The fantasy football playoffs are coming quick, and the true champions are starting to prepare now. While trade deadlines have passed and wavier wires are\u00a0lean, teams that are playoff bound need to starting predicting\u00a0their fantasy playoff production. In most leagues, Week 15 either marks the beginning of the playoffs, or the crucial second round. It is a vital practice to predict how your team matches up by position with potential opponents.<\/p>\n
This process begins by examining the most important fantasy position: quarterback. In the first installment of the LWOPF<\/strong> fantasy playoff positional series, here are the top ten fantasy plays for the quarterback position in Week 15. (All statistics from PlayerProfiler.com<\/a><\/strong>)<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Matt Ryan<\/a> (Atlanta Falcons)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong>\u00a0 Of all the great choices in Week 15, Matt Ryan<\/a><\/strong> rates out the best. He simply “checks all the boxes” of what is necessary\u00a0in a fantasy playoff quarterback. First, he is a top fantasy quarterback playing at home. Second, he is facing an opponent that ranks 29th against the position. Third, his team throws in the Red Zone<\/strong> (Ryan is sixth in Red Zone Attempts). Atlanta<\/strong> will need this game, San Francisco<\/strong> will not. \u00a0The 49ers are winless on the road. This is as safe a fantasy quarterback play as possible. Ryan will be the top fantasy quarterback in Week 15.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Kirk Cousins<\/a> (Washington Redskins)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> \u00a0Cousins checks a few different boxes than Ryan. Most importantly, he is playing for a new contract which provides tremendous motivation. Washington<\/strong> will be in the hunt for a playoff spot, and a home game is a huge fantasy advantage. The Panthers<\/strong> defense has been hurt with injuries, and they are currently 24th against the quarterback position and falling fast. Cousins ranks first in Air Yards<\/strong> per game (191.2), and third in Passing Yards<\/strong> per game (308.9). Carolina<\/strong> ranks fourth against fantasy running backs, and even without injured linebacker Luke Kuechly<\/a><\/strong>, they still are much more vulnerable through the air. Throw in that this is a\u00a0Monday Night Football<\/strong>\u00a0game, and Cousins is a lock for 25+ fantasy points.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Philip Rivers<\/a> (San Diego Chargers)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong>\u00a0 Philip Rivers<\/a><\/strong> at\u00a0home trumps the quality intra-divisional opponent. Oakland<\/strong> has been better in recent weeks against fantasy quarterbacks, but in a game with major playoff implications expect Rivers to shine. \u00a0Rivers is fourth in passing yards (2860) and second in Red Zone<\/strong> passing attempts (77). Rivers has the best schedule of any fantasy quarterback the rest of season, and a home shootout against the Raiders<\/strong> is just what your fantasy team will want in Week 15.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Eli Manning<\/a> (New York Giants)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> \u00a0It is always dangerous to trust Eli Manning<\/a><\/strong>, but you definitely should in this spot. The Giants<\/strong> have abandoned the run, and put the ball in the hands of their best player. Manning is fifth among quarterbacks in passing attempts (386). \u00a0His receiving corps is among the best in the league, and he has scored 23.9, 20.0, and 17.2 fantasy points in his last three games. Detroit<\/strong> ranks 26th against fantasy quarterbacks and, equally as important, the Giants defense ranks first in the same statistics. Detroit quarterback\u00a0Matthew Stafford<\/a><\/strong> will be limited by the defense and conditions, giving Manning more opportunities. Having a two time Super Bowl MVP<\/strong>, at home, against a porous pass defense is a great thing for the fantasy football playoffs.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Tyrod Taylor<\/a> (Buffalo Bills)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> \u00a0The safest Week 15 fantasy quarterback floor belongs to Tyrod Taylor<\/a><\/strong>. Buffalo<\/strong> will be in the midst of a comfortable three game home stand and will face the 31st ranked defense against fantasy quarterbacks. Sammy Watkins<\/a><\/strong> should be back in game shape, and Taylor should carve up the Browns<\/strong> secondary. The\u00a0running dimension cements Taylor’s top five finish here, as he is currently first among all quarterbacks in rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. The only thing that holds him back from the top three is the Bills<\/strong> running attack, which could steal touchdowns. Taylor remains a steadfast top five quarterback in Week 15.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Dak Prescott<\/a> (Dallas Cowboys)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> Dak Prescott<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is not just making a claim for NFL Rookie of the Year<\/strong>, but he is a legitimate\u00a0Most Valuable Player<\/strong> candidate as well. Dallas is 10-1 and Prescott has stepped in and replaced All Pro Tony Romo<\/a><\/strong> without even a hiccup. He has 17 touchdowns to only two interceptions, and his 67.5 percent completions percentage is sixth among all quarterbacks. At home against a Tampa Bay<\/strong>\u00a0defense that ranks 28th against opposing fantasy quarterbacks is a comfortable place for a fantasy playoff quarterback to reside. Star running back Ezekiel Elliot<\/strong> will get a lot of work, but Prescott should comfortably post high QB1 fantasy production in Week 15.