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I do want to let you guys know that there will not be a Primer in Week 17, though I’ll be around on Twitter (@MikeTagliereNFL) to answer questions that week. With that being said, there will be Primers for the NFL Playoffs, which will be focus on DFS-only for obvious reasons. So even when the regular season ends, you’ll have fantasy football in your life.

Expert picks for your college football bowl pool

For those of you who are new here, welcome. As for what you can expect… Numbers, facts, stats, opinions, and some shenanigans here and there. In reality, it’s a place you can come to read about any fantasy relevant player with a non-biased opinion. The idea is to give you as much confidence as possible when hitting that ‘submit lineup’ button. With that, let’s talk Week 15.

Jump to specific game:

Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts

Total: 41.0
Line: DEN by 2.0

QBs
Trevor Siemian: This is going to be tough for me, as I trusted Siemian in a cash-game DFS lineup a few weeks ago against the Dolphins where he completely busted. Knowing he has an amazing matchup against the Colts in Week 15, we must re-visit the possibility of him being a streaming option, because, after all, every week is different. The Colts have lost their top three cornerbacks from the start of the season, as well as their starting free safety, leaving them extremely thin in the secondary. The Broncos have tried to revive their run-game over the last two weeks, totaling 52 carries against the Jets and Dolphins, though it’s amounted to just 158 yards and one touchdown (by their fullback). They’ll need to Siemian to move the ball in order to win and they couldn’t have asked for a better opponent. Consider Siemian a solid QB2 and one that can be streamed if you’re in a pinch. Outside of their snow game last week, the Colts have allowed 10-of-13 quarterbacks finish top-15 against them, including at least one passing touchdown in each of their games.

Jacoby Brissett: There were times during the year where Brissett had the look of someone who may be able to find work in the NFL, but he’s regressed as the year’s gone on. It’s not all on him, though, as his offensive line isn’t great, run game is boring, and his wide receivers have been extremely inconsistent. He’s now completed less than 60 percent of his passes in six of his last eight games, which is far from ideal. He’s also thrown just two touchdown passes the last three weeks, which included a zero-touchdown performance against the Titans. The Broncos matchup is better than it was originally expected, as they’ve allowed multiple touchdown passes in 9-of-13 games this year, though they held the Jets to zero in Week 14. You don’t want to stream Brissett in this game, as there are other options who are better, including the quarterback on the other sideline of this game.

RBs
C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker: The Broncos appear set on giving the ball to Anderson once again, as he’s now totaled 37 carries over the last two weeks, including another nine targets and six receptions for 68 yards. He hasn’t scored over the last three weeks, but should find himself in scoring opportunities against the Colts, who have now allowed 11 rushing touchdowns to running backs this year. Seeing his increased usage in the passing game is great, and he can be considered a stable RB3 this week. Booker has totaled just 11 carries in those two games, while catching three passes, meaning you can safely ignore him unless something were to happen to Anderson.

Frank Gore and Marlon Mack: In a game where they ran the ball 43 times, Gore got 36 of the carries. I’m semi-sure at this point that the Colts aren’t going to hand the keys to Mack this season, even if it is the right thing to do. Against the Broncos, it doesn’t matter all that much, as you won’t want to play either of them. On the year, they’ve allowed just 3.37 yards per carry and six touchdowns to opposing running backs. They have allowed six receiving touchdowns to running backs this year, but the Colts running backs have combined for just one receiving touchdown all year, and that came way back in Week 8 (Mack). Gore is likely going to get you 45-60 yards on the ground and another 10-20 through the air, but not much more, making him a low-end RB3/high-end RB4 with low upside. Mack is always going to offer lightning in a bottle, but he’s not someone you want to play.

