Fantasy Football Week 15: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position
Some of you have made it to the fantasy football playoffs, so it's time to buckle down and find gems that could lead you to a trophy, title, cash prize or whatever is at stake.
With the playoffs in mind, stay on the shallow end of the free-agent pool unless you're in need of a big swing while trailing on the scoreboard. We have "safe" sleeper options and a few with a low floor but high boom potential.
For Week 15, managers should circle the matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders.
Believe it or not, this could be the highest-scoring game on the slate this week. The Rams field the 10th-ranked scoring offense, and the Commanders lead the NFL in pass attempts. This contest features two fantasy-friendly players who are widely available.
Also, keep your eye on the Sunday night AFC showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars. Two veteran wide receivers in that matchup could post gaudy numbers.
We also sprinkled in a couple of rookies at running back and tight end.
As is the case every week, our eight fantasy football sleepers are available in more than 50 percent of leagues based on FantasyPros' consensus roster percentages.
QB Matthew Stafford vs. Washington Commanders (46 Percent Rostered)
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The Los Angeles Rams have scored at least 31 points in three consecutive games, and during that stretch, Matthew Stafford has thrown for 10 touchdowns and just one interception. Clearly, his production from the pocket has uplifted the Rams' scoring rate.
The Rams may have to rely heavily on Stafford's arm to keep pace with the Washington Commanders, who lead the NFL in pass attempts per game.
The Commanders also give up the most passing yards and touchdowns per contest, and they surrender the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
In a highly favorable matchup, Stafford can feast on a leaky pass defense with a hot hand. Because of Washington's aggressiveness on offense, Los Angeles may have to match that approach for a full competitive matchup.
This week, Stafford has QB1 appeal as nearly a must-start player. He's a viable replacement if you had to bench Justin Herbert (fractured finger).
QB Nick Mullens at Cincinnati Bengals (1 Percent Rostered)
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We're going deep into the free-agent pool for this sleeper to snag Nick Mullens.
On Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings named Mullens their starting quarterback for Week 15. Last week, he relieved Joshua Dobbs, whom the team benched in the fourth quarter, completing nine out of 13 passes for 83 yards.
In a full game, Mullens should be able to rack up yards against the Cincinnati Bengals' 27th-ranked pass defense. Also, Cincinnati gives up the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Furthermore, Mullens may get to throw passes to star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who exited during the second quarter of the Vikings' previous game with a chest injury. Head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters (via Ben Gosselin of the Minnesota Star Tribune) that Jefferson has a "good chance of playing" in Cincinnati.
Mullens hasn't started in a game since Week 15 of the 2021 campaign, but with impressive first-round wideout Jordan Addison, two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson and possibly Jefferson on the field, he has the playmakers to light up the Bengals' bottom-six pass defense.
RB Tyler Allgeier at Carolina Panthers (45 Percent Rostered)
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Even though Tyler Allgeier has taken a backseat to rookie first-round running back Bijan Robinson, he can still provide fantasy value in the flex spot against weak run defenses.
On Sunday, the Falcons will square off with the Carolina Panthers, which have allowed the most rushing touchdowns (21) and rank 22nd against the run.
Moreover, Carolina is tied for third in fantasy points allowed to running backs. Both Robinson and Allgeier could have a big day on the ground against the Panthers.
In all 13 of his appearances this season, Allgeier has logged at least seven carries, and he's had 10-plus rush attempts in seven of those outings.
Though Robinson will likely handle a lion's share of the touches out of Atlanta's backfield, Allgeier should garner enough of the rushing workload to rack up 50-plus yards and reach paydirt.
In Week 1 against the Panthers, Allgeier rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 19 yards.
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RB Tyjae Spears vs. Houston Texans (41 Percent Rostered)
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Though it's a bit shaky to trust rookie quarterback Will Levis as a sleeper in the fantasy playoffs—even after his 327-yard passing performance against the Miami Dolphins last Monday—managers should take a look at his emerging pass-catching running back.
Since Week 8, Levis has played in seven games, and in five of those outings, Tyjae Spears has caught at least three passes. In fact, over the past two weeks, the rookie running back has hauled in 10 passes for 102 yards while racking up 206 scrimmage yards.
