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Fantasy Football Week 15 Rankings: Flex and PPR Outlook for Top Players

Fantasy Football
December 20, 2015

Thursday and Saturday’s NFL games set the table for a frustrating Week 15, when many fantasy football playoff participants will fight for a finals bid.

On Thursday night, Tavon Austin registered more fantasy points than Todd Gurley or Doug Martin. Even Case Keenum played well. Two days later, Bilal Powell stole Chris Ivory’s spotlight in the New York Jets backfield.

The chaotic fun has only begun. Fourteen games remain on the schedule, leaving fantasy managers stuck with roster dilemmas to solve on Sunday morning. To help solve some conundrums, here’s a last-minute assortment of flex rankings for standard and point-per-reception (PPR) players. 

 

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants

Here we go again. For the second consecutive week, Josh Norman’s Carolina Panthers will face an offense headlined by a superstar wide receiver. A weekend after shadowing the Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones, his sights are set on the New York Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr.

While Norman effectively covered Jones, he closed shop early during a 38-0 shutout. The wideout bolstered his numbers in garbage time, finishing with seven catches and 88 yards. Per CarolinaPanthers.com’ Max Henson, the corner is excited for another marquee matchup:

On a meteoric tear akin to last year’s breakout, Beckham has surpassed 100 yards in each of the last six games, scoring eight touchdowns in the process. He’s now NFL.com‘s top non-quarterback fantasy producer, and the accolades don’t stop there.

As highlighted by FanDuel’s Eric Mack, his astounding start compares favorably to star receivers of past and present:

Like Jones last week, nobody is benching Beckham, but owners should acknowledge his lower floor than usual. Pro Football Focus detailed the danger of throwing to Norman:

The Giants may be able to separate the two by lining up Beckham in the slot, where Norman frequently doesn’t follow. It only takes one big play, and the 23-year-old makes exceptional plays on a weekly basis. 

 

Javorius Allen, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Javorius Allen’s expressway to fantasy stardom made a sudden stop last Sunday. Facing the Seattle Seahawks’ No. 2-rated rushing defense, he tallied 14 rushing yards on eight carries and coughed up his first fumble of the season.

“It’s difficult, but you’ve got to move on and put your mind behind you,” Allen told the Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli.

In three previous games as the Baltimore Ravens’ starter, Allen received 24 touches per game. Season-ending injuries to Justin Forsett, Joe Flacco and Steve Smith Sr. made him the unlikely focal point in a league where few rushers still hold that job moniker.

But a 35-6 blowout, Baltimore’s first loss by more than eight points this season, changed those plans. The 4-9 squad is in jeopardy of withstanding the same outcome against the rolling Kansas City Chiefs, who allow the fifth-fewest NFL.com fantasy points to opposing running backs.  

He’s not playing a great hand this Sunday, but he’s a starter who regularly touches the football. He’s also not entirely dependent on rushing, amassing 26 receptions for 228 yards and two scores over the last four games. As a result, Allen remains a prominent No. 2 back in PPR formats and a flex play in standard leagues.

 

Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, Michael Floyd, WRs, Arizona Cardinals

All fantasy players want a piece of the Arizona Cardinals offense against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pitting the No. 1 offense against the No. 27 defense is a great recipe for success, especially for the Cardinals’ deep crop of wideouts.

Per NFL.com, Philadelphia has relinquished the second-most fantasy points and receptions to wide receivers. Last weekend, gamers could direct those dots specifically to Sammy Watkins, the Buffalo Bills’ clear No. 1 option. The Cardinals, however, carry three noteworthy pass-catchers in Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and Michael Floyd.

Most teams can’t foster three productive receivers, but don’t sit any of those guys on Sunday. Fitzgerald hasn’t scored in the last five games, but he has received more than 10 targets in all but one of them. He also has a reputation for demolishing the Eagles, most recently gaining 160 yards and a score during an otherwise unproductive 2014 campaign.

Although lower in the rankings, Brown and Floyd each might harness more upside. Rotoworld’s Evan Silva chronicled both of their hot streaks:

Floyd has exceeded 100 yards in four of his last games played, but a 14-yard dud in between should remind investors of his risk factor. Brown offers a nice middle ground of safety and big-play potential, the latter showcased with a 65-yard score in Week 14. 

In the season of giving, Carson Palmer will find a way to spread the wealth around the trio while also providing running back David Johnson plenty of handoffs. It’s not possible for most offenses, but Arizona is the best in the league for a reason.

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