It was a very hit-or-miss week, with Philip Rivers not being a top-10 QB while Joe Flacco was definitely worth the bump. Spencer Ware flubbed with Charcandrick West stealing the red-zone TD, but Rob Kelley was certainly an RB2.

Believing in DeAndre Hopkins again was simply idiotic of me. Kyle Rudolph had a nice week, but Jason Witten failed to do much of anything in a quiet Dallas game. Let's move on from the chaos of Week 14 and embrace Week 15 with open arms.

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Week 15 Quarterbacks - Rankings Analysis

Philip Rivers (#7 vs. #12 consensus) may have let us down with five turnovers last week, one of which led to Melvin Gordon hurting his hip, but that gives way to his opportunity in Week 15 against the Raiders at home. While Oakland has held opposing QBs to a paltry 4:4 TD-to-INT ratio over their last four weeks, but that includes “gunslingers” like Brock Osweiler, Tyrod Taylor and Alex Smith. The truth is that Oakland still has the #21 pass defense per Defense-adjusted Value Over Average, and if Melvin Gordon is limited then Rivers is going to need to do the heavy lifting. The ceiling is there.

Another likely unpopular opinion here, as I’ve got Colin Kaepernick (#12 vs. #17 consensus) up five spots into fringe QB1 territory against the Falcons. Like the Raiders, Atlanta has enjoyed a recent streak of success against lost QBs like Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and Smith. I’m just genuinely not a believer, even though one could easily place Kaep in that same tier of uninspiring passers. Atlanta should establish a huge lead and control this game, leaving Kaepernick in a risk-taking, game-changing spot from the get-go. I’ll roll my dice that his legs make something happen, rather than another implosion.

I also have Dak Prescott (#19 vs. #14 consensus) down, as Tampa Bay’s defense has led the NFL with a wild eight interceptions against only three passing TDs over the last four weeks. They’ve done a complete 180 from their being an early-season sieve, and it’s not like Prescott has shown anything over the last few weeks to make me think he can be the one to break the code.

Week 15 Running Backs - Rankings Analysis

I am very high on New England’s bruiser, LeGarrette Blount (#4 vs. #11 consensus) against a Denver defense that is honestly bad against the run while boasting that elite pass defense. Their pass DVOA is #1, but their rush DVOA is #25. The Patriots don’t have Rob Gronkowski to throw to, and the rest of their pass-catching corps isn’t really capable of dominating Denver’s DBs. That leaves Blount as the weapon of choice against a team that just yielded a 21-92-1 line to DeMarco Murray in Week 14. LeGarrette, and even James White and Dion Lewis, should get some good work in here as New England inevitably looks to exploit Denver’s clear weakness.

I’ve also got Thomas Rawls (#6 vs. #10 consensus) well inside my top 10, as he faces a Rams defense that has been whipped pretty severely by opposing RBs lately. Anchored by New Orleans’ duo putting up three TDs against them, the Rams have allowed the third-most fantasy points to RBs over the last four weeks. With nobody pushing Rawls for snaps in a home game that shouldn’t call for any urgent need to throw for Russell Wilson, look for Rawls to feast.

Week 15 Wide Receivers - Rankings Analysis

While Demaryius Thomas (#16 vs. #10 consensus) and Emmanuel Sanders (#17 vs. #13 consensus) both eclipsed the 100-yard mark in Week 14, a big part of that was picking on an awful Tennessee secondary. The gap is more significant on Thomas for a reason, and I suspect Malcolm Butler will cover him closely and make life difficult for the WR. Until I can confirm that then I’ll also drag Sanders down a little, but this also goes with not trusting Trevor Siemian’s arm given its current state. While the rest of the Pats secondary after Butler is extremely vulnerable, whoever draws his shadow will struggle. If he doesn’t shadow, then it’s going to be a dangerous proposition leaning on either as a high-end WR2.

A sizeable bump goes to Robby Anderson (#39 vs. #50 consensus), who is clearly the apple of Bryce Petty’s eye out there. While that apple isn’t the prettiest in the bushel, the volume is enough to make Anderson a fringe WR3 candidate. Brandon Marshall owners are still banking on talent winning the day, but this isn’t the first time a backup QB and WR have shown obvious rapport before against traditional logic.

Week 15 Tight Ends - Rankings Analysis

Tight ends are a volatile bunch, especially with Gronk out of the equation and a banged up Jordan Reed. Left in the wake of that, Delanie Walker (#9 vs. #4 consensus) has usually been a source of consistency for fantasy owners. Unfortunately, he has to tangle with Eric Berry and a stifling Chiefs defense that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to TEs in Week 15. They haven’t eased off lately either, allowing the second-fewest points over the last four weeks as well. Walker used in some creative ways so we won’t totally drop him out of the top 10, but some matchups are just too much.

Rising into the top 10 is Eric Ebron (#7 vs. #12 consensus), who may be Detroit’s best chance against the Giants in Week 15. With Theo Riddick less than 100% and a middling north-south rushing attack, they shouldn’t do well against a strong Giants D-line. Golden Tate looks as strong as ever, but Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Eli Apple are all playing out of their minds right now. While NYG did limit Jason Witten last week, they had been regularly diced by tight ends prior to that. Of course, Ebron is much more athletic than Witten, profiling closer to Ladarius Green -- who went 6-110-1 in Week 13 against NYG. While this game may be a rather low-scoring affair, Ebron should be integral to Detroit’s gameplan.

I’d rather talk more about the skill positions than include kicker or defense, as they are far less interesting to me. Feel free to send me a vitriolic message should you want them back, I’ll listen I swear.