Fantasy football rankings for Week 15: Purdy, McCaffrey fueling playoff runs
Survive and advance. The late Jim Valvano popularized the phrase while speaking about the NCAA basketball tournament, but it's just as applicable to fantasy football.
You only need to beat your opponent this week. Then you can start thinking about taking the next step toward winning a championship. To help you keep your focus, here's how the players stack up in their upcoming games.
START OR SIT? 15 players on the borderline for your Week 15 lineups
Fantasy football rankings for Week 15 are based on the point-per-reception (PPR) scoring used in most seasonal and daily fantasy football formats. One point is awarded for every 10 rushing and receiving yards and one point for every 20 passing yards. Six points are awarded for touchdowns scored, four points for passing TDs and one point for receptions.
Rankings are compiled by Daniel Dobish, TheHuddle.com.
(*-check status before kickoff)
Fantasy football quarterback rankings for Week 15
C.J. Stroud remains in the concussion protocol after leaving last week's game early. If he can't go, Davis Mills would get the start.
Derek Carr (rib/shoulder) still has a questionable tag after playing a full game last week despite the injuries.
Easton Stick will be the Chargers' starting quarterback for the rest of the season after Justin Herbert underwent surgery for a broken index finger on his passing hand.
Sleeper pick: Jake Browning has thrived after taking over for Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. Minnesota is no pushover on defense, but Browning has handled the challenge admirably so far.
1 | Buf. | vs. Dal. | |
2 | Jalen Hurts | Phi. | at Sea. |
3 | Mia. | vs. N.Y.-J | |
4 | S.F. | at Ari. | |
5 | Dal. | at Buf. | |
6 | Bal. | at Jac. | |
7 | K.C. | at N.E. | |
8 | Chi. | at Cle. | |
9 | Jordan Love | G.B. | vs. T.B. |
10 | Jared Goff | Det. | vs. Den. |
11 | Den. | at Det. | |
12 | *C.J. Stroud | Hou. | at Ten. |
13 | Jac. | vs. Bal. | |
14 | Sam Howell | Was. | at L.A.-R |
15 | Ari. | vs. S.F. | |
16 | Jake Browning | Cin. | vs. Min. |
17 | Ind. | vs. Pit. | |
18 | Atl. | at Car. | |
19 | L.A.-R | vs. Was. | |
20 | *Derek Carr | N.O. | vs. N.Y.-G |
21 | *Geno Smith | Sea. | vs. Phi. |
22 | Will Levis | Ten. | vs. Hou. |
23 | T.B. | at G.B. | |
24 | Joe Flacco | Cle. | vs. Chi. |
25 | N.Y.-J | at Mia. | |
26 | Bailey Zappe | N.E. | vs. K.C. |
27 | Easton Stick | L.A.-C | at L.V. |
28 | Pit. | at Ind. | |
29 | Min. | at Cin. | |
30 | L.V. | vs. L.A.-C | |
31 | Tommy DeVito | N.Y.-G | at N.O. |
32 | Bryce Young | Car. | vs. Atl. |
Fantasy football running back rankings for Week 15
Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) didn't play last week and remains questionable.
Josh Jacobs (quadriceps) has yet to practice this week after leaving Sunday's game early. Zamir White and Amir Abdullah would split time if Jacobs has to sit out.
Alexander Mattison (ankle) isn't practicing yet while dealing with a low-ankle sprain.
Sleeper pick: D'Andre Swift is primed for a rebound few will see coming after the Eagles' past two tough games against Dallas and San Francisco.
1 | S.F. | at Ari. | |
2 | L.A.-R | vs. Was. | |
3 | De'Von Achane | Mia. | vs. N.Y.-J |
4 | Alvin Kamara | N.O. | vs. N.Y.-G |
5 | Travis Etienne | Jac. | vs. Bal. |
6 | T.B. | at G.B. | |
7 | Ten. | vs. Hou. | |
8 | Jahmyr Gibbs | Det. | vs. Den. |
9 | N.Y.-G | at N.O. | |
10 | Austin Ekeler | L.A.-C | at L.V. |
11 | Atl. | at Car. | |
12 | Joe Mixon | Cin. | vs. Min. |
13 | Breece Hall | N.Y.-J | at Mia. |
14 | Det. | vs. Den. | |
15 | *Isiah Pacheco | K.C. | at N.E. |
16 | Kenneth Walker III | Sea. | vs. Phi. |
17 | *Josh Jacobs | L.V. | vs. L.A.-C |
18 | Tony Pollard | Dal. | at Buf. |
