B/R Fantasy Football's Game-by-Game Guide to Winning Week 15
In most fantasy football leagues, the playoffs have begun. And if you're reading this, you are most likely in them.
Making the playoffs is an accomplishment, but it's not the goal that was set back in the summer. The aim is to win a championship, and you still have to win a few more games to attain that.
At this time of year, every matchup is a tough one, every lineup decision is important and every fantasy point matters. Choosing one wide receiver over another can be the difference between moving on to the next round or being eliminated.
The point of this column is to provide fantasy managers with the information needed to keep their playoff run going. Here you'll find a game-by-game guide containing everything you need (coupled with our weekly Big Board) to earn a victory in Week 15: Injury news, players to start and sit, sleepers and stats to know.
Let's get this playoff party started.
Fantasy points allowed and scored data courtesy of My Fantasy League.
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
1 of 16
Key Injuries
It's already been something of a disappointing season for the Chargers, and it's now taken a turn for the disastrous. After fracturing the index finger on his throwing hand, quarterback Justin Herbert has undergone season-ending surgery, leaving Easton Stick as the team's starter moving forward.
Stick could be short on passing-game options as well. The team's wide receivers have already been ravaged by injuries, and now wide receiver Keenan Allen has been ruled out with a heel injury. Tight ends Gerald Everett (hip) and Donald Parham (shoulder) were also limited in practice.
Meanwhile, Raiders running back Josh Jacobs left last week's loss to Minnesota with a quad injury, and he's out Thursday as well. Star wideout Davante Adams is battling an illness, but he's expected to play.
Start of the Week
Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,500]: The Raiders offense was a total mess last week against the Vikings, but the Chargers' 29th-ranked pass defense should give Las Vegas an opportunity to get the passing game back on track. If Adams sits, Meyers' target share should be off the chain.
Sit of the Week
Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,100]: With Allen out, Palmer likely looks appealing to many fantasy managers. But he hasn't played in a month, will be catching passes from a backup quarterback and gets a bad fantasy matchup for wideouts with the Raiders.
Sleeper
Los Angeles Chargers Defense [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,200]: The Chargers are hardly the 1985 Chicago Bears, but the Raiders were shut out last week against the Minnesota Vikings, managed just 202 yards of offense and turned the ball over three times.
Stat to Know
25. Stick's career passing attempts. All but one of those came in last week's blowout loss to the Denver Broncos, where he completed just under 55 percent of his pass attempts for 179 yards without a touchdown or an interception. Between his insertion as starter and the Raiders' overall offensive ineptitude against Minnesota a week ago, this is a hard game for fantasy managers to get excited about.
Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals
2 of 16
Key Injuries
The Minnesota Vikings head to Cincinnati with a pair of potentially massive injuries.
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson made his return to the lineup last week just long enough to suffer a chest injury that landed him in a Las Vegas hospital. But he was listed as a limited participant in practice, so there's at least some hope he'll play Saturday.
The status of Alexander Mattison is a different story. The running back left last week's win over the Raiders with an ankle injury, and he has been ruled out of Saturday's game.
The Bengals have some issues of their own at wide receiver. Ja'Marr Chase is nursing an ankle injury and was limited Wednesday, but he's off the injury report. So is Tyler Boyd, who has been limited with an ankle problem of his own. Tight end Drew Sample was a late add, though--questionable with an illness.
Start of the Week
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,800]: After last week's offensive fiasco, trusting any Vikings pass-catcher isn't easy. But no team has allowed more fantasy points to tight ends this year than the Bengals.
Sit of the Week
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]: The Vikings pass defense is nothing for fantasy managers to fear, but Higgins has been a major disappointment in 2023. His last game with 10-plus PPR points was back on November 5.
Sleeper
Cincinnati Bengals Defense [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,600]: The Bengals have not been an especially productive fantasy defense, but given Minnesota's offensive struggles last week in Vegas, the Vikings could make just about any opposing defense look good.
