Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 15 of the 2023 NFL Season

It’s playoff time, so hopefully you don’t have to make too many adjustments moving forward. In this tumultuous melee of a season, that’s probably not the case for many though. Here’s the fallout going into Week 15…

 

Patriots – 21 @ Steelers – 18

• JuJu Smith-Schuster(4/90) had extra motivation against his former team on Thursday, posting a season high 90 yards. He’ll play another former team this week in the Chiefs, so maybe he’ll be equally motivated. He’s available in 85% of leagues, and though the Pats offense is highly unpredictable, he should see a significant amount of targets.

 

• Zeke Elliott(29/140/1) had his best game of the season, unsurprisingly, as Rhamondre Stevenson(ankle) was sidelined. Elliott should get another start this week, and with his involvement in the passing game(8 targets), he’ll be worth a flex in any format.

 

• The Pats usually decide to angle in one aspect of a team’s offense, and with the Steelers it was the run game, effectively shutting it down. Pittsburgh plays Indy this week and should have an easier go of things, but the the QB position in shambles, it’s hard to trust any Steeler in the playoffs. Diontae Johnson seems(3/57/1) like the best combo of solid floor with upside, but I’m not fooling around with anyone else unless I have to. The backfield is too split to trust.

 

Buccaneers – 28 @ Falcons – 25

• Mike Evans(1 /8) had his worst game of the season at the worst time he could’ve. There were opportunities, but he and Baker Mayfiled just couldn’t connect. If you made it through, even with his disappointing line, he’s a must start this week. That performance was an anomaly.

 

• Drake London(10/172) and Mike Evans had a Freaky Friday moment, as London rebounded from a 1 catch WK13 to post his best game of the season. It’ll be hard to trust him against a potent Carolina secondary, but London’s upside is hard to leave on the bench, and the Falcons are in a do or die situation.

 

• Jonnu Smith(4/27) had 7 targets on the day, 1 more than Kyle Pitts, but he’s done bupkis since his WK9 eruption. He’s not a viable start against Carolina’s solid linebackers.

 

Colts – 14 @ Bengals – 34

• Josh Downs(3/32) had another down game, and he’s become unreliable in this offense. He’s only averaging 3 targets a game in 4 of his last 5 games, as Gardner Minshew is spreading the ball around more. You can’t rely on him this week. The same can be said for Alec Pierce.

 

• Welcome to the NFL Chase Brown(11/105/1). No it wasn’t his first game, but it was his breakout. Joe Mixon still out touched him 24-11, but Brown proved himself to be an effective backup who can provide standalone value. It’ll be hard to use him against Minnesota’s top 5 run defense all things considered

 

• Tee Higgins(2/72) would’ve had a better day, if not for a push off on a TD grab. With Jake Browning playing like an all-pro, Higgins is a fair play against a middling Vikings secondary this week.

 

Jaguars- 27 @ Browns – 31

• Parker Washington(2/27/1) scored, but Zay Jones(5/29) had a team high 14 targets. With Christian Kirk on IR, Jones will definitely be in the WR3 mix, but temper expectations for all Jags pass-catchers, as Baltimore’s secondary is arguably just as good or better than Cleveland’s.

 

• Joe Flacco was named the Brown’s permanent starter after his WK14 win, and that tracks. With Chicago and Houston on the slate, before what could be a brutal matchup with the Jets, Flacco makes for a solid streamer during most of the playoffs. He and David Njoku(6/91/2) seem particularly dialed in.

 

Texans – 6 @ Jets – 30

• The hits keep coming for Houston. A week after losing my new favorite player Tank Dell, rookie phenom QB CJ Stroud went down with a head injury. If he can’t make it through concussion protocol this week, Stroud will be replaced by David Mills this week, making Nico Collins the only Texan pass-catcher you can consider in fantasy, and that’s if he can even go(calf). If Collins sits, it’s anybody’s guess who gets the bulk of targets, with John Metchie, Robert Woods and Noah Brown in the mix.

 

• Brevin Jordan(3/35) led the Texans in receiving, but there’s a shot that Dalton Schultz returns in WK15. In either case, both would have their work cut out for them with Tennessee and Cleveland on deck through the playoffs.

 

• Zach Wilson(27/301/2) came out of nowhere to have his best game of the season. I don’t see him repeating the feat against Miami this week, but I do feel safer about starting Garrett Wilson(10/111) in the playoffs.

 

Rams – 31 @ Ravens – 37

• Demarcus Robinson(3/46/1) tied for the team lead in targets(10) in his 2nd straight productive week as a Ram. With Tutu Atwell leaving the game for a possible concussion, Robinson could see another high target total this week in a cherry matchup with Washington.

 

• TE Davis Allen(4/50/1) broke out with Tyler Higbee(neck) sidelined and Hunter Long(knee) going down with injury. He could get lucky again this week, but there are at least 3 players ahead of him in target share.

 

• Gus Edwards(6/15) has taken a backseat to Keaton Mitchell(10/62) just in time for the playoffs. You can’t play the guy this week. Mitchell is available in 40% of leagues.

