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McFarland: Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings & Tiers

Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) moves out to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

It's time to set our Week 15 fantasy football lineups and identify our favorite DFS plays and fades.

Below, you'll find tiers and rankings for every position, including analysis, implied point totals, betting spreads and more.

For adjustments after the timestamp below, check out PFF's weekly rankings and projections.

Last updated: 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18


Click here for more PFF tools:

Rankings & Projections | WR/CB Matchup Chart | NFL & NCAA Betting Dashboards | NFL Player Props tool | NFL & NCAA Power Rankings


KEY:

  • SOS: PFF's Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position.
  • OL Pass-Block Advantage (OL PBA): offensive-line pass blocking matchup; derived from the OL/DL Matchup tool (pass blocking advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the offensive line, and vice versa).
  • OL Run-Block Advantage (OL RBA): offensive-line pass blocking matchup; derived from the OL/DL Matchup tool (run-blocking advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the offensive line, and vice versa).
  • WR/CB Matchup Advantage (WR/CB MU): wide receiver versus cornerback matchup; derived from the WR/CB Matchup tool (matchup advantage grade — the higher the grade, the better the matchup for the receiver, and vice versa).
  • TE Matchup Advantage (TE MU): tight end versus linebackers and safeties; derived from the TE Matchup tool (matchup advantage — the higher the number, the better the matchup for the tight end, and vice versa.
  • Projections: from PFF projections tool.
  • Injuries: Q = Questionable; D = Doubtful (typically removed from ranks on Saturday); GTD = game-time decision

JUMP TO A POSITION RANKING:

QB | RB | WR | TE


QUARTERBACKS

Tier Rank Player Opponent Total Spread Implied Points QB SOS OL PBA PPR Injury Status
1 QB1 Kyler Murray @DET 47.5 -13.0 30.25 10.0 10 24.9
1 QB2 Tom Brady NO 45.5 -11.5 28.50 1.0 33 21.5
2 QB3 Josh Allen CAR 44.0 -12.0 28.00 3.6 -2 22.3
2 QB4 Patrick Mahomes @LAC 52.0 -3.0 27.50 1.7 1 21.7
2 QB5 Justin Herbert KC 52.0 3.0 24.50 1.6 -26 19.9
3 QB6 Aaron Rodgers @BLT 43.5 -6.5 25.00 5.4 -18 19.3
3 QB7 Dak Prescott @NYG 44.5 -10.5 27.50 5.6 32 18.6
3 QB8 Matthew Stafford SEA 45.5 -5.5 25.50 6.8 33 21.7
3 QB9 Jalen Hurts WAS 43.5 -7.5 25.50 4.1 33 18.8 Q
4 QB10 Joe Burrow @DEN 44.0 3.0 20.50 4.4 1 19.5
4 QB11 Lamar Jackson GB 43.5 6.5 18.50 1.8 -31 21.1 Q
4 QB12 Taysom Hill @TB 45.5 11.5 17.00 0.0 25 14.0
4 QB13 Russell Wilson @LA 45.5 5.5 20.00 5.8 -85 18.7
4 QB14 Justin Fields MIN 44.5 6.0 19.25 2.3 12 14.4
4 QB15 Kirk Cousins @CHI 44.5 -6.0 25.25 8.7 6 14.7
5 QB16 Jimmy Garoppolo ATL 46.5 -9.0 27.75 7.7 34 18.3
5 QB17 Tua Tagovailoa NYJ 41.0 -9.5 25.25 9.5 -23 19.6
5 QB18 Matt Ryan @SF 46.5 9.0 18.75 3.6 -26 16.9
5 QB19 Ben Roethlisberger TEN 43.0 -1.0 22.00 3.6 -7 14.2
6 QB20 Davis Mills @JAX 39.5 5.0 17.25 9.9 -15 15.9
6 QB21 Teddy Bridgewater CIN 44.0 -3.0 23.50 6.1 -7 17.2
6 QB22 Carson Wentz NE 45.0 -2.5 23.75 2.3 7 15.4
6 QB23 Derek Carr @CLV 41.0 1.0 20.00 0.3 -33 14.1
7 QB25 Mac Jones @IND 45.0 2.5 21.25 2.0 1 17.4
7 QB26 Cam Newton @BUF 44.0 12.0 16.00 3.8 -6 15.3
7 QB27 Ryan Tannehill @PIT 43.0 1.0 21.00 6.1 -49 17.7
8 QB28 Trevor Lawrence HST 39.5 -5.0 22.25 8.2 -9 17.1
8 QB30 Mike Glennon DAL 44.5 10.5 17.00 2.1 -36 13.0
8 QB31 Zach Wilson @MIA 41.0 9.5 15.75 6.0 1 12.9
8 QB32 Jared Goff ARZ 47.5 13.0 17.25 4.0 -16 9.9
8 QB33 Tyler Huntley GB 43.5 6.5 18.50 1.8 -31 0.3

Removed from ranks: Baker Mayfield (COVID-19); Case Keenum (COVID-19); Taylor Heinicke (COVID-19); Kyle Allen (COVID-19); Daniel Jones (out – neck)

COVID-19 Note: I have ranked the player with the earlier game higher for situations where players are close (same tier) given all the COVID-19 challenges teams face. For example, in my original rankings, Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott were behind Matthew Stafford and Jalen Hurts but have now flipped (Tier 3).

Tier 2 – Josh Allen (foot sprain) isn't on the final injury report. Carolina's pass defense allows the third-fewest points per game to quarterbacks, creating a slight downgrade to Tier 2 for Allen. His legs provide insulation from fantasy volatility in tough matchups, and he may not have that part of his game after handling 50% of Buffalo's designed rush attempts in Week 14.

Tier 3 – Jalen Hurts faces a Washington defense that allows a league-high 25.1 points per game to fantasy quarterbacks, but he is questionable due to an ankle injury. After a full practice on Friday, he appears to be trending in the right direction.

Head coach Nick Sirianni could be creating a smokescreen with his comments on preparing both Hurts and Gardner Minshew to start in Week 15. If Hurts can't go, Minshew is a mid-range QB2. With the game moved to Tuesday night, having Gardner Minshew available as a pivot option is necessary.

Tier 3 – Matthew Stafford and the Rams could be without several key players against the Seahawks on Tuesday. However, Seattle grades as PFF's fifth-worst coverage group (46.5) with the third-highest open-target rate (57.6%) and the third-worst forced-incompletion rate (6.3%) in the NFL. Stafford has three consecutive top-eight finishes and should add another as long as the Rams have Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson Jr. and Odell Beckham Jr.

Tier 3 – Dak Prescott is struggling since returning from a calf injury, posting QB11, QB2, QB28, QB23 and QB24 finishes. Over that span, his completion percentage has dipped from 73% to 63%. Additionally, Prescott posted his worst passing grade of the season (44.9) against a poor Washington coverage unit in Week 14. However, the Cowboys have been throwing more in leading situations over the past two games due to injuries at running back. That fact, combined with Prescott's healthy receiver corps, is enough to keep him in the top 12 options against the Giants in Week 15.

Tier 4 – Lamar Jackson missed practice all week and should be considered doubtful rather than questionable. He moves down the rankings due to expected limitations on his rushing ability if he is able to play. If he can't go, Tyler Huntley moves into the mid-QB2 conversation.

RUNNING BACKS

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