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The weeks are running thin in the 2021 NFL season as there are now just four weeks remaining. While real life playoffs don’t begin until next month, fantasy football playoffs are beginning this week or have already begun in some leagues. At the wide receiver position, guys like Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, and Deebo Samuel are going to be on plenty of championship rosters.
We also have injuries and COVID-19 issues to notable players around the NFL, making things even more difficult for those that are still alive in their leagues. Even though I can’t see the future, I can do my best to predict where I believe each WR will finish in the upcoming week of action. Ahead of a pivotal week for those in fantasy football playoffs, here are my top 50 wide receivers for Week 15.
WR Rankings Week 15
| RANK | NAME | TEAM | OPPONENT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | NAME | TEAM | OPPONENT | NOTES |
| 1 | Cooper Kupp | LAR | vs. SEA | Kupp is WR1 by 59.2 points in half-point PPR formats. Has seen no fewer than nine targets in a game all season and continues to dominante even with OBJ/Jefferson also getting targets. |
| 2 | Davante Adams | GB | @ BAL | Adams was spectacular in Week 14 with 29.1 points as he caught 2 TDs vs. CHI. Gets a BAL defense that is sans Humphrey and other members of the secondary in Week 15. |
| 3 | Justin Jefferson | MIN | @ CHI | Jefferson should continue being the clear alpha on MIN as long as Thielen remains sidelined. Even if he's not, Jefferson should be able to have success against a CHI defense that has allowed 17 TDs to WRs (tied for most in the NFL). |
| 4 | Deebo Samuel | SF | vs. ATL | Even though Deebo is seeing fewer targets, he is being utilized as a RB more often, raising his TD upside. Ever since Aiyuk began seeing more usage in Week 8, Samuel is still WR3 since then and he even missed a game in that time span. |
| 5 | Tyreek Hill | KC | @ LAC | Defenses are preventing Hill from getting his usual deep shots but he's getting more underneath work. Should be plenty busy against LAC in what could be a shootout on TNF. |
| 6 | Chris Godwin | TB | vs. NO | Godwin continues to command a hefty target share without AB in the fold for TB. Has caught 25 of his 32 targets for 248 yards in the past 2 weeks and gets a NO defense that typically has Lattimore shadow Evans. |
| 7 | Diontae Johnson | PIT | vs. TEN | Johnson is one of the safest PPR plays in fantasy football with Roethlisberger under center. Has garnered double-digit targets in all but 2 games and TEN allows the 2nd most PPG to WRs this season. |
| 8 | Stefon Diggs | BUF | vs. CAR | Keep tabs on Allen's status for BUF as his absence could lower Diggs' expectations in Week 15. Owns a team-high 25.2% target share in an offense that prefers to throw the ball often and Sanders is going to miss time for BUF. |
| 9 | CeeDee Lamb | DAL | @ NYG | Much has been made about DAL's struggles on offense but this is a perfect week to bounce back. Lamb leads the team with a 22.4% target share and the NYG have surrendered the 5th most PPG to WRs in the past month. |
| 10 | Keenan Allen | LAC | vs. KC | Allen was removed from the COVID-19 list for the LAC this week. The slot specialist should go right back to being the target leader for the LAC in Thursday's showdown with KC. |
| 11 | Ja'Marr Chase | CIN | @ DEN | Chase finally returned to the end zone in Week 14 (twice) after having 2 straight games without a TD for the first time this season in Weeks 12/13. DEN's defense is vulnerable on deep throws, which benefits Chase. |
| 12 | Hunter Renfrow | LV | @ CLE | Renfrow continues to be a league-winner at WR with Waller sidelined for LV. Even if Waller returns, Renfrow has a nice rapport with Carr and there aren't many other trustworthy options in the offense. |
| 13 | Mike Evans | TB | vs. NO | Whenever Evans faces Lattimore, we typically get a must-watch battle between 2 of the league's best. Don't overthink this matchup and feel confident playing Evans in a game where he could very well find the end zone at some point. |
