The Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 15 of the NFL season

The playoffs are here, so it’s time to trim the fat. Only the shrewdest moves can be made from here on out. Here’s the fallout…

 

Steelers – 28 @ Vikings – 36

 

• Ray-Ray McCloud(6/32) was third(8) in targets on Thursday, behind Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson, but he’s used more as an extension of the run game, so unless he breaks free he’s pretty ineffective for fantasy outside of deep PPR formats. 

 

• Pat Freiermuth is 2nd in TE TDs but 21st in TE yardage. If he doesn’t score, he’s useless in fantasy.

 

• Kj Osborn(3/83/1) stepped right in for an injured Adam Thielen, garnering 9 targets on the night. If Thielen can’t go this week against Chicago, I feel comfortable starting Osborn in any format. 

 

Seahawks – 33 @ Texans – 13

 

• Rashaad Penny(17/138/2) had the best game of his short career against the Texans, out touching Alex Collins 17 to 8. Penny needs to be added in all formats, as he should maintain the lead role in the Seattle backfield throughout the playoffs. Collins is only Penny insurance at this point. 

 

• Now might be the time to worry about DK Metcalf(4/43). Metcalf has had 8 targets in 4 of his last 5 games, but he’s only reached 60 yards in one of those games, and he hasn’t scored since Week 8. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Metcalf had his best game of the season(5/98/2) in Week 5 against the Rams, the team Seattle is facing again this week. 

 

• Rex Burkhead and Royce Freeman both picked up 66 scoreless yards on 15 and 17 touches each, with David Johnson on the COVID-19 list. They’re both desperation plays against the Jaguars this week, if Johnson can’t get off the COVID-19 list. 

 

• Nico Collins(5/69) had 10 targets on the day,  just one behind Brandin Cooks. The high target total may have been an artifact of game-script, but Collins has a little juice ahead of a Week 15 matchup with the lowly Jags. 

 

• Rookie Brevin Jordan has scored twice in the last 3 weeks for the Texans. I’m more interested in his dynasty prospects more than his usefulness for fantasy in 2021.

 

Saints – 30 @ Jets – 9

 

• The Saints offense ran almost exclusively through Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara against the Jets, with no other player adding more than 44 yards of offense. I have serious doubts about the efficacy of this approach against the Bucs this week, but I also can’t seriously advocate starting any other Saints in the playoffs. Hill is still available in 50% of leagues.

 

• With Tevin Coleman(concussion) and Austin Walter(illness) inactive, La’Mical Perine and Ty Johnson split carries against the Saints. Neither player ran for more than 28 yards, but Johnson did add 4 catches for 40 yards. If the situation stays the same this week, Johnson holds some deep league PPR value against the Dolphins, due to his pass-catching role. 

 

• Braxton Berrios(6/52) led the Jets in receiving yards and targets(10), with Corey Davis and Elijah Moore on IR. Jamison Crowder, Keelan Cole and DJ Montgomery all had 6 targets behind him. Berrios is untouchable outside of PPR formats, but he’s arguably the best kick returner in the league this season, so he may be worth adding if your league gives points for special teams. 

 

Raiders – 9 @ Chiefs – 48

 

• The Raiders offense was abysmal aside from Hunter Renfrow(13/117/1) in this one. Foster Moreau ran the second most pass routes for a TE in Week 14 and still only ended up with 3 catches for 13 yards. He’s unusable even if Darren Waller doesn’t return this week. 

 

• Derrick Gore(11/89/1) was the most productive of the Chiefs RBs, but this was almost  entirely due to the positive game script the Chiefs found themselves in. Don’t go chasing waterfalls. 

 

• Considering how many points the Chiefs scored on Sunday, few players outside of the running game were very involved. No player had more than 4 targets on the day. Josh Gordon had his first TD of the year but just 9 yards otherwise. It could be more of the same this week against the run-funnel Chargers. 

