Fantasy Football Week 15 Review
Cold weather, struggling signal-callers, and surging sleeper running backs defined the Sunday slate in Week 15.
All you need to know about the quarterback landscape is Drew Brees finally returned to his elite form for his fantasy investors and the New Orleans Saints, while the likes of Matt Moore of the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns' Robert Griffin III are among the top scorers at the positon for the slate in ESPN leagues.
This year, it appears the Green Bay Packers' Ty Montgomery is a waiver-wire back helping fuel title runs in fantasy football. "Monty" tallied 162 yards and two scores on the ground against the Chicago Bears, with a riveting 98 of them coming after initial contact.
We detail the significant performances and noteworthy news that defined the week in the NFL. Join us in canvassing the results of Week 15 with a specific eye on the fantasy football marketplace and as always, feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.
Star Signal-Callers
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Quarterbacks who deliver big box scores can heavily influence fantasy football matchups. We highlight the top quarterback performances of the slate.
It wasn't a very productive week behind center with Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Stafford combining for one touchdown, thus we needed big games from the skill spots to make up for these lackluster showings.
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
If Brees' owners could survive his lackluster past two performances, this Week 15 opus was the gift for enduring that down stretch. The peerless passer posted 389 yards and four scores and could have had an even bigger day with some late goal-line stands going to the ground. Back in the Superdome for a pivotal matchup with the Tampa Bay Bucs next week, Brees is an unquestioned QB1.
Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
The healthy implied point total and the choice matchup with the Saints inspired streaming interest in Palmer, as the veteran made good on this promise with his fifth multi-touchdown game in a row. We're fading shares of Palmer in Seattle next week.
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Luck completed 75 percent of his passes for two scores in a clean turnover-free outing and a crucial win on the road over the Minnesota Vikings. Luck heads to Oakland next to face a Raiders defense that proves inviting for shootouts and fantasy upside.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Despite not throwing a touchdown, it was a strong rebound outing for Prescott on Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Bucs, as he completed 88 percent of his passes and a franchise-record sixth rushing score in the outing. The Tony talk will quiet, for now.
Honorable Mention
Matt Ryan produced another steady statistical showing for the Atlanta Falcons, while Colin Kaepernick enjoyed somewhat clean numbers despite some ugly throws in the Georgia Dome.
Brilliant from the Backfield
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A run for glory in fantasy football often involves helpful production from your running backs.
Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
Freeman entered the week second only to the San Diego Chargers' Melvin Gordon in red-zone touches in home games, so he fittingly feasted on such usage in Week 15 with two touchdowns from in close in the first half and even delivered a brilliant 34-yard scamper in the second half. Freeman scored against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4 and is a fine RB1 asset given his rich role on the league's top offense.
LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills
Even as Mike Gillislee "vultured" an early score from the goal line, McCoy delivered a slate-shifting performance that ranks second behind only Freeman in fantasy points at the position in ESPN leagues. "Shady" has at least 130 yards from scrimmage or a score in six straight games. A visit from the Miami Dolphins in Week 16 proves encouraging given they've allowed the seventh-most yards per rush to backs this season.
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
This rare rookie netted another touchdown in Week 15, a career-high 159 rushing yards and is now just 258 yards shy of Eric Dickerson's 1983 rookie rushing record. The Cowboys' elite rookie is looking to secure a rushing title down the stretch after tallying a dominant game against the Tampa Bay Bucs with over 180 yards from scrimmage.
Ty Montgomery, Green Bay Packers
With 163 yards from scrimmage and two scores, this former receiver-turned-tailback has been brilliant when afforded a heavy workload this season. As the best big-play asset from the backfield for the Packers as they chase a playoff berth, Montgomery could continue to earn steady work going forward.
David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
Johnson set the single-season franchise record for scrimmage yardage and the league record for consecutive 100-yard scrimmage performances to start a season, per ESPN Stats & Info. The all-purpose superstar produced two touchdowns and satiated his investors yet again. While a visit to Seattle is rarely fun for fantasy purposes, we should remember Johnson netted 171 yards from scrimmage against the Seahawks earlier this year.
