Fantasy Football Week 15: Updated Rankings for Sunday's Action

If you're still alive in your fantasy football league heading into Week 15, you probably already have one playoff victory under your belt. Well, congratulations are certainly in order, but don't celebrate—or gloat to the owner you just decimated—for too long. You haven't won anything just yet.

A victory this week will most likely come equipped with a berth in your league's championship game. Only a small margin of owners get to participate in the final fantasy game of the season, so taking some extra time to do some research and set your absolute best lineup is crucial.

After all, you wouldn't want to be denied entrance to the title game because you didn't know that Cam Newton won't be playing Sunday or that the Jacksonville Jaguars will be employing a committee approach following the loss of Denard Robinson, would you?

As part of your preparation for a pivotal week of fantasy football, here's a look at the updated rankings for each position heading into Sunday's action.

Quarterback

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Andrew Luck, IND	vs. Texans
2	Peyton Manning, DEN	at Chargers
3	Drew Brees, NO	at Bears
4	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	at Falcons
5	Matt Ryan, ATL	vs. Steelers
6	Aaron Rodgers, GB	at Bills
7	Tom Brady, NE	vs. Dolphins
8	Jay Cutler, CHI	vs. Saints
9	Joe Flacco, BAL	vs. Jaguars
10	Tony Romo, DAL	at Eagles
11	Eli Manning, NYG	vs. Redskins
12	Russell Wilson, SEA	vs. 49ers
13	Philip Rivers, SD	vs. Broncos
14	Mark Sanchez, PHI	vs. Cowboys
15	Matthew Stafford, DET	vs. Vikings

After two consecutive big performances, Matt Ryan appears to have regained his form in the Atlanta Falcons offense. The veteran quarterback made strides in Week 13 against a tough Arizona Cardinals defense, passing for 361 yards and two touchdowns. He outdid himself in Week 14, passing for 375 yards and four touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers.

Ryan is on a major hot streak right now, and he gets a great matchup in Week 15 against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that is allowing an average of 17.5 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, the eighth most in the league. Pittsburgh has also allowed 30 and 25 fantasy points to signal-callers in its last two games, respectively.

It's been a roller-coaster year for this quarterback, but his offensive line appears to be coming together, Julio Jones looks 100 percent and, while not completely healthy, Roddy White continues to be a valuable target. It's safe to roll with Ryan as a QB1 in Week 15.

Running Back

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	at Falcons
2	DeMarco Murray, DAL	at Eagles
3	Jamaal Charles, KC	vs. Raiders
4	Matt Forte, CHI	vs. Saints
5	Justin Forsett, BAL	vs. Jaguars
6	LeSean McCoy, PHI	vs. Cowboys
7	Arian Foster, HOU	at Colts
8	C.J. Anderson, DEN	at Chargers
9	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	vs. Buccaneers
10	Mark Ingram, NO	at Bears
11	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	vs. 49ers
12	Rashad Jennings, NYG	vs. Redskins
13	Eddie Lacy, GB	at Bills
14	Fred Jackson, BUF	vs. Packers
15	LeGarrette Blount, NE	vs. Dolphins
16	Chris Ivory, NYJ	at Titans
17	Alfred Morris, WAS	at Giants
18	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	vs. Bengals
19	Jeremy Hill, CIN	at Browns
20	Chris Johnson, NYJ	at Titans

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart has quickly become a hot commodity for fantasy playoffs. The ball-carrier is coming off his best game of the season, rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries against the New Orleans Saints in Week 14.

The ball-carrier was limited in practice earlier this week, garnering a questionable designation. But he should be in line to start once again Sunday, and if he does, expect another big performance.

Stewart's usage in Week 15 should be severely escalated with Derek Anderson under center. If Carolina leans heavily on the running game with the backup quarterback under center, that should translate to well over the 20 carries Stewart received against New Orleans. Considering his Week 15 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he could be one of the week's highest-scoring backs.

Tampa Bay is allowing an average of 18.8 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season, the eighth most in the league. The Buccaneers have allowed at least 22 fantasy points to the position in three of their last four games. That fact makes Stewart a top-tier option for this week, and fantasy owners should consider him a RB1.

Wide Receiver

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Antonio Brown, PIT	at Falcons
2	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	vs. Saints
3	Julio Jones, ATL	vs. Steelers
4	Calvin Johnson, DET	vs. Vikings
5	Jordy Nelson, GB	at Bills
6	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	at Chargers
7	T.Y. Hilton, IND	vs. Texans
8	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	vs. Redskins
9	Dez Bryant, DAL	at Eagles
10	A.J. Green, CIN	at Browns
11	Jeremy Maclin. PHI	vs. Cowboys
12	Mike Evans, TB	at Panthers
13	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	at Chargers
14	Steve Smith, BAL	vs. Jaguars
15	Josh Gordon, CLE	vs. Bengals
16	Sammy Watkins, BUF	vs. Packers
17	Randall Cobb, GB	at Bills
18	Kenny Stills, NO	at Bears
19	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	vs. Buccaneers
20	Jordan Matthews, PHI	vs. Cowboys
21	Keenan Allen, SD	vs. Broncos
22	Marques Coltson, NO	at Bears
23	Julian Edelman, NE	vs. Dolphins
24	Roddy White, ATL	vs. Steelers
25	Vincent Jackson, TB	at Panthers

We've all seen Odell Beckham Jr.'s ridiculous catch against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12 by now. While that was a thing of beauty, the rookie's consistent fantasy output over the last nine weeks has been even more attractive.