 

Jaguars – 0 @ Titans – 20

 

• Welp, you probably missed the playoffs if you started James Robinson(6/4) in Week 14, but if you manage to escape to see Week 15 he does face the Texans. I imagine it’s hard to trust him now, but he’s still the best bet on the Jaguars for better or worse.  He did out touch Carlos Hyde 6 to 1 as well. 

 

• Marvin Jones(6/70) led the Jags in receiving, with Laquon Treadwell(4/68) right behind him. Treadwell has been the most consistent Jags WR over the past 4 games, and is honestly the only one I’d consider flexing against the Texans this week and only in PPR leagues. 

 

• The Titans played small ball against the Jaguars, with no pass-catcher going over 45 yards on the day and 7 players catching at least 2 balls. Julio Jones broke some hearts in his return to action, catching 4 of 6 targets for just 33 yards. He should play more snaps this week, and find more success against the Steelers. 

 

• D’Onta Foreman(15/62/1) led the rushing attack for the Titans, with Jeremy McNichols and Dontrell Hilliard canceling each other out behind him. Now that McNichols is back, Hilliard is not an option in fantasy. 

 

Falcons – 29 @ Panthers – 21

 

• Mike Davis(16/86) had a decent game on Sunday, in what I can only imagine was part of a revenge narrative against the Panthers. Cordarrelle Patterson didn’t play a snap in the 4th quarter, but the team says he’s fine. If Patterson is in fact not injured, Davis makes for a low upside at best this week against San Fran. 

 

• Cam Newton was benched twice for PJ Walker on Sunday, but he should still start this week. Newton will live and die by his legs against the Bills the week, but I can’t condone starting him. 

 

• Robby Anderson(7/84/1) led Carolina in Targets(12), but most of his action, including his score, came with Walker in the game. With Newton slated to start in Week 15, Anderson is best left on bences. 

 

Cowboys – 27 @ Washington – 20

 

• Corey Clement(14/46) led the Dallas backfield in touches in a game that was shaping up to be a blowout until sometime in the 4th quarter. Zeke Elliott(13/60) reentered the game when things got close, so I’m not all in on Clement this week, though if Tony Pollard sits again he could be worth a deep league flex versus the Giants. 

 

• Jonathan Williams scored the one rushing TD for Washington on Sunday, as Antonio Gibson was benched late for fumbling the ball. It should be back to the Gibson Jd Mckissic show in Week 15 though. 

 

• Taylor Heinicke injured his knee late on Sunday, forcing him from the game, but he should be ok for Week 15 barring a problematic MRI. Kyle Allen would be his replacement if Heinicke sits. 

 

• Adam Humphries led Washington in catches(4) for the 2nd straight week, but he did little with them(34 yards). Terry McLaurin did suffer a concussion and must go through concussion protocol to play this week. Cam Sims and DeAndre Carter are more attractive options for me if McLaurin sits, as they’re better deep threats.

 

Ravens – 22 @ Browns – 24

 

• Lamar Jackson suffered an ankle sprain and is questionable to play Week 15 at this point. Tyler Huntley played admirably in his absence, throwing for 270 and a TD while adding 45 yards on the ground. He would make for a capable streamer this week against Green Bay if Jackson sits. 

 

• Of course Rashod Bateman(7/103) had his breakout game long after anyone stopped putting him in lineups. Bateman’s best gains came at the hands of Tyler Huntely, who seems to trust him. If Huntley starts this week, Bateman is in contention for another big game. 

 

• Kareem Hunt(ankle) is doubtful to play in Week 15, leaving backup duties to D’Ernest Johnson. If you combine Hunt’s and Johnson’s touches from Week 14, it makes 9 touches, which Johnson could approach in Week 15 versus the Raiders. 

 

• Donovan Peoples-Jones(5/90) led the Browns in receiving and had one fewer target(7) than Jarvis Landry on the day. DPJ is a WR3 with upside going into Week 15.

