Welcome to Week 15 of the NFL season, everyone. We got the week started with a wild game on Thursday night that saw the return of Marcus Mariota (much to one person’s delight). With two Saturday games this week, the Sunday slate of games isn’t as hectic as last week’s extravaganza. As has been the case all season, pay close attention to inactives and COVID reports coming out of each team’s facility. Certain teams, like the Baltimore Ravens, might be shorthanded this weekend despite facing prime opportunities.
I’m considering each of the players below for cash game lineups this week:
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Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill (TEN): $7,700 vs. Detroit Lions
The Lions are allowing the seventh-most points to opposing quarterbacks this season, and they have given up 29 total touchdowns to the position. Since Week 10, the Lions have the 32nd-ranked pass DVOA defense, while the Titans rank fifth in pass DVOA in that same span. King Henry will likely eat in this game, but Tannehill and the passing game should get their fair share as well.
Ryan Tannehill has been amazing in Tennessee pic.twitter.com/CGFGh9WH3l
— Deryck (@DeryckG_) December 14, 2020
Jalen Hurts (PHI): $6,900 at Arizona Cardinals
The Philadelphia offense certainly came to life last week when Hurts took over the starting job. He’s starting again this week, and this is a perfect game to utilize his running abilities. Fire up the Konami Code!
Notable QB rushing lines vs. the #Cardinals this season:
Teddy Bridgewater 6-32-1
Russell Wilson 6-84
Tua Tagovailoa 7-35
Josh Allen 7-38
Russell Wilson 10-42
Cam Newton 9-46 https://t.co/260i8fYDFX— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) December 15, 2020
While the rushing statistics are all fun, Hurts improved the Eagles passing game as well last Sunday. Entering their Week 14 game with the Saints, Carson Wentz had been sacked the most in the NFL. Hurts wasn’t sacked once and hung in there against pressure.
2 straight weeks now we’ve seen @JalenHurts be poised in the pocket with blitz pressure right in his face.
Full Film Breakdown Video: https://t.co/j940QZ4atc pic.twitter.com/FN9WVXVNFt
— Charles “Chux” Maranan (@ChuxMaranan) December 15, 2020
Other notables: Jared Goff (LAR): $7,800 vs. NYJ; Kirk Cousins (MIN): $7,200 vs. CHI.
Running Backs
Derrick Henry (TEN): $10,200 vs. Detroit Lions
This game could get ugly, and quickly, with the injuries that Detroit currently has on its defense (and offense). Even when they’ve been healthy, it’s not like they were stopping opposing running backs. Now they get the best running back in the NFL who is going for a 2,000-yard season. Even at his cost, this is about as close to a lock as possible.
Derrick Henry is averaging 117.8 rushing yards per game and scored 14 TDs. Only 8 players in NFL history have averaged more yards per game and scored at least 14 TDs in a season pic.twitter.com/zH9tj2Vc1c
— ProFootballReference (@pfref) December 16, 2020
Jonathan Taylor (IND): $7,400 vs. Houston Texans
For as bad as Detroit has been stopping the run, the Texans have been worse. The Texans are allowing a league-high 137.7 rushing yards per game to opposing running backs. Taylor has taken over the backfield for the Colts, and it’s coming at the right time for them as they push toward the playoffs.
Jonathan Taylor in 2020:
🔹 Wks 1-10: 62.4 rush grade (43rd)
🔹 Wks 11-14: 90.0 rush grade (1st) pic.twitter.com/jlbVCasuqG— PFF (@PFF) December 15, 2020
While Nyheim Hines has still been getting work in the backfield, Taylor has totaled 56%, 48%, and 56% of the offensive snaps over his last three appearances.
Jonathan Taylor received a touch or target on a season-high 64.7% of his snaps in Week 14. His previous high was 58.3% in Week 3. https://t.co/1bytPWL2b7
— Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) December 14, 2020
Other notables: Cam Akers (LAR): $6,700 vs. NYJ; Jeff Wilson Jr. (SF): $5,800 @ DAL (If Raheem Mostert is inactive); J.D. McKissic (WAS): $5,800 vs. SEA.
Wide Receivers
Cooper Kupp (LAR): $7,100 vs. New York Jets
The only concern here is that this game might get out of hand before Kupp and the Rams pass-catchers really get going. That said, lining up across from Javelin Guidry isn’t going to be a challenge for Kupp in the slot. Over the last four weeks, no team has allowed more fantasy points to slot receivers than the Jets. Guidry has allowed eight completions on ten targets for 82 yards and a touchdown. An interesting nugget about the ways teams are attacking the Jets from Hayden Winks over at Rotoworld: “Teams are opting to pass against the Jets in neutral situations (second) because their secondary is such a disaster. With the Rams also ranking second in neutral pass rate over the last four weeks (62%)…”
Brandon Aiyuk (SF): $6,900 at Dallas Cowboys
Aiyuk is nicely priced this week in a prime matchup against a putrid Cowboys defense. Over the last five games, Aiyuk is on par with the best receivers in the NFL, too:
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk's last five games:
* 10 rec, 119 yards
* 5 rec, 95 yards, TD
* 7 rec, 75 yards, TD
* 8 rec, 91 yards, TD
* 6 rec, 101 yardsSince Week 9, he is one of three WR averaging 95 yards per game along with Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 17, 2020
The Cowboys are allowing the most touchdowns to opposing receivers on the season. Aiyuk has 13 red-zone targets, with nine of those coming inside the 10-yard line. All four of his red-zone touchdowns have come from passes inside the 10 as well.
Other notables: T.Y. Hilton (IND): $6,800 vs. HOU; D.K. Metcalf (SEA): $8,200 at WAS; Corey Davis (TEN): $6,800 vs. DET
Tight Ends
Irv Smith Jr. (MIN): $5,400 vs. Chicago Bears
A lot of this is contingent on Kyle Rudolph’s status, but the Bears have been bad against tight ends, and they would be statistically worse if Jordan Akins didn’t have to stare into the sun last week.
Today was Irv Smith's first full practice since Week 9. Got hurt in that game but played at least 68% of the snaps in all three games leading into it. Kyle Rudolph did not practice.
— Jim Sannes (@JimSannes) December 16, 2020
In his last three games, Smith had eight receptions on 10 targets and three touchdowns. The Bears have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and have given up at least one touchdown to the position in five of their last seven games. In their last meeting, Rudolph had four catches for 63 yards on five targets. If he misses this game, Smith becomes a great salary savings play that could find pay dirt.
Travis Kelce (KC): $8,500 at New Orleans Saints
It’s not often that we see a tight end leading the NFL in receiving yards. Even at $8,500, Kelce gives you WR1-type numbers at a position that’s highly volatile each week. Kelce is sixth in the NFL in targets, fifth in receptions, first in receiving yards, and tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns. He is sixth in the NFL in yards per route run among receivers with 50 or more targets.
Other notables: Mark Andrews (BAL): $6,800 vs. JAC; Cole Kmet (CHI): $5,100 at MIN.
Defense/Special Teams
Los Angeles Rams D/ST : $5,000 vs. New York Jets
Not really much else to say other than it’s the Jets’ offense against a defense that’s playing its best football of the season. The Jets are also on the road and traveling across the country. Feel free to pair them with Akers for some positive correlation and enjoy the inevitable blowout.
Other notables: Washington Football Team D/ST: $4,200 vs. SEA.
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Matt Giraldi is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Matt, check out his archive or follow him @MGiraldi.
