Fantasy Football Week 15 Rankings: Early Look at Top Matchup Plays

It's Week 15 of the 2012 NFL season, and that means that in fantasy football, the wheat has been separated from the chaff, the regular season is a done deal and the fantasy playoffs have begun.

For many playoff teams, lineups more or less set themselves, as you have to dance with the fella who brought you, so if you've ridden Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson into the postseason, you're not about to sit him now.

I hope, anyway.

However, whether it's due to an injury or trying to get an edge on your competition at a spot where you've employed a rotation, many fantasy owners are still on a lookout for solid Week 15 matchup plays.

Look no farther, because here they are.

Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NO)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman gave his fantasy owners quite a scare last week with an awful first half against the Philadelphia Eagles, and while the fourth-year pro bounced back somewhat in the second half, his 189 passing yards and two touchdowns was still something of a fantasy disappointment given his favorable matchup.

Fantasy owners will need to have a short memory with Freeman, however, as once again he has a very solid matchup in a must-win game against the New Orleans Saints, who have allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year.

Other quarterbacks with favorable matchups: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (at PHI), Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (at NE), Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders (vs. KC)

Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (at OAK)

Not a lot went right for the Kansas City Chiefs last week in their pasting at the hands of the Cleveland Browns, but blame for the defeat can't be placed on running back Jamaal Charles, who took his first carry of the game 80 yards for the Chiefs' only touchdown of the afternoon.

Charles went on to rush for 165 yards on the day, and the fifth-year pro's success should continue this week against an Oakland Raiders defense surrendering the third-most fantasy points to running backs in 2012.

Other running backs with favorable matchups: Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers (vs. CAR), Shonn Greene, New York Jets (at TEN), Bryce Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. CIN)

Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins (at CLE)

After missing much of the season while nursing a foot injury, Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon has returned with a vengeance over the past three games, reeling in 17 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns.

The uncertain status of Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin casts some doubt over Garcon's fantasy value, but backup Kirk Cousins found Garcon for a score last week and the fifth-year pro has a top 10 fantasy matchup with the Cleveland Browns Sunday.

Other wide receivers with favorable matchups: Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns (vs. WAS), T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (at HOU), Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers (at SD)

Dennis Pitta, TE, Baltimore Ravens (vs. DEN)

Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta has been the poster child for feast or famine fantasy options at the position this season, with seven games of five or more catches and five games of three or fewer grabs.

The third-year pro took advantage of a favorable matchup last week in hauling in five catches for 46 yards and a touchdown, and Pitta should make it two solid weeks in a row Sunday against a Denver Broncos club giving up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.

Other tight ends with favorable matchups: Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (at NE), Dallas Clark, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NO), Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings (at STL)

Detroit Lions Team Defense (at ARI)

Last week, in their 58-0 pasting at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks, the Arizona Cardinals surrendered the most fantasy points allowed to a team defense this season.

In fact, the Cardinals allowed the most points to any fantasy defense since 2009.

That historic display of futility would seem to bode well for fantasy owners of the Detroit Lions defense, as this week the Lions travel to face a Cardinals team allowing the most fantasy points to team defenses this year by a large margin.

Other defenses with favorable matchups: Cincinnati Bengals (at PHI), Oakland Raiders (vs. KC), Tennessee Titans (vs. NYJ)