Our Week 15 fantasy TE PPR rankings will follow the same process as we have all season: The stud tight ends -- if there is such a thing this year -- remain at the top, but we have to sort through the guys on the start 'em sit 'em bubble based on matchups and previous usage to fill out the middle part of the pecking order. As always, use these to decide who to start during this must-win week.
It's an interesting week since all options are (hopefully) on the table, but at this point in the season, tight end breakouts are seemingly over. That said, Ricky Seals-Jones is back from injury, and in PPR leagues, he could be a sneaky TE1 for the rest of the season. This week, he'll face the Eagles, who are the worst defense against fantasy tight ends. People are quick to forget RSJ was productive earlier this season when Logan Thomas was out, so he's worth grabbing as a flier with more favorable matchups ahead. For now, we rank RSJ as a high-end TE2 because he ultimately could fall flat (like he did in Week 14), but his upside is in the TE1 range.
WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide Receiver | D/ST | Kicker
Among players on the start-or-sit bubble, we like Tyler Higbee (vs. Seahawks), David Njoku (vs. Raiders), Hunter Henry (@ Colts), James O'Shaughnessy (vs. Texans), and perhaps Gerald Everett (@ Rams). All those defenses have given up plenty of production to TEs this year. (Update: Higbee was placed on the reserve/COVID list on Monday and is in danger of missing Week 15's game.)
WEEK 15 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide Receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Henry has been the most productive option, but a few quiet performances might scare people away from his TD-or-bust profile. However, the Colts have the sixth-worst defense against TEs in regards to fantasy points allowed, so don't be shy about him here. O'Shaughnessy is best suited for PPR leagues, and since the Texans are among the 10 worst defenses against tight ends, we think he has a safe PPR floor. Everett and Hooper aren't necessarily boom-or-bust because they rarely boom, but they could give you something this week.
WEEK 15 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
You're probably starting Kyle Pitts (@ 49ers) over some of the guys listed above, but it's tough to keep viewing him as a must-start option given the lack of fantasy success. The Niners allowed T.J. Hockenson to go off in Week 1, but since they are allowing well under six fantasy points per game to TEs. We thought Noah Fant (vs. Bengals) could be a must-start stud in the preseason, but he hasn't even been reliable in favorable matchups, so how can we trust him here? It might not be his fault, but this is fantasy football, and he's been downright mediocre lately as Albert Okwuegbunam has earned more playing time. We'd consider playing all of the guys listed as favorable streamers over Fant.
WEEK 15 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
Leave Cole Kmet (vs. Vikings), Tyler Conklin (@ Bears), C.J. Uzomah (@ Broncos), and the Colts' tight ends (vs. Patriots) on the bench, too. These guys have produced on just a few occasions, and the matchup numbers indicate this won't be one of those spots for success.
MORE WEEK 15 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup builder
PPR formats give some tight ends safer floors, but as always, trust your studs and don't overthink things. As frustrating as even Travis Kelce (@ Chargers) has been, he's a must-start. The same goes for Darren Waller (knee) and T.J. Hockenson (hand) if they're back in action. Hopefully, not everyone will have to sift through the untrustworthy TEs in the middle of our rankings, but in a must-win week like this, chances are you're going to exhaust every option.
Note: We'll be updating these TE PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis. For individual analysis of key TEs, click here .
Fantasy TE PPR Rankings Week 15: Who to start at tight end
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Travis Kelce, KC @ LAC |
| 2 | Mark Andrews, BAL vs. GB |
| 3 | Mike Gesicki, MIA vs. NYJ |
| 4 | Rob Gronkowski, TB vs. NO |
| 5 | George Kittle, SF vs. ATL |
| 6 | Dallas Goedert, PHI vs. WAS |
| 7 | Zach Ertz, ARI @ DET |
| 8 | Dawson Knox, BUF vs. CAR |
| 9 | Hunter Henry, NE @ IND |
| 10 | Pat Freiermuth, PIT vs. TEN |
| 11 | Dalton Schultz, DAL @ NYG |
| 12 | Kyle Pitts, ATL @ SF |
| 13 | David Njoku, CLE vs. LV |
| 14 | Ricky Seals-Jones, WAS @ PHI |
| 15 | Jared Cook, LAC vs. KC |
| 16 | James O'Shaughnessy, JAX vs. HOU |
| 17 | Noah Fant, DEN vs. CIN |
| 18 | Foster Moreau, LV @ CLE |
| 19 | Gerald Everett, SEA @ LAR |
| 20 | Cole Kmet, CHI vs. MIN |
| 21 | Evan Engram, NYG vs. DAL |
| 22 | Tyler Conklin, MIN @ CHI |
| 23 | Ryan Griffin, NYJ @ MIA |
| 24 | Jack Doyle, IND vs. NE |
| 25 | Jonnu Smith, NE @ IND |
| 26 | C.J. Uzomah, CIN @ DEN |
| 27 | Josiah Deguara, GB @ BAL |
| 28 | Juwan Johnson, NO @ TB |
| 29 | Mo Alie-Cox, IND vs. NE |
| 30 | Geoff Swaim, TEN @ PIT |
| 31 | Will Dissly, SEA @ LAR |
| 32 | Tommy Tremble, CAR @ BUF |