FanDuel Consensus Rankings Week 15

Photo: USA Today Sports

Welcome to Fanduel Value-Play Rankings!

Each week we ask 10 staff members to rank their top players at each Fanduel position. These rankings are based on what our DFS staff believe are the best players at each position with respect to total points they will receive compared to the dollars that they cost. These rankings can be used to help you round out your cash game and GPP lineups, or just provide a guideline for what the Footballguys.com staff believe are the best value-plays to target

If Staffers submitted Comments, they are included below the tables as well. 

Each Staffer was asked to rank 8 QBs, 12 RBs, 12 WRs, 8 TEs, 5 PKs, and 5 Defenses. For the purposes of calculating an average rank, if a player was not ranked by a particular staffer, they received a weight that was 1 point higher than the players they ranked. For example. if only 2 staffers ranked a particular quarterback, the other 8 staffers were weighted as giving that quarterback a '9' for average calculation purposes. 

FANDUEL CONSENSUS RANKINGS, WEEK 15: QUARTERBACKS

Kirk Cousins tops the value QBs this week with good reason. Cousins has cooled off a bit since his 449 yard 3 TD performance on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys, but he’s still performing well. Last week against the Eagles he had 234 yards passing and 2 TDS against just 1 Int. This week he’s got a juicy Monday Night Matchup against the visiting Carolina Panthers, a team that has been vulnerable to the pass as of late. They’ve given up 1150 yards passing and 7 TDs over the last four games, and with their playoffs hopes all but extinguished, they will have little to play for on Monday Night against Washington. Look for Cousins to light them up and be a great value pick for his 7500 salary.

Matt Ryan checks in at #2 with all of the right expectations to have a huge game. The Falcons are at home against the league’s worst defense, San Francisco. They are coming off a huge win against the Rams last week and need every point that they can to stay in the playoff hunt. But Julio Jones has already been ruled out, and the Falcons are seriously banged up on offense. The 49ers have the league’s worst run defense, allowing 170 yards per game and over 4.9 YPC against them. If the Falcons jump out to an early lead, they could easily hand the ball off to Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman the rest of the way, grinding out the clock and taking the pressure off Ryan to post big numbers. Approach with caution.

If you’re looking to save money at QB this week and don’t want to use the Monday Night slate, consider Tyrod Taylor at just 7600 this week. Taylor is at home against the Cleveland Browns, who are haven’t had an Interception in their last three games, and gave up 374 yards passing and 5 TDS over the last two weeks to Andy Dalton and Eli Manning. Taylor’s also a threat to run the ball, and Cleveland ranks 31^st in the league against the run, giving up 4.6 YPC and 146 yards per game on the ground. Taylor makes an interesting play in a game where the Bills are a 10 point favorite and weather could be a factor. 

Mamula

Ryan: Highest projected team total of the season at 32.5 points

Alexander

Wilson: It's worth playing the Thursday slate to gain some exposure to Wilson at home against the dismal Rams.

Siemian: New England's defense has been fairly generous to quarterbacks not named Jared Goff over the last five weeks. Vegas expects a close game between the Patriots and Broncos, and so do I.

FANDUEL CONSENSUS RANKINGS, WEEK 15: RUNNING BACKS

If you are shocked that LeVeon Bell and David Johnson are at the top of the value running back list again this week, then our own Cecil Lammey’s favorite quote ‘Do you even WATCH Football?’ maybe appropriate. These guys are about as chalk as they come at RB and with the Steelers facing the Bengals on the road and the Cardinals at home against New Orleans, you can expect both of these guys to be strong plays again. The only thing that should be keeping them out of your lineups is their price.