19 | James Cook | Buf. | vs. Dal. |
20 | D'Andre Swift | Phi. | at Sea. |
21 | Zack Moss | Ind. | vs. Pit. |
22 | Ari. | vs. S.F. | |
23 | *Brian Robinson Jr. | Was. | at L.A.-R |
24 | Ind. | vs. Pit. | |
25 | Jaylen Warren | Pit. | at Ind. |
26 | *Jerome Ford | Cle. | vs. Chi. |
27 | Den. | at Det. | |
28 | AJ Dillon | G.B. | vs. T.B. |
29 | N.E. | vs. K.C. | |
30 | Gus Edwards | Bal. | at Jac. |
31 | D'Onta Foreman | Chi. | at Cle. |
32 | Chuba Hubbard | Car. | vs. Atl. |
33 | Hou. | at Ten. | |
34 | Cin. | vs. Min. | |
35 | *Alexander Mattison | Min. | at Cin. |
36 | Roschon Johnson | Chi. | at Cle. |
37 | *Aaron Jones | G.B. | vs. T.B. |
38 | Najee Harris | Pit. | at Ind. |
39 | Bal. | at Jac. | |
40 | Tyjae Spears | Ten. | vs. Hou. |
41 | Was. | at L.A.-R | |
42 | Samaje Perine | Den. | at Det. |
43 | Dameon Pierce | Hou. | at Ten. |
44 | Atl. | at Car. | |
45 | Sea. | vs. Phi. | |
46 | Kareem Hunt | Cle. | vs. Chi. |
47 | N.E. | vs. K.C. | |
48 | Phi. | at Sea. | |
49 | Rico Dowdle | Dal. | at Buf. |
50 | Zamir White | L.V. | vs. L.A.-C |
51 | Dalvin Cook | N.Y.-J | at Mia. |
52 | Buf. | vs. Dal. | |
53 | Den. | at Det. | |
54 | Car. | vs. Atl. | |
55 | K.C. | at N.E. |
Fantasy football wide receiver rankings for Week 15
Ja'Marr Chase is dealing with an ankle injury that will limit his practice participation this week. He hopes to be able to play on Saturday vs. Minnesota.
In that same game, Justin Jefferson is questionable with a chest injury that knocked him out of last week's game after just 13 snaps. If he does play, he'll have a new quarterback in Nick Mullens throwing to him.
Sleeper pick: Odell Beckham Jr. looks fully healthy, with 97 receiving yards and a touchdown last week vs. the Rams. He's facing a Jaguars defense that gives up the eighth-most fantasy points to wideouts.
1 | *Tyreek Hill | Mia. | vs. N.Y.-J |
2 | CeeDee Lamb | Dal. | at Buf. |
3 | Phi. | at Sea. | |
4 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Det. | vs. Den. |
5 | Stefon Diggs | Buf. | vs. Dal. |
6 | *Ja'Marr Chase | Cin. | vs. Min. |
7 | DJ Moore | Chi. | at Cle. |
8 | Puka Nacua | L.A.-R | vs. Was. |
9 | Michael Pittman Jr. | Ind. | vs. Pit. |
10 | S.F. | at Ari. | |
11 | Mike Evans | T.B. | at G.B. |
12 | Keenan Allen | L.A.-C | vs. L.V. |
13 | S.F. | at Ari. | |
14 | Cooper Kupp | L.A.-R | vs. Was. |
15 | Chris Olave | N.O. | vs. N.Y.-G |
16 | Phi. | at Sea. | |
17 | Adam Thielen | Car. | vs. Atl. |
18 | N.Y.-J | at Mia. | |
19 | L.V. | vs. L.A.-C | |
20 | Ten. | vs. Hou. | |
21 | DK Metcalf | Sea. | vs. Phi. |
22 | Den. | at Det. | |
23 | Calvin Ridley | Jac. | vs. Bal. |
24 | *Justin Jefferson | Min. | at Cin. |
25 | Rashee Rice | K.C. | at N.E. |
26 | Cle. | vs. Chi. | |
27 | Zay Flowers | Bal. | at Jac. |
28 | Drake London | Atl. | at Car. |
29 | Jakobi Meyers | L.V. | vs. L.A.-C |
30 | Min. | at Cin. | |
31 | Mia. | vs. N.Y.-J | |
32 | Chris Godwin | T.B. | at G.B. |
33 | Gabe Davis | Buf. | vs. Dal. |
34 | Pit. | at Ind. | |
35 | Jayden Reed | G.B. | vs. T.B. |
36 | Ari. | vs. S.F. | |
37 | Was. | at L.A.-R | |
38 | Cle. | vs. Chi. | |
39 | Was. | at L.A.-R | |
40 | Cin. | vs. Min. | |
41 | Josh Downs | Ind. | vs. Pit. |
42 | Sea. | vs. Phi. | |
43 | Romeo Doubs | G.B. | vs. T.B. |
44 | Odell Beckham Jr. | Bal. | at Jac. |
45 | Tee Higgins | Cin. | vs. Min. |
46 | G.B. | vs. T.B. | |
47 | *Rashid Shaheed | N.O. | vs. N.Y.-G |
48 | Sea. | vs. Phi. | |
49 | L.A.-R | vs. Was. | |
50 | Dal. | at Buf. | |
51 | Ari. | vs. S.F. | |
52 | Det. | vs. Den. | |
53 | Jahan Dotson | Was. | at L.A.-R |
54 | Jerry Jeudy | Den. | at Det. |
55 | *Tutu Atwell | L.A.-R | vs. Was. |
Fantasy football tight end rankings for Week 15
Dalton Kincaid (shoulder) was limited in Wednesday's practice. He's also dealing with a thumb injury.