 

Lions – 10 @ Broncos – 38

 

• Much to the chagrin of risk-taking fantasy managers, Jermar Jefferson didn’t see a snap in Week 14. Apparently it was due to him missing practice leading up to the game. If you’re still alive after taking a chance on him, you can probably drop him. The Lions have nothing to play for and seem content to run with Craig Reynolds and Godwin Igwebuike. 

 

• Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s Week 13 come up was no fluke, as he led the Lions in receiving again in Week 14. With 24 targets over the past two weeks, St. Brown makes for a hot pickup going into the fantasy playoffs. 

 

• The Broncos didn’t need to do anything other than hand the ball off to their dynamic RB duo of Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams, and thus they did not. Look for their pass-catchers to get much more involved against Cincy this week. Albert Okwuegbunam(5/41/1) and Noah Fant(4/51) continue to cancel each other out though. 

 

Giants – 21 @ Chargers – 37

 

• Devontae Booker(12/84) continues to eat into Saquon Barkley‘s(19/95/1) touches. Both are undesirable plays against Dallas’ stout front this week, though I imagine a lot of people have to get Barkley in there. 

 

• Sterling Shepard(2/27) has led the Giants’ WRs in receiving in all the games he’s appeared in this season. It was a paltry outcome this week, but both he and Kenny Golladay will be in play this week as the Giants attempt to outscore the Cowboys. There’s a chance Kadarius Toney is back for Week 15 as well. 

 

• All 3 Chargers RBs saw double-digit touches Sunday, with Austin Ekeler reinjuring his ankle. It’s a short week for the Chargers, so both Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley need to be owned going into the Thursday night game with KC. 

 

• Jalen Guyton(3/87/1) led the Chargers in receiving Sunday, but Mike Williams(6/61) and Josh Palmer(5/66/1) had strong showings. Keenan Allen is expected back for Week 15, so expectations have to be tempered for Guyton and Palmer, though Palmer did lead the team in routes run on Sunday(34). 

 

Bills – 27 @ Buccaneers – 33

 

• There seems to be a pattern to Zack Moss‘ gameday inactivity. He’s used against teams with poor run defenses and sat against teams that defend the run well. The Bills play Carolina this week, the 3rd best run defense in the NFL, so don’t expect Moss to suit up. 

 

• Emmanuel Sanders suffered a knee injury in the 1st half of the game, leaving the door open for Gabriel Davis(5/43/1) to shine. Davis would be a low floor, high upside flex against Carolina this week if Sanders can’t go. 

 

• Breshad Perriman(1/58/1) splashed, but he had just 2 targets on the day. He gets one more shot against the Saints before Antonio Brown returns to the team. 

 

49ers – 26 @ Bengals – 23

 

• Deebo Samuel had 8 rushes to Jeff Wilson‘s 13, including the sole rushing TD. WIlson underwhelmed, but it shouldn’t matter as Elijah Mitchell should be back this week. 

 

• No one outside of the usual suspects did anything of note for the Bengals on Sunday. Cj Uzomah(4/56) is likely the only unowned Bengals skill-player in your league, but he hasn’t scored since Week 7. 

 

Bears  – 30 @ Packers – 45

 

• Allen Robinson(2/14) returned on Sunday to lead the team in Targets(6). Justin Fields is still a work in progress, and I don’t feel comfortable starting any Bears not named David Montgomery in the playoffs. 

 

• With Aaron Jones continuing to get healthy, the Packers gave AJ Dillon the bulk of carries(15) on Sunday night. Still Jones scored twice, while Dillon was left with 71 yards and no TDs. Dillon is hard to trust this week against Baltimore, as Jones nears 100%.

 

• Allen Lazard (6/75/1) flourished with Randall Cobb on IR, even out targeting Marquez Valdes-Scantling(3/20) 7 to 5. It was Lazard’s best game of the season. Both he and MVS are dart throws against Baltimore this week. I’m not likely to rely on either in the playoffs.