Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings Positional Breakdown for Flex and PPR

The fantasy playoffs have arrived in most season-long fantasy football leagues. If you're still alive in your league, congratulations, but things aren't going to get much easier from here.

NFL bye weeks are a thing of the past, which means managers will be able to rely on their biggest healthy stars. Of course, not all players will be healthy enough to play in Week 15.

Who can managers trust in this week's remaining matchups? Where can injury replacements be found on the waiver wire? Let's dive into a full point-per-reception (PPR) breakdown for this week's top flex options.

Running Back

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

3. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

4. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

5. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

6. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

7. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

8. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

9. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

10. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

11. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

12. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

13. Woody Marks, Houston Texans

14. Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

15. RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

16. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

17. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

18. Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

19. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

20. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

Managers can expect high-volume running backs like Christian McCaffrey and Jahmyr Gibbs to place highly in the flex rankings this week. McCaffrey also has a terrific matchup against a middle-of-the-road Tennessee Titans defense.

Tennessee has surrendered the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has the best matchup of Week 15, as the Cincinnati Bengals have surrendered more fantasy points to opposing RBs than any other team. The New York Giants have surrendered the second-most, which makes Washington Commanders back Chris Rodriguez Jr. a viable Week-15 sleeper.

Rodriguez is still available in over 60 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.

Managers may want to temper expectations for Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs. He's dealing with swelling in his knee—which makes Emanuel Wilson another good waiver target—and will face a tough Denver Broncos defense on the road.

Denver has surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Rams WR Puka Nacua

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

2. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

3. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

5. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

6. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

7. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

8. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

9. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

10. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

11. Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants

12. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

13. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

14. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

15. Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars

16. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

17. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

18. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

19. Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots

20. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

21. DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers

22. Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

23. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

24. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

25. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

Even the league's best receivers will have a hard time matching the flex production that Kyle Pitts had on Thursday night. The up-and-down tight end had the best game of his NFL career, finishing with 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns.

However, Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua can come reasonably close. Smith-Njigba is arguably the top high-volume pass-catcher in the league and is averaging a whopping 22.1 fantasy points per week.

Nacua, who is averaging 21.6 fantasy points, has a better matchup than Smith-Njigba and could conceivably earn the WR1 ranking this week. The Detroit Lions have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Detroit also has a strong enough offense that L.A. could continue leaning on Nacua and the passing game far longer than the Seahawks use theirs.

Managers should be more leery of wideouts like Kansas City Chiefs No. 2 receiver Xavier Worthy and rising Arizona Cardinals wideout Michael Wilson.

Rashee Rice may see the targets needed to come through for the Chiefs, but the Los Angeles Chargers have surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. Wilson will face a Houston Texans defense that has surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to WRs.

New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton is a viable sleeper option who is still available in over half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. He'll face a Washington Commanders defense that has surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing WRs.

Tight End

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Browns TE Harold Fannin Jr.

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

3. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

4. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

5. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

6. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

7. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

8. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

9. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

10. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens

11. Theo Johnson, New York Giants

12. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

13. Coslton Loveland, Chicago Bears

14. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

15. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

We probably won't see another tight end approach Pitts' production this week, but Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle are likely to see the target share needed to come somewhat close.

Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. could be a surprise contender for a top-10 flex spot this week, too. Fannin is quickly developing chemistry with rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders and just wrapped a performance that yielded 25.4 fantasy points.

Fannin will face a Chicago Bears defense that has surrendered the 14th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Managers might want to avoid Patriots tight end Hunter Henry this week if possible. Henry has topped double-digit fantasy points in consecutive games but will face a Buffalo Bills defense that has surrendered the fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Giants tight end Theo Johnson is a viable alternative to consider off the wire. He's rostered in less than half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues and will face a Commanders defense that has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to TEs.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.