Fantasy Football Week 15 Takeaways: Surprises & Disappointments (2024)

The first week of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues had highs and lows. Among the highs were a passing game getting back on track and a running back continuing his late-season surge. The lows for the week included an inconsistent offense that was underwhelming again, possibly losing their starting quarterback for a short-term absence, and a wide receiver not showing up in the box score in the season’s biggest shootout. Finally, injuries continued to mount for a defense already bit by the injury bug.

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Fantasy Football Week 15 Surprises

Philadelphia’s Passing Attack Got Back on Track in Week 15

All eyes were on Philadelphia’s passing attack after a week of chatter about A.J. Brown‘s dissatisfaction with its lack of success. Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith and Brown silenced the critics.

Philadelphia beat the Steelers 27-13, and despite an inefficient showing on the ground, Hurts completed 25 of 32 passes for 290 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Hurts also had 15 rush attempts for 45 yards and a touchdown. Predictably, the passing attack was funneled through Brown and Smith. Brown had 11 targets, eight receptions, 110 receiving yards and one touchdown, and Smith had 12, 11, 109, one and one rush for one yard. Dallas Goedert is on the Injured Reserve (IR), leaving Brown and Smith to soak up 71.9% of the team’s targets in Week 15. Gamers should excitedly slot Hurts, Brown and Smith into their lineups against the Commanders in Week 16.

Rico Dowdle Kept Rolling on Sunday

Rico Dowdle has had at least 20 opportunities (rush attempts plus targets) in four straight games. His rushing production has also climbed every week. From Week 12 through Week 15, Dowdle has ripped off 86, 112, 131 and 149 rushing yards. He’s also hauled in seven receptions for 33 receiving yards. Sadly, Dowdle scored only one touchdown during his four-game heater.

Nevertheless, Dowdle retained his stranglehold on the backfield. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), in Week 15, Dowdle ran 23 routes versus two for Ezekiel Elliott and five for Hunter Luepke. So, even if the Cowboys have a negative game script against the favored Buccaneers in Week 16, Dowdle is a trustworthy and game-script-proof top-24 fantasy running back.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Disappointments

Kansas City’s Offense Might Be a Fantasy Wasteland

The Chiefs pushed their record to 13-1 on Sunday with a 21-7 victory against the Browns. However, the offense had another unimpressive showing, and Patrick Mahomes got hurt.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes considered week to week with right ankle injury. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/S5eXEki2B4

– NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024

According to Pro Football Reference, the Chiefs were 23rd in yards per play (5.1) and tied for 11th in scoring offense (23.7 points per game) entering Week 15. It would be nearly impossible to trust any of Kansas City’s players if Mahomes misses time, and the Chiefs have back-to-back short weeks, playing on Saturday in Week 16 and Wednesday (Christmas) in Week 17.

The fantasy pickings are slim, even if Mahomes plays with an injured ankle. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt each played 28 snaps and had 13 rush attempts and one target in Week 15. Furthermore, Samaje Perine mixed in for 19 snaps, a backfield-high 14 routes (Hunt ran 12 and Pacheco ran nine), one rush attempt and one target. Kansas City’s running backs aren’t fantasy options in 12-team leagues or smaller.

Meanwhile, Xavier Worthy paced the wideouts in routes (37) and targets (11), but he had an inefficient six receptions for 46 scoreless yards. The speedy rookie salvaged his fantasy line with three rushes for 30 yards and one touchdown. DeAndre Hopkins is stuck in a part-time role, and Travis Kelce has scored only two touchdowns this season and fallen short of 50 receiving yards in back-to-back games and three of his past five. Worthy is an unappealing flex, Hopkins is a bench stash and Kelce is a defensible low-end TE1, but he’s not a no-doubt starter, especially if Carson Wentz starts.

Amari Cooper Was in Witness Protection in Week 15

Amari Cooper had a Week 14-high 194 air yards. The Bills hung 48 points on the Lions, and Josh Allen passed for 362 yards on 34 attempts. The MVP frontrunner directed zero passes to Cooper. Per PFF, Cooper was fourth among Buffalo’s wideouts in snaps (32) and routes (15). The veteran wideout also ran fewer routes than Dalton Kincaid (21) and Dawson Knox (24). Allen targeted nine players, but Cooper wasn’t among them. Sadly, Cooper can’t be trusted as a fantasy starter in anything smaller than 14-team leagues, and gamers in larger leagues might have better alternatives.

Miscellaneous Note

Detroit’s Injury-Depleted Defense Was Dealt Two More Critical Blows in Week 15

Unfortunately, the Lions lost more than a football game in Week 15.

#Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters that he fears injuries to standout DL Alim McNeill (knee) and CB Carlton Davis (jaw) are season-ending.

More hits for a defense that has seen more than its share of injuries. pic.twitter.com/IjPPkrF4zB

– Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2024

Detroit’s offense is a juggernaut, and they’ll likely be pushed to keep their foot on the accelerator for the remainder of the year to offset their injury-ravaged defense. The arrow is pointed upward for Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick and Sam LaPorta. The Bears could have fantasy value against the Lions in Week 16 if they provide a reason for optimism on Monday Night Football, and the 49ers are Detroit’s opponent in Week 17.

Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.