WRs
Demaryius Thomas: He scored a touchdown with a quarterback not named Brock Osweiler! Rejoice, Thomas owners! But seriously, he hadn’t scored with a non-Osweiler quarterback since Week 10 of last year. The Colts don’t have a cornerback near the talent level of Thomas, as they are left trotting out an all-rookie squad of Quincy Wilson, Kenny Moore, and Nate Hairston. We didn’t get to see them perform much in Week 14 because of the snow, but even Kelvin Benjamin was able to make a fantasy impact. The prior week, they allowed the combination of Marqise Lee, Dede Westbrook, and Keelan Cole combine for 213 yards and two touchdowns. With Emmanuel Sanders at less-than-100-percent, Thomas has the looks of an ultra-safe WR2. You can consider him for cash-game and tournament lineups this week, though I’d prefer cash.

Emmanuel Sanders: It’s now been four weeks in a row where Sanders has turned in 16 yards or less. We knew that there would be a dip in his production at his advanced age (almost 31), but this likely has a lot more to do with his ankle injury that caused him to miss a game nearly two months ago. He may have just come back too soon, and it’s limited his production. Whatever the case, you can’t start him with much confidence, but if there were a week to be optimistic, this is it. As mentioned in the Thomas paragraph, the Colts are trotting out an all-rookie secondary. He’s a high-risk/high-reward WR4 and one that I’d likely give the edge to if you’re choosing a player in his tier. He’s not in play for cash in DFS this week, but is a solid tournament option that’ll be lower-owned than usual.

T.Y. Hilton: Whether it was a snow game or not, Hilton wasn’t going to play well last week. He’s returning home this week, which is a good thing, as he’s played better in the dome, but his matchup isn’t very good. Hilton plays out of the slot roughly 40 percent of the time, which will match him up with Chris Harris Jr., one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Another 40 percent of his snaps are run at RWR, which is where Aqib Talib lives, so he’s going to have it tough regardless. Fortunately, he’s the type of player who needs just one big play (as he did against the Jaguars) to pay off in lineups, making him a boom-or-bust WR3.

TEs
Austin Traylor: He led the team in snaps once again last week, but didn’t see a single target. Feel free to avoid all Broncos tight ends, because if even if they do score a touchdown, that’s likely to be all they do. The Colts have allowed just one top-10 tight end all season, so it’s not a matchup we target anyway.

Jack Doyle: It was good to see Doyle provide any sort of value last week with that snow storm that was the worst we’ve seen in a while. It’s been a weird season for Doyle, as he’s provided more value than anyone could’ve imagined without Andrew Luck, as he sits as the No. 12 tight end in standard leagues and No. 8 in PPR leagues. The Broncos have allowed the most passing touchdowns in the NFL (26) and eight of them have gone to tight ends, which is the second-most in the NFL. With Hilton matched up against Harris Jr. and Talib, it’s fair to wonder if those targets funnel to Doyle. There have been eight different tight ends who have finished as the TE13 or better against the Broncos and it’s very likely that Doyle is the next one to make the TE1 list. Consider him a relatively safe TE1 in season-long leagues, and someone who can be considered in DFS cash-games. As is the case with most tight ends, if you are willing to use him in cash, he’s got tournament appeal as well.

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (Saturday Game)

Total: 43.5
Line: DET by 6.5

QBs
Mitch Trubisky: Apparently oddsmakers don’t have much faith in the Bears offense repeating what they did in Week 14 against the Bengals. Trubisky had his best game of the year and it was an extension of what he did in Week 13 against the 49ers. Over the last two weeks, he’s completed 37-of-47 attempts (78.7 percent) for 373 yards (7.9 yards per attempt) and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Granted, those matchups were against subpar opponents, but it’s good for his confidence as the year goes on. The Lions have been a good matchup for quarterbacks ever since their bye in Week 7, as all seven quarterbacks to play them since then have totaled at least 14.5 fantasy points, which did include Trubisky in Week 11. He hasn’t run as much over the last three weeks, but knowing he has the ability is good for his fantasy floor. This game being played in a dome is great this time of the year, as it provides safety from weather concerns. Knowing how high the floor has been against the Lions, Trubisky can safely be used in 2QB formats, though I’d be hesitant about using him in standard 1QB leagues, as the Lions have allowed tons of points on the ground as of late. It’s always a possibility that the Bears have him throw just 15-20 attempts.

