Week 15 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Projections for Top 10 Players at Each Position

Mark Sanchez and rookie wideouts rule fantasy football this season and continue to do so deep into the fantasy playoffs.

Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin are all top-20 scoring wideouts on the season. Sanchez is in the midst of a career revival and fantasy relevance.

It is a strange time to be a fantasy owner, but also a lucrative one. This season more than ever seems to reward risk, a great sign for owners in one-and-done situations.

Championships are the focal point in the coming weeks, so below rests the important Week 15 information.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	at BUF	20
2	Peyton Manning, DEN	at SD	18
3	Drew Brees, NO	at CHI	17
4	Andrew Luck, IND	HOU	17
5	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	at ATL	16
6	Russell Wilson, SEA	SF	15
7	Tom Brady, NE	MIA	13
8	Matt Ryan, ATL	PIT	13
9	Mark Sanchez, PHI	DAL	12
10	Philip Rivers, SD	DEN	10

Start 'Em: Mark Sanchez, PHI (vs. DAL)

Owners seem to have little faith in Mark Sanchez with so much at stake. An ownership percentage of 41.6 speaks volumes to that. 

Know what else speaks volumes? A matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, a situation that saw the former USC star post 20 points just two weeks ago.

The Cowboys continue to rank just outside of the top 10 in terms of points allowed against quarterbacks. Sanchez is not a surefire option on a week-to-week basis. His second-best output of the year just so happens to come from the first encounter, with this weekend's rematch coming at home.

Sit 'Em: Colin Kaepernick, SF (at SEA)

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Colin Kaepernick's ownership percentage is down almost 10 points over the past week, and for good reason. 

The San Francisco 49ers signal-caller has nine total points to his name in his last two games, with a horrific one-point showing coming against the Seattle Seahawks just two weeks ago.

Now Kaepernick must travel to Seattle for the rematch.

Little else really needs said. For those on the ledge though: Keep in mind that Kaepernick has not scored more than 13 points since Week 6 and Seattle ranks No. 1 overall against quarterbacks, having held four in a row to single-digit production.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL	at PHI	24
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	at ATL	23
3	Arian Foster, HOU	at IND	20
4	Justin Forsett, BAL	JAC	18
5	Matt Forte, CHI	NO	17
6	Jamaal Charles, KC	OAK	16
7	LeSean McCoy, PHI	DAL	16
8	C.J. Anderson, DEN	at SD	13
9	Mark Ingram, NO	at CHI	12
10	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	SF	12

Start 'Em: Jeremy Hill, CIN (at CLE)

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Jeremy Hill is a rookie to trust with everything on the line. 

A total of 11 points the last two weeks disappoint, but things are about to change in Cincinnati. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson sees the error in his ways when it comes to a committee approach, as captured by Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

"

I'm used to having one guy kind of dominate some carries because in order for backs to be really good, they've got to get lathered up to play. You've got to get a feel for the game. We have two capable guys and they're different guys and we'll let it play itself out, but I think we have a pretty good idea which way we're headed…Those guys are very capable. I just don't think I did a very good job this past week.

"

Not a confirmation, right? Giovani Bernard himself confirms the news, per Richard Skinner of the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Cleveland ranks well against backs, but Hill is as reliable as it gets when he sees opportunities. This year he has double-digit production in any contest with 15 or more carries.

Sit 'Em: Lamar Miller, MIA (at NE)

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Lamar Miller owners will be quick to point out that the Miami Dolphins back exploded for 10 points against the New England Patriots back in Week 1.

There are a number of problems with that nugget. For one, it was the start of the season. Two, Knowshon Moreno was healthy, which let Miller act as the spell. Three, New England is in the midst of an impressive defensive streak, having held three of their last four opposing backfields to single-digit production.

Miller, on the other hand, has double digits just once in his past five outings.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	Antonio Brown, PIT	at ATL	17
2	Calvin Johnson, DET	MIN	16
3	Jordy Nelson, GB	at BUF	14
4	Dez Bryant, DAL	at PHI	13
5	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	at SD	13
6	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	NO	12
7	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	WAS	12
8	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	DAL	11
9	Josh Gordon, CLE	CIN	11
10	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	at SD	10

Start 'Em: Sammy Watkins, BUF (vs. GB)

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Buffalo Bills rookie wideout Sammy Watkins is back from the dead as a fantasy option thanks to 10 points last week. A stretch of four games without double digits preceded the seven catches for 127 yards.

Those 10 points not only came on the road in Denver, they came against a Broncos defense that still ranks among the top 11 teams in terms of points allowed to wideouts.

