Ellis Bryn Johnson | Fri, Dec 12th 2025, 7:17am EST

5 Fantasy Football Smash Starts: Week 15 (2025)

Smashing starts and stressful playoff matchups, it’s crunch time for fantasy football. With some leagues starting playoffs this week and others next, this is a make-or-break week for many fantasy teams. That means players who are positioned to smash are all the more valuable.

Last week, we picked CeeDee Lamb (WR12), George Pickens (WR45), Chase Brown (RB7), Tyler Warren (TE31) and James Cook (RB25). With injuries to Lamb and Daniel Jones setting some of our picks back, it’s time to rebound. Now that the playoffs are on the line, most teams are starting their studs. As a result, I have selected five players who you may be flirting with starting this week. My name is Ellis Johnson, and these are your Week 15 smash starts.

Fantasy Football Smash Starts: Week 15

Woody Marks (RB – HOU)

Since Week 10, Woody Marks has taken over the lead back role for the Texans. During this stretch, Houston has strung together impressive wins on the back of their elite defense. Thankfully, their offense has been sufficient, relying on Marks and Nico Collins to outscore their opponents.

Playing 87% of the snaps last week, Marks had his fifth game of 60+ rushing yards over the last seven weeks, and caught his third receiving touchdown on the season. As a prospect, Marks was primarily listed as a receiving back; however, we have seen his skill set expand throughout the season, taking the majority of all running back touches.

This week, the Texans face the Cardinals. Over the last five weeks, Arizona has allowed the most fantasy points to the running back position and the third-most receiving touchdowns to running backs. This bodes well for Marks, who should continue to dominate touches. Plus, even with Jacoby Brissett playing well, this defense should put Houston into a favourable game script for the run game. Marks is a locked-in RB2 this week with potential RB1 upside if he finds the end zone.

D’Andre Swift & Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI)

Ben Johnson has been cooking this season and had the Bears atop the NFC heading into last week. Everything we had hoped for from a fantasy perspective has come to fruition… for the ground game. I have no idea why these receiving options haven’t been able to produce for fantasy, but thankfully, both backs have been great. Since their bye in Week 5, the Bears have been able to run on everybody. On the season, they are averaging 152 rushing yards per game, which is the second-most in the league.

The rushing success has been a result of a veteran offensive line clicking and two backs that complement each other’s skill set. Splitting the snaps roughly 55% to 45%, D’Andre Swift remains the leader of this one-two punch and is the primary two-minute drill back. Having said that, Kyle Monangai has demonstrated his hard-nose rushing style and had a four-game touchdown streak come to an end last week.

This team wants to lean on their running backs, and both backs see enough volume to get home for fantasy. Unfortunately, the split limits either one from being an RB1 for fantasy, but both should tickle RB2 numbers. This week, the Bears face the Browns, who are often viewed as an elite defense.

Although they are one of the better units in the league, they are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to the running back position over the last five weeks. This includes 184 yards to the Titans last week. Both backs are solid Flex plays heading into Week 15.

Jordan Addison (WR – MIN)

Starting any Vikings receiver in a huge fantasy matchup doesn’t feel great. However, this matchup against the Cowboys is too good to overlook. Jordan Addison has a low floor and a high ceiling. Typically, on a team with quarterback issues, this is not a receiver you want to trust. However, it’s been a surprisingly decent season for the third-year wideout.

With seven or more targets in four of his last five games, Addison’s usage is exactly what you want to see. Unfortunately, this has only converted to three games over 50 yards on the season. Why is he a smash start? I’ll be honest, this is a risky pick, but if he hits, he could win you your week.

The Cowboys are allowing the third-most fantasy points to receivers over the last five weeks. Over that span, they are allowing an average of 172 yards, 13.5 receptions and 1.5 touchdowns to the position each week. That ranks in the bottom five in the NFL in each category, setting the table for J.J. McCarthy to lean on his dynamic wideouts on Sunday Night. If you have been rostering Addison all season, you’ve been waiting for this kind of matchup to unleash him. He’s the perfect boom-or-bust Flex option this week.

Terry McLaurin (WR – WSH)

He may have only been back for two weeks, but Terry McLaurin could be a receiver fantasy managers can trust in one of the biggest fantasy weeks of the season. Unfortunately, each of the last two games for the Commanders has been anything but normal. After a comeback, overtime loss to the 11-2 Broncos, they followed it up by getting shut out by the Vikings. Which performance can we trust?

Even without Jayden Daniels, a matchup against the Giants is great for their skill positions. Even in a tough loss last week, McLaurin managed to catch three of his six targets for 41 yards. The week before, with Marcus Mariota under center, he caught seven of his 14 targets for seven receptions, 96 yards and a score.

With Mariota back under center, this duo faces a Giants defense that is allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. More importantly, they are averaging the third-most touchdowns to the position over that stretch.

As a whole, this has been a season to forget for McLaurin managers. However, if you have held onto him this long, he may just be the piece you need to make a championship run. I’d play McLaurin as a solid WR2 option in a positive matchup this week.

Thank you for reading my work. I wish you all the best of luck this week.

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