Week 15 might mean you’re out of the fantasy playoffs but for those of us playing DFS, it’s just another tantalizing slate. With all 32 teams in action this week the choices are well spread out, but it feels like a clear week to start three running backs with plenty of prime matchups. Here are the best picks for DFS cash games on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Week 15 DFS Cash Game Advice & Picks
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL) @ Giants | DraftKings: $8,300/FanDuel: $9,000
This slate as a whole doesn’t have the most appealing set of quarterbacks for cash game purposes. There are plenty of options, meaning rostership will likely be spread out, but it’s hard to argue Lamar Jackson doesn’t have the highest floor and potentially the highest ceiling.
Jackson has wanted to keep his foot on the gas all season and now gets a perfect opportunity against a Giants team hurting badly with injuries and giving up 16 points against the spread to the Ravens. Over the last four weeks, the Giants have allowed the third-highest completion rate on throws 20+ yards downfield. No quarterback has a higher passer rating than Jackson’s 116.3. Jackson could be riding the bench in the fourth quarter, but he’ll likely do enough to get home long before then.
Lamar Jackson has 30 TDs and only 3 INTs this season.
These were the 3 INTs… pic.twitter.com/dpVucv43aT
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) November 26, 2024
Justin Herbert (QB – LAC) vs. Buccaneers | DraftKings: $5,900/FanDuel: $7,500
As far as matchups go, Justin Herbert couldn’t ask for much better with the Buccaneers coming to town. They rank 21st in pass defense DVOA and will be without star safety Antoine Winfield due to injury. The Bucs have allowed the most quarterback fantasy points this year with nine different signal-callers finishing as top-12 options against them and seven scoring 23+ points against them.
Drake Maye (QB – NE) @ Cardinals | DraftKings: $5,600/FanDuel: $6,900
After Justin Herbert, the quarterback situations get pretty mediocre, but there’s always appeal in playing Drake Maye, who has scored over 18 points in two of his last three games. The Cardinals desperately need a bounce-back game to keep their playoff hopes alive, which can push the Patriots into a pass-heavy and quarterback-focused game.
Since Week 9, Maye has averaged 46.2 rushing yards per game and he’s completed over 70% of his passes in four of his last eight games. Maye is as cheap as I would venture in cash games.
Running Backs
Derrick Henry (RB – BAL) @ Giants | DraftKings: $8,300/FanDuel: $9,200
It feels tough to fade both the Ravens’ passing game and running game in one way or another this week. Derrick Henry in particular stands out. The Ravens are huge favorites against a team that allows the third-highest yards per carry (4.9), the fourth-most rushing yards per game (141.7) and gives up the seventh-most running back fantasy points.
Henry typically heats up as the season goes on and the games get colder, with 30 December career touchdowns and over 2,700 rushing yards in the month alone.
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR) vs. Cowboys | DraftKings: $6,500/FanDuel: $7,500
Chuba Hubbard has 1,152 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns this year. He gets a weak Dallas defense ranked 29th against the run in DVOA and allows the fourth-most running back fantasy points.
With Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve (IR), the risk of Hubbard losing carries has subsided, putting Hubbard into focus for an incredible matchup. Dallas has allowed eight top-10 running back finishes this year, including most recently in Week 14 to Chase Brown (24.3 PPR points).
Highest Week 15 Rushing Props
1. Derrick Henry: 100.5
2. Saquon Barkley 98.5
3. Rico Dowdle: 83.5
4. Joe Mixon: 83.5
5. Chuba Hubbard: 81.5
6. Bijan Robinson: 80.5— Connor Allen (@ConnorAllenNFL) December 12, 2024
Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WAS) @ Saints | DraftKings: $6,200/FanDuel: $7,300
With Austin Ekeler on IR because of his second concussion this season, it feels like wheels up for Brian Robinson, who has averaged seven more points per game this year when Ekeler has missed out.
Before the bye week, Robinson rushed for 6.4 yards per carry and broke 100 yards for the first time since Week 4, coincidentally when Ekeler also missed a game. The Saints can’t stop the run, allowing a league-high 5.0 yards per carry and ranking 31st in rush defense DVOA, not to mention they may struggle all round without starting quarterback Derek Carr.
Rico Dowdle (RB – DAL) @ Panthers | DraftKings: $6,100/FanDuel: $7,100
Another running back, another excellent matchup. It feels like a necessity to start three backs in cash games this week. Rico Dowdle has 66 touches to Ezekiel Elliott‘s seven over the last three games, and it’s a welcome sight to see Dowdle turning those touches into fantasy production with over 15 points in two of the last three games.
