Fantasy Fallout: Week 15

By: Billy Gabelman (StatATL) and Mike Johnson (Mjohnson86)

Welcome to the Monday edition of the Daily Dose newsletter, our “Fantasy Fallout” day. In this article, you will get a quick rundown of the relevant things we learned from the week’s games from Thursday through Sunday. 

We won’t talk about every single player and we usually won’t spend time on studs who go nuts (no one needs to be told to start Saquon Barkley right now!), but rather, the idea is to update you on usage trends, injuries, and other relevant things to help your decisions with your teams.

Rams at 49ers

• A week after winning the highest-scoring game of the season, the Rams squeaked out a 12-6 victory in the only game of 2024 without a touchdown.

• Kyren Williams completely dominated the backfield, turning 31 touches into 112 total yards. Blake Corum only saw three carries to go along with two receptions and remains strictly a handcuff.

• Puka Nacua led the team in receiving yards for the sixth straight game. He has 97 or more yards in six of the last eight games and should continue to be started no matter the matchup. 

• Isaac Guerendo turned 20 touches into 75 total yards. In what appears to be a lost season for the 49ers, I would expect the rookie RB to continue to see extensive usage. 

Commanders at Saints

• After getting out to a 17-0 lead, the Commanders had to stop a potential game-winning two point conversion as time expired to hold on to a 20-19 victory in New Orleans.

• Alvin Kamara left the game in the second half with a groin injury and did not return. A situation to monitor. Kendre Miller would likely handle a massive workload if Kamara were to miss time.

• Jayden Daniels threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns, both to Terry McLaurin. He also led the team in rushing with 66 yards. 

• Brian Robinson dominated the backfield with Austin Ekeler inactive, but he only converted 24 touches into 87 total yards.

Chiefs at Browns

• Patrick Mahomes left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. A situation to monitor.

• Nick Chubb was injured and was diagnosed with a broken foot. His season is likely over. Jerome Ford should resume a borderline workhorse role moving forward. He’s a priority waiver add for any playoff teams.

• The Browns were a turnover machine, with Jameis Winston throwing three interceptions to go along with the team also fumbling twice. Winston was pulled in the third quarter for Dorian Thompson-Robinson. 

• Xavier Worthy saw 11 targets, and along with 46 receiving yards, had 30 yards rushing and a TD. It’s his first game with more than eight targets all season.

Bengals at Titans

• Joe Burrow threw for 271 yards and three TDs as the Bengals topped the Titans, 37-27. Ja’Marr Chase led the Bengals with 94 yards on nine receptions.

• Chase Brown continued his dominance of the Cincy backfield, turning 25 carries into 97 rushing yards and a TD to go along with 16 receiving yards and a receiving TD. 

• Titans RB Tony Pollard scored an early touchdown then didn’t add much else. Meanwhile, his backup (Tyjae Spears) had a massive game with a touchdown on the ground and through the air. Pollard was noticeably limping on his injured foot, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the team shuts him down in the next week or two. 

Dolphins at Texans

• The Texans’ offense struggled, but C.J. Stroud threw two TDs to Nico Collins as Houston beat Miami, 20-12. No one else for the Texans put up a very good game for fantasy purposes in a spot that disappointed.

• Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle suffered a knee injury in the first half and did not return. With Miami’s season on life support, we shouldn’t expect the Dolphins to rush Waddle back.

• Tyreek Hill was shut down by corner Derek Stingley, ending the game with only two receptions for 36 yards.

Ravens at Giants

• Lamar Jackson tied his career high by throwing five TDs as the Ravens walloped the Giants, 35-14. He also added 65 yards rushing. TE Mark Andrews and WR Rashod Bateman were the main beneficiaries, although Jackson only threw 25 passes, which limited the overall volume available.

• Tommy DeVito suffered a concussion and was replaced by Tim Boyle. 

• Malik Nabers caught 10 passes for 82 yards and a TD, continuing the strong run of WR1 performances against the Ravens’ secondary. 

Jets at Jaguars

• Aaron Rodgers threw for 289 yards and three TDs to go along with 45 yards rushing as the Jets defeated the Jaguars, 32-25. 

• Davante Adams exploded for 198 receiving yards and two TDs on 12 targets. He has been Rodgers' preferred target most weeks. 

• With Evan Engram out, Brian Thomas Jr. saw 14 targets and turned them into 105 yards and two TDs. Even with Mac Jones at the helm, he’s a viable starter at WR. Second year TE Brenton Strange also had a big game and could have a strong finish with Evan Engram’s season over. 