Honorable Mention
Chicago's Howard has been a rare bright spot for the Bears this season, as he has posted at least 99 total yards in seven straight games and is a fine RB1 option against a Washington Redskins front that has allowed nearly 4.5 yards per carry to tailbacks entering Monday night.
No one saw this one coming, as Ryan Mathews of the Philadelphia Eagles tallied a strong showing against a Baltimore Ravens team that entered the weak allowing the fewest yards in the AFC to tailbacks. Mathews has endured inconsistent usage throughout the season, but the gig could be his with injuries around him on the depth chart.
Winning Wideouts
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In an increasingly pass-happy NFL, it's vital to find receivers that can make a difference. We identify the top receiving mavens of the week.
Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints
Two huge first-half touchdowns led to the top score among wideouts in ESPN leagues this week, as Cooks' variant fantasy pattern was on full display in the best possible fashion on Sunday in Arizona. Cooks had produced 17 fantasy points over his previous four games and yet exploded for 30 in the desert. With a boom-or-bust asset like Cooks, we must simply embrace the variance.
Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
Of the receivers who played on Sunday, Jeffery delivered one of the top fantasy scores thanks to entering the end zone in his first game back from suspension. A seemingly lost season could give way to a strong finish for this big-play maven.
Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers
While he was kept out of the end zone for just the second time since Week 8, Nelson tallied his second-highest yardage output of the season and now has either a touchdown or at least 91 yards in eight straight games. The Minnesota Vikings' defense was blasted by the Indianapolis Colts' offense on Sunday and Nelson scored in his first meeting with the division rivals this season, suggesting he remains a must-start WR1 for Week 16.
Golden Tate, Detroit Lions
Another worthy inclusion despite lacking a touchdown on the day, Tate was gold in points-per-reception formats with a similar line to Nelson's. In a volume-driven role with nearly a quarter of the team's targets since Week 9, Tate is finally the high-floor receiving option we envisioned heading into the season.
Honorable Mention
The Arizona Cardinals' John Brown wasn't started in many leagues, but he merits consideration going forward as a key vertical threat with Michael Floyd's snaps and targets up for grabs. New York's Odell Beckham Jr. scored yet another touchdown for the Giants despite modest yardage numbers, and now has a league-leading 10 scores since Week 5.
The Oakland Raiders' Michael Crabtree, like Beckham, helped investors with a touchdown and mediocre metrics otherwise, but is in a top spot for Week 16 against a suspect Colts secondary. If Julio Jones is still ailing and misses Week 16, it's worth noting the Atlanta Falcons' Taylor Gabriel has scored six times since Week 8.
It's been a largely dormant season for DeAndre Hopkins, but Houston's superstar tallied an awesome 17 targets in Week 15 and could resurface as a productive asset with the team's shift to signal-caller Tom Savage.
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The Week's Top Tight Ends
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Tight end can be a frustrating position. Because these players often block in addition to running routes, there can be plenty of variance in production. That gives us reason to celebrate the top performances each week.
If we thought the receiver and quarterback marketplaces were rife with disappointing performances on Sunday, consider the top three tight ends for the week are Dion Sims of the Miami Dolphins, Charles Clay of the Buffalo Bills and Erik Swoope of Indianapolis Colts. These three players have a combined ownership of 10 percent in ESPN leagues.
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
Of the trusted sources at tight end, Rudolph was the rare asset to live up to his reputation with nearly 100 yards and eight receptions on the day. Sixth in yards and third in receptions among tight ends on the season, Rudolph is a high-floor option next week against a Green Bay Packers defense he scored on in their first meeting.
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
Ertz leads all tight ends with 34 catches over the past five weeks and only Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots has more targets since Week 11. The New York Giants have been stingy on defense, but we're still interested in starting Ertz in Week 16 given such rare and rewarding usage.
Ladarius Green, Pittsburgh Steelers
A head injury cut Green's day short, but with eight targets and 74 yards on the day, Green continued his surprising surge as a key weapon on the Steelers' passing offense. If he's cleared for Week 16, Green is a viable option against a Baltimore Ravens defense that just ceded 80 yards to Ertz.