With Ezekiel Elliott returning to the normal Sunday slate, and playing at home against Tampa Bay this week, he returns to the top of our list, just behind the normal point factories of Johnson and Bell. Elliott is almost as consistent as Johnson is when it comes to rushing and receiving yards, and he’s a solid play against even the toughest defenses, including Tampa Bay this week. Even when the Giants holding Dallas in check last week, Elliott still posted 107 yards on the ground on 24 carries. His salary would be a bit of a concern as well, but he’s definitely a cheaper option to Bell or Johnson this week.

If you’re looking to save a little money at RB this week and don’t mind a little risk, Devonta Freeman might be your man. The Falcons are at home against the 49ers as pointed out above, and the game script calls for them to beat San Francisco pretty easily. With the receiving corps banged up, the Falcons could turn to Freeman to grind the 49ers into the ground and that would make his 7700 salary a fantastic alternative to the more expensive options at the top of our list this week. 

Alexander

David Johnson: Priced near 10K and still the best projected point per dollar value on the slate at RB.

Farrow: Figures to inherit something resembling Melvin Gordon's workload 25 touch per game workload in a great matchup. Priced as the RB21 on the Thursday-Monday slate.

Mamula

David Johnson: Once again this looks like a week where you want to pay up for the top RBs, especially in cash games.

Hindery

Farrow: When Gordon went out with injury, Farrow played all but two snaps and was heavily involved as a runner (16 carries) and receiver (6 receptions). Unless you feel Melvin Gordon is an elite talent, there is reason to believe Farrow can put up similar numbers as the workhorse back in this Chargers offense.

Knotts

Powell: 29 carries last week and still underpriced in a good matchup against the third worst run defense in the NFL in terms of yards allowed

FANDUEL CONSENSUS RANKINGS, WEEK 15: WIDE RECEIVERS

Antonio Brown’s at the top of the value list at 8500 against the Bengals this week? Shocking.

Jordy Nelson makes a solid option at #2 this week. He’s just 7700, and facing a Chicago Bears team that is barely playing for pride anymore. The Packers are red hot, and Nelson has been too, posting 22 receptions for 250 yards and 3 TDs over the last three weeks. The Bears are hurting in their defensive secondary, but they are scrappy, especially against a hated division rival like Green Bay. With the game forecast projected to be close to zero at kickoff, Nelson may be a guy you want to fade this week.

Last week Emmanuel Sanders felt way underpriced at just 5900. He responded with 11 receptions for 100 yards and a TD against the Titans. His salary jumped to 6600 this week so he’s a little farther down our charts, but he and Demaryius Thomas (6700) still are good value options at home against the Patriots who are traveling to Denver on a short week after outlasting the Ravens on Monday Night.

This week’s version of Emmanuel Sanders though is Michael Crabtree at the ‘too cheap to ignore’ price of just 6000. Crabtree has been blowing hot and cold as of late, hitting Carolina up for 8 receptions for 110 yards in week 12, Buffalo for 7 receptions for 74 yards and a TD in week 13 before posting just 4 receptions for 21 yards last week against the Chiefs. He had just 3 receptions for 5 yards back in week 11 against Houston as well. This week though, he faces the Chargers on the road, in a game that the Raiders need to win to keep their march to the post-season intact. The Raiders are a 3 point ‘road’ favorite, with a projected team total almost 27 points. Back in week 5, Crabtree hit them up just 47 yards but he reached the end zone as well. This week at just 6000 though, he could be a great play against a team ranked 25^th in passing yards allowed, giving up more than 261 yards per game. 

Alexander

Inman: Developing into one of the most reliable cash game options at WR. Great matchup against the Raiders secondary.

Robby Anderson: Can't argue with 23 targets over the last two games at just $4,700.

Hindery

T.Y. Hilton: The matchup is less than ideal against a tough Vikings pass defense, but Hilton should see a boatload of targets and he and Luck are talented enough to do some damage.

Knotts

Robby Anderson: At just $4700 Anderson is coming off of two straight 10+ point weeks, and has seen his workload continue to increase.

