Fantasy Football Week 15 Projections: 6 TD Machines You Must Start

It's Week 15 of the 2011 National Football League season, and while teams across the NFL scramble and shove in an attempt to make the playoffs, the second season in fantasy football has already begun, with teams duking it out in the quest for championship glory.

In an effort to aid fantasy owners in throwing the hardest punch possible, here's a look at half a dozen players who have a better than average chance of bagging a touchdown this week, and as such are certainly worth a look as fantasy starters for Week 15.

1. Matt Hasselbeck: QB, Tennessee Titans (at IND)

It's been an up and down 13th season in the NFL for Tennessee Titans for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who has thrown for over 2,700 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first season in Nashville but has been erratic at times and was forced from last week's loss to the New Orleans Saints with a calf injury.

Hasselbeck is expected to return to action this week when the Titans travel to face the Indianapolis Colts, who rank a mediocre 22nd in the league in pass defense and who have surrendered the fourth most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

2. Ryan Grant: RB, Green Bay Packers (at KC)

After being a non-factor for much of the season, running back Ryan Grant of the Green Bay Packers exploded in last week's blowout win over the Oakland Raiders, as the fifth-year pro rushed for 85 yards and scored his first two touchdowns of the year.

With the status of running backs James Starks and Brandon Saine very much in question, it may once again fall to Grant to do the bulk of the heavy lifting in the Green Bay backfield this week against a Kansas City Chiefs team allowing the fifth most fantasy points per game to opposing ball carriers.

3. Kevin Smith: RB, Detroit Lions (at OAK)

Running back Kevin Smith of the Detroit Lions missed last week's win over the Minnesota Vikings and parts of the two preceding games with an ankle injury, but before that the fourth-year veteran had played well, averaging an eye-popping 8.8 yards per carry in a win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 11.

Smith's status for this week's tilt at Oakland is still unclear, and with a 4:05 p.m. start time, waiting on him is a bit of a risk, but early reports seem to lean towards him playing in a top-10 fantasy matchup against a Raiders defense that has struggled against the run this season.

4. Dwayne Bowe: WR, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. GB)

Lost in the mess that is the 2011 Kansas City Chiefs has been the solid play of fifth-year wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Amid the chaos and injuries at KC, Bowe has still managed to average over 14 yards a reception, score four times and is set for his second consecutive season of over 1,000 receiving yards.

The insertion of Kyle Orton as starting quarterback for the Chiefs should be a big boon to Bowe in a matchup this week against the Green Bay Packers, who give up the fourth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and who should force the Chiefs to the air early and often.

5. Percy Harvin: WR, Minnesota Vikings (vs. NO)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin has been on an absolute tear over his past three games, as the third-year pro has reeled in 26 passes, gained a whopping 400 total yards and scored four touchdowns during that stretch.

The return of running back Adrian Peterson to the Vikings lineup may mean fewer touches for Harvin, but the former Florida star has a very favorable fantasy matchup this week with a New Orleans Saints squad allowing the seventh most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts.

6. Aaron Hernandez: TE, New England Patriots (at DEN)

While tight end Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots has been the talk of the town after breaking the NFL record for touchdown catches in a season by a tight end, fellow second-year pro Aaron Hernandez has quietly been having a top-10 fantasy season of his own, reeling in 59 passes for 607 yards and five touchdowns.

Hernandez has an excellent shot at continuing to be a valuable fantasy asset this week when the Patriots travel west to meet the Fighting Tebows in Denver, who, while an unfavorable matchup for tight ends, will almost certainly focus coverage on Gronkowski and wide receiver Wes Welker.