Fantasy Football Week 15: Takeaways from Sunday's Action

Week 15 of the fantasy football season was pretty boring, with a few exceptions.

Most games just produced vultures, like Indianapolis Colts running back Robert Turbin, Colts tight end Erik Swoope, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry and New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (to name a few).

The quarterback position was a wasteland, unless you had the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees or Matt Moore of the Miami Dolphins. Everyone else was uninspiring, to say the least.

Two things in particular stood out, though: The Colts embarrassed the Minnesota Vikings on the road and the Saints put up 48 in Arizona against the Cardinals and still almost lost.

But what made me most excited?

The Houston Texans finally benched quarterback Brock Osweiler.

I've been extremely critical of Osweiler this season, and it's been justified.

Look, I'm sure he's an alright guy. But, my gosh, he is a horrible quarterback.

Dear Texans,

Start Tom Savage for the remainder of the year if you want to make the playoffs and keep your fanbase.

Yours truly,

Everyone.

Jaguars WR Allen Robinson Posts Another Dud...Kind Of

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Fantasy owners may walk away from Week 15 shouting expletives at Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson due to his two-catch, 15-yard effort, but his performance was better than his production.

Several of Robinson's would-be receptions were nullified by pass interference penalties committed by the Houston Texans secondary. One play, in particular, could have boosted the receiver's stat line.

With about nine minutes to go in the second quarter, Robinson was in position for a 35-yard touchdown—but he was smothered by his defender, and the deep pass fell incomplete.

While there isn't much time left in the season, this needs to be noted: Stats aren't everything. There is always context.

Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill Is a Freak of Nature

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

While he may not be the nicest person off the field, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill is a superb athlete on the field (sad that it works out like that).

While Hill remained catch-less in Week 15, he did have a 68-yard run that ended in a score, showing off his speed once again.

Hill is a must-start for the rest of the year. He'll be a hot commodity in 2017.

Texans Finally Bench QB Brock Osweiler

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

It's about damn time.

After Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler threw two interceptions and put his team in another hole, the Texans benched him in favor of Tom Savage.

After the change, the crowd roared in excitement. The jig was finally up.

Despite entering midway through the game, Savage threw for 260 yards—just nine fewer yards than Osweiler's single-game high.

Osweiler should sit the rest of the year. He is awful.

Steelers TE Ladarius Green Suffers Concussion

Jared Wickerham/Associated Press

This is not good for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In a narrow victory over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, Steelers tight end Ladarius Green suffered a concussion.

Prior to the injury, Green had five catches for 72 yards—on his way to a stellar performance.

No. 2 tight end Jesse James did a fine job in Green's absence, but there is a bigger issue here: Green has a history of concussions. This could not only impact this season, but potentially his career.

Hopefully Green can recover from this. He's an incredible talent to watch.

Week 15 Was the Week of Vultures

Andy Clayton-King/Associated Press

If you started Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray or Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore, Week 15 was likely one to forget. It could have even cost you your fantasy season.

Got to love those vultures.

The Colts' Robert Turbin and Titans rookie Derrick Henry each scored two touchdowns, while their respective starters failed to reach the end zone.

You can never predict when this is going to happen—especially with someone like Turbin.

Hopefully Week 16 is much more kind to the lead backs.

That's It: Ty Montgomery Is the Packers' Best RB

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

From here on out, you will not see me refer to Ty Montgomery as the "Green Bay Packers wide receiver/running back." He's the best running back the Packers have.

After losing Eddie Lacy earlier in the season, the Packers had a whole bunch of nothin' at the position, thus they turned to Montgomery.

And, boy, did it pay dividends.

Sure, there were rocky periods with Montgomery's production and health, but it was all worth it for Week 15.

On Sunday, Montgomery ran for over 160 yards on 16 carries, reaching the end zone twice against the Chicago Bears.

Could Montgomery be the Packers feature running back in 2017?

I mean, why not, right?

Jaguars QB Blake Bortles Is Horrible

Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

While stats don't always tell the whole story, 92 passing yards through four quarters of professional football is just pitiful.

You could not have paid me to sit there and pay attention to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans (oh, wait a minute—I kind of was).

