Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings: Breaking Down Each Position

If your fantasy playoffs began in Week 14, you may not have gotten off to the start you wanted. Strong defensive play rendered fantasy mainstays like Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, Cam Newton and Adam Thielen below-average.

If you're still alive, read on, as we'll rank each position for PPR leagues. We'll also look at some of the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 15.

Quarterbacks

1. Drew Brees at Carolina Panthers

2. Philip Rivers at Kansas City Chiefs

3. Patrick Mahomes vs. Los Angeles Chargers

4. Tom Brady at Pittsburgh Steelers

5. Russell Wilson at San Francisco 49ers

6. Deshaun Watson at New York Jets

7. Lamar Jackson vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

8. Derek Carr at Cincinnati Bengals

9. Baker Mayfield at Denver Broncos

10. Dak Prescott at Indianapolis Colts

How Injured Is Ben Roethlisberger?

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Roethlisberger missed most of the second half of last week's game against the Oakland Raiders with a rib injury, and head coach Mike Tomlin hinted that Big Ben may have been able to return sooner than he did.

"Probably could have come in a series or two sooner," Tomlin said, per NFL Media's Aditi Kinkhabwala. "But we were in the rhythm and flow of the game."

One of two things likely happened here: Tomlin thought his team was good enough to win without Roethlisberger and left him on the sideline to avoid further injury, or the injury was fairly significant, and Roethlisberger wasn't able to play through it until his team was behind and facing defeat.

If he is less than 100 percent against the New England Patriots, that will also impact Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Vance McDonald.

Wide Receivers

1. Michael Thomas at Carolina Panthers

2. Keenan Allen at Kansas City Chiefs

3. DeAndre Hopkins at New York Jets

4. Antonio Brown vs. New England Patriots

5. Julio Jones vs. Arizona Cardinals

6. Adam Thielen vs. Miami Dolphins

7. Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Tennessee Titans

8. Amari Cooper at Indianapolis Colts

9. Brandin Cooks vs. Philadelphia Eagles

10. Tyreek Hill vs. Los Angeles Chargers

How Injured Is Tyreek Hill?

Managers have to be concerned with Hill's foot injury, especially with Kansas City facing the Los Angeles Chargers on a short week.

As of now, the injury doesn't appear significant.

However, if his speed and ability to chase and track the ball in space are compromised, he isn't going to be as much of a factor. This could lead to increased production for guys like Travis Kelce, Chris Conley and Kelvin Benjamin.

If Hill is at or close to full strength, though, we have to view him as a top-10 wideout.

Running Backs

1. Melvin Gordon at Kansas City Chiefs

2. Christian McCaffrey vs. New Orleans Saints

3. Todd Gurley vs. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Joe Mixon vs. Oakland Raiders

5. David Johnson at Atlanta Falcons

6. Ezekiel Elliott at Indianapolis Colts

7. Phillip Lindsay vs. Cleveland Browns

8. Saquon Barkley vs. Tennessee Titans

9. Alvin Kamara at Carolina Panthers

10. Gus Edwards vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tight Ends

1. Travis Kelce vs. Los Angeles Chargers

2. Rob Gronkowski at Pittsburgh Steelers

3. Zach Ertz at Los Angeles Rams

4. David Njoku at Denver Broncos

5. Ian Thomas vs. New Orleans Saints

6. Jared Cook at Cincinnati Bengals

7. George Kittle vs. Seattle Seahawks

8. Eric Ebron vs. Dallas Cowboys

9. Benjamin Watson at Carolina Panthers

10. Gerald Everett vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Have the Broncos Learned How to Stop Tight Ends?

For one half against the San Francisco 49ers, the Denver Broncos forgot that tight end George Kittle was on the field.

Kittle feasted for seven receptions, 210 yards and a touchdown, and he wasn't the first tight end to have a strong game against the Broncos. Though his numbers weren't close to Kittle's, C.J. Uzomah had a solid five catches and 33 yards with backup quarterback Jeff Driskel the week prior.

This week, the Broncos will face David Njoku and rookie QB Baker Mayfield—a step up from Uzomah and Driskel.

Kickers

1. Wil Lutz at Carolina Panthers

2. Stephen Gostkowski at Pittsburgh Steelers

3. Ka'imi Fairbairn at New York Jets

4. Harrison Butker vs. Los Angeles Chargers

5. Greg Zuerlein vs. Philadelphia Eagles

6. Justin Tucker vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

7. Michael Badgley at Kansas City Chiefs

8. Brett Maher at Indianapolis Colts

9. Cody Parkey vs. Green Bay Packers

10. Sebastian Janikowski at San Francisco 49ers

Defense/Special Teams

1. Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

2. Houston Texans at New York Jets

3. Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Baltimore Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

5. Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions

6. New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

7. Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers

8. Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos

9. Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills

10. Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns