Fantasy Football Week 15 Rankings: Last-Minute Outlook for Flex Players

Rank	Player (Team), Opponent
1	Le'Veon Bell (PIT) at ATL
2	DeMarco Murray (DAL) at PHI
3	Arian Foster (HOU) at IND
4	Antonio Brown (PIT) at ATL
5	Matt Forte (CHI) vs. NO
6	Jamaal Charles (KC) vs. OAK
7	Justin Forsett (BAL) vs. JAC
8	LeSean McCoy (PHI) vs. DAL
9	Calvin Johnson (DET) vs. MIN
10	Demaryius Thomas (DEN) at SD
11	Marshawn Lynch (SEA) vs. SF
12	C.J. Anderson (DEN) at SD
13	Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG) vs. WAS
14	Dez Bryant (DAL) at PHI
15	Jordy Nelson (GB) at BUF
16	Mark Ingram (NO) at CHI
17	Joique Bell (DET) vs. MIN
18	Eddie Lacy (GB) at BUF
19	Julio Jones (ATL) vs. PIT
20	Ty Hilton (IND) vs. HOU
21	Alshon Jeffery (CHI) vs. NO
22	Isaiah Crowell (CLE) vs. CIN
23	Rob Gronkowski (NE) vs. MIA
24	Alfred Morris (WAS) at NYG
25	A.J. Green (CIN) at CLE
26	Jeremy Hill (CIN) at CLE
27	Mike Evans (TB) at CAR
28	Jonathan Stewart (CAR) vs. TB
29	Emmanuel Sanders (DEN) at SD
30	Randall Cobb (GB) at BUF
31	Jimmy Graham (NO) at CHI
32	Jeremy Maclin (PHI) vs. DAL
33	Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) vs. TB
34	Latavius Murray (OAK) at KC
35	Fred Jackson (BUF) vs. GB
36	DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) at IND
37	LeGarrette Blount (NE) vs. MIA
38	Lamar Miller (MIA) at NE
39	Daniel Herron (IND) vs. HOU
40	Josh Gordon (CLE) vs. CIN
41	Roddy White (ATL) vs. PIT
42	Rashad Jennings (NYG) vs. WAS
43	Greg Olsen (CAR) vs. TB
44	Jordan Matthews (PHI) vs. DAL
45	Martellus Bennett (CHI) vs. NO
46	Chris Ivory (NYJ) at TEN
47	Kenny Stills (NO) at CHI
48	Steven Jackson (ATL) vs. PIT
49	Keenan Allen (SD) vs. DEN
50	Chris Johnson (NYJ) at TEN
51	Steve Smith (BAL) vs. JAC
52	Martavis Bryant (PIT) at ATL
53	Julius Thomas (DEN) at SD
54	Golden Tate (DET) vs. MIN
55	Vincent Jackson (TB) at CAR
56	Brandon LaFell (NE) vs. MIA
57	Julian Edelman (NE) vs. MIA
58	Delanie Walker (TEN) vs. NYJ
59	Charles Johnson (MIN) at DET
60	Donte Moncrief (IND) vs. HOU
61	Antonio Gates (SD) vs. DEN
62	Giovani Bernard (CIN) at CLE
63	Marques Colston (NO) at CHI
64	Jarvis Landry (MIA) at NE
65	Malcom Floyd (SD) vs. DEN
66	Andre Williams (NYG) vs. WAS
67	Mike Wallace (MIA) at NE
68	Ryan Mathews (SD) vs. DEN
69	Travis Kelce (KC) vs. OAK
70	Marquess Wilson (CHI) vs. NO
71	Marqise Lee (JAC) at BAL
72	Eric Decker (NYJ) at TEN
73	Pierre Garcon (WAS) at NYG
74	DeSean Jackson (WAS) at NYG
75	Jordan Reed (WAS) at NYG
76	Terrance West (CLE) vs. CIN
77	Mohamed Sanu (CIN) at CLE
78	Larry Donnell (NYG) vs. WAS
79	Robert Woods (BUF) vs. GB
80	Anquan Boldin (SF) at SEA
81	Nate Washington (TEN) vs. NYJ
82	Shane Vereen (NE) vs. MIA
83	Doug Martin (TB) at CAR
84	Kendall Wright (TEN) vs. NYJ
85	Allen Hurns (JAC) at BAL
86	Coby Fleener (IND) vs. HOU
87	Dwayne Allen (IND) vs. HOU
88	Doug Baldwin (SEA) vs. SF
89	Frank Gore (SF) at SEA
90	Pierre Thomas (NO) at CHI
91	Torrey Smith (BAL) vs. JAC
92	Reggie Bush (DET) vs. MIN
93	Davante Adams (GB) at BUF
94	Darren Sproles (PHI) vs. DAL
95	Andrew Hawkins (CLE) vs. CIN
96	Matt Asiata (MIN) at DET
97	Rueben Randle (NYG) vs. WAS
98	Knile Davis (KC) vs. OAK
99	Heath Miller (PIT) at ATL
100	Trent Richardson (IND) vs. HOU

The flex position is often the make-or-break point of a fantasy football lineup, especially when the margin for error shrinks in the postseason.  Chances are that if your team has already advanced this far, you are facing another squad with an equally deep arsenal.