| 14 | DeAndre Hopkins | ARI | @ DET | Hopkins is undergoing an MRI for a leg injury so keep an eye on his status throughout the week. But if he suits up, he could be in for a massive day in a bounce-back game vs. DET. |
| 15 | Jaylen Waddle | MIA | vs. NYJ | Waddle has been a PPR machine this season with 86 receptions (tied for 5th most in the NFL) for MIA. The rookie wideout also gets to face a NYJ defense that he caught 8 passes for 65 yards against in Week 11. |
| 16 | Amari Cooper | DAL | @ NYG | Once again, this is a perfect week for DAL's WRs to get right against the NYG. Cooper caught a TD in Week 14 and looks to be back in his usual full-time role since returning from the COVID-19 list. |
| 17 | Brandin Cooks | HOU | @ JAC | Cooks continues to be the only rosterable player on HOU. Just had 8 receptions for 101 yards in Week 14 and gets JAC's putrid defense in Week 15. |
| 18 | Tyler Lockett | SEA | @ LAR | Lockett seems to be the SEA WR to have right now over Metcalf but both of them are tough to trust. SEA could be playing from behind against the LAR this week, giving Lockett a slight boost. |
| 19 | Mike Williams | LAC | vs. KC | Williams was unable to take advantage of the absence of Allen in Week 14. With Allen back, Williams goes back to his deep threat role against KC on TNF. |
| 20 | Tee Higgins | CIN | @ DEN | Higgins has eclipsed 100+ receiving yards in 3 straight games and has scored 2 TDs in that same span. Should remain busy with DEN likely centering their attention on Chase. |
| 21 | Marquise Brown | BAL | vs. GB | Brown is still the No. 1 WR on BAL, though, the status of Lamar could determine his output in Week 15. If Jackson plays, Brown is a solid option against a GB defense that just allowed multple big plays to CHI's mediocre offense. |
| 22 | Brandon Aiyuk | SF | vs. ATL | Aiyuk has continue to see more work in the passing game in recent weeks. Since Week 8, Aiyuk is WR13 and he gets an ATL defense that gives up the 4th most PPG to WRs this season. |
| 23 | Darnell Mooney | CHI | vs. MIN | Mooney was quiet for the 2nd straight week for CHI but he's in a perfect get-right spot in Week 15. MIN allows the most PPG to WRs this season and it's not like Robinson wowed in his return to the field. |
| 24 | D.K. Metcalf | SEA | @ LAR | It's hard to trust WRs on SEA right now and Metcalf has been awful since Russ returned under center. Metcalf is WR55 since Week 11 but could maybe find the end zone playing from behind vs. the LAR in Week 15. |
| 25 | Terry McLaurin | WAS | @ PHI | McLaurin has also disappointed in recent weeks as WAS has struggled to get him the ball. McLaurin is WR83 in the past 3 weeks but could potentially get back on track against PHI in Week 15. |
| 26 | D.J. Moore | CAR | @ BUF | With Cam at QB, Moore is a WR2 for CAR as he's WR29 in average PPG since Week 11 (when Cam became the starter). Gets a tough matchup against BUF so I'm not expecting a ceiling game from Moore. |
| 27 | Odell Beckham Jr. | LAR | vs. SEA | OBJ has caught a TD for the LAR in 3 straight games and looks comfortable with Stafford. Gets a nice matchup with SEA this week and could find the end zone for the 4th consecutive contest. |
| 28 | Michael Pittman Jr. | IND | vs. NE | Outside of Pittman, the IND WRs are tough to trust in fantasy with their offense going through JT. Maybe with NE selling out to slow down JT, Pittman could have a decent outing in Week 15. |
| 29 | DeVante Parker | MIA | vs. NYJ | MIA's offense has shown signs of life and the return of Parker only helps them. Has not seen fewer than 5 targets in all 6 of his starts this season and gets the dismal NYJ defense this week. |
| 30 | Jarvis Landry | CLE | vs. LV | Landry is on the COVID-19 list, so it remains to be seen if he suits up. But if he is active, he gets a favorable matchup against a LV defense that is a middle of the pack group versus the pass. |
| 31 | Russell Gage | ATL | @ SF | Gage has emerged as a somewhat reliable option for ATL in recent weeks. The No. 3 option in the offense has caught 26 of his 33 targets for 305 yards and a TD in the past 4 games for ATL. |
| 32 | Chase Claypool | PIT | vs. TEN | Claypool caught the media's attention with his late-game antics in Week 14 but he's still the No. 2 option in PIT's offense. That being said, he still seems to be a massive hit-or-miss option at WR. |