Now Watkins turns his attention to the Green Bay Packers, a defense that allows the fourth-most points to the position. Just last week the unit let Atlanta wideouts score a whopping 54 points. Kyle Orton is no Matt Ryan, but Watkins will produce.

Sit 'Em: Mike Wallace, MIA (at NE)

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Mike Wallace is similar to Miller in that he had a big game against New England to start the season (12 points), but the outlook is much of the same. 

Wallace has not scored in double digits since Week 10. He now hits the road and gets a head-to-head encounter with corner Darrelle Revis, who figures to shadow him all day long, unlike the first matchup.

New England ranks fifth against wideouts this season and has allowed less than 20 total points to groups of receivers in three of its last four games. In Week 1 against Miami, the unit allowed just 14 total points.

Unless Wallace absolutely erupts again, which is unlikely, he is a bench player.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	MIA	10
2	Jimmy Graham, NO	at CHI	9
3	Julius Thomas, DEN	at SD	9
4	Antonio Gates, SD	DEN	8
5	Greg Olsen, CAR	TB	7
6	Martellus Bennett, CHI	NO	6
7	Delanie Walker, TEN	NYJ	5
8	Travis Kelce, KC	OAK	5
9	Coby Fleener, IND	HOU	4
10	Mychal Rivera, OAK	at KC	4

Start 'Em: Larry Donnell, NYG (vs. WAS)

Now is the time to believe in New York Giants tight end Larry Donnell again.

The owner of one double-digit output since Week 4, a matchup with Washington will do wonders to fix those issues.

In fact, that Week 4, 23-point outburst by Donnell came against this same Washington defense. Jay Gruden's team allows the most points to the position this year, and each of its last two opponents has scored a minimum of 21 points.

Donnell is one of the safest plays of the week.

Sit 'Em: Heath Miller, PIT (at ATL)

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller is in the midst of a resurgence as of late, scoring a minimum of seven points in each of his last three outings.

At tight end, reliable production like that is difficult to find.

The feel-good vibes are set to end, though. The Atlanta defense has few issues with the position. The Falcons surrender the seventh-fewest points to it and have allowed just two touchdowns and one double-digit performance in the process.

D/ST

Rank	Unit	Opponent	Projection
1	Ravens	JAC	10
2	Lions	MIN	10
3	Giants	WAS	8
4	Chiefs	OAK	6
5	Seahawks	SF	5
6	Panthers	TB	5
7	Browns	CIN	5
8	Bills	GB	4
9	Eagles	DAL	4
10	Vikings	at DET	4

Start 'Em: Baltimore Ravens (vs. JAC)

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

The Baltimore Ravens were on fire last week with six sacks of Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill. 

It was the unit's fourth trip to double digits this season. Another one is seemingly in the cards thanks to a matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars allow the absolute most points to opposing defenses this year with rookie quarterback Blake Bortles under center. In fact, only three opponents have not scored in double digits.

Sit 'Em: San Francisco 49ers (at SEA)

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Seattle is just a bad all-around matchup for San Francisco.

The 49ers defense has scored four points over the course of its last two games. Three came against Seattle in Week 13.

Now the struggling unit must hit the road to Seattle against an opponent that has allowed just one opposing defense to breach double digits this season. Two have scored in the negatives.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	Cody Parkey, PHI	DAL	8
2	Adam Vinatieri, IND	HOU	8
3	Steven Hauschka, SEA	SF	7
4	Randy Bullock, HOU	at IND	6
5	Nick Novak, SD	DEN	5
6	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	MIA	5
7	Robbie Gould, CHI	NO	5
8	Shaun Suisham, PIT	at ATL	4
9	Josh Brown, NYG	WAS	3
10	Cairo Santos, KC	OAK	3

Start 'Em: Shayne Graham, NO (at CHI)

Bill Feig/Associated Press

New Orleans Saints kicker Shayne Graham is the owner of four double-digit outings this year, although the last one came in Week 8.

Not to worry, though. Graham is due to add a fifth thanks to a matchup with the reeling Chicago Bears.

Marc Trestman's team allows the most points to kickers on average and four of the team's last six opponents have scored in double digits. Look for Graham to have a big day.

Sit 'Em: Phil Dawson, SF (at SEA)

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Phil Dawson is unreliable too, folks.

Dawson has not hit double digits since Week 11 and his first encounter with Seattle produced just four points on one field goal and no extra points.

On the road in a hostile environment, Dawson is a must-avoid option. His ownership percentage has dipped by 13 points in the span of one week, and for good reason.

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.