Stat to Know
88.0. That's the career passer rating of Nick Mullens, who will start under center for the Vikings Saturday. He has completed over 65 percent of his passes with 27 career touchdowns against 23 interceptions while averaging about 206 passing yards per game. No one is going to confuse him with Patrick Mahomes, but he is a capable backup quarterback. So much for the Joshua Dobbs era in Minneapolis.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts
3 of 16
Key Injuries
Like so many of this week's games, Saturday's matchup between the Steelers and Colts features backup quarterbacks.
Gardner Minshew has been starting for Indianapolis for some time now, and with Kenny Pickett still dealing with an ankle injury, Mitchell Trubisky will draw another start for the Steelers.
Quarterback isn't the only position where the Steelers have issues. Running back Najee Harris missed practice time with a knee injury, but he's off the injury report.
The Colts will be down running back, however, as Jonathan Taylor is out due to a thumb injury.
Start of the Week
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]: Warren has outproduced Harris in fantasy points over the past month, and the Colts have surrendered the fourth-most PPR points to running backs this season.
Sit of the Week
Pittsburgh Steelers Defense [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,300]: T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith have cleared concussion protocol, but the Steelers offense also isn't doing the defense any favors, and injuries have hit at every level. They are a low-end streaming play at best.
Sleeper
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]: The Steelers need to get some kind of passing game going, and the Indianapolis Colts have surrendered the seventh-most PPR points to tight ends this season.
Stat to Know
6. The number of consecutive games in which Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has hauled in at least eight catches. Since Week 8, he has caught 53 passes and ranks fifth among all wide receivers in PPR points. Look for the 26-year-old to keep that momentum going against an average Steelers pass defense.
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Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions
4 of 16
Key Injuries
Well, this is refreshing. After the first three games of the week were littered with injured fantasy standouts, no fantasy-relevant players for the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions have made an appearance on the injury report outside Lions wideout Josh Reynolds, who is questionable with a back injury.
Start of the Week
David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]: The Denver defense has improved relative to earlier in the season, but there is still no team in the league that has allowed more PPR points to running backs in 2023.
Sit of the Week
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]: Williams had a good game last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, but he's facing a Lions run defense that ranks ninth against the run and 30th in PPR points allowed to running backs.
Sleeper
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,700]: Jeudy has been a major disappointment for fantasy managers in 2023, but the contract-year wideout draws a Lions defense this week that has surrendered the 10th-most PPR points to wide receivers this year.
Stat to Know
3,449. That's the number of passing yards Lions quarterback Jared Goff has—the sixth-most in the NFL. He also ranks sixth in completion percentage (66.9), eighth in touchdown passes (21) and eighth in passer rating (94.8). However, while Goff has been solid NFL-wise for the NFC North-leading Lions, he ranks just 14th in fantasy points among quarterbacks.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
5 of 16
Key Injuries
Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst has still not returned to practice after being diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia following a concussion. He has been in the concussion protocol for over a month now, and Friday the team placed Hurst on injured reserve.
The Falcons, on the other hand, enter Week 15 in relatively good shape. Their injury report doesn't include any players of note to fantasy managers.
Start of the Week
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,800]: Robinson has turned it up of late, posting the eighth-most PPR points per game among running backs the past month. The Panthers have given up the third-most PPR points to RBs this season.
Sit of the Week
Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,300]: Over the season's first month and a half, Thielen was a top-10 fantasy wideout. Since then, he has barely cracked the top 50. Add in the coverage of A.J. Terrell of the Falcons, and you get a hard pass.
Sleeper
Atlanta Falcons Defense [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,600]: The Falcons have been relatively solid defensively this season. The Panthers have not been solid offensively this season and have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to defenses.
Stat to Know
270.0. That's how many yards per game the Panthers have averaged this season, for 30th in the NFL. They haven't had much success scoring points this season, either. The New York Giants and New England Patriots are the only teams averaging less than the 15.2 points per game Carolina is scoring.
The Panthers have already fired their head coach, and it's fair to wonder if there's some buyer's remorse regarding passing on C.J. Stroud for Bryce Young. They need a lot of work offensively, which makes them a hard team for fantasy managers to rely on in the postseason.
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns
6 of 16
Key Injuries
The Cleveland Browns already lost starting running back Nick Chubb to an ACL tear earlier in the season, and now the players who replaced him are nicked up.
