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Week 15 Quarterback Rankings
RANK	Name	Team	Opponent
1	Tom Brady	Patriots	NYJ
2	Tony Romo	Cowboys	PHI
3	Drew Brees	Saints	ARI
4	Matt Hasselbeck	Seahawks	@CAR
5	Peyton Manning	Colts	@OAK
6	Derek Anderson	Browns	BUF
7	Carson Palmer	Bengals	@SF
8	Brett Favre	Packers	@STL
9	Ben Roethlisberger	Steelers	JAC
10	Kurt Warner	Cardinals	@NO
11	Jeff Garcia	Buccaneers	ATL
12	Eli Manning	Giants	WAS
13	Jay Cutler	Broncos	@HOU
14	David Garrard	Jaguars	@PIT
15	Trent Edwards	Bills	@CLE
16	Philip Rivers	Chargers	DET
17	Donovan McNabb	Eagles	@DAL
18	Tarvaris Jackson	Vikings	CHI
19	Jon Kitna	Lions	@SD
20	Marc Bulger	Rams	GB
21	Vince Young	Titans	@KC
22	Kyle Boller	Ravens	@MIA
23	Chris Redman	Falcons	@TB
24	Sage Rosenfels	Texans	DEN
25	Kyle Orton	Bears	@MIN
26	Kellen Clemens	Jets	@NE
27	Todd Collins	Redskins	@NYG
28	Brodie Croyle	Chiefs	TEN
29	Shaun Hill	49ers	CIN
30	Vinny Testaverde	Panthers	SEA
31	Josh McCown	Raiders	IND
32	Cleo Lemon	Dolphins	BAL

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Notes: The difference between Brees now and in the season's first month is tangible. It's as if he spent the offseason hating the fact that he was labeled a gunslinger, and came out determined to prove he could play it conservatively, checking down again and again over the course of the first few games. Since then, he's back to his daredevil ways; sometimes it bites him, sometimes it doesn't. Arizona's secondary injuries have finally caught up to them; they've allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks over the last five weeks, including the massacre up in Seattle last week. … How many rain games is Palmer going to play? The weather in Cincinnati was frightful last week, but hopefully will be delightful Saturday against the Niners in San Francisco. … Warner made mistake after mistake trying to come back on the Seahawks last week, but he also tallied 46 pass attempts. Do that against the Saints, and you're looking at a huge day. He has a sore knee, but should play. Get him in there. … Garcia should return against the Falcons, but Jon Gruden has admitted to playing fast and loose with the facts surrounding his quarterback's back. It's a sweet matchup if you can get confirmation Garcia will go. … Yessir, I have Eli Manning back in starter territory for 12-team leagues. Washington's secondary has understandably been undermanned, and on average Manning is making more good plays than bad (especially if you forget the Minnesota game). … Cutler was immense against the Chiefs, and this is the highest I've had him all year. The Texans don't create many turnovers and have holes without Dunta Robinson in their secondary. They don't give up a ton of aerial touchdowns, but they've allowed nearly a 66 percent completion percentage the past five weeks. … This is also Edwards' high-water mark. The Browns are feast-or-famine in their secondary, picking off a bunch of passes lately but also allowing big plays. Opposing signal-callers have averaged more than 250 yards against Cleveland the past five weeks. … Bulger told reporters he's feeling a lot better, so I've rated him as though he'll play, but as always, just because a guy starts a game doesn't mean he'll finish it. … A whole lotta "huh?" names toward the bottom of this list. Redman, Rosenfels, Orton, Collins and Hill are all clipboard warriors getting a chance, and rookie John Beck has been benched by the winless Dolphins, who are going back to Cleo Lemon. Good luck, psychic friends.