| 33 | Van Jefferson | LAR | vs. SEA | Jefferson has broken out in his 2nd year with the LAR and operates as a vertical threat with a big arm QB in Stafford. SEA is suscpetible to big plays through the air and TDs are aplenty in this LAR offense. |
| 34 | Julio Jones | TEN | @ PIT | Julio is the only WR on TEN that is worth using right now, even though TEN still leans on their ground game. Against a shorthanded PIT secondary, Jones may be able to find the end zone for the first time this season. |
| 35 | Gabriel Davis | BUF | vs. CAR | Davis should step into a larger role with Sanders sidelind with an injury. Has caught a TD in back to back games and is always capable of scoring a long TD in BUF's aerial attack. |
| 36 | Michael Gallup | DAL | @ NYG | Gallup shouldn't be forgotten in DAL's offense as they could look to throw more this week to get Dak back on track. The NYG have surrendered the 2nd most TDs to WRs this season. |
| 37 | Christian Kirk | ARI | @ DET | Kirk could move up my rankings if Hopkins is out this week for ARI. Kirk would be a better fantasy option elsewhere but is still viable in ARI, especially against a meh defense in DET. |
| 38 | DeVonta Smith | PHI | vs. WAS | There isn't much passing volume in PHI's offense, limiting Smith's ceiling in fantasy. Could see some success in Week 15 against a WAS defense that allows the 3rd most PPG to WRs. |
| 39 | Jerry Jeudy | DEN | vs. CIN | It's extremely tough to trust any DEN WRs with Bridgewater at QB. DEN leans on their RB duo of Gordon/Williams but Jeudy would be the WR in DEN I'd go with if I had to choose one. |
| 40 | Cole Beasley | BUF | vs. CAR | Beasley could also see a few more looks with Sanders out but his ceiling is limited due to him operating in the short-to-intermediate area of the field. TD upside is also low, making Diggs and Davis more intriguing options. |
| 41 | K.J Osborn | MIN | @ CHI | Osborn could be the No. 2 WR for MIN again if Thielen is sidelined in Week 15. Hauled in three passes for 93 yards and a TD on 9 targets in Week 14. |
| 42 | A.J. Green | ARI | @ DET | Similar to Kirk, Green would move up my rankings if Hopkins is out this week. Green is coming off of a 7 reception, 102 yard performance in Week 14 but is extremely volatile in ARI's dynamic offense. |
| 43 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | vs. ARI | St. Brown looks to be the best WR on DET with 18 catches for 159 yards and a TD on 24 targets in the last 2 games. DET is always playing from behind, so opportunities are always available for St. Brown. |
| 44 | Kendrick Bourne | NE | @ IND | Bourne has been WR20 since Week 10 and is one of Jones' favorite red zone targets for NE. Faces an IND defense that has surrendered the most TDs to WRs this season. |
| 45 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | GB | @ BAL | MVS is always a threat to score 10+ points on a single play but is extremely volatile. I'd still chase his ceiling over Lazard even though it was Lazard who was the No. 2 WR for GB in Week 14. |
| 46 | Marvin Jones Jr. | JAC | vs. HOU | Jones started the season good with JAC but has spiraled downward since. If there's a week he has a noteworthy performance it will be this week against HOU's below average defense. |
| 47 | Jamison Crowder | NYJ | @ MIA | Crowder is the safest option at WR for the NYJ as Davis and Moore are on injured reserve. MIA has been better against WRs in recent weeks but the NYJ should be playing from behind. |
| 48 | Donovan Peoples-Jones | CLE | vs. LV | DPJ is now Mayfield's favorite deep threat in CLE's offense. And if Landry is sidelined this week, DPJ could be the No. 1 WR for CLE against an average pass defense of LV. |
| 49 | Tre'Quan Smith | NO | @ TB | With Hill under center for NO, I would not advise having confidence in any WRs in the offense. Smith would be my choice of the bunch as Harris is suspended for NO. |
| 50 | Jakobi Meyers | NE | @ IND | Meyers can be a solid PPR option but his ceiling is extremely limited due to his lack of big plays and TD upside. Does get an IND defense that has allowed 17 TDs to WRs (tied for most in the NFL). |