Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 15 Matchups to Consider

Friends we made it…well about half of us did at least. We’ve finally made it to the 2023 fantasy football playoffs! For those fantasy managers lucky enough to cross into the postseason, the stress of making sure your lineups are set to their optimal is higher than ever! Luckily, I’m here to walk through a handful of matchups at each position to help push you in the right direction toward the semifinals!

As always, make use of the Start/Sit Tool on the website, ask for advice on Discord, or reach out to me via Twitter: @KurtKnowsBest.

Quarterbacks

Sam Howell (WASH) at LA Rams

It’s been quite the run for Sam Howell this season as he’s currently sitting as the QB6 on the year with just four games remaining. After a slow start, Howell has finished as a top-10 QB in nine of his last 10 games. What might be more impressive is that in his last two games, Howell has managed to finish as the QB10 and QB9 without throwing a passing TD due mainly to the combined three rushing TDs he’s had in that span. Having a rushing baseline to compliment the nearly 40 passing attempts Howell has per game gives fantasy managers a great option at QB every week

Recency bias will say Howell getting to take on the Rams this week is a great thing, but L.A.’s defense has been very solid this season against opposing fantasy QBs. Through 13 games, the Rams’ defense has only allowed a top-12 QB finish five times, though two have come in their last three games. A common thread in the top-12 finishes the Rams have allowed is the rushing work to those QBs. In three of the five games the Rams have allowed a top-12 QB, the QB has rushed for at least 55 yards and a TD. Given the 50 points that are expected in this game, Howell should be considered a strong start this week, especially if he can get the ground game involved.

Kurt would play Howell over: QB10 – Russell Wilson at Detroit

Jake Browning (CIN) vs Minnesota

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Ranking	Andy	Jason	Mike
QB15	QB14	QB20	QB13

For back-to-back weeks, Jake Browning has been the QB4 for fantasy football and keeping the Bengals afloat in the AFC playoff race. Browning seems to have settled into his new role as the starter for Cincinnati after a rough first start, throwing for 629 yards over the last two weeks with a 3:1 TD-to-interception ratio. What will be interesting to monitor is if defenses begin to force Browning away from the short and intermediate passes he’s made a living on over the last two weeks and see if he can do more damage down the field.

One of the more impressive coaching jobs in the league this season has been how Brian Flores has turned this Minnesota defense into one of the better units in the league. The Vikings have allowed the eighth-fewest passing TDs on the season and have been especially tough against opposing fantasy QBs. Over their last eight games, Minnesota’s defense hasn’t allowed a top-12 QB finish and they’re only allowed three on the season as a whole. While Browning has been able to take advantage of the opportunity given to him in his last two games, I wouldn’t be betting on him continuing that trend this week.

Kurt would prefer to play: QB16 – Kyler Murray vs San Francisco

Running Backs

Keaton Mitchell (BAL) at Jacksonville

The rise of Keaton Mitchell in the Baltimore backfield has been one of the more interesting storylines down the stretch of the fantasy football season. When he’s seen 18% of snaps or more in the Ravens’ offense, Mitchell has finished as a top-24 RB in three of five games. While it’s encouraging that Mitchell has been able to produce for fantasy without huge workloads, it can also be difficult for fantasy managers to depend on him for fantasy production with Justice Hill and Gus Edwards still handling a majority of the snaps at RB. What fantasy managers are really banking on with Mitchell is his explosiveness paying off since he’s averaging 8.5 yards per carry over his last five games including six runs of 20+ yards.

While the Jacksonville defense has been stingy on the ground this season, allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the league, they’ve still been a matchup to target with fantasy RBs. The Jaguars have allowed a top-24 RB in eight of their 13 games this season, including six of their last eight. Fantasy managers will have to hope that Mitchell can take advantage of the opportunity he’s given like in weeks past, but until he sees an uptick in touches from the Baltimore backfield, he should be considered a flex play with upside.

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Kurt would play Mitchell over: RB27 – Chuba Hubbard vs Atlanta

Devin Singletary (HOU) at Tennessee

After a week of uncertainty with his role in the Texans’ offense, Devin Singletary returned to the top 24 last week for the fourth time in five weeks. The return of Dameon Pierce in Week 13 took a large chunk of the workload that Singletary saw in his absence when he played more than 80% of snaps in Weeks 10-12 and finished inside the top 20 each week. Singletary has made the most of his opportunities, averaging nearly five yards per carry since taking the lead role in the Houston backfield and being a consistent threat in the passing game as well. The biggest worry for fantasy managers this week might be if rookie QB CJ Stroud will be the one under center since he’s still going through concussion protocol.

The Titans’ defense has been regarded as one that is tough to run against and that has stood true for most of this season. Tennessee is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry on the year, the sixth-lowest in the league. Over their last seven games though, the Titans’ defense has allowed a top-30 RB eight times, including five top-15 finishes during that stretch. If Stroud is able to go for Houston, Singletary should be considered a flex play this week but would lose all value if that’s not the case.

Kurt would prefer to play: RB34 – Antonio Gibson at L.A. Rams

Jerick McKinnon (KC) at New England

We might be having deja vu, but it feels like Jerick McKinnon is approaching league winner status again like he did in 2022, making him one of the hot waiver wire additions for this week. McKinnon made the most of limited opportunity last week against Buffalo, finishing as the RB22 on just 45% of snaps and seven opportunities. While Clyde Edwards-Helaire was clearly the preferred back running the ball, McKinnon was the one getting snaps in the red zone.