Thus, choosing the right flex has a strong probability of making the difference in a given playoff matchup.  Recent waiver-wire pickups like C.J. Anderson and Isaiah Crowell have graduated from bench depth to flex options to now clear starters, as those are the types of players who can propel a fantasy squad over the top.

Breaking down the Week 15 matchups, let's pinpoint the top 100 flex players for this week, while also highlighting some of the most difficult debates.

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Browns Weapons

A quarterback change is always a significant monkey wrench in projecting an offense for both real and fantasy purposes.  While Johnny Manziel seems unlikely to hinder the Browns offense any more than Brian Hoyer did over the past month, the gap between the ceiling and floor for Manziel this Sunday is massive.

Fantasy owners might have a tough time stomaching that risk, especially if they own Josh Gordon.  After an explosive 120-yard debut against the Falcons, Gordon has compiled just nine receptions on 20 targets for 90 yards in the past two games combined.  This week's opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, was one of the few squads able to mostly hold down Gordon last season, apart from a fantasy-saving 74-yard touchdown:

Similarly, Jordan Cameron's value remains low with Manziel at quarterback.  Cameron has been one of many busts at the tight end position, having missed six games and notched just 17 catches for 291 yards and a touchdown the entire season.  The dearth of quality tight ends this season might force Cameron into the lineup in deeper leagues, but standard league owners should be able to find a safer option for this playoff week.

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Fortunately, Isaiah Crowell owners need not worry about the switch to Manziel.  Crowell's value is on the upswing, for while Cleveland still employs a roughly 50-50 backfield split with he and Terrance West, Crowell has notched three scores in the past three games, a reflection of his goal-line duties.  

Crowell's carries might even see an uptick, as the Browns figure to rein in Manziel's pass attempts.  Hoyer threw at least 30 passes in five of his last six starts, and it's tough to envision Manziel passing that threshold unless the Browns fall into an early deficit.  Consequently, Crowell stands as a clear No. 2 RB, while West might even warrant flex consideration.  

Patriots Receivers

A healthy Rob Gronkowski is a massive advantage in both real and fantasy football, as his reliable touchdown production makes him the best option at the scarcest position.  While Gronk is a must-start regardless of opponent, his value takes a huge hit this week against a Miami Dolphins team that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

So which Pats receiving target might benefit from Tom Brady's redistributed passes if the Fins can limit Gronk?  Julian Edelman has compiled at least 89 yards in three of the past five games, and his steady stream of targets (124 on the season) makes him a relatively safe yardage bet.

However, Edelman figures to match up against top Miami corner Brent Grimes, who possesses a similarly diminutive yet physical playing style.  Grimes has had occasional issues against bigger targets like Demaryius Thomas and Calvin Johnson but totally shut down Edelman in their Week 1 meeting:

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Instead, look for Brandon LaFell to bounce back from his lackluster two-fantasy-point effort last week.  LaFell figures to receive a juicy matchup against either R.J. Stanford or a limited Cortland Finnegan or Jamar Taylor.  LaFell has been a sneakily steady option since entering the starting lineup, with seven touchdowns since Week 4.  Facing a Dolphins defense that has conceded six passing touchdowns the last three games, LaFell represents a sneaky No. 2 WR/flex play this week.

Julius Thomas

As with Gronk, a healthy Julius Thomas is a must-start tight end in any fantasy league.  But the health has been an issue for Thomas, who burned many fantasy owners last week by suiting up but not playing a single snap.

Thus, Thomas owners may be hesitant to trust him again after burning a lineup spot last week.  Thomas' health has apparently improved with another week of practice, but there remain conflicting opinions about whether or not he represents a viable fantasy option:

This week, the Broncos face a San Diego Chargers defense that has allowed just three touchdowns to opposing tight ends all season.  San Diego figures to copy and paste its game plan against Gronkowski last week, when the Chargers jammed the tight end on nearly every pass route and doubled him in bracket coverage.  Indeed, Gronk's lone touchdown came when he split out wide against the much smaller Brandon Flowers and went to work without safety help, the type of mismatch the Chargers mostly avoided.

Thomas had just two catches for 23 yards in Denver's first meeting with San Diego and has yet to compile more than 63 yards in a game since.  After starting the season on an historic scoring streak, Thomas is more of a middling tight end option this week, especially with Denver's renewed commitment to the ground game.

*All points against information based on ESPN standard scoring.