Empty the Bench

The 0-16-bound Detroit Lions are a fantasy owner’s best friend… that is, of course, if you own the skill players that are facing them and their “defense” on any given week. It’s no different this week with the forecast in Indianapolis calling for a bloodbath of epic offensive proportions when the Leos limp into the RCA Dome to face Peyton Manning and the high-powered Colts offense.

So to those of you who own Manning, Dominic Rhodes, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez, and Dallas Clark, you should theoretically have a leg up in your fantasy playoff matchup this week, at least on paper. Joseph Addai is a bit banged up and has been less effective than Rhodes recently, so we’re banking on this one being an early blowout and Addai sitting for the bulk of the game even if he does start.

As always this time of the year, keeping an eye on weather conditions becomes just as crucial as watching matchups, so don’t forget to check the weather reports between 10am – 12:30pm for the Sunday afternoon contests. The New Orleans Saints travel to Chicago to face the Bears and their 16th-ranked defense Thursday night; right now it looks a little shitty with highs in the upper-20s and 13+mph winds.

Good luck; next week is ETB’s final weekly position ranks of the season. Thanks for sticking with us.

Fantasy Week 15 – Top 20 Quarterbacks

1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts vs. DET
2. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals vs. MIN
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints @ CHI
4. Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos @ CAR
5. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles vs. CLE
6. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers @ KC
7. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers @ JAX
8. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys vs. NYG
9. Matt Cassel, New England Patriots @ OAK
10. Brett Favre, New York Jets vs. BUF
11. Eli Manning, New York Giants @ DAL
12. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons vs. TB
13. Tyler Thigpen, Kansas City Chiefs vs. SD
14. Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins vs. SF
15. Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers vs. DEN
16. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins @ CIN
17. Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears vs. NO
18. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. GB
19. Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans @ HOU
20. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Bucs @ ATL

Rest of the Week 15 fantasy football ranks after the break…

Fantasy Week 15 – Top 30 Running Backs

1. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers vs. DEN
2. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles vs. CLE
3. Thomas Jones, New York Jets vs. BUF
4. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears vs. NO
5. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
6. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons vs. TB
7. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers @ KC
8. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans @ HOU
9. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. GB
10. LenDale White, Tennessee Titans @ HOU
11. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers @ MIA (Check Status)
12. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins @ CIN
13. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys vs. NYG (Check Status)
14. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants @ DAL (Check Status)
15. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams vs. SEA
16. Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts vs. DET
17. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints @ CHI
18. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers vs. DEN
19. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts vs. DET (Check Status)
20. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions @ IND
21. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills @ NYJ
22. Sammy Morris, New England Patriots @ OAK
23. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins vs. SF
24. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers @ JAX
25. Chester Taylor, Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
26. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints @ CHI
27. Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals vs. MIN
28. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks @ STL
29. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs vs. SD
30. Le’Ron McClain, Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT

Fantasy Week 15 – Top 36 Wide Receivers

1. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals vs. MIN
2. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals vs. MIN
3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts vs. DET
4. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons vs. TB
5. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers @ JAX
6. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos @ CAR
7. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys vs. NYG
8. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans vs. TEN
9. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions @ IND
10. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers vs. DEN
11. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs vs. SD
12. Randy Moss, New England Patriots @ OAK
13. Wes Welker, New England Patriots @ OAK
14. Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos @ CAR
15. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ KC
16. Kevin Walter, Houston Texans vs. TEN
17. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals vs. WSH
18. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints @ CHI
19. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints @ CHI
20. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles vs. CLE
21. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Bucs @ ATL
22. Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis Colts vs. DET
23. Bernard Berrian, Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
24. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
25. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts vs. DET
26. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills @ NYJ
27. Isaac Bruce, San Francisco 49ers @ MIA
28. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets vs. BUF
29. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers @ JAX
30. Laveranues Coles, New York Jets vs. BUF
31. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
32. Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina Panthers vs. DEN
33. Davone Bass, Miami Dolphins vs. SF
34. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals vs. WSH
35. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins @ CIN (Sorry, we’re not fans)
36. Devin Hester, Chicago Bears vs. NO

Fantasy Week 15 – Top 15 Tight Ends

1. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs vs. SD
2. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys vs. NYG
3. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers @ KC
4. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts vs. DET
5. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins @ CIN
6. Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos @ CAR
7. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans vs. TEN
8. Kevin Boss, New York Giants @ DAL
9. John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks @ STL
10. Donald Lee, Green Bay Packers @ JAX
11. Bo Scaife, Tennessee Titans @ HOU
12. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders vs. NE
13. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
14. Dustin Keller, New York Jets vs. BUF
15. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears vs. NO

Fantasy Week 15 – Top 15 Team Defenses

1. Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
2. Philadelphia Eagles vs. CLE
3. Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT
4. Indianapolis Colts vs. DET
5. Tennessee Titans @ HOU
6. New York Giants @ DAL
7. New York Jets vs. BUF
8. Tampa Bay Bucs @ ATL
9. Miami Dolphins vs. SF
10. Chicago Bears vs. NO
11. Arizona Cardinals vs. MIN
12. Minnesota Vikings @ ARZ
13. Washington Redskins @ CIN
14. Green Bay Packers @ JAX
15. Dallas Cowboys vs. NYG