Honorable Mention
The Houston Texans' Ryan Griffin has been productive in a secondary role to C.J. Fiedorowicz this season, and with Fiedorowicz sidelined in Week 15 we saw him thrive with a season-high 85 yards. If Fiedorowicz can't go next week, Griffin is a fine streaming option on a team that features the tight end between the painted numbers.
The Chargers' Hunter Henry has been a touchdown machine for San Diego, as his seven scores tops the position on the season. We don’t trust Henry's yardage floor, but a real-red zone rapport drives interest in deeper leagues. If Antonio Gates retires, Henry will surely be a rising asset in drafts next summer.
Buffalo's Clay has scored in consecutive games and next faces a Miami Dolphins defense that has yielded nearly 800 yards and seven scores to tight ends this season.
Decisive Defenses
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Defenses are a unique commodity each week, as matchups often drive value and ownership throughout the market. They are still pivotal and can sway outcomes, so we highlight the decisive groups of the Week 15 slate.
On Saturday night, we saw the Miami Dolphins' defense dominate the New York Jets, but for Sunday's top unit we celebrate the surprising Colts, as they sacked Sam Bradford five times and forced three turnovers against the Minnesota Vikings' inept offense.
The New England Patriots were surely started in far more leagues than the Colts, so they merit mention for allowing just three points and forcing three turnovers against the Broncos' offense in Denver.
The matchup-driven defenses such as the Bills and Atlanta Falcons at least returned value, but we didn't see many slate-shifting defensive performances on Sunday.
Waiver Watch: Top Pickups to Consider
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The following assets are available in at least 40 percent of ESPN leagues and can provide positive returns in the fantasy playoffs.
Dion Lewis, New England Patriots (Owned in 43.2 percent of ESPN leagues as of Sunday night)
The Patriots surprisingly featured Lewis from the jump in Week 15, as he earned 11 carries for 59 yards in the first half and played more snaps and earned more touches than LeGarrette Blount in the game, per Pro Football Focus. With a season-high 104 yards from scrimmage on the day, this could be a signal the team seeks more balance in the running game and the playmaking upside Lewis offers heading into the playoffs.
Ryan Griffin (2.98) or C.J. Fiedorowicz (39.0), Houston Texans
The Texans rely on their tight ends to move the chains in the passing phase, thus we'd want to deploy Fiedorowicz if he clears concussion protocol for the Week 16 matchup with a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has yielded the most yards to tight ends this season. If he can't suit up, Griffin becomes a valuable streaming option .
Ty Montgomery, Green Bay Packers (57.9)
This endorsement only applies to shallow 10-team formats, but the versatile Montgomery merits immediate trust at either running back or receiver—depending on your format's rules.
Paul Perkins, New York Giants (15.4)
For truly deep leagues, we might consider this elusive rookie for Week 16. On the field for 39.1 percent of the team's offensive snaps, the same total as Rashad Jennings, per Pro Football Focus, this talented rookie was much more elusive than his plodding veteran counterpart against the Detroit Lions today. As PFF notes, Perkins, "tallied 56 yards on 11 touches, with 32 of his yards coming after the catch," while Jennings mustered just 36 yards on 18 totes.
Robby Anderson, New York Jets (5.9)
A top-10 fantasy performance among receivers in ESPN scoring formats at with double-digit fantasy production in three straight, this undrafted Temple product has proven productive for the Jets. With game script expected to tilt pass-happy as sizable dogs to the Patriots in Week 16, Anderson is a nice addition in deeper leagues.
J.J. Nelson, Arizona Cardinals (10.0)
With 11 targets and a touchdown in Week 15, Nelson has four scores in his past three games and should continue to earn rewarding exposure going forward.
Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills (9.7)
Tight end is such a shallow and fickle fantasy position; thus we should consider the rising value Clay offers. Clay leads the Bills with 19 percent of the team's targets since Week 10 and faces a Miami team that proves middling in defending the position.
Tennessee Titans D/ST (15.5)
With one of the highest blitz rates in the NFL and a meeting with Blake Bortles and the sloppy Jacksonville Jaguars' offense in Week 16, the Titans are an intriguing streaming asset.
Data such as target share, defensive allowance, and drive rates sourced from an ESPN database.
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