of his last six starts.

In Week 15, against a Dallas Cowboys squad ranked 28th against opposing quarterbacks and giving up 20.35 points per game to the position, he will have another opportunity to show out.

Even against a tough Eagles defense, he managed 13.6 points and one of the best plays of his young career.

By no means is Young a quarterback you want to replace your starter with but managers facing a bye week or under-performance may want to consider the Panthers starter, who shrugged off trade rumors to once again assume the QB1 spot and has seen his play improve since doing so.

Running Backs

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 01: Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (28) celebrates a touchdown during the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans on December 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Running back rankings for Week 15 are:

1. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants
2. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers
3. Joe Mixon, Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins
4. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills
5. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals vs. New England Patriots
6. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
7. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
8. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders
9. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
10. James Cook, Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions

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Sleeper: Patrick Taylor Jr., San Francisco 49ers

The nightmare season for the defending NFC champions continued in Week 13 with the loss of Isaac Guerendo to injury. That the team plays a Thursday game against the Rams suggests he will not be available, opening up the opportunity for Patrick Taylor Jr. to get the starting nod.

The 26-year-old back has 62 total yards to his name in 2024 and very little reason for fantasy managers to jump at the chance to bring him on board as a sleeper candidate. Still, the 49ers offense has always been predicated on the run and, against a Rams defense allowing 23.35 points per game to opposing backs, there will be plenty of opportunities for the former Green Bay Packer to have a potential breakout performance.

He filled in admirably at times for his former team in 2023, carrying the rock when Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon were sidelined. He has experience and can play the game. Whether the suddenly aggressive Rams defense will let him find the lanes to exploit is the question.

Still, he is worth a pickup for managers in deeper leagues or with teams that need a spark at the position.

Wide Receivers

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after dropping a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Wide receiver rankings for Week 15 are:

1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
2. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers
3. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers
4. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders at New Orleans Saints
5. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals at Tennesee Titans
6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills
7. AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants
9. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Las Angeles Chargers
10. Nico Collins, Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins

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Sleeper: Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Moore struggled against a great Steelers defense but against a Chiefs defense that gives up considerable yardage to slot receivers, he should rediscover the momentum that he had entering last week.

Moore has had at least three receptions in every game since Week 7 and that trend should continue, even against a Chiefs defense giving up 32.15 points to opposing receivers.

Against a similarly ranked Broncos defense in Week 13, Moore caught eight balls for 111 yards and a touchdown. Another performance of that caliber cannot be counted out against a Chiefs defense that is stout against the run but has been susceptible to the pass.

Tight Ends

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 29: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 29, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Tight end rankings for Week 15 are:

1. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
2. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Atlanta Falcons
3. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals vs. New England Patriots
4. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns
5. David Nkoku, Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs
6. TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
7. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals
8. Will Dissley, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers
10. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills

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Sleeper: Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

The Saints offense experienced a major blow Sunday when Derek Carr suffered a fractured left hand that will keep him out of action for several weeks.

With the unproven Jake Haener backing Carr up, and Spencer Rattler as the third QB on the depth chart, the Saints are likely to struggle offensively moving forward. That could mean big things for Johnson, who had already established himself as a top-10 tight end in two of his last three games.

In each, he scored touchdowns while tallying 12 receptions.

Against a Washington Commanders team who is ranked 13th against the position, he is a legitimate starting option.