Bortles is not an NFL quarterback. When the Jaguars realize that, they can advance as a franchise.

Same goes for the Texans and Brock Osweiler.

Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins Has Solid Game with Tom Savage

Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

Somewhere, Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is grinning ear-to-ear—he actually had a solid outing in Week 15

With Tom Savage at quarterback for the majority of the game, Hopkins posted his largest receiving total since Week 2 of this season.

Yeah, it's been that long.

Believe it or not, Savage could be the answer to all our Hopkins problems—at least for the remainder of 2016.

I'd feel OK starting Hopkins next week against the Cincinnati Bengals if Savage is his quarterback.

Gulp...Bears QB Matt Barkley Is a Legit Fantasy QB

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Fantasy football is a strange, strange game.

You already knew that, but Chicago Bears quarterback Matt Barkley's fantasy performance in Week 15 shows it all the more.

While Barkley did throw three interceptions (one on a Hail Mary pass) against the Green Bay Packers, he also produced two scores and 368 yards.

Yeah, 368. This is the second time in four starts that Barkley has reached the 300-yard milestone.

Not only that, the Bears almost won.

Facing the Washington Redskins and their 22nd DVOA ranking against the pass, Barkley is worth a stream in Week 16 if you need one for the championship round.

If you've made it this far, hopefully you're not in that position, but you never know.

Eagles RB Ryan Mathews Benefits from Injuries, Goes Off

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Going up against a stout Baltimore Ravens run defense, Philadelphia Eagles running back Ryan Mathews was not at all phased by the stats on paper—he went off.

In the absence of fellow running backs Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood, Mathews led the Eagles in carries (20), rushed for over 125 yards and found the end zone.

The Eagles backfield has been tough to figure out with all three players in the mix, but it appears Mathews can perform when he is all by himself.

It's unclear if Sproles will be back in Week 16. If he isn't, there's good reason to consider starting Mathews, even with a matchup against a strong New York Giants run defense.

But division games are always tougher this late in the year, so I wouldn't expect similar production from Mathews if Sproles is out.

Nicely done if you started him this week, though.

Giants Split RB Work Between Jennings, Perkins

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

If you're still in the fantasy football playoffs while starting either New York Giants running back—Paul Perkins or Rashad Jennings—then you have yourself quite the team.

In Week 15, the Giants split work between Jennings and Perkins once again—literally.

They had the same number of snaps (25), but Perkins outgained Jennings 56-38 despite being outcarried 18-11.

Hopefully we get some clarity on this backfield in 2017—it's just way too volatile.

Raiders RB Latavius Murray Continues to Reign Supreme

D. Ross Cameron/Associated Press

While he didn't score for the first time in three games, Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray continued his run as a fantastic fantasy football player, rushing for over 80 yards on 13 carries.

In 2016, Murray has 12 rushing touchdowns—scoring in all but four of Oakland's contests.

In what is (for most leagues) the fantasy football championship, Murray takes on a Colts defense that, heading into Week 15, was ranked 30th in DVOA against the run.

Yeah, the Colts allowed just 34 rushing yards against the Minnesota Vikings and Adrian Peterson, but no one expected them to lead by 30 points in that game.

Murray should help carry you to a title in Week 16.

Chargers RB Kenneth Farrow Doesn't Capitalize

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Facing an Oakland Raiders defense that ranked 26th in DVOA against the run going into Week 15, San Diego Chargers running back Kenneth Farrow could only muster 39 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Very disappointing.

In limited action prior to Melvin Gordon's injury, Farrow showed plenty of promise this year. That led us to believe that, with the main role, he'd blossom into a productive fantasy asset.

Well, I guess not.

Gordon has been saying he wants to return to reach 1,000 yards, per Ricky Henne of Chargers.com. After Farrow's performance in Week 15, the Chargers are hoping he can make it back, too.

Should Gordon sit in Week 16, Farrow draws a date with the Cleveland Browns. Go back to the well and start Farow if he's the lead back.

The Browns could make me look like a competent NFL running back.

Dion Lewis Leads Pats RBs in Carries

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

On the surface, you might scratch your head when you see that New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis had more carries than fellow running back LeGarrette Blount against the Denver Broncos. But if you think about it, it does make some sense.

