Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is back near the top of our rankings after a couple of strong showings. He doesn’t top our list though, find out who’s #1 for the week in our top 25 QB rankings for fantasy football. Photo by Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Brees appears poised for a big bounce-back game if you were able to survive his recent down weeks and are still alive in the playoffs. He’s our unanimous number one QB with the usual elite QBs right behind him. One notable jump this week is the reemergence of Cam Newton as a top 6 option after a couple of strong showings headed into Carolina’s trip west to meet the Chargers.

Here’s our full top 25 QB’s to start for week 15:

The two sets of  rankings were done by Jeffrey Littrell (JL) and myself (ZT). NR stands for not rated and counts as 30 toward the composite average. Follow his ranking, follow my ranking, or follow the composite, but whatever you do–good luck to you as you look to win this weekend.

The week 15 slate of games has some awesome, compelling matchups and it’s an elimination game for most fantasy football leagues. Starting the right guys is always key to getting your team deep into the playoffs, and for those on the outside looking in it’s never too early to start scouting for next year… For each game I’ll give you any players that should be upgraded or downgraded due to injury, opportunity, or matchup and I’ll also give you my pick against he spread (taken from ESPN’s Pigskin Pick’em). I’m coming off a solid 10-6 week last week taking my season record to 116-89. I’m hoping for another double-digit win week in week 15 and here’s the first part of my picks and previews (home teams in all caps)

Matt Ryan will lead his Falcons against Jacksonville on Thursday Night Football. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

FALCONS -11.5 over Jaguars

Analysis: The Falcons have won 3 out of 4 and 6 out of 8 and they get this game at home in the dome where they are 4-2. They’re pushing hard towards the playoffs and right nos they and Detroit would be the 2 wild cards in the NFC. Chicago and Dallas are only one game back though, so this win is critical to them. The Jags on the other hand have little to play for, but they are coming off their best game of the season when they trounced the Bucs 41-14. This offense runs on Maurice-Jones Drew, but the Falcons run D has been good all year especially at home. It’s not a question, in my mind, if Atlanta will win but if they will cover. I’ll take them to win 31-13 and cover the spread on this edition of Thursday Night Football.

Player Notes: Julio Jones, Harry Douglas, and Michael Turner have all been limited in practice but are all expected to be available. It’s actually Matt Ryan who might be in trouble in this one since the Jags are 4th rated against the pass. The Jags are vulberable however in their run defense so Turner and even Jacquizz Rodgers make good starts (Turner as high RB2 and Rodgers as a low-flex play). The Falcons D is also a good bet against the woeful (32nd ranked) passing offense of Jacksonville…Blaine Gabbert will once again get the start but Mike Thomas is out which won’t help the Jags already moribund passing offense. Even Maurice Jones-Drew could struggle since the Falcons give up only 95 yards per game on the ground (5th in the NFL), but he should be involved enough in the passing game to make up for the lack of yards running. If there ever is a week for Marcedes Lewis to step up and be the go-to pass-catcher this is the game, but I still don’t see him as a solid start in most leagues. He’s a Hail Mary if you’re desperate at TE but little more.

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