Cowboys at Panthers

• CeeDee Lamb had nine catches for 114 yards and a TD as the Cowboys defeated the Panthers, 30-14. Cooper Rush had two other passing TDs, setting a career high with three TDs.

• Rico Dowdle ran for a career high 149 yards, his third straight game with over 100 yards rushing. He is a locked-in starter.

• Panthers rookie WR Xavier Legette suffered a groin injury in the third quarter and did not return. Jalen Coker, who went for 110 yards and a TD, would likely be the biggest benefactor if Legette were to miss time. 

Buccaneers at Chargers

• Bucs RB Bucky Irving was able to play after struggling to get on the practice field this week. He looked good, rushing for over 100 yards, while splitting work once again with Rachaad White. Both players are worth a start next week against the Cowboys.

• Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans had a massive game against a previously stout Chargers secondary. You’re probably starting both of them every week no matter what, but rookie Jalen McMillan had his second consecutive very strong game and is emerging as a legitimate weekly Flex option.

• Justin Herbert had a nice game and connected with Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston for touchdowns. The running game struggled once again. Next week, the Chargers face the Broncos, which will be a tough matchup for everyone and McConkey is probably the only player you’ll consider starting.

Colts at Broncos

• Colts RB Jonathan Taylor dropped what should have been a walk-in 41-yard TD at the one-yard line to flip the momentum of the game, summing up the season of anyone invested in the Colts’ offense for fantasy football purposes.

• QB Anthony Richardson struggled against the Broncos’ defense, as expected, but has favorable matchups left with the Titans, Giants, and Jaguars. Still hard to trust any Colts pass catchers with Richardson under center, however.

• The Broncos scored 31 points while gaining under 200 yards of total offense, an impressive and difficult feat. No one on Denver was helpful for fantasy this week, and next week against the Chargers, you’ll probably only want to consider WR Courtland Sutton as a potential starter.

Patriots at Cardinals 

• New England QB Drake Maye posted 18+ fantasy points for the seventh time in nine starts, once again feasting in garbage time. He should have plenty of that available next week when they travel to Buffalo.

• The Patriots struggle to sustain drives, which limits play volume and chances for their talent-deficient skill players to accumulate points. Hard to trust anyone here.

• Cardinals rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. was shut down by Patriots star CB Christian Gonzalez. Harrison is a strong bounce-back candidate the next two weeks against the Panthers and Rams.

• Arizona controls its own destiny, and if the Cardinals can win their last three games against the Panthers, Rams, and 49ers, they are likely going to win their division.

Bills at Lions

• Buffalo QB Josh Allen went nuts once again, while his WRs and TEs didn’t do much in this one. There are just a lot of mouths to feed even when there is a lot of production to go around.

• Bills RB James Cook had a massive game with over 130 total yards and two TDs. Backup RBs Ty Johnson and Ray Davis also got in the action, however, as Cook played on only 41% of the snaps.

• Everyone for the Lions posted a strong game in this one except David Montgomery, who was diagnosed with an MCL injury Monday and will be undergoing further testing. The Detroit defense is decimated by injuries and we could see more shootouts to end the season against the Bears, 49ers, and Vikings.

Steelers at Eagles

• The Steelers’ offense was not able to get anything going without their “alpha” WR, George Pickens while facing an elite Eagles defense. Philly gets to put the clamps on the Commanders next week, while Pittsburgh will hope to get Pickens back for a showdown with the Ravens on Saturday.

• Philadelphia took the chains off their passing game as Jalen Hurts attempted more than 28 passes for the first time since September. DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown both had big games, while Brown suffered an ankle injury late in the game of unknown severity.

Packers at Seahawks

• Green Bay RB Josh Jacobs continued to be a dominant force as the Packers controlled this game from start to finish while leaning heavily on him. Jacobs is a no-doubt RB1 every week and has an incredible matchup next week against the Saints.

• Jordan Love had another solid game but hasn’t been pushed to a big performance in quite some time. Packers WR Romeo Doubs caught both of Love’s TD passes, but guessing the Packers receiving options weekly is going to continue to be tough with volume limited and a lot of players splitting time.

• Seattle RB Zach Charbonnet had another solid game filling in for Kenneth Walker III. Next week is a tough matchup with the Vikings’ elite run defense, and if Walker is back and they are splitting up the workload, it will be tough to trust either RB.

• Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba had another big game, but the Seattle passing game as a whole struggled mightily. They were unable to get much going early and QB Geno Smith left in the second half with a leg injury. Sam Howell came in to replace him and looked rough. Things could get ugly for this offense if Geno has to miss time.

Join us Tuesday for Week 16 Waiver Targets!