Matthew Stafford: The last time he played against the Bears, Stafford was in comeback mode after the Bears jumped out to an early lead, which led to him throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He struggled against a similar Bears team in 2016, which does concern me, but not enough to knock Stafford out of QB1 territory. He’s now thrown for at least 292 yards in six of his last eight games, with multiple touchdowns in four of his last six games. His hand appeared to be okay against the Bucs last week, though he did have a few errant passes. The Bears have allowed just four quarterbacks to score more than 14 fantasy points against them, but Stafford was one of them, and that came while he was on the road. At home, with little help from the run-game, he’s a low-end QB1. He’s not someone I’d use for cash-games, and though he’s not out of the question for tournament lineups, I’d limit my exposure to him in this divisional matchup.

RBs
Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen: So, John Fox learned in Week 14 that he could use both Howard and Cohen in the same game? They both played well, as Cohen had a touchdown overturned by penalty, and another one where he was tackled at the one yard-line, though it was Howard who reaped the benefits. Since losing Haloti Ngata for the year in Week 5, the Lions have struggled to defend the run, allowing 983 yards on 205 carries (4.80 YPC) with 11 touchdowns in the eight games without him. There are zero doubts in my mind that Howard can torch this defense as he did for 125 yards and a touchdown in Week 11, but the only concern is that the Lions jump out early and force the Bears to throw the ball from behind, which would all but kill Howard’s value. We can’t anticipate that in a divisional game, so Howard is on the board as an RB1 and one that you can play in tournaments. I’d try to avoid in cash, simply because he has everything going against him as a road underdog on a low-scoring offense. Cohen is the wildcard, as Fox has refused to use him in an extensive role, as he’s failed to play 20 snaps in back-to-back games since way back in Weeks 2 and 3. Because of that, he’s just a high-risk RB4, but one that I’d play over most in his territory.

Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick: At this point, I don’t know if the Lions even activate Abdullah for this game. Throughout the last two weeks, the combination of Riddick and Tion Green have filled the void, scoring a combined four touchdowns, though the yardage has left something to be desired. The Bears are an above-average run defense that has yet to allow a running back total 100 yards on the ground. It’s not like we’re expecting that out of any Lions player, but it’s worth mentioning. The Bears have also held running backs to just 501 yards and one touchdown through the air this year, which is among the lower totals in the league, as that amounts to just 38.5 yards per game. If Abdullah suits up, consider him an RB3 for this game. If not, Riddick is a must-play RB3 who moves into RB2 territory in PPR leagues. Even if Abdullah plays, Riddick is in play as a flex-option. Neither is one I’d use extensively in DFS.

WRs
Dontrelle Inman: It was odd to see Inman not be involved in the offensive barrage that took place in Week 14, but he was covered by William Jackson the majority of the time, the up-and-coming top cornerback for the Bengals. Whatever the case, we’ll take it as an outlier in what’s been a pretty consistent stream of targets for the Bears top wide receiver. The Lions are likely to have Darius Slay cover him this weekend, which isn’t a much greater experience. The last time these two teams played, Inman finished with three catches for 43 yards on six targets. That’s not what you’re looking for as a fantasy owner, making Inman an unattractive WR4/WR5-type option this week and not one that you should want to play, even in DFS tournaments.

Kendall Wright: We’ve always known the talent was there with Wright, the former first-round pick, but it’s been awfully inconsistent throughout his time in the league. As for his time with the Bears, his inconsistency stems from his snap counts that have ranged from 21 to 76 percent, though his average is 58 percent. He’s been playing more as of late, and that’s likely why you’ve seen Trubisky take a step forward in his career as a passer, as Wright has NFL talent. He’s got the best matchup on the field for the Bears against Quandre Diggs in the slot, but I’m not going to trust him after one big game. He’s just a risky WR4/WR5 who can finish with two targets at any time.

