Fantasy Football Week 15 Rankings: Top Players and Matchups for All Positions

This is what we play for. After 14 grueling weeks of lineup adjustments and waiver hawking, we've reached the first week of the fantasy football playoffs.

Some managers are trying to win their first matchup on the road to a championship. Others are trying to finish the season off strong in the consolation bracket. But anyone who's still playing is in line for possibly the most chaotic week yet.

Although bye weeks are over, the NFL is dealing with a number of injuries and medical precautions. We don't know if San Francisco 49er Elijah Mitchell is healthy yet. We're not sure which Los Angeles Rams will be eligible to play come Sunday. 

What we do know is that it's never too early to start ranking players and their matchups, because adjusting is always easier when you've laid a strong foundation.

1. Kyler Murray, ARI (at DET)

2. Josh Allen, BUF (vs. CAR)

3. Justin Herbert, LAC (vs. KC)

4. Tom Brady, TB (vs. NO)

5. Matthew Stafford, LAR (vs. SEA)

6. Aaron Rodgers, GB (at BAL)

7. Dak Prescott, DAL (at NYG)

8. Patrick Mahomes, KC (at LAC)

9. Jalen Hurts, PHI (vs. WAS)

10. Taysom Hill, NO (at TB)

        

Best Matchup: Matthew Stafford vs. Seattle Seahawks

While Murray gets the obviously lopsided matchup, that's not always the best for a quarterback. Stafford's Los Angeles Rams, on the other hand, face a Seattle Seahawks squad that has turned things around and put up 30-plus points in each of their last two contests.

In what should be a spicy divisional game, Seattle's offense will put up a fight. And, if they do, Stafford is in line for a strong game—as the Hawks are susceptible through the air.

While Jimmy Garoppolo (Week 13) and Taylor Heinicke (Week 12) didn't have stellar weeks against Seattle, Colt McCoy (Week 11) and Davis Mills (Week 14) were both quite productive. The former put up 328 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, the latter dropped 331 yards and one touchdown, with zero interceptions.

Stafford is a better quarterback than any of Seattle's last four opponents and, if the game is as high-scoring as it can be, he should put up a mighty line this week.

1. Dalvin Cook, MIN (at CHI)

2. James Conner, ARI (at DET)

3. Najee Harris, PIT (vs. TEN)

4. Jonathan Taylor, IND (vs. NE)

5. Nick Chubb, CLE (vs. LV)

6. Austin Ekeler, LAC (vs. KC)

7. Leonard Fournette, TB (vs. NO)

8. Alvin Kamara, NO (at TB)

9. David Montgomery, CHI (vs. MIN)

10. Elijah Mitchell, SF (vs. ATL)

11. Joe Mixon, CIN (at DEN)

12. Antonio Gibson, WAS (at PHI)

13. Josh Jacobs, LV (at CLE)

14. Saquon Barkley, NYG (vs. DAL)

15. Melvin Gordon III, DEN (vs. CIN)

16. AJ Dillon, GB (at BAL)

17. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (at NYG)

18. Javonte Williams, DEN (vs. CIN)

19. Aaron Jones, GB (at BAL)

20. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (at LAC)

        

Best Matchup: James Conner at Detroit Lions

We still don't know the results of Conner's MRI, but he has an incredible matchup if he's healthy enough this week. Unlike quarterback, a lopsided affair benefits a running back—and Conner doesn't even need additional benefits.

Across 13 games this season, the former Pittsburgh Steeler has 16 touchdowns. Since Chase Edmonds went down in Week 9, Conner has posted eight touchdowns and averaged 114.4 scrimmage yards per game. 

Over their last two weeks, the Detroit Lions have allowed 274-plus rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. They're easily beat and, should Conner be active, he ought to feast.

1. Cooper Kupp, LAR (vs. SEA)

2. Davante Adams, GB (at BAL)

3. Justin Jefferson, MIN (at CHI)

4. Diontae Johnson, PIT (vs. TEN)

5. Chris Godwin, TB (vs. NO)

6. Deebo Samuel, SF (vs. ATL)

7. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (at NYG)

8. Tyreek Hill, KC (at LAC)

9. Keenan Allen, LAC (vs. KC)

10. Stefon Diggs, BUF (vs. CAR)

11. Mike Evans, TB (vs. NO)

12. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (at DEN)

13. Hunter Renfrow, LV (at CLE)

14. Jaylen Waddle, MIA (vs. NYJ)

15. Brandin Cooks, HOU (at JAX)

16. Darnell Mooney, CHI (vs. MIN)

17. DeVonta Smith, PHI (vs. WAS)

18. Tyler Lockett, SEA (at LAR)

19. DeAndre Hopkins, ARI (at DET)

20. Michael Pittman Jr., IND (vs. NE)

         

Best Matchup: Chris Godwin vs. New Orleans Saints

A lot will be made of the heated matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Evans and New Orleans Saints' Marshon Lattimore. But what's lost in the attention to that rivalry is the absence of anyone left to guard Godwin.

The Saints aren't as good a defensive unit as they were earlier in the year, but they're not necessarily a punching bag, either. But it's easy to see that, with Lattimore strapped to Evans, Godwin should have his day.

In their Week 8 matchup, Evans was indeed limited to four targets. Godwin, on the other hand, received 12 targets for eight receptions, 140 yards and one touchdown. He should be able to produce yet another stellar game in Week 15's rematch.

1. George Kittle, SF (vs. ATL)

2. Travis Kelce, KC (at LAC)

3. Mark Andrews, BAL (vs. GB)

4. Dallas Goedert, PHI (vs. WAS)

5. Mike Gesicki, MIA (vs. NYJ)

6. Rob Gronkowski, TB (vs. NO)

7. Dawson Knox, BUF (vs. CAR)

8. TJ Hockenson, DET (vs. ARI)

9. Dalton Schultz, DAL (at NYG)

10. Darren Waller, LV (at CLE)

         

Best Matchup: Travis Kelce at Los Angeles Chargers

Similar to Stafford's matchup with the Seahawks, Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs should be in line for a relatively high-octane affair against the Los Angeles Chargers. And this should work to Kelce's advantage.

A run funnel defense, the Chargers want teams to stay on the ground against them. And, in doing so, they've limited opposing passing attacks all year—including tight ends. 

But it helps that the Chargers have only faced the likes of Evan Engram, C.J. Uzomah and Noah Fant over the past few weeks. The last time L.A. faced a team that involves their tight ends, it gave up seven catches and two touchdowns to Pittsburgh's Eric Ebron and Pat Freiermuth. 

Kelce is an entirely different caliber of threat than those two. This should be a high-scoring affair and, of all Kansas City pass-catchers, Kelce is the most likely to reap the benefits.

D/ST

1. Miami Dolphins (vs. NYJ)

2. Dallas Cowboys (at NYG)

3. Arizona Cardinals (at DET)

4. Buffalo Bills (vs. CAR)

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. NO)

6. Green Bay Packers (at BAL)

7. San Francisco 49ers (vs. ATL)

8. Minnesota Vikings (at CHI)

9. New England Patriots (at IND)

10. Cleveland Browns (vs. LV)

        

K

1. Nick Folk, NE (at IND)

2. Justin Tucker, BAL (vs. GB)

3. Harrison Butker, KC (at LAC)

4. Jason Sanders, MIA (vs. NYJ)

5. Greg Zuerlein, DAL (at NYG)

6. Matt Prater, ARI (at DET)

7. Greg Joseph, MIN (at CHI)

8. Matt Gay, LAR (vs. SEA)

9. Robbie Gould, SF (vs. ATL)

10. Evan McPherson, CIN (at DEN)