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We’ve broken down this weekly TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) article by each of the four main skill positions in fantasy football (quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end), with at least two stats per position. Click on each author’s byline to read the entire article. Good luck this week.
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TL;DR Fantasy Football Week 15
Must-Know Quarterback Fantasy Football Stats
Jacoby Brissett (QB – ARI)
Since taking over as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback in Week 6, Jacoby Brissett ranks second to only Josh Allen in both total fantasy points and fantasy points per game. He has been remarkably consistent, scoring at least 18.7 points in every outing and finishing as a top-12 quarterback in all eight of his starts.
However, that streak will be tested this week. The Texans’ defense is the worst matchup in the league for quarterbacks, allowing just 12.2 points per game to the position — no quarterback has scored 20 points against them. Brissett has also relied heavily on garbage time for his production, which might be harder to come by against a not-so-explosive Houston offense. Especially with zero teams on bye, I would hope most fantasy playoff teams have a more trustworthy option than Brissett this week, even if his recent history is impeccable.
Tyler Shough (QB – NO)
The former Louisville star was my favorite streaming option in Week 14 and didn’t disappoint, scoring 21.3 fantasy points. Furthermore, Tyler Shough was a massive factor on the ground, totaling seven rushing attempts for 55 yards, two touchdowns and 17.5 fantasy points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. More importantly, the rookie has played well since his first career start, averaging 227 passing yards, a touchdown and 16.4 fantasy points per game over the past four contests.
Furthermore, Shough scored at least 17.4 fantasy points in all but one of those games, including a career high last week. Meanwhile, he faces the Panthers in the first round of the playoffs. Carolina’s pass defense has been better lately, surrendering 219.7 passing yards, a touchdown and 9.7 fantasy points per game over the past three matchups heading into their Week 14 bye. However, they struggled to contain Shough in their Week 10 loss to the Saints, allowing 282 passing yards, two touchdowns and 19 fantasy points to the rookie.
Must-Know Running Back Fantasy Football Stats
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB – WSH)
For the fourth consecutive game, Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the Commanders’ backfield in fantasy scoring. In a Week 14 shutout loss to the Vikings, Rodriguez had a team-high 10 carries for 52 yards. Per Pro Football Focus (PFF), he played the most snaps (22) and led the backfield in routes (seven). Although both Jeremy McNichols and Jacory Croskey-Merritt were involved, neither made a significant impact.
With a great Week 15 matchup against the Giants, Rodriguez can be a functional Flex play. The Giants have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs this season, allowing a ridiculous 6.1 yards per carry to backs. Rodriguez has a low ceiling because he’s only caught one pass all season, but he provides a decent rushing floor and has touchdown potential as the Commanders’ goal-line back.
Zonovan Knight (RB – ARI)
Head coach Jonathan Gannon told the media on Wednesday that Trey Benson won’t be activated from injured reserve (IR), ending his season. That means Zonovan Knight will be the Cardinals’ lead running back for the rest of the season. He played well since Benson got hurt, averaging nine rushing attempts for 30.1 yards and 10.3 PPR fantasy points per game, scoring 12.4+ points in 44.4% of the contests. Unfortunately, Knight struggled last week, totaling 10 touches for 34 scrimmage yards and 6.4 fantasy points against a talented Los Angeles Rams run defense.
Sadly, the veteran running back has another unfriendly matchup this week against the Texans. Houston has held running backs to 19.8 fantasy points per game, the seventh-fewest in the NFL. More importantly, their run defense has been outstanding lately. The Texans have surrendered 65.1 rushing yards, 0.4 touchdowns and 19.4 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past seven weeks, allowing over 15.1 points in only three contests. Furthermore, Houston held Jonathan Taylor to 85 rushing yards, zero touchdowns and 15.1 fantasy points on 24 touches two weeks ago.
Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC)
In his first game back, Omarion Hampton had a 31% snap rate, seeing 15 touches on 22 snaps and finishing with 67 total yards and a score. Hampton had a 17.1% route share and 7.7% target share while being the goal-line back with five red-zone rushing attempts.
Hampton will likely see his role grow this week, and it’ll be a more even split with Kimani Vidal. That still only makes Hampton an RB2/RB3 in a bad matchup. Since Week 10, Kansas City has allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game, the 10th-lowest explosive run rate, the third-lowest missed tackle rate and the fewest yards after contact per attempt.
Must-Know Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Stats
Michael Wilson (WR – ARI)
Michael Wilson caught 11 of his 17 targets for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the Cardinals’ Week 14 matchup against the Rams. In three games without Marvin Harrison Jr., Wilson has seen no fewer than 17 targets in any game.
Wilson was heavily targeted in the intermediate area (10-19 air yards), seeing a season-high eight such targets and catching six for a season-high 98 yards and two touchdowns. Since Week 11, Wilson has accounted for 30.6% of the Cardinals’ target share and 49.8% of their air yards share, both team highs.
Devaughn Vele (WR – NO)
Over the last three weeks, Devaughn Vele is tied for second on the team in target share (20.6%) with tight end Juwan Johnson and only behind fellow wide receiver Chris Olave. In that span, Vele has caught 14 of his 20 targets for 170 yards and a touchdown, finishing as the WR16 in that span. He’s worth a stash for a playoff run.
Darius Slayton (WR – NYG)
Since Week 5, Darius Slayton has a 13.9% target share with 45.3 receiving yards per game, 1.80 yards per route run, a 14.5-yard average depth of target and a 17.5% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those six games, he has had one red-zone target, eight deep targets and three top-36 finishes in weekly scoring (WR34, WR27, WR19).
Slayton is a strong Flex play this week against the Commanders. His downfield role should come in handy for Jaxson Dart. Since Week 9, Washington has allowed the highest completion rate and passer rating on deep passes.
Must-Know Tight End Fantasy Football Stats
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE – CLE)
The rookie connection between Shedeur Sanders and Harold Fannin Jr. was strong last week. Fannin recorded his first 100-yard game, going for 114 yards on a new personal-best eight receptions. The third-round pick out of Bowling Green also caught his second touchdown pass in as many weeks from Sanders.
Since Sanders took over as the starting quarterback for the Browns, Fannin has caught 15 out of 22 targets while averaging over 65 yards in three games. Fannin’s volume is highly unlikely to drop off at any point going forward this season, and he is clearly Sanders’ favorite option. The Bears offer a middle-of-the-road matchup for an opposing tight end, but Fannin could well lead the position in targets for the second consecutive week.
Mike Gesicki (TE – CIN)
Mike Gesicki had only four targets, two receptions and 19 scoreless yards against the Ravens without Tee Higgins in Week 13. However, with Higgins in and out of the medical tent in Week 14, Gesicki converted his six targets into six receptions, 86 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Bills. Gesicki had just a 45.9% route participation rate against the Bills and a 39.6% route participation rate against the Ravens. He’s a niche player, creating a low floor.
Still, Gesicki thrived without Higgins in 2024. In five games without Higgins last year, Gesicki logged the following stats:
- 59.9% route participation rate
- 9.1-yard aDOT
- 22.5% air yards share
- 18.3% target share
- 0.28 TPRR
- 22.6% first-read rate
- 26 receptions (5.2 per game)
- 312 receiving yards (62.4 per game)
- 2.40 YPRR
- 2 touchdowns
- 11 half-PPR points per game
- 13.2 expected half-PPR points per game
Gesicki is in the boom-or-bust TE1 range.
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