Carolina has allowed the most running back fantasy points this season, ranks 32nd in run defense DVOA and has given up eight top-12 finishes, including an overall RB1 finish to Bucky Irving in Week 13.
Wide Receivers
Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC) vs. Buccaneers | DraftKings: $6,300/FanDuel: $7,100
This play is very much contingent on the health of Ladd McConkey, but if we get to Sunday and don’t hear that he’s a concern, he’s a must-play in an excellent matchup. The Chargers have no run game, failing to hit 100 yards in a game ever since J.K. Dobbins got hurt against the Ravens.
When McConkey doesn’t play the Chargers are a talent-poor team. If he’s good to go this week, McConkey could capitalize against the 21st-ranked pass defense allowing the 10th-most wide receiver fantasy points. Over his last three games, McConkey is averaging seven touches for 107.6 yards.
Ladd McConkey (shoulder, knee) limited in practice again Thursday.
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) December 12, 2024
Tee Higgins (WR – CIN) @ Titans | DraftKings: $6,800/FanDuel: $7,800
Since Week 8, Tee Higgins has been the WR9 in PPR points per game (17.3). He’s looking set to secure an eye-watering contract this offseason. Week 14 was Higgins’ first game below 14 points since Week 4 but he should bounce back quickly enough against a poor Titans defense that just allowed the Jaguars to stay competitive against them.
The Bengals are in do-or-die mode and Joe Burrow is trying to prove to the Bengals he needs to be paid — passing him the ball plenty would be a good start.
Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF) @ Lions | DraftKings: $6,100/FanDuel: $7,000
The highest points total of the week comes in a potential Super Bowl matchup between Buffalo and Detroit. Khalil Shakir comes into it hot off the back of potentially his best career game so far. Shakir has gone over 50 receiving yards in nine of his last 11 games and faces a Lions defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points including three top-eight finishes since Week 10.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI) vs. Patriots | DraftKings: $5,500/FanDuel: $6,600
At this price, we’re hoping for a performance in the range of 15 points, which doesn’t seem too outlandish for Marvin Harrison Jr., who has six games over that mark this season and has scored seven touchdowns.
The Patriots rank 31st in pass defense DVOA and 26th against No. 1 WRs. Harrison has a 22% target share over his last seven games and the Cardinals have tried to get him more involved lately. A good end-of-season run can continue here.
Happy to announce that this week is once again a Marvin Harrison Jr. touchdown week pic.twitter.com/HhUVwesShc
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 10, 2024
Adam Thielen (WR – CAR) vs. Cowboys | DraftKings: $5,400/FanDuel: $6,100
I know it feels gross but Adam Thielen has 21 targets in his last two games, turning them into 201 yards and a touchdown. Bryce Young has been feeling himself more of late and the Cowboys are a perfect matchup with them terrible against both the run and the pass.
If you’re looking for leverage away from Chuba Hubbard, Thielen provides it at a discount, as he faces a defense allowing the 11th-most points to the position.
Sterling Shepard (WR – TB) @ Chargers | DraftKings: $4,000/FanDuel: $5,800
If you’re looking to save salary, Sterling Shepard is as cheap of a value as you’ll find. Over the last three games, Shepard has seen at least six targets in each, with 20 in total.
Baker Mayfield trusts him. If this game turns up, the points are expected to be plenty. Shepard can hit double-digit points and open up salary for other players.
Tight Ends
Trey McBride (TE – ARI) vs. Patriots | DraftKings: $6,000/FanDuel: $7,500
Is Trey McBride on the slate? Yes. Are we playing Trey McBride? Yes.
It’s really that simple. Yes, the lack of touchdowns is infuriating but that kind of variance works out usually and the Cardinals seem to be aware of it, prioritizing him in the red zone of late. Any tight end boasting a 30% target share is a must-play.
I'm not letting grandma out until Trey McBride has a receiving touchdown pic.twitter.com/834Gts5hAZ
— Tom Strachan (@NFL_TStrack) November 24, 2024
Stone Smartt (TE – LAC) vs. Buccaneers | DraftKings: $2,600/FanDuel: $4,500
We rarely want to go this cheap, but here we are. Stone Smartt looked like the Chargers’ best pass-catcher in Week 14 with Will Dissly missing out. It shouldn’t be surprising given what we’ve seen from Greg Roman in the past.
Tight ends always play a part in his offenses and Justin Herbert has always seemed to enjoy passing to the position. Tampa has allowed the sixth-most tight end fantasy points this year with 10 different tight ends going over 48 receiving yards against them, including in both Week 13 and Week 14.
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