The fantasy playoffs are finally here. Honestly, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably survived a gauntlet of hamstring pulls, "illness" designations on a Saturday morning, and at least one week where your kicker outscored your first-round pick. Congrats. But Week 15 is where the logic starts to get weird.
People obsess over who got them here. They look at the season-long stats and think, "Well, Ja'Marr Chase has been a monster, so he’s my lock." And yeah, he’s incredible. But the week 15 fantasy rankings ppr landscape in 2025 is actually being shaped by some pretty brutal defensive matchups and a few late-season surges from rookies we weren't sure about in September.
If you're still starting guys based on their name value alone, you're basically asking for a first-round exit. We need to talk about who actually matters right now.
The Quarterback Tier: Mobility vs. The "Big Arm" Trap
Lamar Jackson is the top of the board for most experts heading into the matchup against Cincinnati. It makes sense. He's been surging, and honestly, the Bengals' defense hasn't found many answers lately. He's projected for about 21 points, which is a massive floor in PPR leagues where every yard counts toward that potential scoring drive.
Then you have the Jalen Hurts situation. He’s facing a Raiders team that is... well, they’re the Raiders. Hurts has that "Tush Push" (or whatever they’re calling it this year) that basically acts as a cheat code for fantasy owners. If he gets to the one-yard line, it's six points. Simple as that.
But look at Matthew Stafford. He’s actually leading the league in passing yards right now (over 4,700 yards on the season). He’s got this high-volume matchup against Detroit—his old team. The narrative is there, but the stats are better. He’s projected for nearly 20 points, and with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams (who is a Ram now, let's not forget) on the outside, his ceiling is through the roof.
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Why the Rookie QBs are Scary (and Sexy)
Drake Maye has been a revelation for the Patriots. He’s actually sitting at QB3 in some passing stat categories and is projected as a top-10 play against Buffalo. It’s a divisional game, it’ll be cold, and he’s going to have to throw to keep up with Josh Allen.
On the flip side, you have Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland. He’s been getting better every single week. He’s a viable streamer if you’re desperate, but playing him against Chicago in Week 15 is a massive gamble. The Bears' defense has been stingy.
The RB Dead Zone and the PPR Saviors
Christian McCaffrey is still the king. I don't care that he's older; the 49ers are playing the Titans, and CMC is projected for almost 30 PPR points. That’s a "win your week" type of projection. If you have him, you start him. You don't overthink it.
But the real conversation for week 15 fantasy rankings ppr is about the guys behind him.
- De'Von Achane: He’s at Pittsburgh. The Steelers' defense is tough, but Achane is averaging over 20 PPR points per game because of his involvement in the passing game. He's basically a wide receiver who happens to line up in the backfield.
- Jahmyr Gibbs: He’s splitting carries with David Montgomery, which everyone hates. But in PPR, his efficiency is wild. He's projected for 17.4 points against the Rams.
- Ashton Jeanty: The Raiders' rookie has been a bright spot in a dark season. He’s projected for about 14.8 points against the Eagles. It’s a tough matchup, but his volume is guaranteed.
Honestly, the "dead zone" this week is filled with guys like Saquon Barkley. He’s good, but if the Eagles get up early on the Raiders, they might just pull him to save him for the real playoffs. That’s the kind of nuance that season-long rankings miss.
Wide Receiver Volatility: Puka vs. The World
Puka Nacua is projected as the WR1 this week. Let that sink in. He's facing a Lions secondary that has struggled to limit explosive plays. With Matthew Stafford throwing the ball 40 times a game, Puka is going to get his 10+ targets. In a PPR format, that’s gold.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is the other side of that coin. He’s the "Sun God" for a reason. He’s projected for 20 points. He's the safest floor in fantasy football right now. He’s not going to give you a 40-point explosion often, but he will never give you a 4-point dud.
The Sleeper Picks You're Ignoring
Don't overlook Rashid Shaheed against Carolina. The Panthers' secondary is, frankly, a mess. Shaheed is a deep threat, and all it takes is one 60-yard bomb to make your week. He’s a high-risk, high-reward WR3 or Flex option.
Also, keep an eye on Troy Franklin in Denver. Bo Nix has been leaning on him more as the season progresses. He’s a cheap way to get a piece of a Denver offense that is actually putting up points (34 points against Green Bay recently, for example).
Tight Ends: It’s Still a Wasteland (Mostly)
Trey McBride is the TE1 this week. He’s at Houston. He’s basically the only reliable target in that Arizona passing attack some weeks. He’s projected for 14.7 PPR points, which, for a tight end, is basically elite-level production.
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After McBride, it gets murky. George Kittle is always a threat, but the 49ers have so many mouths to feed. You’re basically praying for a touchdown.
Strategy for the PPR Playoffs
The biggest mistake I see people make in Week 15 is playing for the "floor."
If you're an underdog, you need to chase the ceiling. Start the guy like Achane or Shaheed who could explode. If you're the favorite, you play the "Sun Gods" of the world—the guys who get you a guaranteed 15 points and let the rest of your roster do the heavy lifting.
Check the weather for that Bills-Patriots game. If it’s a blizzard, maybe fade the deep threats and look at the pass-catching RBs like James Cook. He’s projected for 16.9 points and could be a massive factor if the passing game is grounded.
Next Steps for Your Lineup:
- Verify the injury status of your "Questionable" starters at exactly 11:30 AM ET on Sunday.
- Swap out any "name brand" players who are facing top-5 defenses for high-volume PPR sleepers.
- Check the Vegas totals; the Rams-Lions game is likely to be the highest-scoring affair of the week, so start everyone involved in that game.