FANDUEL CONSENSUS RANKINGS, WEEK 15: TIGHT ENDS

Travis Kelce took over the #1 receiver spot for the Chiefs when Jeremy Maclin was out with a groin injury. Maclin came back last week, but clearly wasn’t 100% and the Chiefs barely looked his way all game. Kelce doesn’t have a lot of end zone trips, but he has posted four consecutive 100+ yard games, and has 28 receptions for 450 yards in that same span. The Titans aren’t particularly vulnerable to TEs, but they did give up 5 receptions for 57 yards to A.J. Derby last week so a guy like Kelce could easily keep his string going this week. If he gets into the end zone, he’s going to approach tournament value.

If you’re looking to save a few bucks, Kyle Rudolph is probably the TE for you. Rudolph remains a focal point of the offense, posting 60 yards on 4 receptions with a TD last week against the Jaguars. This week he’ll face the Colts in Minnesota. The Colts gave up 55 yards receiving to the Texans TEs last week, and Rudolph should have an excellent opportunity to post another solid performance this week.

Jermaine Gresham makes an interesting play this week at TE if you really want to go with a punt play. Gresham is just 4500, but he has a decent chance to reach cash game value based on volume alone. Over the last three weeks, he has 15 receptions for 132 yards and a TD, and with the release of Michael Floyd this week due to a DUI arrest, Gresham should have even more opportunity to produce. The Saints are improving a bit on defense, but they still do give up a decent chunk of yards each week. They are averaging 4+ receptions to opposing TEs over the last four weeks and gave up 58 receiving yards to Cameron Brate and Brandon Myers last week. Gresham only needs 1 or 2 more receptions this week to reach cash game value and if he gets into the end zone, he’s going to be a huge impact for minimal cost. 

Knotts

Trey Burton: 17 targets for a tight end over the last two weeks at minimum salary.

Hindery

Ertz: Somewhat quietly, Ertz has been second in receiving yards at tight end since Week 9.

Ladarius Green: The Bengals always struggled with Heath Miller while shifting extra coverage towards Antonio Brown. Green could be the best way to target this game.

Alexander

Gresham: Continues to see significant targets and decent production. Continues to be priced at the site minimum.

FANDUEL CONSENSUS RANKINGS, WEEK 14: KICKERS

The Vikings have returned to their winning ways, and are playing at home this week against the Colts. Kai Forbath tops the value charts for kickers, with a minimum salary and 24 point implied team total. Matt Bryant tops the other end of the spectrum, but should still be good value. He’s 5100 on Fanduel, but the Falcons are also at home in a dome and they are almost a 14 point favorite and a 30 point implied total, he might not be cheap, but he’s set to score a ton of points. Dustin Hopkins is a little more expensive than Forbath, but he also received several #1 overall votes because they are almost a TD favorite at home on Monday Night, with an implied team total of almost 30. Plus having that kicker on Monday night is always fun to sweat it out in a GPP or cash game.  

FANDUEL CONSENSUS RANKINGS, WEEK 15: DEFENSES

Buffalo tops the value defenses this week, even though they are more expensive at 5100. But the thing they have going for them is that they are at home against the lowly Browns  Between Buffalo’s pressure on the QB and Cleveland’s poor offensive line, there should be a ton of sacks and pressure in this game. #2 on the list is Green Bay against the Bears in Chicago. The weather for this game currently projects the temperature at kickoff to be below zero – making it one of the coldest games to be played at Soldier Field. With Matt Barkley at the helm, you can expect the Bears to struggle to do anything and the Packers to be all over them for most of the game. At just 4500, they make the perfect sense from a value-based approach. If you’re looking for just the minimum salary at Defense this week, your other option is Miami at the Jets. Yes, this is a division rivalry and the Jets are at home, but their offense has struggled as of late. In fact, they have scored just 56 total points in their last four games. Miami needs to clamp down hard in this game and their defense should be a decent value plat at 4500.  

Good luck this weekend!

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