Marvin Jones: His four targets in Week 14 was just the second time he’s seen fewer than seven targets since back in Week 5, so don’t overreact about last week’s performance. Stafford may have been checking down more with his hand the way it was, leading to fewer targets for Jones and more for Tate. The last time they played the Bears, he snagged 85 yards and a touchdown against Kyle Fuller, who the Bears trust in man coverage a majority of the time. Because of that, I’m not worried about Jones in Week 15, as Stafford will chuck it up to him if he’s one-on-one. It’s why he’s caught eight touchdowns this year. The Bears haven’t allowed a ton of yardage to wide receivers (just one has reached 100 yards – Antonio Brown), but they have allowed 11 touchdowns to them through 13 games. Jones is a solid WR3 play this week and one that I wouldn’t shy away from in tournaments.

Golden Tate: After a lull in production, Tate has bounced back the last two weeks, catching eight passes in each game, including a touchdown last week. The Bears have defended the slot very well this year, and Tate felt the effects of that last time they played when he totaled just three catches for 32 yards. The Bears also got Bryce Callahan back last week, who had been out since Week 8, and he’s going to be asked to cover Tate the majority of time. On the year, he’s allowed just a 59 percent catch rate in coverage, which is great for a slot cornerback, though he has allowed two touchdowns in his coverage. Knowing everything and that Tate is the type of player who can overcome a tough matchup, he’s playable as a WR3, though not one who I’d overexpose myself to in DFS.

TEs
Adam Shaheen: It was really idiotic to see the Bears not use Shaheen in a bigger role when Zach Miller went down for the year, as Shaheen played just 26 total snaps in Weeks 12 and 13 combined. He was trending down, too, as he played just nine snaps in the Week 13 game. But then Fox realized that he offers something to his young quarterback who has limited options to pass to… who would have thought you should put a pass-catching 6-foot-6, 270-pound athletic freak on the field? You’ve been Fox’d. Knowing the volatility of his snap counts is terrifying for streamers, but the matchup against the Lions is a good one. Over the last four weeks, they’ve allowed Shaheen 4/41/1, Kyle Rudolph 4/63/2, Ben Watson 3/24/1, and then O.J. Howard 4/54/1, which amounts to five tight end touchdowns. Shaheen is on the streaming radar, knowing that Inman will likely be covered by Slay all day. He comes with tons of risk – like one target risk – just know that going in.

Eric Ebron: What is happening in the world when Ebron catches 10 passes in a single game? There’d been just one time he caught more than four passes this year, though we have started to see more consistency out of him. He’s now totaled at least 34 yards in each of the seven games since their bye week, though he was missing the breakout game. He didn’t score, but I’d consider that a breakout game for a tight end. The Bears haven’t been a matchup to target for tight ends, as there’ve been just three tight ends to score more than 4.9 fantasy points against them all year. Ebron totaled 4/49/0 the last time they played, which is a good thing for him to aim for in Week 15. He’s got a growing role, but the matchup isn’t good enough to get him into the TE1 range. He’s a high-floor TE2, and one who I’d consider him in a few tournament lineups.

Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (Saturday Game)

Total: 46.0
Line: KC by 1.0

QBs
Philip Rivers: This is going to be a great test for Rivers and the Chargers offense in order to make sure things are different than they’ve been in years past. What do I mean by that? Rivers has choked against the Chiefs for three straight years. Here are his passing yards and touchdowns from each of their last seven games: 237/0, 269/2, 243/1, 263/0, 178/0, 291/0, 205/2. He’s failed to top 14.9 fantasy points against them since way back in 2013. Keep in mind that during that stretch, Rivers has had some pretty amazing streaks, including the one he’s on now, but with this being a divisional game against an Andy Reid-led team who has had his number, expectations need to be tempered. On top of that, this game will take place in Kansas City, which happens to be one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. The Chiefs do allow plenty of points on the road, but they allow more than seven points less at home. This game will also be during primetime, so you know the crowd will be as loud as ever. Again, this Chargers team is playing as good as they have in quite some time, so I’m not going to say that Rivers is unplayable, but he’s more of a high-end QB2 this week and one that I’d avoid in DFS.

