Many wide receivers are taking a big hit in our Week 15 fantasy WR rankings. For the most part, it's due to injuries to their quarterbacks, but there are other things factoring into this, like players returning from injury -- QB or WR-related -- and even the weather for the second straight week. We do our best to sort the chaos for your start 'em, sit 'em decisions with a trip to the fantasy football championship on the line.
First, Josh McCown's season-ending left hand injury drops Jermaine Kearse and Robby Anderson (@ Saints). It also doesn't help Anderson lines up against Marshon Lattimore. Second, Carson Wentz's knee injury has an impact on Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor (@ Giants). Third, Robert Woods (shoulder) is expected to come back this week, dropping the value of Sammy Watkins a bit and Cooper Kupp (@ Seahawks) a ton. Injuries aren't the only thing taking a toll on our WRs rankings. Weather played a big role in Buffalo, and the early forecast doesn't look like it'll be much better for this Sunday when the Dolphins come to town. Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, and Zay Jones all see drops in value.
But it's not all bad. Aaron Rodgers likely returns and dramatically boosts Jordy Nelson (@ Panthers) to a strong WR2, while maintaining Davante Adams' value for the most part. Dede Westbrook (vs Texans), Ted Ginn (vs. Jets), Paul Richardson (vs. Rams), and Mike Wallace (@ Browns) are all receivers who could find themselves in fantasy lineups in solid matchups this week.
WEEK 15 RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
There are a lot of players shooting up and falling down in in our Week 15 WR rankings, and it wouldn't be surprising if more players go up or down by the week's end, so check back for the latest rankings before finalizing your fantasy football lineup heading into your semifinal matchup.
Reminder: We'll update our rankings throughout the week and add player analysis, so please check back often. And here's how you could lose in fantasy in Week 15.
WEEK 15 DFS: Yahoo GPP lineup | Y! cash | DK cash | FD GPP | Stacks | Values | DFS lineup builder
Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings: WRs
These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues
| 1 | Julio Jones, Falcons @ Bucs |
| 2 | Antonio Brown, Steelers vs. Patriots |
| 3 | Keenan Allen, Chargers @ Chiefs |
| 4 | Michael Thomas, Saints vs. Jets |
| 5 | A.J. Green, Bengals @ Vikings |
| 6 | DeAndre Hopkins, Texans @ Jaguars |
| 7 | Dez Bryant, Cowboys @ Raiders |
| 8 | Brandin Cooks, Patriots @ Steelers |
| 9 | Adam Thielen, Vikings vs. Bengals |
| 10 | Tyreek Hill, Chiefs vs. Chargers |
| 11 | Devin Funchess, Panthers vs. Packers. Funchess gets a Packers secondary that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to WRs, including nine TDs to WRs in six weeks. In the past four weeks, Funchess has scored 10-plus points each time, and he'll likely make it five straight weeks this Sunday. |
| 12 | Mike Evans, Bucs vs. Falcons |
| 13 | Michael Crabtree, Raiders vs. Cowboys |
| 14 | Alshon Jeffery, Eagles @ Giants. Yes, the Carson Wentz injury hurts, but Nick Foles isn't the typical backup. He's produced before, and he should fine against the second-worst pass defense in the NFL. |
| 15 | Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals @ Redskins |
| 16 | Jordy Nelson, Packers @ Panthers. Nelson was averaging 14 fantasy points per game (FPPG) in games Aaron Rodgers started, and he was a bench player when Brett Hundley started. If Rodgers starts this week, Nelson jumps back to being one of the best fantasy WRs. |
| 17 | Chris Hogan, Patriots @ Steelers. Hogan and Tom Brady struggled to connect, only hitting once in five targets for five yards. Now that the rust is off, expect Hogan and Brady to start connecting once again. |
| 18 | Golden Tate, Lions vs. Bears. |
| 19 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers vs. Patriots. |
| 20 | Doug Baldwin, Seahawks vs. Rams. |
| 21 | Josh Gordon, Browns vs. Ravens. We can deny one game as being a fluke, but Gordon's posted back-to-back solid fantasy days. We're convinced he's back, and the Ravens secondary hasn't quite figured out life after Jimmy Smith. |
| 22 | Davante Adams, Packers @ Panthers. Although Adams has posted better numbers with Brett Hundley at QB, his value doesn't take much of a hit with Rodgers returning. He was a strong WR2 when Rodgers was in, and he'll stay that way. |
| 23 | Mohamed Sanu, Falcons @ Bucs. |
| 24 | Demaryius Thomas, Broncos @ Colts. |
| 25 | Marquise Goodwin, 49ers vs. Titans. Two games into Jimmy Garoppolo's tenure with the 49ers, Goodwin has clearly broken out as his favorite target, collecting 12 last week, 10 more than any other WR. He ended with 106 receiving yards, and the week before he had 99 yards. There's no reason this shouldn't continue against a Titans team ranked in the top-10 in most points scored for opposing WRs. |
| 26 | Marvin Jones Jr., Lions vs. Bears. |
| 27 | Rishard Matthews, Titans @ 49ers. |