Week 15 Running Back Rankings
RANK	Name	Team	Opponent
1	Joseph Addai	Colts	@OAK
2	LaDainian Tomlinson	Chargers	DET
3	Adrian Peterson	Vikings	CHI
4	Willis McGahee	Ravens	@MIA
5	Jamal Lewis	Browns	BUF
6	Brian Westbrook	Eagles	@DAL
7	Earnest Graham	Buccaneers	ATL
8	Ryan Grant	Packers	@STL
9	Steven Jackson	Rams	GB
10	Kolby Smith	Chiefs	TEN
11	Marion Barber	Cowboys	PHI
12	LenDale White	Titans	@KC
13	Rudi Johnson	Bengals	@SF
14	Willie Parker	Steelers	JAC
15	Aaron Stecker	Saints	ARI
16	Selvin Young	Broncos	@HOU
17	Marshawn Lynch	Bills	@CLE
18	Justin Fargas	Raiders	IND
19	Frank Gore	49ers	CIN
20	Clinton Portis	Redskins	@NYG
21	Brandon Jacobs	Giants	WAS
22	Fred Taylor	Jaguars	@PIT
23	Edgerrin James	Cardinals	@NO
24	Maurice Jones-Drew	Jaguars	@PIT
25	Adrian Peterson	Bears	@MIN
26	Travis Henry	Broncos	@HOU
27	Darius Walker	Texans	DEN
28	Chester Taylor	Vikings	CHI
29	Thomas Jones	Jets	@NE
30	Laurence Maroney	Patriots	NYJ
31	Kevin Jones	Lions	@SD
32	Shaun Alexander	Seahawks	@CAR
33	Chris Brown	Titans	@KC
34	Julius Jones	Cowboys	PHI
35	Maurice Morris	Seahawks	@CAR
36	Jerious Norwood	Falcons	@TB
37	DeShaun Foster	Panthers	SEA
38	Fred Jackson	Bills	@CLE
39	Samkon Gado	Dolphins	BAL
40	Warrick Dunn	Falcons	@TB
41	Leon Washington	Jets	@NE
42	DeAngelo Williams	Panthers	SEA
43	Reuben Droughns	Giants	WAS
44	Najeh Davenport	Steelers	JAC
45	Adimchinobi Echemandu	Texans	DEN
46	Pierre Thomas	Saints	ARI
47	Kevin Faulk	Patriots	NYJ
48	Andre Hall	Broncos	@HOU
49	LaMont Jordan	Raiders	IND
50	Kenny Watson	Bengals	@SF

Notes: If you're an Addai owner who's made it this far, here comes the good stuff: The Raiders made Ryan Grant look like Walter Payton on Sunday (causing every talking head in the free world to proclaim Grant a "great back," which isn't true), and Addai gets next. After that, he'll take on woeful Houston. … Told you Tomlinson would wear down the Titans. He looked like a bust for a half, but he puts so much pressure on the opposing team. One mistake, and he's gone. … I know the Vikings' Peterson was disappointing against the Niners, fiddling with his knee brace all afternoon, but I trust him to get it together on the national stage Monday night, against a Bears defense that's allowed the fifth-most points to opposing rushers the last five weeks. The last time Purple Jesus ran against the Bears, he put up 224 rushing yards. … McGahee's injured toe flared up against the Colts, so keep an ear to the ground about him. I love his matchup against the undermanned Dolphins if he's healthy. … Jamal Lewis, I apologize. I was the loudest mocking voice in the room when you proclaimed your healthy ankles would suddenly make you relevant again, and that Cleveland's spanking-new O-line would be the difference. You were right. As a reward, you get your first top-five rating on my list, for a must-win match-up against a Buffalo defense that's still injured and has been among the 10 easiest to run against all year. … Man, would you just look at this top 10? Lewis, Graham, Grant, Kolby Smith? What a year. … White showed no ill effects from his finger injury, and ran very well against the Chargers. Kansas City is suddenly getting torn up on the ground, having allowed huge days to Justin Fargas, LaDainian Tomlinson and Selvin Young the last three games. Plus the Titans have to be peeved after blowing that one last week. … Rudi Johnson looked good in the muck. He's got a rushing touchdown in each of his last three, is clearly fresh due to all the missed time and isn't losing carries to Kenny Watson or DeDe Dorsey anymore. The Niners don't give up a ton of yards per carry, but teams run a lot against 'em, presumably because they often have big leads. I'd play Rudi in all leagues. … Parker performed admirably in a losing cause against New England, but runs against a far tougher defense this week: Jacksonville's. Plus the Steelers just aren't invested in seeing him score touchdowns. … Am I blinded by Stecker's excellent performance against the horrible Falcons? Maybe a little. But he's a good pass-catcher, didn't lose touches to Pierre Thomas and should get lots of chances against the Cardinals. … Selvin Young over Travis Henry. Fred Taylor over Maurice Jones-Drew. Darius Walker over the injured Ron Dayne.