Alex Smith: While the Chargers offense continues to click, the other side of the ball has also started to play elite-level defense. This is worrisome for Smith and the Chiefs, as he’s been sacked on 7.0 percent of his drop backs this year, while the Chargers have sacked opponents on 7.8 percent of drop backs, the fifth-highest mark in the league. Earlier this year, the Chargers allowed Kareem Hunt to run all over them, leaving Smith to throw the ball just 21 times, amounting to 155 yards and two touchdowns. Believe it or not, his 15.1 fantasy points that week were more than Rivers has scored against the Chiefs since 2013. The Chargers defense has changed since that point, though, as they’ve yet to allow more than one passing touchdown since way back in Week 5, a streak spanning over eight games. And outside of Tom Brady, they haven’t allowed a quarterback to throw for more than 273 yards all season. Smith is just a QB2 this week.

RBs
Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler: Since Rivers has picked things up, Gordon has kind of fallen back in the pack of running backs. Since Week 7, he’s been the No. 13 running back in both standard and PPR formats. Understand that when putting him into your lineup, but it also shouldn’t surprise you if he is the one who goes off this week. If you read Rivers’ paragraph above, you know that he’s struggled against the Chiefs. What about Gordon? Here’s his last two games against them: 17/79/1 and 14/57/2. Oddly enough, he didn’t catch a pass in either of the games, but knowing he’s scored three times is more than enough. The Chiefs have allowed a rushing touchdown in seven of their last eight games, so you should feel good betting on Gordon hitting pay dirt. He’s on the RB1 radar this week and one that makes for a good tournament play in DFS. Ekeler has fallen back down to earth, totaling 89 scoreless yards over the last two weeks combined. He’s still getting some touches, so he’s not the worst desperation option, but hopefully you can do better.

Kareem Hunt and Charcandrick West: As you read here last week, Hunt was eventually going to score with all the touches he’d been getting, no matter when he was getting them. We’re looking for positive game-script with him, because if they fall behind, West is going to get a lot of work. This week should be interesting, as the game is in Kansas City, where opposing offenses typically have a tough time, which could lead to positive game-script, though I’m not nearly as confident this week as I was last week. The Chargers have allowed a hefty 4.75 yards per carry on the season, though they’ve gotten better as the season’s gone on, including shutting down Samaje Perine last week to just 45 yards on 17 carries. They’ve also allowed just seven rushing touchdowns on the year, so nothing is guaranteed here. Consider Hunt an upside RB2 this week who still needs to be played. If you want to play him in DFS, do so in tournaments only.

WRs
Keenan Allen: After failing to top 67 yards in seven of the first nine games, Allen has caught fire and has now totaled at least 105 yards in each of the last four weeks. He played against the Chiefs earlier this year and totaled five catches for 61 yards, but that was back when he and Rivers weren’t on the same page. The Chiefs secondary has been one to pick on throughout the entire season, as they’ve allowed nine different wide receivers to finish as top-12 options, including six of them to score 20 or more PPR points. The lone issue here is Rivers’ history with the Chiefs, as it’s been so bad that we need to cap Allen’s ceiling. Consider him a low-end WR1 regardless, but I’d limit my DFS exposure this week.

Tyrell Williams: He had his second game this season with more than 58 yards last week, so I know some will come here looking to see if it will continue. My answer would be not to expect it, as he’s now failed to see more than four targets since back in Week 10. He’s also failed to catch more than two passes in six of his last seven games. He relies solely on the big play, which is something the Chiefs have allowed plenty of, but betting on that in the fantasy playoffs isn’t the brightest idea, especially when we know Rivers’ history against them. He’s just a desperation WR5.

Tyreek Hill: The trend continues, as Hill has been phenomenal on the road, but has struggled at home. In the six home games he’s played, Hill has averaged 4.5 receptions for 44.3 yards and no touchdowns. So, knowing that he totaled 77 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers earlier this season, you should know that it was on the road. This game will be at home against a surging Chargers secondary that hasn’t allowed a top-24 wide receiver since back in Week 10. Prior to that, it was Week 6. This is not a secondary you want to bet against, making Hill a risk/reward WR3 this week. He’s the type of player who requires just one big play to hit value, so you aren’t benching him 90 percent of the time, but temper expectations for this game. Because of his big-play ability, he’s a great tournament option, as he’ll be lower owned this week.