Kareem Hunt missed Wednesday's practice with a groin injury, and Jerome Ford hurt his wrist in last week's victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. But neither carries an injury designation into Sunday's game.
For the Bears, wide receiver D.J. Moore missed practice Wednesday with an ankle issue but was limited Thursday and Friday. He's on the right side of questionable.
Start of the Week
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,700]: Njoku found the end zone twice last week against the Jaguars, and he now gets a favorable matchup with a Bears team that has given up the fifth-most PPR points to tight ends this season.
Sit of the Week
Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]: Kmet has been solid for fantasy managers in 2023 and is sixth in points among tight ends for the season. The Browns have been a bad fantasy matchup for TEs, though. In fact, they have been the worst.
Sleeper
Elijah Moore, WR, Cleveland Browns [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]: The Bears are just an average matchup for wide receivers, and Amari Cooper is the unquestioned No. 1 receiver in Cleveland. But Moore still has the potential for a big game given the single coverage he'll see throughout the game.
Stat to Know
311. The number of passing yards Browns quarterback Joe Flacco threw for last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also tossed three touchdown passes and finished the week with more fantasy points than Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes. The 38-year-old isn't going to throw for 300 yards every week, but if he can provide the Browns with even competent quarterback play, it could be big for the fantasy value of players like Cooper and Njoku.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers
7 of 16
Key Injuries
The Green Bay Packers head into Week 15 with a couple of major injury questions. Running back Aaron Jones (knee) and wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) both missed last week's loss to the New York Giants and while Jones is questionable Watson is doubtful and unlikely to play.
Wide receiver Jayden Reed has also been limited in practice, and running back A.J. Dillon sat out Wednesday and Thursday before a limited practice Friday. He's questionable.
The visitors enter the matchup in better shape. The only big name on Tampa Bay's injury report is wide receiver Chris Godwin, who missed practice Wednesday and Thursday and is a game-time decision.
Start of the Week
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,300]: With Watson iffy to play, Doubs could serve as the Packers' No. 1 wide receiver. The Buccaneers' pass defense ranks 30th in the league in pass defense, allowing 264.1 yards per game.
Sit of the Week
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]: It's been a relatively quiet season for Godwin from a fantasy perspective, and a bottom-10 fantasy matchup with the Packers isn't likely to make things louder, especially considering he is nursing a knee issue.
Sleeper
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,900]: Reed has had his moments as a rookie in Titletown. He could add a few more Sunday against a Bucs team allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2023.
Stat to Know
218. Jordan Love's passing yardage total last week against the Giants. That was his lowest number of yards through the air since Week 6, and the first time since Week 9 that he hasn't thrown multiple touchdown passes. Since Week 9, he is sixth in fantasy points among quarterbacks, but last week's down outing is a reminder that there is some risk involved with starting the 25-year-old, even in what appears to be a favorable fantasy matchup.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
8 of 16
Key Injuries
As the Miami Dolphins try to shake off last week's collapse against the Tennessee Titans, they do so with three big names on the injury report.
Running backs Raheem Mostert (knee) and De'Von Achane (toe) and wide receiver Tyreek Hill (ankle) all missed practice Wednesday. Of the group, Hill is the most likely to sit Sunday after leaving Monday night's loss several times and missing practice all week., although Achane sat on Thursday as well before a limited practice on Friday.
The Jets have running back issues of their own, with Breece Hall limited in practice both days this week due to an ankle injury. He was off Friday's injury report though and will play.
Start of the Week
Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,100]: As good as the Jets are defensively, they have allowed the ninth-most PPR points to running backs. In the first meeting between the teams, Mostert carried the ball 20 times for 94 yards and two scores.
Sit of the Week
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,900]: Since Week 10, Tagovailoa is 21st in fantasy points among quarterbacks ahead of a matchup with a Jets team that ranks last in fantasy points given up to QBs this season.
Sleeper
Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,900]: Starting Wilson in a playoff game would take some guts, but he topped 300 passing yards last week against Houston and the Miami defense was just embarrassed by Titans quarterback Will Levis in Week 14.
