Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 15 of the 2024 NFL Season

The fantasy playoffs are upon us, so we don’t need to bother with the riff raff. There are some action items worth mentioning though. This is the fallout going into Week 15…

 

Packers- 31 @ Lions – 34

• Christian Watson(4/114) is one of the most frustrating players in fantasy. Boom or bust to the hilt, Watson is an option this week only if Romeo Doubs can’t return from his concussion.

 

• Tucker Kraft has scored or topped 75 yards in his last 3 games. It doesn’t make sense to keep running out guys like Kyle Pitts, when Kraft is available in about 40% of leagues. 

 

• Tim Patrick(6/43/2) is the no.3 WR in Detroit, with Kalif Raymond(foot) out on IR. Patrick has topped 40 yards in the straight games, and his eruption on Thursday displayed his red zone prowess. His matchup with the Bill isn’t ideal, but if you want a piece of the Lions offense, this may be your last chance. 

 

Jaguars – 10 @ Titans – 6

• Tank Bigsby(22/105/1) has reasserted his lead in the Jaguars backfield once again, out touching Travis Etienne(8/70) 22 to 8. He’ll face a stout Jets front this week, but Bigsby offers some real value at RB if you need help. 

 

• Of course the one week I get Nick Westbrook-Ikhine(1/19) in the lineup he puts out a dud. He’ll probably bounce back this week against Cincy, but after failing us like this the week before playoffs, he’s impossible to trust. 

 

Raiders – 13 @ Buccaneers – 28

• Aidan O’Connell was carted of in an air cast on Sunday, so there’s a strong possibility Desmond Ridder starts this week. Ridder was decent in relief of O’Connell, for a quarter,  throwing for over 100 yards and leading the team to a field goal. He’ll face his former Falcons team this week, setting up a revenge narrative worth considering.

 

• Sincere McCormick(17/89) led the Raiders backfield, with Ameer Abdullah getting only 2 touches all day. I like him to lead the pack again this week against Atlanta’ top 10 run defense, though he’ll need to score to make it worthwhile. 

 

• Brock Bowers(3/49) took a backseat to Michael Mayer(7/68) on Sunday, with the latter tying for team lead in catches(7) and leading the team in receiving yards(68). This seems like an anomaly, as Mayers has done squat to this point. Bowers is still the preferred play this week. 

 

• Jalen McMillan(4/59/2) had his best game of the season, catching 2 scores. With Chris Godwin on IR, we’ve been waiting for Mcmillan to show up, and it couldn’t come at a better time. He’s a flex this week against the Chargers, as the Bucs look to put the NFC South in a stranglehold. 

 

• Rachaad White(19/109/2) made the most of a mostly absent Bucky Irving(back) on Sunday. The Chargers defend the run well, but White would be a must start if Irving can’t go, and Irving needs to practice in full for me to take a chance on him this week. We can’t have him having setbacks mid game. 

 

Browns – 14 @ Steelers – 27

• Jerome Ford(13/47) out touched Nick Chubb(11/48) on Sunday, out gaining him as well. Ford benefited from the Browns playing from behind, out-snapping Chubb as the passing down back. He actually has some juice in WK15 as the Browns aren’t likely to run right at the Chiefs’ top ranked run defense. 

 

• Pat Freiermuth(3/48/1) led the Steelers in receiving with George Pickens(hamstring) sidelined. Scotty Miller, Calvin Austin and Mike Williams all had 4 targets, with none of them doing much yardage wise. If Pickens can’t make it back this week, Freiermuth is the only one I’m rolling with in the playoffs. 

 

Panthers – 16 @ Eagles – 22

• We hardly knew ye Jonathon Brooks. Just like that the Rookie RB who spent most of the season rehabbing an ACL injury re injured his same leg in a non contact injury on Sunday. It’s come to light that it’s another torn ACL. Brooks’ NFL future looks bleak right now…

 

• Adam Thielen(9/102) keeps on trucking. Leading the team in receiving on 11 targets, Thielen is a solid play going into the playoffs. He’s still available in 47% of leagues. 

 

• Grant Calterra(3/16/1) didn’t see a big bump in targets with Dall Goedert sidelined, but he made the most of his opportunities. He’s a streaming option in WK15. 

 

Saints – 14 @ Giants – 11

• Kendre Miller(10/32/1) saw his first action in 5 weeks, managing to score. With Spencer Rattler likely to be under center for the rest of the season, due to Derek Carr’s wrist injury, Miller will get plenty of action moving forward. He’s worth flex consideration in all formats. 