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Taking on the Patriots has been tough for running games this season with New England allowing the third-fewest rushing yards and the lowest yard-per-carry on the year. Fantasy RBs have actually had decent success throughout the year against the stout front seven. From Weeks 5-10, the Patriots allowed a top-24 RB each week, but haven’t allowed one in their last three games. The best fantasy RB finish New England has allowed this season came in Week 7 when James Cook added 46 receiving yards and a TD to his workload, so if McKinnon can be involved as usual in the passing game, there’s a chance he gets back into fantasy relevance yet again.

Kurt would play McKinnon over: RB30 – AJ Dillon vs Tampa Bay

Wide Receivers

Jayden Reed (GB) vs Tampa Bay

One of my Hungry for More candidates this week, Jayden Reed has been on an unconventional tear for a fantasy WR. Over his last five games, Reed has finished in the top-30 WRs four times including three appearances inside the top-12. What’s exciting about how Reed is being used is the rushing work he’s seen, totaling 100 rushing yards over the last four games and scoring two rushing TDs. As Marvin Elequin pointed out this week in his Expected Points & Opportunity article, Reed joins Deebo Samuel as the only other WR in the league to average over 5% of their team’s rushing attempts and 20% of their targets over the last four weeks. That type of usage warrants every week play until something changes.

If there’s a team to target in the passing game it’s been the Tampa Bay defense. The Buccaneers are allowing the second-most passing yards on the season and allowed Atlanta just their third 300+ yard passing game all season last week. In their last seven games, Tampa Bay has allowed a top-24 WR six times. If Reed stays involved in the Packers’ offense like he has been over the last month, he should be at WR2 with upside for the rest of the fantasy playoffs.

Kurt would play Reed over: WR21 – Garrett Wilson at Miami

Calvin Ridley (JAX) vs Baltimore

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Ranking	Andy	Jason	Mike
WR28	WR28	WR28	WR29

The hope that Calvin Ridley gave fantasy managers after back-to-back top-10 WR finishes was followed up with back-to-back finishes outside the top-40 WR. What’s difficult for fantasy managers sitting Ridley is he’s still seeing a massive amount of usage in the Jaguars’ passing game with eight and 13 targets in his last two games. On the bright side, Ridley seems to have taken advantage of Christian Kirk missing from the Jacksonville offense so there could still be fantasy relevance coming for Ridley in the coming weeks.

Taking on the Baltimore defense isn’t the easiest way to get back on track for Ridley this week. The Ravens’ defense leads the league in sacks and yards per passing attempt so getting going for any passing game has been difficult this season. For fantasy though, WRs are still able to find relevant weeks against Baltimore’s defense. Over the last seven weeks, the Ravens have allowed a top-24 WR seven times including three in the last two weeks. While the volume is still there for Ridley, it might be a risky play for fantasy managers looking to advance with a win this week.

Kurt would prefer to play: WR30 – Odell Beckham Jr at Jacksonville

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) vs Philadelphia

There might be some “calling your shot” involved with Jaxon Smith-Njigba this week, but I think the argument can be made that he’s worth having in your lineup. JSN’s involvement in the Seahawks’ passing game has been a bit disappointing based on the potential fantasy managers saw coming out of Ohio State, but the rookie has been more involved over the last few weeks seeing 18 targets in just his last two games. With Drew Lock at QB last week, Smith-Njigba led Seattle’s offense in targets and it’s likely Lock will be under center again this week.

As good as Philadelphia’s defense has been this season, it’s well known now that the way to attack the Eagles is through the air. Philadelphia’s defense has given up 29 passing TDs this season and the fifth-most passing yards. For fantasy, the Eagles are the absolute best matchup for WRs, allowing an average of 36.9 fantasy points to the position per week. With JSN more involved in the offense, he’s worth a dart throw if you’re looking to add volatility to your lineup this week.

Kurt would play Smith-Njigba over: WR36 – Adam Thielen vs Atlanta

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Tight Ends

Trey McBride (ARI) vs San Francisco

It’s been a fun ride if you nabbed Trey McBride ahead of Kyler Murray’s return for the Cardinals. Since Murray has been back starting for Arizona, McBride is averaging seven receptions for 80 yards and 13.1 fantasy points per game, including three finishes inside the top-seven TEs. McBride has been one of Murray’s favorite targets in the passing game seeing 27% of targets since Week 1 and a whopping 39% of targets in their last game.

The worry with McBride this week has everything to do with a very tough matchup against the 49ers’ defense. San Francisco has only allowed 10+ fantasy points to opposing teams’ TEs twice this season and less than five total points to the position in 54% of their games. When it comes to successful TEs in fantasy, getting into the end zone can make the week for most players, but the 49ers are one of the toughest groups to do that against. San Francisco has only allowed two TDs to TEs this season, including one just last week. McBride may be a tough decision this week given how well he’s been playing, but fantasy managers may need to temper their expectations until the matchup is better.

Kurt would prefer to play: TE8 – David Njoku vs Chicago

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Dallas Goedert (PHI) at Seattle

While it wasn’t the triumphant return from injury that fantasy managers were hoping for, it should be comforting that the entire Eagles’ offense struggled and not just Dallas Goedert. It’s encouraging that Goedert was on the field for 84% of snaps though he only managed four receptions on the day. Before his injury, Goedert was averaging nearly six targets per game and was on the field for basically every play so fantasy managers should expect him to get back to his typical usage this week.

The entire Philadelphia offense needs a good refresher and the Seattle defense might be the perfect answer, especially for the passing game. Specifically against TEs, the Seahawks have been a team to target at the position. In their last seven games, Seattle has allowed 15+ points to the position four different times all of which were top-eight TE finishes on the week. If Goedert returns to his normal usage this week, he should be a high-upside play at the position for fantasy managers.

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Kurt would play Goedert over: TE7 – Dalton Kincaid vs Dallas