Fantasy Football Week 15 Rankings: Matchups We Love and Player Stat Projections
Any advantage you can find in Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season is one worth exploiting.
It's playoff time in the fantasy football world, so one misstep could be all that's needed to send you into an offseason full of regrets and what-ifs.
We'll help identify those advantages by following our top-10 rankings with a matchup to exploit at each of the four skill positions.
Quarterback
Top 10
1. Jalen Hurts, PHI (at SEA)
2. Dak Prescott, DAL (at BUF)
3. Lamar Jackson, BAL (at JAX)
4. Brock Purdy, SF (at ARI)
5. Josh Allen, BUF (vs. DAL)
6. Patrick Mahomes, KC (at NE)
7. Justin Fields, CHI (at CLE)
8. Jordan Love, GB (vs. TB)
9. Matthew Stafford, LAR (vs. WAS)
10. C.J. Stroud, HOU (at TEN)
Matchup to exploit: Matthew Stafford vs. Washington Commanders
Stafford has been surging through the stretch run while taking full advantage of the playmakers around him. After averaging just a single touchdown pass over his first nine outings, he's totaled 10 strikes (against a lone interception) over his last three outings.
He's in such a good groove that he could light up any defense, but his numbers could get even more ridiculous in this game. The Commanders have allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, per Yahoo.
Projected stats: 25-of-37 passing for 278 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions
Running Back
Top 10
1. Christian McCaffrey, SF (at ARI)
2. Kyren Williams, LAR (vs. WAS)
3. Alvin Kamara, NO (vs. NYG)
4. Bijan Robinson, ATL (at CAR)
5. Rachaad White, TB (at GB)
6. Saquon Barkley, NYG (at NO)
7. Tony Pollard, DAL (at BUF)
8. Joe Mixon, CIN (vs. MIN)
9. Breece Hall, NYJ (at MIA)
10. Derrick Henry, TEN (vs. HOU)
Matchup to exploit: Christian McCaffrey at Arizona Cardinals
Four players have scored more fantasy points than McCaffrey this season, per FantasyPros; all of them are quarterbacks. He's gone for a hair under 260 standard points so far. No other position player has reached even 230, and only two—Tyreek Hill and Raheem Mostert—have cleared 200.
McCaffrey can dominate any defense, but this outing could be absurd even by his sky-high standards. The Cardinals have allowed the second-most fantasy points to the position, and McCaffrey is part of the reason why, since he burned them 177 scrimmage yards and four scores when they first squared off in Week 4.
Projected stats: 18 carries for 111 yards, four receptions for 47 yards, two touchdowns
Wide Receiver
Top 10
1. Tyreek Hill, MIA (vs. NYJ)
2. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (at BUF)
3. A.J. Brown, PHI (at SEA)
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (vs. DEN)
5. Deebo Samuel, SF (at ARI)
6. Stefon Diggs, BUF (vs. DAL)
7. Cooper Kupp, LAR (vs. WAS)
8. Justin Jefferson, MIN (at CIN)
9. Mike Evans, TB (at GB)
10. Michael Pittman Jr., IND (vs. PIT)
Matchup to exploit: A.J. Brown at Seattle Seahawks
In each of Brown's last two games, he's turned 13 targets into eight-plus receptions for better than 90 yards. In the contest prior to that, he had nine targets and a touchdown catch. He's making things happen regardless what the schedule-makers put in front of him.
Still, he might appreciate this opportunity to shred a Seattle defense that's been shred plenty in recent weeks. The Seahawks, who've allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers this season, have allowed three different receivers to clear 110 receiving yards in just the past two weeks.
Projected stats: Nine receptions for 127 yards, two touchdowns
Tight End
Top 10
1. Travis Kelce, KC (at NE)
2. George Kittle, SF (at ARI)
3. T.J. Hockenson, MIN (at CIN)
4. Sam LaPorta, DET (vs. DEN)
5. Evan Engram, JAX (vs. BAL)
6. David Njoku, CLE (vs. CHI)
7. Trey McBride, ARI (vs. SF)
8. Jake Ferguson, DAL (at BUF)
9. Dalton Kincaid, BUF (vs. DAL)
10. Isaiah Likely, BAL (at JAX)
Best matchup: T.J. Hockenson at Cincinnati Bengals
There may not be many elite options at tight end, but Hockenson is clearly one of the exceptions. He's been a top-30 performer overall in receptions (85, tied for ninth), receiving yards (839, 22nd) and touchdown catches (five, tied for 25th).
In other words, this could be a long game for this Bengals defense, which has allowed the most receptions, the most receiving yards and the most fantasy points to the position.
Projected stats: Seven receptions for 91 yards, one touchdown