 

• Juwan Johnson(4/50/1) has scored in 2 of his last 3 games. I usually don’t love it for pass-catchers when the backup QB comes in, but TEs often get a boost in targets as the safety blanket for a beleaguered signal caller. Johnson is still a viable streamer if Rattler plays this week. 

 

• Daniel Bellinger(5/45) took his starting role back, with Theo Johnson sidelined. There were a lot of targets to go around on Sunday, but Drew Lock wasn’t in the least bit accurate. Bellinger is still in line to get a handful of targets this week. 

 

Falcons – 21 @ Vikings – 42

• Tyler Allgeier(9/63/1) had his 2nd best game of the season, finding the end zone for the 2nd time. Kirk Cousins is floundering, so it makes sense that Allgeier would get more touches. That being said, he’s only viable in the deepest of leagues. 

 

• Ray-Ray McCloud(9/101) has had at least 6 targets in his last 3 games, culminating in a season high, 11 target eruption in WK14. McCloud may not fare as well this week, as the Falcons probably won’t be playing from behind against the Raiders, but he’s developed into a weekly flex option in deeper formats. He’s available in 80% of leagues and Darnell Mooney(6/142) is still around in 25% of leagues. 

 

• Jordan Addison(8/133/3) had his first 3 TD game of his career on Sunday. He definitely benefited from Justin Jefferson getting extra coverage. With Jefferson slated to get the Jaylen Johnson treatment this in Chicago, Addison should be in for another monster line. 

 

Jets – 26 @ Dolphins – 32

• Both Braelon Allen(15/81) and Isaiah Davis(13/73/1) had significant touches on Sunday, but only Davis found the end zone. Both will be viable plays against Jacskonville this weekend. 

 

• Jaylen Wright(4/13) only had 4 touches with Raheem Mostert(hip) out. That doesn’t bode well for his opportunities in WK15, even if Mostert continues to sit. 

 

Seattle – 30 @ Cardinals – 18

• Zach Charbonnet(29/193/2) feasted in Ken Walker’s absence. Hes a no brainer this week if Walker sits. If Walker plays, he’s still an interesting flex in deeper leagues. 

 

• Tyler Lockett(0/0) is dead in the water right now. You can’t use him in any format. 

 

• Michael Wilson(2/57/1) is having the best 3 game run of his season right now. He’ll have a cherry matchup with New England this week, in a game that Arizona has to win. He’s a deep league flex option. 

 

Bears – 13 @ 49ers – 38

• Rome Odunze(4/42/2) finally popped in the stat line with his 2 scores, breaking a several game slump. The Bears offense stalled as a whole after a productive 3 game run, but the 49ers are never a slouch opponent. All of the Bears WRs will be flex options this week against Minnesota. 

 

• Isaac Guernedo showed out in a premier role, but he’s largely owned and hurt his foot late in the game. Patrick Taylor(7/25/1) produced in relief of him and is available in almost every league. Make sure he’s a top waiver option this week. He could end up starting. 

 

Bills – 42 @ Rams – 44

• Josh Allen broke fantasy on Sunday night, so it’s hard to take his WR’s lines without a grain of salt moving forward. It was nice to see Amari Cooper(6/95) finally have a solid outing though, and it makes sense to add Mack Hollins(4/57/1) if you need help in the flex. 

 

• Blake Corum(8/34) has approached double-digit touches for the 2nd straight week. He isn’t involved in the passing game though, so his upside is limited. He doesn’t have standalone value yet. 

 

Chargers – 17 @ Chiefs – 19

• Kimani Vidal(8/34) had only 2 fewer touches than Gus Edwards(10/36/1) on Sunday night. Edwards got the score, but Vidal made the argument for getting more touches moving forward. He’ll be a deep league flex option against the Bucs this weekend. 

 

• Stone Smartt(3/54) got a bump, with Ladd McConkey out, but he still didn’t see enough targets to make a dent. Josh Palmer(6/78) led the team in receiving, while Quentin Johnston(5/48/1) managed a score. Palmer is worth a look this week, along with Johnston, if McConkey sits again this week. 

 

• Kareem Hunt(6/29) just isn’t getting enough action to thrive in fantasy. He needs to remain on benches if not outright dropped. 

 

• Noah Gray(4/26) hasn’t scored in 2 games. His TD prowess is what we bank on, and if he’s not scoring he can’t be used in fantasy. His matchup with Cleveland is ideal this week, so you can take a gamble, but don’t be surprised if he flops.