| 28 | Marqise Lee, Jaguars vs. Texans. Lee has suffered a bit since rookie Dede Westbrook made his NFL debut in Week 10. Lee and Westbrook have traded top targets and yards since then, but there's enough room for both to succeed against the Texans weak secondary, who allow the seventh-most fantasy points to WRs. |
| 29 | Jarvis Landry, Dolphins @ Bills. The weather isn't looking that much better than it was last week in Buffalo, with temperatures hovering around freezing and a chance of precipiation. His stock takes a hit if it does snow or sleet, but if the Dolphins do pass, it'll likely be headed in Landry's direction. |
| 30 | Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos @ Colts |
| 31 | Sammy Watkins, Rams @ Seahawks. Watkins scored three touchdowns in the three games Robert Woods was absent. Woods will likely return this week, but don't be so scared with Watkins. He also had caught two touchdowns of the past three games Woods played in before he got injured. Watkins' value definitely diminishes with Woods back, but it doesn't hurt as much as originally thought. |
| 32 | Jamison Crowder, Redskins vs. Cardinals |
| 33 | Sterling Shepard, Giants vs. Eagles. In his two games since injury, Shepard hasn't looked the same, and he's been outproduced and/or out-targeted by both Tavarres King and Roger Lewis. He's still by and far the best WR on the Giants, but the Giants' anemic passing offense makes Shepard a risky flex play. |
| 34 | Robert Woods, Rams @ Seahawks. |
| 35 | Dede Westbrook, Jaguars vs. Texans. Last week was the second time in three weeks Westbrook had more yards and targets than Marqise Lee, but even in that week he lost to Lee, he wasn't far behind. The fourth-round rookie may be slowly overtaking Lee as No. 1 WR, and the Texans weak secondary makes Westbrook an appetizing flex play this week. |
| 36 | Kelvin Benjamin, Bills vs. Dolphins |
| 37 | Stefon Diggs, Vikings vs. Bengals. Diggs being ranked in WR3/flex play rankings might not be deserved, but he just hasn't put up eye-popping numbers lately. He's had a fairly solid floor, posting two games at 32 yards and three games between 60-80 yards. It's not bad, but it's nothing to get excited about, especially since he's had one touchdown since Week 4. |
| 38 | Ted Ginn Jr., Saints vs. Jets |
| 39 | Paul Richardson, Seahawks vs. Rams |
| 40 | Mike Wallace, Ravens @ Browns |
| 41 | T.Y. Hilton, Colts vs. Broncos |
| 42 | Josh Doctson, Redskins vs. Cardinals |
| 43 | Corey Coleman, Browns vs. Ravens |
| 44 | Kenny Stills, Dolphins @ Bills. Like his teammate Jarvis Landry, the possibility of snow really hampers any solid fantasy day. In a high-passing and high-scoring affair last week, Stills only finished with two catches for 18 yards. Add in snow/bad weather, it'll be a tough day for receivers in general, much less a boom-or-bust type player like Stills. |
| 45 | Robby Anderson, Jets @ Saints. With Bryce Petty, Anderson and the passing game will struggle. On top of it, he'll be guarded by rookie shut-down corner Marshon Lattimore. Anderson is worth leaving on the bench this week. |
| 46 | Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Seahawks. If Robert Woods comes back, Cooper Kupp is nothing more than a flex-play option. He still has potential to have a solid fantasy day, since Goff and Kupp have chemistry and the Rams passing offense is strong enough to support three WRs. Still, Kupp doesn't have the high ceiling he's had in the two weeks without Woods. |
| 47 | Nelson Agholor, Eagles @ Giants |
| 48 | DeSean Jackson, Bucs vs. Falcons |
| 49 | Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. Rams. He's been a boom-or-bust WR all season, but he's boomed the past two weeks, including last week's four-catch, 90-yard and a touchdown performance. The big-play machine faces the Rams, who gave up four passing TDs and plenty of big plays last week against a QB of similar caliber to Russell Wilson. Wilson loves the long ball, and he'll likely throw a bunch this game. |
| 50 | Danny Amendola, Patriots @ Steelers |
| 51 | Tyrell Williams, Chargers @ Chiefs |
| 52 | Jeremy Maclin, Ravens @ Browns |
| 53 | Corey Davis, Titans @ 49ers |
| 54 | Cordarrelle Patterson, Raiders vs. Cowboys |
| 55 | Jaron Brown, Cardinals @ Redskins |
| 56 | Kendall Wright, Bears @ Lions |
| 57 | DeVante Parker, Dolphins @ Bills |
| 58 | Randall Cobb, Packers @ Panthers |
| 59 | Albert Wilson, Chiefs vs. Chargers |
| 60 | Trent Taylor, 49ers vs. Titans |
| 61 | Chris Moore, Ravens @ Browns |
| 62 | Jermaine Kearse, Jets @ Saints |
| 63 | Zay Jones, Bills vs. Dolphins |
| 64 | Eric Decker, Titans @ 49ers |
| 65 | Taylor Gabriel, Falcons @ Bucs |
| 66 | Will Fuller V, Texans @ Jaguars |
| 67 | Dontrelle Inman, Bears @ Lions |
| 68 | Seth Roberts, Raiders vs. Cowboys |
| 69 | Martavis Bryant, Steelers vs. Patriots |
| 70 | Cole Beasley, Cowboys @ Raiders |
| 71 | Terrance Williams, Cowboys @ Raiders |
| 72 | Tavarres King, Giants vs. Eagles |
| 73 | Brandon LaFell, Bengals @ Vikings |
| 74 | Deonte Thompson, Bills vs. Dolphins |