Let's not go crazy: Lewis had just one more carry (18-17) than Blount, but the yardage discrepancy was noticeable (95-31, in favor of Lewis).

No, the Broncos have not been good against the run this season—ranking 25th in DVOA—but they still have playmakers all along the defensive line.

Lewis was just a better option for the matchup. He's quicker and more agile than Blount, and he can move in space and pick up yardage—something that was hard to find in the passing game.

Blount should continue his reign as lead carrier for the final two weeks of the season.

Broncos RB Justin Forsett Leads Backfield in Touches

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Playing for his third team in 2016, Denver Broncos running back Justin Forsett has just been looking for an opportunity.

Against the New England Patriots in Week 15, the Broncos gave Forsett that chance. He led the backfield in touches over fellow running back Devontae Booker, 14-8, recording 10 carries and catching four passes.

While he may have averaged less than four yards per carry, this development speaks to Booker's ineffectiveness more than anything.

Let's cut to the chase: It's nice to see Forsett get a chance, but the Broncos backfield is horrible. Don't even think about starting anyone from here. You'll lose.

The Saints Offense...Whew

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Scoring 48 and giving up 41—that's what will go on the New Orleans Saints' 2016 headstone.

It happened in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Saints offense is unbelievable. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns, and three receivers (Michael Thomas, Willie Snead and Brandin Cooks) all had at least seven receptions.

Predicting which Saints wideout will go off has been a difficult task this year, but they all had a great game this week. Cooks led the way with two touchdowns and nearly 200 receiving yards.

Don't stop now—even with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense in Week 16.

Expect the Saints to play spoiler for the Bucs' playoff hopes.

Cardinals RB David Johnson Is Just Too Good

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

One. Two. David Johnson's coming for you.

Three. Four. Lock your stadium doors.

Five. Six. Grab your best pair of kicks.

Seven. Eight. How do his touchdowns taste?

Nine. Ten. Never tackle again.

17 total touchdowns. Two in Week 15

100-plus total yards in every game this season. 108 in Week 15.

Good luck in Week 16, Seattle Seahawks.

Johnson is coming for you.

This is Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson's world.

We're just living in it. Sorry, Freddy.

Give Falcons RB Devonta Freeman a Bad Run Defense, He'll Give You TDs

John Bazemore/Associated Press

The San Francisco 49ers had no answer for any of Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman's 20 carries in Week 15, as he ran for 139 yards and scored three times.

Fellow running back Tevin Coleman recorded 14 carries, but Freeman and Coleman can live in fantasy land independently and post fine performances. One is obviously playing better, but both have been respectable.

Week 16's road contest against the Carolina Panthers is a little worrisome, but Freeman will once again see the majority of the work against a (potentially) Luke Kuechly-less Panthers linebacking corps.

Start him.

Buccaneers' Cameron Brate Is an Elite Fantasy TE

Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press

On prime time in Week 15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate showed once again why we need to deal with reality—he's an elite fantasy tight end.

Facing the Dallas Cowboys, Brate caught four passes for over 60 yards and a touchdown—and, boy, was the touchdown a nice one.

Brate is currently the TE6 in points-per-reception leagues with seven touchdowns. He's already made his way into elite territory, but prime-time performances have a tendency to back it up.

Brate is quarterback Jameis Winston's No. 2 pass-catching option, second only to wideout Mike Evans.

Hopefully he does better against the Saints in Week 16 than he did in Week 14, though.

Cowboys TE Jason Witten Leads Team in Catches; Juicy Week 16 Matchup

Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press

Though the yardage and the touchdowns weren't there, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten caught 10 passes in Week 15, surpassing Terrell Owens for seventh all-time in career receptions.

Witten has not been a consistent fantasy producer for some time, but if you started him in Week 15, you should go back to the well in Week 16 when the Cowboys take on the Detroit Lions. The Lions rank 29th in DVOA against tight ends.

Keep your expectations realistic, though—not a ton of yardage and likely no touchdowns.

With Witten, you're banking on receptions—something he should get against a terrible Lions defense.

Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus, Football Outsiders and Pro-Football-Reference. 

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.