TEs
Hunter Henry: You have to wonder why the Chargers didn’t feature Henry in the offense sooner, as he’s been straight money when called upon. He now has at least 50 yards in three straight games, including touchdowns in two of them. As long as Mike Williams doesn’t come back and play a significant role, Henry is a lock-and-load TE1 for the fantasy playoffs. The Chiefs are coming off a game in which they allowed Jared Cook 75 yards and a touchdown, which was the second time he scored more than 15 fantasy points against them. Oddly enough, he was the only one to do that against them this year, though there have been four other tight ends to hit the double-digit mark. You aren’t going to bench Henry in season-long leagues, but I’d limit exposure in DFS this week, as the Chiefs have been really good against tight ends under Andy Reid.

Travis Kelce: It’s kind of surreal to see Kelce total seven or more receptions in 7-of-13 games this year, as most tight ends don’t have one game with such numbers. The Chargers have been a thorn in his side the last two times they have played, though, as he’s totaled just two catches for nine yards in the two games combined. Yeah, that’s not a typo. He did post 6/74 in their first meeting last year, so it’s not as if they’ve shut him down every time, but it’s a concern to those who play DFS. Kelce is locked in as an elite TE1 play in season-long leagues, there’s no doubt about that. Knowing that Andy Reid has relinquished his play-calling duties, I’m betting on Kelce bouncing back against the Chargers in this game, as they’ve shown weakness against tight ends over the last three weeks, allowing David Njoku, Jason Witten, and Vernon Davis to all finish as top-12 options. Can’t fade him.

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

Total: 40.0
Line: PHI by 8.0

QBs
Nick Foles: It’s a really strange line on this game, as the Eagles are favored by more than a touchdown despite being without their leader, Carson Wentz. We’ve seen the Foles show before, and no, I’m not talking about his magical 2013 season with the Eagles. Since then, he’s completed less than 60 percent of his passes, while throwing 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Yes, the Giants defense is quite bad at this point, but it is a divisional game, and on the road. Let’s be real – you aren’t starting Foles if you can help it. On top of the injury to Wentz, their offensive line has started to show the loss of Jason Peters at left tackle. Foles isn’t nearly as mobile or aware as Wentz is. I’d be able to live with myself if Foles goes off and I don’t have any exposure.

Eli Manning: Now that we’ve gotten over the media circus, we can address how Manning isn’t the solution to the Giants problems. He’s now thrown just one touchdown pass in his last three games combined, while throwing three interceptions. The worst part is that his games were against the Chiefs, Redskins, and Cowboys. Now he’ll play an Eagles defense that has played better as of late, though they are the team that allowed Manning his biggest game of the year back in Week 3. You already know that was with Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall on the field, so it’s hard to take much from that history. It was also during the time the Eagles were without Ronald Darby, their top cornerback. The weather in New Jersey isn’t likely to be very pass friendly, either. Consider Manning someone you can use in 2QB leagues, but avoid him in traditional formats. He’s not worth a look in DFS, either.

RBs
Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount, and Corey Clement: Here’s the touch counts ever since Ajayi was traded for: Blount 54 (52 rush, 2 rec), Ajayi 50 (44 rush, 6 rec), Clement 37 (31 rush, 6 rec). As you can see, this timeshare isn’t going anywhere, though we are starting to see a trend with Ajayi. Here are his snaps by week: 17, 13, 22, 31, 43. As you can see, he’s becoming more and more involved, though it’s hard to trust him as anything more than an RB3 because he’s topped nine carries just once with the team. The Giants have allowed at least 91 rushing yards to each of their last six games, including 109 or more yards in five of them. With Wentz going down, the Eagles are likely to lean on the run a lot more than they have been, which gives Ajayi even more appeal, though the risk that they split the workload three ways is worrisome. Oddsmakers feel that the Eagles should still dominate this game, and it is at home, so if you aren’t starting Ajayi here, you might as well drop him. Blount isn’t the worst RB4 option, as he may get some goal-line opportunities. Clement is just the wildcard and one that I wouldn’t want to play in fantasy leagues. None are options in cash lineups, though Ajayi makes sense in a tournament.