Week 15 Wide Receiver Rankings
RANK	Name	Team	Opponent
1	Randy Moss	Patriots	NYJ
2	Terrell Owens	Cowboys	PHI
3	Braylon Edwards	Browns	BUF
4	Marques Colston	Saints	ARI
5	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	Bengals	@SF
6	Reggie Wayne	Colts	@OAK
7	Joey Galloway	Buccaneers	ATL
8	Larry Fitzgerald	Cardinals	@NO
9	Greg Jennings	Packers	@STL
10	Wes Welker	Patriots	NYJ
11	Brandon Marshall	Broncos	@HOU
12	Hines Ward	Steelers	JAC
13	Plaxico Burress	Giants	WAS
14	Bobby Engram	Seahawks	@CAR
15	Chad Johnson	Bengals	@SF
16	Torry Holt	Rams	GB
17	Andre Johnson	Texans	DEN
18	Roddy White	Falcons	@TB
19	Patrick Crayton	Cowboys	PHI
20	Shaun McDonald	Lions	@SD
21	Donald Driver	Packers	@STL
22	Deion Branch	Seahawks	@CAR
23	Laveranues Coles	Jets	@NE
24	Bernard Berrian	Bears	@MIN
25	Derrick Mason	Ravens	@MIA
26	Jerricho Cotchery	Jets	@NE
27	Lee Evans	Bills	@CLE
28	Sidney Rice	Vikings	CHI
29	Kevin Curtis	Eagles	@DAL
30	Calvin Johnson	Lions	@SD
31	Anthony Gonzalez	Colts	@OAK
32	Arnaz Battle	49ers	CIN
33	Santonio Holmes	Steelers	JAC
34	Reggie Williams	Jaguars	@PIT
35	Justin Gage	Titans	@KC
36	Steve Smith	Panthers	SEA
37	Dwayne Bowe	Chiefs	TEN
38	Chris Henry.	Bengals	@SF
39	Kevin Walter	Texans	DEN
40	Jerry Porter	Raiders	IND
41	Bryant Johnson	Cardinals	@NO
42	Isaac Bruce	Rams	GB
43	Jabar Gaffney	Patriots	NYJ
44	Nate Burleson	Seahawks	@CAR
45	Chris Chambers	Chargers	DET
46	Mike Furrey	Lions	@SD
47	Reggie Brown	Eagles	@DAL
48	Santana Moss	Redskins	@NYG
49	Amani Toomer	Giants	WAS
50	Donte' Stallworth	Patriots	NYJ

