Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Breakdown

If you still care about fantasy football heading into Week 15 and you haven’t cursed your team, that likely means you advanced to the second round of playoffs. Congratulations!

As good as the win felt, it’s time to refocus on the task at hand and break down the latest rankings in order to keep the momentum rolling. Owners still fighting for a championship are close enough to taste it at this point.

Here is a position-by-position fantasy breakdown heading into Week 15. When in doubt, start the higher-ranked player on each list.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Drew Brees, NO	25 Points
2	Peyton Manning, DEN	24 Points
3	Aaron Rodgers, GB	23 Points
4	Andrew Luck, IND	22 Points
5	Jay Cutler, CHI	21 Points
6	Tom Brady, NE	19 Points
7	Matthew Stafford, DET	18 Points
8	Philip Rivers, SD	17 Points
9	Mark Sanchez, PHI	16 Points
10	Tony Romo, DAL	15 Points
11	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	14 Points
12	Cam Newton, CAR	14 Points
13	Matt Ryan, ATL	13 Points
14	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	12 Points
15	Russell Wilson, SEA	12 Points

One quarterback creating many questions is Philadelphia Eagles backup-turned-starter Mark Sanchez. Despite the Eagles possessing one of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL, Sanchez has not been able to capitalize for fantasy owners.

Sanchez has been more of a game manager for Philadelphia, but he faltered in that role Sunday against the Seahawks. After only amassing 96 passing yards and two touchdowns, owners have grown wary of starting Sanchez again in Week 15.

Fortunately for owners, the Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys again. With Sanchez throwing for 217 yards and one touchdown, plus adding a rushing touchdown, in the team’s win over Dallas on Thanksgiving, owners should expect more of the same in Week 15.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Jamaal Charles, KC	22 Points
2	LeSean McCoy, PHI	22 Points
3	DeMarco Murray, DAL	20 Points
4	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	18 Points
5	Arian Foster, HOU	18 Points
6	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	17 Points
7	C.J. Anderson, DEN	16 Points
8	Matt Forte, CHI	16 Points
9	Eddie Lacy, GB	15 Points
10	Ryan Mathews, SD	15 Points
11	Justin Forsett, BAL	15 Points
12	Rashad Jennings, NYG	14 Points
13	Alfred Morris, WAS	13 Points
14	Mark Ingram, NO	13 Points
15	Fred Jackson, BUF	12 Points
16	Joique Bell, DET	11 Points
17	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	11 Points
18	Lamar Miller, MIA	11 Points
19	Jeremy Hill, CIN	10 Points
20	Terrance West, CLE	10 Points
21	Steven Jackson, ATL	9 Points
22	Frank Gore, SF	9 Points
23	Denard Robinson, JAX	8 Points
24	Reggie Bush, DET	8 Points
25	Giovani Bernard, CIN	7 Points

There are many running backs who will be talked about as elite in Week 15, but none have the mixture of momentum and ideal matchup that Kansas City Chiefs star Jamaal Charles does against the Oakland Raiders.

Despite Kansas City taking the loss against Arizona, Charles still managed 10 carries for 91 yards and a rushing touchdown, plus two receptions for 20 yards and a receiving touchdown. It is now eight straight games Charles has scored a touchdown.

Oakland is currently ranked 24th in the NFL against the run, allowing 127.9 rushing yards per game, and Charles should have a field day picking the defense apart. Start Charles in all formats and expect big numbers.

Another back worthy of a start is San Diego Chargers starter Ryan Mathews. Despite being an injury magnet, Mathews is one of the best all-around backs in the NFL when playing well and staying healthy.

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

While 11 carries for 44 yards and no touchdowns isn’t enough to make him a real threat in any format, he has reached the end zone twice in his last three games and has eclipsed 100 yards once since returning from a serious knee injury.

Many owners fear playing a running back like Mathews against the Denver Broncos due to the probability of San Diego being forced to air the ball out to keep up, but the running back is a threat in the passing attack as well. Mathews should score at least one touchdown and be a viable flex start.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Calvin Johnson, DET	22 Points
2	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	22 Points
3	Antonio Brown, PIT	20 Points
4	Dez Bryant, DAL	20 Points
5	A.J. Green, CIN	19 Points
6	Jordy Nelson, GB	18 Points
7	Julio Jones, ATL	18 Points
8	Odell Beckham, NYG	17 Points
9	T.Y. Hilton, IND	17 Points
10	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	16 Points
11	Mike Evans, TB	16 Points
12	Randall Cobb, GB	15 Points
13	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	15 Points
14	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	14 Points
15	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	14 Points
16	Keenan Allen, SD	14 Points
17	Josh Gordon, CLE	13 Points
18	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	12 Points
19	Sammy Watkins, BUF	12 Points
20	Roddy White, ATL	11 Points
21	Julian Edelman, NE	10 Points
22	Martavis Bryant, PIT	10 Points
23	Brandon LaFell, NE	9 Points
24	Andre Johnson, HOU	8 Points
25	Mike Wallace, MIA	8 Points
26	Steve Smith, BAL	8 Points
27	Kenny Stills, NO	7 Points
28	Golden Tate, DET	6 Points
29	Malcom Floyd, SD	6 Points
30	Reggie Wayne, IND	5 Points
31	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	5 Points
32	Charles Johnson, MIN	5 Points
33	Marques Colston, NO	5 Points
34	Michael Crabtree, SF	5 Points
35	Doug Baldwin, SEA	5 Points

There are two very intriguing wide receiver options for Week 15 that must be in your starting lineup. If you own Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Malcom Floyd of the San Diego Chargers, you must start them this week.