Orleans Darkwa and Wayne Gallman: Without Ben McAdoo calling plays anymore, the Giants offense operated a bit different in Week 14. As of this point, we don’t know if his 19 snaps played was due to his illness that kept him limited in practice this week, or if the Giants wanted to get the rookie Gallman more playing time. Gallman played a position-high 37 snaps and touched the ball a career-high 19 times this past week, including seven receptions. This is massive, because if he’s getting the passing-down work, he’s going to be playable, as the Giants are often in comeback mode. Again, this can be a one-week thing, so I wouldn’t consider him or Darkwa this week against the Eagles in season-long leagues. There is simply too much on the line for you to take that risk, but if you have no choice, I’d prefer Gallman. I also don’t believe you should play either of them in DFS, as the Eagles have yet to allow a running back more than 96 yards on the ground, and the Giants aren’t in scoring position very often.

WRs
Alshon Jeffery: Losing Wentz is likely the death of Jeffery as a must-play wide receiver this year, though you’ll likely want him in lineups for Week 15. The Giants defense has been brutal this year, allowing seven different wide receivers to rack up 15 or more PPR points, including Dez Bryant last week. Missing Janoris Jenkins is huge for that defense, as they now don’t have a perimeter cornerback to handle the top-tier wide receivers. It’s why we saw Bryant toss Brandon Dixon aside like a rag doll. Foles has shown the ability to remain competent, and at times look solid, so I’d be safely putting Jeffery into lineups as a high-end WR3 who should come with a solid floor. Jeffery’s DFS price hasn’t reflected the loss of Wentz just yet, so he’s a bit rich for cash, but can be considered for tournaments.

Nelson Agholor: He’s someone I’m moving off the fantasy radar without Wentz, especially knowing that he’ll match-up against Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the slot. While he’s been disappointing compared to his norm, he’s still an above-average slot cornerback. Make the Foles/Agholor combo prove-it first. He’s just a high-risk WR5 for this game.

Sterling Shepard: We knew that Shepard may not be 100 percent coming into the game with the Cowboys, but seeing him come out of that game with just two catches for 16 yards is problematic. He did play 77-of-80 snaps, so maybe it was just the gameplan. The Eagles were looking good against some subpar offenses, but after running into the Rams and Seahawks, they don’t look so great. They allowed slot wide receiver Cooper Kupp to torment them for five catches, 118 yards, and a touchdown just last week. The concern is that the Giants are the type of offense that the Eagles can look good against, similar to the way they did before running into two top-tier offenses. Shepard is a semi-risky WR3 who has tremendous upside. After last week’s performance, avoid him in cash-games and limit exposure in tournaments.

TEs
Zach Ertz: Ugh… the struggles from missing a game due to a concussion, and now returning to the lineup without Wentz… the sky is officially falling for Ertz and this offense. Foles did play with Ertz back in 2013 when he was a rookie, as he caught 36 passes for 469 yards and four touchdowns, so it’s not like he was unproductive, though that was through Foles’ dream season. The Giants have also been a stomping ground for opposing tight ends, allowing every single tight end to either score or total 57 yards against them. Ertz tagged them for 8/55/1 back in Week 3, but as we know, that was with Wentz. Consider him a TE1 in this matchup, even with Foles under center. His price is too much to risk in DFS, though.

Evan Engram: He’s someone who has slowed down as the year’s gone on, totaling 31 yards or less in three of the last five games. Oddly enough, his best game on the season came with Geno Smith under center. The Eagles have been a tough team against tight ends the last two years, and have allowed just four top-12 tight ends on the season. Fortunately for Engram, most play a big wide receiver role, just like him, as they were Travis Kelce, Jordan Reed (twice), and Jimmy Graham. Engram himself finished with five catches for 45 yards in Week 3, but that was also when Manning threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns. He’s still on the TE1 radar, but it’s not a great matchup for him in a fading offense. He’s not to be played in cash-lineups, but you can take the shot in a couple tournament lineups.