Taysom Hill (foot/hand) did not play last week and has yet to return to a full practice.
1 | K.C. | at N.E. | |
2 | Sam LaPorta | Det. | vs. Den. |
3 | S.F. | at Ari. | |
4 | Evan Engram | Jac. | vs. Bal. |
5 | Cole Kmet | Chi. | at Cle. |
6 | Min. | at Cin. | |
7 | David Njoku | Cle. | vs. Chi. |
8 | Dal. | at Buf. | |
9 | Trey McBride | Ari. | vs. S.F. |
10 | Kyle Pitts | Atl. | at Car. |
11 | Logan Thomas | Was. | at L.A.-R |
12 | *Dalton Kincaid | Buf. | vs. Dal. |
13 | Hou. | at Ten. | |
14 | Phi. | at Sea. | |
15 | N.E. | vs. K.C. | |
16 | Isaiah Likely | Bal. | at Jac. |
17 | Cade Otton | T.B. | at G.B. |
18 | N.Y.-J | at Mia. | |
19 | L.A.-R | vs. Was. | |
20 | Gerald Everett | L.A.-C | at L.V. |
21 | Ten. | vs. Hou. | |
22 | Pit. | at Ind. | |
23 | *Taysom Hill | N.O. | vs. N.Y.-G |
24 | L.V. | vs. L.A.-C | |
25 | Tanner Hudson | Cin. | vs. Min. |
26 | Kylen Granson | Ind. | vs. Pit. |
27 | Den. | at Det. | |
28 | Sea. | vs. Phi. | |
29 | Mo Alie-Cox | Ind. | vs. Pit. |
30 | Car. | vs. Atl. |
Fantasy football kicker rankings for Week 15
1 | Dal. | at Buf. | |
2 | Phi. | at Sea. | |
3 | Cle. | vs. Chi. | |
4 | Jac. | vs. Bal. | |
5 | Bal. | at Jac. | |
6 | Matt Gay | Ind. | vs. Pit. |
7 | Jason Myers | Sea. | vs. Phi. |
8 | Cairo Santos | Chi. | at Cle. |
9 | Cin. | vs. Min. | |
10 | Harrison Butker | K.C. | at N.E. |
11 | Wil Lutz | Den. | at Det. |
12 | Younghoe Koo | Atl. | at Car. |
13 | S.F. | at Ari. | |
14 | Buf. | vs. Dal. | |
15 | Blake Grupe | N.O. | vs. N.Y.-G |
16 | Cameron Dicker | L.A.-C | at L.V. |
17 | T.B. | at G.B. | |
18 | Nick Folk | Ten. | vs. Hou. |
19 | Pit. | at Ind. | |
20 | Greg Zuerlein | N.Y.-J | at Mia. |
21 | Joey Slye | Was. | at L.A.-R |
22 | Mia. | vs. N.Y.-J | |
23 | Lucas Havrisik | L.A.-R | vs. Was. |
24 | Riley Patterson | Det. | vs. Den. |
25 | Matt Prater | Ari. | vs. S.F. |
26 | Anders Carlson | G.B. | vs. T.B. |
27 | Daniel Carlson | L.V. | vs. L.A.-C |
28 | Greg Joseph | Min. | at Cin. |
29 | Eddy Pineiro | Car. | vs. Atl. |
30 | Matt Ammendola | Hou. | at Ten. |
31 | Randy Bullock | N.Y.-G | at N.O. |
32 | Chad Ryland | N.E. | vs. K.C. |
Fantasy football defense/special teams rankings for Week 15
1 | at Buf. | |
2 | at Jac. | |
3 | New York Jets | at Mia. |
4 | vs. Chi. | |
5 | vs. Dal. | |
6 | at Ari. | |
7 | at Det. | |
8 | vs. Pit. | |
9 | at Cin. | |
10 | at Ind. | |
11 | Los Angeles Chargers | at L.V. |
12 | at Sea. | |
13 | vs. Bal. | |
14 | Miami Dolphins | vs. N.Y.-J |
15 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. Phi. |
16 | vs. Min. | |
17 | at G.B. | |
18 | New Orleans Saints | vs. N.Y-G |
19 | at N.E. | |
20 | Las Vegas Raiders | vs. L.A.-C |
21 | Houston Texans | at Ten. |
22 | Chicago Bears | at Cle. |
23 | Atlanta Falcons | at Car. |
24 | vs. T.B. | |
25 | New York Giants | at N.O. |
26 | Detroit Lions | vs. Den. |
27 | vs. Was. | |
28 | vs. S.F. | |
29 | Washington Commanders | at L.A.-R |
30 | vs. Hou. | |
31 | vs. Atl. | |
32 | New England Patriots | vs. K.C. |
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 15 cheat sheet: PPR ranks, injury news, sleepers