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Carson Palmer<\/a> (Arizona Cardinals)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> \u00a0The Saints<\/strong> have improved their defense over the last few weeks against the run, but have gotten worse against the pass. While Palmer’s offensive line has been horrific in pass protection (41.2 Pass Protection Rating<\/strong>\/27th in the league), this will be a high scoring game script that will provide him with many opportunities. \u00a0Arizona<\/strong> ranks first in pass player per game (44.5), and even in a down year Palmer ranks top ten in Air Yards (sixth) and Deep Ball Attempts<\/strong> (ninth). Palmer has six touchdown passes in his last three games, after having only two in his previous four games. He is not as strong a play as the quarterbacks above him, but at home against New Orleans<\/strong> he is significantly better than any available streaming options.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Aaron Rodgers<\/a> (Green Bay Packers)<\/strong> Skinny: \u00a0<\/strong>The current number one fantasy point per game quarterback does not crack the top seven, and the justification is\u00a0an intra-divisional road game. In the fantasy playoffs, low variable risk is tantamount to maximizing your win probability. The Bears<\/strong> and Packers<\/strong> have a historic rivalry dating back to 1921, and this year’s Bears defensive front line has had success pressuring the quarterback. Linebackers Willie Young<\/a><\/strong> and Leonard Floyd<\/a><\/strong> will be pressuring Rodgers all game, and that will keep his production moderate. \u00a0This Green Bay<\/strong> offense has struggled all year long, and a 4-6 Packers<\/strong> team shouldn’t strike fear any fantasy opponents. \u00a0Solid Week 15 for Rodgers, just not top five worthy.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Derek Carr<\/a> (Oakland Raiders)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> \u00a0Many fantasy owners will exaggerate how good Derek Carr<\/a><\/strong> has been in 2016. He’s been a fantastic real life quarterback, but a less than reliable fantasy quarterback. Carr has produced five weeks of over 25 fantasy points, and five weeks with under 24 fantasy points. For the great 45 point overtime outburst at Tampa Bay<\/strong>, there are three 14 point weeks and one miserable seven point week. In Week Five<\/strong> at home against San Diego<\/strong>, Carr produced a respectable 26 point fantasy week, but he struggled most of the game. In a division matchup on the road, Carr’s ceiling is low which puts him ninth for Week 15. If you are starting Carr against any of the quarterbacks above him, expect to need to make up production at other positions. \u00a0A good but not great option for Week 15.<\/p>\n Player: \u00a0Ben Roethlisberger<\/a> (Pittsburgh Steelers)<\/strong> Skinny:<\/strong> \u00a0Ben Roethlisberger<\/a><\/strong> played great in Indianapolis on Thanksgiving night.<\/strong>\u00a0But that is not his\u00a0norm however. Excluding last game, he has just 19 touchdown passes in his last 19 road games, including Week 11<\/strong> at Cleveland<\/strong> when he\u00a0failed to throw a touchdown pass at all. Cincinnati<\/strong> has struggled all year, but these games have a history of being a defensive battle. Three of the last four games between these teams have produced a total score of 40 points or lower. The Bengals struggle against the pass, and will be without Giovani Bernard<\/a><\/strong> and A.J. Green<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>but don’t overlook Roethlisberger’s road game struggles and the intense rivalry this matchup will be.<\/p>\nQuarterbacks<\/h2>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong> \u00a01st
\n Fantasy Points Per Game: \u00a0<\/strong>22.6 (4th)
\n Opponent: \u00a0San Francisco 49ers<\/strong>
\n Rank against position: \u00a0<\/strong>29th<\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0 2nd
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a019.5<\/strong>\u00a0(10th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0Carolina Panthers<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a024th<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a03rd
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a018.3<\/strong>\u00a0(16th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0Oakland Raiders<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a023rd<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a04th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a016.4<\/strong>\u00a0(21st)
\nOpponent: \u00a0Detroit Lions<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a026th<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a05th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a017.6<\/strong>\u00a0(18th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0Cleveland Browns<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a031st<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a06th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a020.6<\/strong>\u00a0(7th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0Detroit Lions<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a028th<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a07th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a016.5<\/strong>\u00a0(20th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0New Orleans Saints<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a017th<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a08th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a024.4<\/strong>\u00a0(1st)
\nOpponent: \u00a0at Chicago Bears<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a013th<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a09th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a019.2<\/strong>\u00a0(12th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0at\u00a0San Diego Chargers<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a019th<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWeek 15 Rank:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a010th
\nFantasy Points Per Game: \u00a020.0<\/strong>\u00a0(9th)
\nOpponent: \u00a0at\u00a0Cincinnati Bengals<\/strong>
\nRank against position: \u00a025th<\/strong><\/p>\n