Evans has been a revelation in his rookie season. As Tampa Bay’s No. 1 target, Evans has caught 10 touchdowns and has at least four receptions in 11 of his 12 games this season. With Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith showing confidence in the rookie, fantasy owners should do the same.

Tampa Bay has a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers, and Evans should be able to put up big numbers once again.

One wide receiver to consider as a flex is Floyd. While inconsistency has plagued the 33-year-old veteran’s career, he has scored five touchdowns thus far in 2014 and quarterback Philip Rivers has started to show trust in the receiver in the red zone.

A matchup against the Denver Broncos will be tough, but Rivers and Floyd showed they could play well against elite teams when they connected for a touchdown in Week 14 against New England. If San Diego vs. Denver turns into a shootout, expect Floyd to be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	18 Points
2	Jimmy Graham, NO	18 Points
3	Antonio Gates, SD	14 Points
4	Julius Thomas, DEN	14 Points
5	Martellus Bennett, CHI	13 Points
6	Greg Olsen, CAR	12 Points
7	Jason Witten, DAL	12 Points
8	Travis Kelce, KC	11 Points
9	Delanie Walker, TEN	10 Points
10	Larry Donnell, NYG	10 Points
11	Mychal Rivera, OAK	9 Points
12	Dwayne Allen, IND	8 Points

The Oakland Raiders have been a mess this season, but there have been several young players who have stepped up when given an opportunity. One of those players is second-year tight end Mychal Rivera.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr told Scott Ostler of SFGate.com about what Rivera can do for the offense:

"

There was one (play) where they covered him and he did a great job for me of stopping. He understands the coverage; he understood what the guy was doing. So he knew if he stopped, I could pin it on him and make a play…

If I remember correctly, it was like a zone coverage. They brought a lot of pressure and I stepped up in the pocket and I just saw him open. I couldn’t see exactly how it happened, but I just think he did a good job of finding the window.

"

Oakland has to consistently target Rivera more often before he is a high fantasy draft pick next year, but for owners lacking an elite tight end right now, the Raiders star has been a savior. After racking up seven catches for 109 yards and one touchdown last week, Rivera is a must-start against Kansas City.

Team Defenses

Rank	Team	Opponent	Projection
1	Baltimore Ravens	Jacksonville	16 Points
2	Arizona Cardinals	St. Louis	16 Points
3	St. Louis Rams	Arizona	14 Points
4	Kansas City Chiefs	Oakland	14 Points
5	Detroit Lions	Minnesota	14 Points
6	Seattle Seahawks	San Francisco	12 Points
7	Carolina Panthers	Tampa Bay	12 Points
8	Green Bay Packers	Buffalo	12 Points
9	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Carolina	10 Points
10	New York Giants	Washington	10 Points
11	Houston Texans	Indianapolis	10 Points
12	San Francisco 49ers	Seattle	8 Points

Since losing to the San Diego Chargers, the St. Louis Rams defensive unit has been on an absolute roll, shutting out both the Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins in back-to-back weeks.

On Thursday Night Football, St. Louis will square off against the Arizona Cardinals. Led by backup quarterback Drew Stanton, the Cardinals have not scored more than 18 points over the last four weeks. Fantasy owners should start the Rams defense in Week 15.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Justin Tucker, BAL	14 Points
2	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	14 Points
3	Cody Parkey, PHI	13 Points
4	Dan Bailey, DAL	12 Points
5	Adam Vinatieri, IND	12 Points
6	Phil Dawson, SF	11 Points
7	Shayne Graham, NO	10 Points
8	Dan Carpenter, BUF	9 Points
9	Mason Crosby, GB	8 Points
10	Nick Novak, SD	7 Points
11	Cairo Santos, KC	6 Points
12	Steven Hauschka, SEA	6 Points

One of the top kickers to watch in Week 15 is Indianapolis Colts veteran Adam Vinatieri. Even at 41 years old, Vinatieri has hit at least two field goals and two extra points in all but two games this season.

With the fast-paced Indianapolis offensive unit coming up against the stout defense of the Houston Texans, there should be ample opportunities for the Colts to stall within field-goal range and let Vinatieri shine.

*Stats via NFL.com.