Spears isn't just a change-of-pace ball-carrier behind Derrick Henry, he's a viable target in the short passing game with Levis under center.
Managers in PPR leagues can benefit from Spears' involvement in the Titans' passing game even if he doesn't rack up a ton of yards as a ball-carrier.
With that said, Spears averages 4.9 yards per carry, so he has the ability to break out for a big gain on the ground. Moreover, the Houston Texans have allowed the sixth-most rushing touchdowns (15) this season. We could see Henry and Spears each run for a score on Sunday.
WR Odell Beckham Jr. at Jacksonville Jaguars (47 Percent Rostered)
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Let's turn back the clock for a moment, because Odell Beckham Jr. has shown flashes of the New York Giants version of himself over the past few weeks. In his previous three outings, he averaged 82.3 receiving yards and caught at least three passes in each of those contests.
Last week against the Los Angeles Rams, Beckham scored his third touchdown of the season. He's reached paydirt in three of his past five games.
Beckham could continue to sip from the fountain of youth in a contest with the Jacksonville Jaguars' 31st-ranked pass defense.
In the past two weeks, Jacksonville has allowed 300-plus passing yards to Jake Browning and Joe Flacco. Lamar Jackson could have a strong passing performance, which would bode well for Beckham.
Remember, the Baltimore Ravens won't have All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews, who's on injured reserve, so Beckham should have a solid role in the aerial attack against a defense that's susceptible to big plays through the air.
WR Zay Jones vs. Baltimore Ravens (28 Percent Rostered)
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Last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars placed wide receiver Christian Kirk on injured reserve, which created opportunities for Zay Jones in the passing game.
In Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns, Jones led the Jaguars in targets (14), but he only hauled in five passes for 29 yards.
Despite Jones' inefficient outing against the Browns' No. 1-ranked pass defense, his projected target share draws too much appeal to pass up.
Yes, the Baltimore Ravens have a stingy pass defense that allows the fourth-fewest yards per game and the fewest touchdowns through the air, but Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns against that stiff unit in an overtime game last week.
With quarterback Trevor Lawrence under center, Jones has a shot to post notable fantasy numbers because of his target share. He's a WR3 or flex option in a week that's tough to find sleepers at wide receiver.
TE Logan Thomas at Los Angeles Rams (44 Percent Rostered)
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Logan Thomas comes with some risk. He only saw one target in his last appearance, and quarterback Sam Howell has a solid wide receiver trio with Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel.
Nonetheless, fantasy managers should take a chance with Thomas because of his advantageous matchup.
As explained above with our suggestion to start Matthew Stafford, the Washington Commanders often play at a fast pace with their pass-heavy offense. Because the Commanders lead the league in pass attempts, Thomas has a shot to rack up yards and score a touchdown in any given week, regardless of the game script.
On top of that, the Los Angeles Rams allow the third-most fantasy points to tight ends.
Currently third on the Commanders roster in receptions (45), Thomas could fill in adequately as a TE1 or flex option as a key contributor to Washington's 11th-ranked passing attack.
TE Tucker Kraft vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6 Percent Rostered)
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With rookie second-round tight end Luke Musgrave on injured reserve, fellow rookie tight end Tucker Kraft has slowly carved out a role in the Green Bay Packers' passing attack.
Over the past two weeks, Kraft has caught seven out of 10 targets for 101 yards. In three of the Packers' previous four contests, he's recorded a 19-plus-yard reception. Last Monday against the New York Giants, he logged career highs in receptions (four) and receiving yards (64).
As Kraft trends in the right direction in terms of production, he'll have a favorable matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which allow the 10th-most fantasy points to tight ends. The Buccaneers have allowed a tight end to score a touchdown in four of their past seven contests.
Though Packers wide receiver Christian Watson may return to action after he missed last Monday's game with a hamstring injury, Kraft should see enough targets to make an impact against a defense that's vulnerable to pass-catching tight ends. If Watson doesn't suit up, the rookie tight end may post new career highs in catches and receiving yards.
Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com for details.
Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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