Stat to Know
108. The number of receiving yards Jets wideout Garrett Wilson had last week against the Texans. That number was a season high, and Wilson also tied season bests in targets (14) and receptions (9). He only had 44 yards in the first meeting with Miami this season, but he did catch seven passes and score a touchdown in garbage time. He is on the WR2 radar for Week 15.
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
9 of 16
Key Injuries
The Saints have quite the list of banged-up players heading into Week 15. The biggest name is wide receiver Chris Olave, who is questionable after missed practices Wednesday and Thursday with a bad ankle. Fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed (thigh), tight end Taysom Hill (foot/hand) and running back Jamaal Williams (groin) were all limited in practice at some point in the week as well.
The Giants have already been blasted by injuries, but none of those are new. When the G-Men and "Tommy Cutlets" (best nickname ever) take the field Sunday it will be at full strength, relatively speaking.
Start of the Week
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,100]: Olave played through his injury a week ago, and assuming his does so again, it will be against a Giants defense that has allowed the third-most PPR points to wide receivers in 2023.
Sit of the Week
Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,300]: There's little chance fantasy managers have the backfield depth to seriously consider sitting Barkley, but the Saints have been a bottom-10 fantasy matchup for running backs this season. Temper your expectations.
Sleeper
Tommy DeVito, QB, New York Giants [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,000]: The Saints aren't an especially favorable fantasy matchup for quarterbacks, but DeVito has at least shown enough over the past few weeks to get on the "superflex" radar for Week 15.
Stat to Know
69. That's the number of sacks the Giants have allowed this season, which leads the NFL. To be fair, the G-Men didn't allow a single sack in Monday night's comeback win over the Packers, but they are still on pace to surrender the second-most sacks ever in a season. New York has also allowed the most fantasy points to team defenses this season, so the Saints are most assuredly on the streaming radar defensively in Week 15.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
10 of 16
Key Injuries
The Houston Texans lost wide receiver Nico Collins (calf) and quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) to injuries in the heavy defeat to the Jets last week. Neither practiced at all this week, and Stroud has been downgraded to doubtful.
It's not all bad news, though. Tight end Dalton Schultz was on the practice field Wednesday and is off the injury report, while wideout Noah Brown (knee) put in two limited practices and will more likely than not play.
Titans quarterback Will Levis was the hero of Monday's epic comeback against the Miami Dolphins, but he also appears to have tweaked his ankle. He has been limited in practice, but there has been nothing to indicate his Week 15 status is in jeopardy.
Start of the Week
Noah Brown, Houston Texans [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,000]: If Collins plays or Stroud doesn't, quite a bit of the shine comes off this play. But the Titans rank sixth this season in PPR points surrendered to the wide receiver position.
Sit of the Week
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,900]: The good news is that it looks like Schultz will be back out there Sunday. The bad news is it's just in time to face a Titans team allowing the second-fewest PPR points to the tight end position.
Sleeper
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,800]: Spears is coming off an excellent outing against the Dolphins with 118 total yards on 13 touches. As his role in the Titans offense grows, so does the rookie's fantasy value.
Stat to Know
91. The number of passing yards Stroud had in last week's lopsided loss to the Jets. The performance knocked him out of the passing yardage lead and the top five in fantasy points among quarterbacks. He needs 743 yards over the last month to tie Andrew Luck's rookie record for passing yards.
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots
11 of 16
Key Injuries
The Kansas City Chiefs have lost two straight for the first time since 2021, and it seems the team may be short of its lead running back in Week 15. Isiah Pacheco missed last week's loss to Buffalo with a shoulder injury and won't play in Week 15.
The Patriots are also short a running back, with Rhamondre Stevenson out with a sprained ankle. Additionally, New England's wide receiver room looks a lot like a hospital ward: Demario Douglas (concussion), DeVante Parker (knee) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) have all been limited in practice. Douglas cleared concussion protocol, but Parker and Smith Schuster are truly questionable.
Start of the Week
Rashee Rice, WR, New England Patriots [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]: Rice has emerged as the closest thing the Chiefs have to a No. 1 receiver, and the Patriots are easier to move the ball on through the air than on the ground.