 

• Isaiah Likely feasted in his 2nd start. He’s still available in 45% of leagues, so go get him. The same can be said for Odell Beckham(4/97/1), who’s available in even more leagues. With Mark Andrews out, there are targets to go around.

 

Lions – 13 @ Bears – 28

• Josh Reynolds(3/44/1) led the Lions in receiving, but he was tied for 3rd in targets(4) with 3 other players. He’s not an option against Denver this week.

 

• Curiously, D’Onta Foreman(14/72) led the Bears backfield. Khalil Herbert(3/8) only had 3 touches behind him. He’ll face a Cleveland team this week that is weakest against the run, compared to other positions, but that’s not saying much.

 

Panthers – 6 @ Saints – 28

• Miles Sanders(10/74) broke a big run, but Chuba Hubbard(25/96) continued to get the bulk of touches again this week. Carolina faces a stifling Falcons front this week, so despite getting so many touches, Hubbard’s upside is low.

 

• Jonathan Mingo(2/22) led the Panthers in targets(9) again this week, but his upside is nonexistent in this offense, especially against a formidable Falcons secondary that just shut down Mike Evans.

 

• Jamaal Williams(11/43) had double-digit touches on Sunday, with Tayson Hill out with injury. He could be in line for considerable touches again this week if Hill sits. The same could be said for old man Jimmy Graham(2/16/1), who’s getting more playing time with so many Saints receiving options being sidelined.

 

Vikings – 3 @ Raiders – 0

• Justin Jefferson(2/27) just can’t stay healthy. He injured his chest in his first game off of IR and is in danger of missing this week. Chances are, if you’ve gotten this far without him, you’re not relying on him to win your league, but his presence would definitely be a boon. It might be best for all involved to rest him anyway, as Nick Mullens doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence in the passing game.

 

• Ty Chandler out touched Alexander Mattison 12-10, but that was on account of Mattison leaving in the 2nd half with an ankle injury. If Mattison can’t go this week, Chandler would lead the charge against a middling Bengals defense.

 

• Josh Jacobs injured his knee Sunday, and we’re yet to know the fallout. Zamir White would be next up, with Ameer Abdullah seeing most of the passing game work. They play a beatable Chargers squad this week, so it’s a situation worth monitoring.

 

49ers – 28 @ Seahawks – 16

• Drew Lock got the start with Geno Smith going down to a groin injury during the week. He wasn’t all that bad, until the 4th quarter when he threw 2 picks. Fortunately it looks like Smith should be available versus the flailing Eagles this week.

 

• Ken Walker(12/54) and Zach Charbonnet(10/48) cannibalized each other’s fantasy values on Sunday, but that’s probably because the Seahawks wanted to ease Walker back into game action. They’ll both have a matchup that’s tougher on paper than in real life with the Eagles this week.

Bills – 20 @ Chiefs – 17

• Stefon Diggs(4/24) continued to slump against the Chiefs. He’s now had one decent game out of his last 4, and he’s got tough sledding ahead against Dallas this week. You probably have to start him, but the outlook isn’t favorable.

 

• Dalton Kincaid(5/21) still saw 8 targets, even though Dawson Knox was back in the lineup, so that bodes well for the rookie’s chances this week.

 

• Clyde Edwards-Helaire(13/68) led the Chiefs backfield, but Jerick McKinnon(4/37/1) had the more productive game. If Isiah Pacheco can’t make it back this week, we should see similar usage against New England, with Pacheco being more useful in standard formats and McKinnon offering flex appeal in PPR formats.

 

Broncos – 24 @ Chargers – 7

• Courtland Sutton(3/62/1) continues to be one of the most TD dependent, but consistent, WRs in football right now. Even on only 4 targets he maintains fantasy relevance.

 

• Justin Herbert fractured a finger on his throwing hand Sunday, opening the door for Easton Stick to lead the Chargers, Stick wasn’t abysmal, but he’s no Herbert. Gerald Everett(5/39, 8 tgts) will probably see a bump in targets as long as Herbert is out, which might be the rest of the fantasy season.

 

• Quentin Johnston(3/91) broke out to some degree, though most of it came on one play. He’s not an option as long as Stick is under center.

 

• Isaiah Spiller(6/19) saw 6 touches to Austin Ekeler‘s(15/100/1) 15, so it wasn’t exactly the doomsday scenario many were expecting for Ekeler’s touches. Ekeler will probably see even more work with Herbert out.

 

Eagles – 13 @ Cowboys – 33

• The Eagles refuse to run the ball consistently, which is great for their pass-catchers but bad for D’Andre Swift(11/39) owners and actual football. Swift gets cupcake matchups(SEA, NYG, ARI) the rest of the season, but he makes for a shaky playoff start nonetheless.

 

• Rico Dowdle(13/46/1) vultured a goal line TD from Tony Pollard(23/97), along with 13 touches. Pollard is still the main back in Dallas, but Dowdle definitely gets involved. He offers some deep league flex appeal this week against Buffalo, but you don’t want to leave your playoff hopes to him by any means. The same can be said for Michael Gallup(3/48/1), who pops 1 out of every 5 games or so.