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Notes: The Cardinals had better plan on having three guys hanging off Colston at all times, because two isn't enough. Brees repeatedly looked Colston's way Monday night, especially near the end zone, and the big-bodied sophomore out of Hofstra simply won't be denied with multiple guys hanging off him. I'd say he's bound for the patented third-year wideout improvement next season, but how much better can he get? … Galloway had an injured toe last week, but still caught six passes for 87 yards. Did I mention the Falcons couldn't stop anyone? … Fitzgerald wore a girdle against the Seahawks, and came through all right. He should be healthier against a truly terrible Saints pass defense, and I'm skeptical Anquan Boldin will be able to go. … Ward has 44 career receptions and three touchdowns against the Jags. I believe Santonio Holmes will play, but that the Steelers will realize they're best when Ward is productive. He became a forgotten man in New England, except for that ill-fated goal-line running play. … Welcome back, Plax. (That's not just a salutation to a New York Giants receiver; it's also an elevator pitch for a new WB show, in which a tough-guy elementary school teacher ships out to Iowa to become the headmaster of a farm town's school for troubled teens.) Burress got healthy before the Eagles game last week, and it showed: seven catches, 136 yards and a score. He has a favorable match-up against Washington. … My faith in Engram was rewarded with that crazy-good end-zone catch against Arizona. He'll keep doing it. … Holt probably deserves to go a little higher on this list if you can convince yourself that Bulger really will play, and make it through an entire game. … The Eagles have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers in the past five games. The Cowboys will get it to Owens to prove last week was a fluke, but there'll be enough residual love for Crayton, too. … Coles and Cotchery are a fantasy mess. Will they play? Won't they? Coles has a high-ankle problem, Cotchery wasn't supposed to play with a finger issue but then caught six passes for 119 yards and a score. I've assumed both will go, and it isn't ridiculous to think the Jets might move the ball a bit on the Pats. … Lee Evans is just awesome when his team is up by at least three touchdowns, isn't he?

Week 15 Tight End Rankings
RANK	Name	Team	Opponent
1	Antonio Gates	Chargers	DET
2	Kellen Winslow	Browns	BUF
3	Jason Witten	Cowboys	PHI
4	Owen Daniels	Texans	DEN
5	Dallas Clark	Colts	@OAK
6	Donald Lee	Packers	@STL
7	Chris Cooley	Redskins	@NYG
8	Tony Gonzalez	Chiefs	TEN
9	Jeremy Shockey	Giants	WAS
10	Benjamin Watson	Patriots	NYJ
11	Alge Crumpler	Falcons	@TB
12	Tony Scheffler	Broncos	@HOU
13	Marcedes Lewis	Jaguars	@PIT
14	Heath Miller	Steelers	JAC
15	Alex Smith	Buccaneers	ATL
16	Zach Miller	Raiders	IND
17	Desmond Clark	Bears	@MIN
18	Vernon Davis	49ers	CIN
19	Greg Olsen	Bears	@MIN
20	Randy McMichael	Rams	GB
21	Eric Johnson	Saints	ARI
22	Daniel Wilcox	Ravens	@MIA
23	L.J. Smith	Eagles	@DAL
24	Jeff King	Panthers	SEA
25	Chris Baker	Jets	@NE
26	Bo Scaife	Titans	@KC
27	Ben Utecht	Colts	@OAK
28	Will Heller	Seahawks	@CAR
29	Robert Royal	Bills	@CLE
30	Quinn Sypniewski	Ravens	@MIA
31	Visanthe Shiancoe	Vikings	CHI
32	Billy Miller	Saints	ARI

Notes: Gates saved a lot of fantasy bacon with his last-second touchdown in Tennessee; before that, he'd spent much of the day on the trainer's table with an injured back. He should be okay for a very favorable matchup against the Lions. … Speaking of tight-end happenings in Detroit: Witten set a record for catches by a tight end, primarily because the Lions decided anyone but Terrell Owens was going to beat them. Philly is a lot harsher on opposing tight ends (best in the NFL for the past five weeks), but you don't bench Witten now. … The Broncos have allowed 302 yards receiving and two scores to opposing tight ends in their past five, which bodes well for Daniels on Thursday night. … Tony Gonzalez sprained an ankle against Denver, but returned and notched a score with Brodie Croyle playing quarterback. … So much for Crumpler loving Chris Redman as Atlanta's starter. Once again, Crump was mostly a blocker Monday night, though he did get seven targets. He's a borderline starter.