Sit of the Week
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, New England Patriots [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,800]: Elliott fared well as New England's lead back last season, but much of that was based around a positive game script. The Pats racing out to another early lead is a lot less likely against the Chiefs.
Sleeper
Kansas City Chiefs Defense [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]: The Chiefs are a better defensive football team than many realize, and while the Patriots scored 21 points a week ago, they scored 13 points combined in the three games preceding that.
Stat to Know
25. That's where Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ranks among fantasy quarterbacks over the second half of the fantasy regular season. Kansas City's lack of wide receiver talent has decimated his fantasy value. He has fewer points per game over that span than the likes of Joshua Dobbs of the Minnesota Vikings, Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jake Browning of the Cincinnati Bengals.
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
12 of 16
Key Injuries
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown missed practice Wednesday with the heel injury that sidelined him against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13 before a limited return on Thursday. Fellow wideout Michael Wilson (neck) has practiced in a limited fashion after a multi-game absence, and both are questionable.
The San Francisco 49ers are the NFL's hottest team, in part because they are healthy. The only offensive injury of note is running back Elijah Mitchell, who will sit once again with a knee injury.
Start of the Week
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,800]: Purdy has quietly become not just a viable fantasy starter but also a high-end one. The Cardinals have surrendered the ninth most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2023.
Sit of the Week
Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]: McBride has become a significant part of the Cardinals offense in recent weeks. But another big week won't be easy against San Francisco, which ranks 29th in PPR points given up to tight ends this season.
Sleeper
Greg Dortch, WR, Arizona Cardinals [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,100]: With Brown and Wilson both looking iffy to play in Week 15, Dortch could see a robust target share in a top-10 fantasy matchup for wide receivers and a game where the Redbirds will all but certainly be playing from behind.
Stat to Know
382. The number of total yards 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has amassed over his recent three-game rampage. He has also scored at least one touchdown in all three games and six overall. Over that three-game stretch, he is the highest-scoring wide receiver in fantasy football by a wide margin, and with an above-average matchup forthcoming with the Cardinals, his blazing hot streak has a good shot of hitting a fourth week.
Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Rams
13 of 16
Key Injuries
When the Washington Commanders travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams, it will be without No. 1 running back Brian Robinson Jr., who is out this week with a strained hamstring. Antonio Gibson will serve as the team's No. 1 running back.
The Los Angeles Rams have a couple injuries of their own on offense, but they don't appear to be serious. Wide receiver Tutu Atwell is in the NFL's concussion protocol and is questionable, while tight end Tyler Higbee also missed practice time.
Start of the Week
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]: Stafford ranks just inside the top-20 quarterbacks for the season in points per game, but a Commanders defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to QBs tends to make every opposing signal-caller look like a star.
Sit of the Week
Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]: Whether it's Robinson or Antonio Gibson who serves as lead back for the Commanders this week, it will be against a Rams defense surrendering the sixth-fewest PPR points to RBs in 2023.
Sleeper
Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,600]: Samuel hasn't been a world-beater, but he's been exponentially more productive than Jahan Dotson and has posted double-digit PPR points in back-to-back games.
Stat to Know
46. The highest ranking of any Commanders wide receiver (Terry McLaurin) in PPR points per game, despite the fact that Washington quarterback Sam Howell ranks fifth in the league in passing yards. Terry McLaurin and Dotson have both been major fantasy disappointments, while Samuel has been about what we expected—a marginal WR3 or flex starter.
Dallas Cowboys at Buffalo Bills
14 of 16
Key Injuries
Sunday's meeting between the Cowboys and Bills is one of the biggest matchups of Week 15, and both teams are relatively intact offensively.
The only injury of note is Buffalo tight end Dalton Kincaid, who was limited in practice to start the week with shoulder and thumb issues. Cowboys wideout Brandin Cooks sat Thursday and Friday with an illness, but those rarely actually cause missed games.
Start of the Week
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys [DraftKings DFS Value: $8,000]: There are no easy fantasy matchups for the players in this game, and points will have to be earned. But Prescott has been so hot over the second half of the season that even a bad matchup on the road isn't that big a deal.