Since his debut in Week 5, Beckham has scored at least nine fantasy points in all but one contest. With Victor Cruz done for the season, the rookie has garnered plenty of attention from quarterback Eli Manning, resulting in at least 10 catches, 130 yards and a score in two of his last three games.

This week, Beckham has a highly favorable matchup against a Washington Redskins defense that is allowing an average of 23.3 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, the ninth most in the league. Washington has been torched by opponents for at least 20 fantasy points in each of the last four weeks, including a 36-point outing from Buccaneers receivers and a 40-point showing from the Indianapolis Colts.

Beckham has already worked his way into a must-start fantasy status each and every week, but with a matchup like this, he becomes an absolute top-tier option at WR1.

Tight End

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	vs. Dolphins
2	Greg Olsen, CAR	vs. Buccaneers
3	Jimmy Graham, NO	at Bears
4	Martellus Bennett, CHI	vs. Saints
5	Julius Thomas, DEN	at Chargers
6	Coby Fleener, IND	vs. Texans
7	Antonio Gates, SD	vs. Broncos
8	Travis Kelce, SD	vs. Raiders
9	Delanie Walker, TEN	vs. Jets
10	Jordan Reed, WAS	at Giants
11	Larry Donnell, NYG	vs. Redskins
12	Jason Witten, DAL	at Eagles
13	Heath Miller, PIT	at Falcons
14	Scott Chandler, BUF	vs. Packers
15	Jordan Cameron, CLE	vs. Bengals

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is a risky play on any given week. Many of us have learned that the hard way this season due to starting him on one (or several) of the six weeks he posted four fantasy points or fewer. Well, he's still a gamble this week, but his matchup warrants consideration for a start.

The Chiefs are at home against the Oakland Raiders in Week 15. The last time these teams met, Kelce caught four passes for 67 yards, while Kansas City's tight ends tallied six receptions for 97 yards and a score. The Raiders have been inconsistent against tight ends this season, but Alex Smith found Kelce and Co. regularly in their last meeting.

Judging by Kelce's Week 14 performance of seven receptions for 110 yards, it's pretty evident head coach Andy Reid is looking to involve the talented tight end in the offense a bit more. If that turns out to be the case in Week 15 (and it should), consider Kelce worthy of a start.

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Opponent
1	Ravens	vs. Jaguars
2	Lions	vs. Vikings
3	Chiefs	vs. Raiders
4	Giants	vs. Redskins
5	Seahawks	vs. 49ers
6	Panthers	vs. Buccaneers
7	Jets	at Titans
8	Bengals	at Browns
9	Packers	at Bills
10	Patriots	vs. Dolphins

The New York Jets defense could make for a sneaky-good fantasy play in Week 15. While this squad hasn't been elite like in past seasons, it hasn't been much of a liability this season, netting negative fantasy points just once. New York hasn't exactly lit it up, either, gaining double-digit fantasy points just once this year, but that could change due to a favorable matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans are allowing an average of 10.1 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses, the fourth most in the league. They're coming off a putrid performance against the Giants, scoring seven points, giving up eight sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown.

Adding to Tennessee's woes is a recent switch at the quarterback position, via the team's official Twitter account:

While the Jets may not have that kind of illustrious performance in Week 15, current trends indicate they could be a nice option for a fantasy owner in need.

Kicker

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Adam Vinatieri, IND	vs. Texans
2	Cody Parkey, PHI	vs. Cowboys
3	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	vs. Dolphins
4	Randy Bullock, HOU	at Colts
5	Shaun Suisham, PIT	at Falcons
6	Matt Bryant, ATL	vs. Steelers
7	Mason Crosby, GB	at Bills
8	Steven Hauschka, SEA	vs. 49ers
9	Nick Novak, SD	vs. Broncos
10	Matt Prater, DET	vs. Vikings

Selecting a kicker to start each week isn't much more than a crapshoot, but if you're actually stuck on who to add to your starting lineup for Week 15, Matt Prater isn't a bad option.

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The Detroit Lions kicker is coming off of three consecutive double-digit fantasy performances and faces a Minnesota Vikings team that just allowed 17 fantasy points to Nick Folk of the Jets in Week 14. We can expect Detroit to move into Vikings territory often enough to get Prater a few attempts, so why not go with the hot hand (or foot)?

Since Week 8, Prater has attempted at least two field goals in each game, connecting on all but two and netting at least eight fantasy points in every contest. Those numbers sound worthy of a start.

All fantasy rankings and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues and current as of December 11 at 1 a.m. ET.