Week 15 Kicker Rankings
RANK	Name	Team	Opponent
1	Nick Folk	Cowboys	PHI
2	Stephen Gostkowski	Patriots	NYJ
3	Rob Bironas	Titans	@KC
4	Jeff Reed	Steelers	JAC
5	Mason Crosby	Packers	@STL
6	Shayne Graham	Bengals	@SF
7	Josh Brown	Seahawks	@CAR
8	Phil Dawson	Browns	BUF
9	Nate Kaeding	Chargers	DET
10	David Akers	Eagles	@DAL
11	Jason Elam	Broncos	@HOU
12	Robbie Gould	Bears	@MIN
13	Kris Brown	Texans	DEN
14	Adam Vinatieri	Colts	@OAK
15	Rian Lindell	Bills	@CLE
16	Jason Hanson	Lions	@SD
17	Matt Bryant	Buccaneers	ATL
18	Lawrence Tynes	Giants	WAS
19	John Kasay	Panthers	SEA
20	Jeff Wilkins	Rams	GB
21	Ryan Longwell	Vikings	CHI
22	Matt Stover	Ravens	@MIA
23	Sebastian Janikowski	Raiders	IND
24	Joe Nedney	49ers	CIN
25	Neil Rackers	Cardinals	@NO
26	Josh Scobee	Jaguars	@PIT
27	Morten Andersen	Falcons	@TB
28	Shaun Suisham	Redskins	@NYG
29	Olindo Mare	Saints	ARI
30	Mike Nugent	Jets	@NE
31	John Carney	Chiefs	TEN
32	Jay Feely	Dolphins	BAL

Week 15 Defense Rankings
RANK	Name	Team	Opponent
1	New England	Patriots	NYJ
2	New York	Giants	WAS
3	Minnesota	Vikings	CHI
4	Tampa Bay	Buccaneers	ATL
5	San Diego	Chargers	DET
6	Indianapolis	Colts	@OAK
7	Dallas	Cowboys	PHI
8	Green Bay	Packers	@STL
9	Seattle	Seahawks	@CAR
10	Pittsburgh	Steelers	JAC
11	Tennessee	Titans	@KC
12	Baltimore	Ravens	@MIA
13	Cincinnati	Bengals	@SF
14	Jacksonville	Jaguars	@PIT
15	New Orleans	Saints	ARI
16	Kansas City	Chiefs	TEN
17	Houston	Texans	DEN
18	Miami	Dolphins	BAL
19	Denver	Broncos	@HOU
20	Cleveland	Browns	BUF
21	Carolina	Panthers	SEA
22	Washington	Redskins	@NYG
23	Chicago	Bears	@MIN
24	Buffalo	Bills	@CLE
25	San Francisco	49ers	CIN
26	Arizona	Cardinals	@NO
27	Atlanta	Falcons	@TB
28	St. Louis	Rams	GB
29	Detroit	Lions	@SD
30	Oakland	Raiders	IND
31	Philadelphia	Eagles	@DAL
32	New York	Jets	@NE

Notes: The contrarian in me wants to think that the Jets will keep this game close, simply because everyone expects such a blowout. And I wouldn't be shocked to see New York keep it within that magical 27 points. But still, the Patriots want to tee off on this undermanned O-line in the worst way. … Tampa let me down big time against Houston; the Texans took advantage of a couple killer Bucs fumbles, but seemed to be able to convert good field position into touchdowns way too easily. But against a Petrino-free Falcons squad in chaos, I have to think there'll be some plays to be made for Tampa. … The Colts D makes for a solid start against Oakland, despite the mounting lack of depth on the D-line. … Yes, the Steelers are back to a solid fantasy start again, though I haven't ratcheted them all the way back to their traditional top-three spot. Jacksonville's grinding, nasty offense can present problems, especially if the field conditions are icky once again. You start them, but adjust expectations. … Gulp: I think you can consider using the Bengals. I resisted the urge last week against the Rams, but Cincy has been very strong against the run lately, and does anyone here think Shaun Hill's got a huge game in him? … It's pretty simple: Don't consider using the defenses going against Colts (Oakland), Cowboys (Eagles) or Patriots (Jets). Just don't.

Don't forget to read The Breakdown on Fridays, for more detailed thoughts on every team and every game.

Christopher Harris is a fantasy baseball, football and racing analyst for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.