Sit of the Week
James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,300]: Cook had a huge game last week against the Chiefs, sailing past 100 total yards with a touchdown. But the Cowboys are dead-last in PPR points given up to running backs this season, so an encore is unlikely.
Sleeper
Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,300]: Gallup took advantage of single coverage against the Eagles last week, catching three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. Who's up for a second straight week of a dozen-plus PPR fantasy points?
Stat to Know
2. That's how many interceptions Prescott has thrown since returning from the bye week in Week 8. During that same stretch, he has tossed 22 touchdown passes, eclipsed 300 passing yards in a game four times and hasn't had a passer rating of less than 95 in a game. Since Week 8, he is fantasy's No. 1 quarterback by a margin of almost 40 fantasy points. There's growing MVP buzz surrounding the Dallas star, and he'll be the MVP of a few fantasy squads if he maintains this level of play.
Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
15 of 16
Key Injuries
The Baltimore Ravens head to Jacksonville with the best record in the AFC. They also have a relatively healthy offense with no fantasy-relevant players on the injury report.
The reeling Jaguars aren't so fortunate. Wide receiver Christian Kirk landed on injured reserve with a core muscle injury. Fellow wideout Zay Jones has been dealing with a knee issue most of the season and was limited in practice, as were running back Travis Etienne (ribs) and understudy D'Ernest Johnson (knee). Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has an ankle problem. But outside KIrk, all have been removed from Week 15's injury report.
It's all hands on deck.
Start of the Week
Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,700]: Likely had a big game last week against the Rams, catching five passes for 83 yards and a score. The Jaguars have allowed the eighth-most PPR points to tight ends this year.
Sit of the Week
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,600]: Credit to Lawrence for gutting through his injury, but he tossed three interceptions last week and draws a bottom-three fantasy matchup for quarterbacks with a Ravens defense that leads the league in sacks.
Sleeper
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Baltimore Ravens [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,000]: Beckham tied for the team lead in targets last week, topped 90 yards and scored a touchdown. The Jaguars have given up the seventh-most PPR points per game to wide receivers.
Stat to Know
644. The number of rushing yards Lamar Jackson has this season. Not surprisingly, that leads all quarterbacks, but his 49.5 yards per game on the ground is his lowest per-game total since his rookie year. Still, after 316 passing yards and 70 rushing yards last week, he has moved his way into the top five fantasy signal-callers for the season, and only two teams have given up more fantasy points to quarterbacks than the Jaguars this year.
Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks
16 of 16
Key Injuries
After getting tubthumped by the San Francisco 49ers and then the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles have problems. But those problems are not injury-related. Philly is relatively healthy at the offensive skill positions.
If the Eagles have issues, then the Seahawks are in mid-disaster as losers of five of six. They also may be without quarterback Geno Smith for a second straight game. His groin injury leaves him questionable for Monday night, although he got in a limited practice Thursday and Friday.
Start of the Week
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]: Lockett had one of his best games of the season last week with Drew Lock at quarterback. No team in the NFL has allowed more PPR points to wide receivers than the Eagles.
Sit of the Week
Kenneth Walker, RB, Seattle Seahawks [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]: Walker and Zach Charbonnet split the backfield touches almost evenly. But whoever is toting the rock for the Seahawks will find tough sledding against an Eagles defense giving up the fourth-fewest PPR points to running backs in 2023.
Sleeper
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,200]: Smith-Njigba has had an up-and-down first NFL season, but he is headed into the best fantasy matchup for wide receivers. He has been targeted 18 times over his last two games.
Stat to Know
132. That's how many rushing yards Eagles running back D'Andre Swift has had over the last three games combined. But he has been effective on the whole in his first year with the Eagles, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and needs just 178 yards on the ground to hit 1,000 for the first time in his career. The Seahawks are 23rd in the league in run defense and have given up the fifth-most PPR points to running backs, so this smacks of a "get right" spot for Swift—just when fantasy managers need it most.
Eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings.com for details.
Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter, @IDPSharks.
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