Week 15 NFL DFS: Money Makers and Heart Breakers

I’m sitting here watching Thursday Night Football, and Kyle Pitts has already scored twice in the first half like he’s trying to make up for three years of emotional damage in one night. If he keeps this up, I might finally forgive him… maybe.

Meanwhile, it’s freezing outside, the wind is doing that thing where it cuts through every layer you own, and I nearly wiped out on black ice just walking to the mailbox. Nothing like risking a concussion to check grocery coupons.

But that’s winter football for you; cold, chaotic, slippery, and somehow still beautiful. This week’s DFS slate is excellent; I could have written about 10 more players if I wanted to. I am keeping it short because I am tired, and you can only take so much of my lame humor.

More Week 15 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings | Dynasty Risers and Fallers

Money Makers and Heart Breakers for Week 15 NFL DFS

Here is a brief definition of each of my terms for anyone who might be new:

💰 Money Maker – This player will perform better than expectations

💔 Heart Breaker – This player will perform lower than expectations

💰 Money Makers

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Stafford has passed for multiple touchdowns in seven straight games. He leads the league in touchdown passes. He has 35 touchdown passes already this season. This week, the Rams will play the Lions, and the Lions give up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. Quarterbacks average two touchdown passes a game against the Lions. This one was easy.

$7,000 on DraftKings
$8,300 on FanDuel

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Purdy is back and is healthy. He finally has a healthy group of wide receivers, too. Brock has multiple touchdowns in two out of the last three games. This week, he gets to play against a Titans defense that has given up multiple touchdowns to quarterbacks in six of the previous seven games. I am purdy sure Brock will produce big in Week 15.

$6,200 on DraftKings
$7,500 on FanDuel

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

Mariota has been getting it done through the air and on the ground. This is not a sexy play, but Mariota has had over 200 yards in his last three starts and multiple touchdowns in two of those games. The Giants are who the Commanders play in Week 15, and the Giants give up the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Quarterbacks average 269 yards and two touchdowns per game against the Giants. That is Mariota, apparently pronounced now with a hard T.

$5,000 on DraftKings
$6,700 on FanDuel

Other Quarterback DFS Picks for Week 15

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

$6,400 on DraftKings
$8,200 on FanDuel

Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns

$4,700 on DraftKings
$6,600 on FanDuel

Running Backs

Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens play the Bengals in Week 15. The Bengals give up the most fantasy points to running backs. In Week 13, Henry also played the Bengals, and he had 11 touches, 104 total yards, and a touchdown. If a team plays the Bengals, we play that team’s running back in DFS. It is a hard rule; you must obey.

$7,300 on DraftKings
$8,400 on FanDuel

Woody Marks, Houston Texans

The Texans play the Cardinals in Week 15. The Cardinals have given up double-digit fantasy points to a running back in all but one game this season. Running backs average 107 yards and a touchdown rushing against the Cardinals weekly. Mark is getting the most snaps and touches at running back for the Texans. He has 17 or more touches in five straight games. The matchup is good, the touches will be there, Mark my words, it will be good to have a Woody in your lineup this week.

$5,600 on DraftKings
$6,500 on FanDuel

Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars

Etienne has been excellent this season. Against the Colts in Week 14, he had 20 carries for 4 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 15, he gets to play against a Jets defense that gives up the third-most fantasy points to opposing teams’ running backs. This will be a good week to plug Etienne in.

$6,500 on DraftKings
$7,500 on FanDuel

Other Running Back DFS Picks for Week 15

Chris Rodriguez, Washington Commanders

$4,900 on DraftKings
$5,700 on FanDuel

TreyVeon Henderson, New England Patriots

$6,100 on DraftKings
$6,700 on FanDuel

Wide Receivers

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams play the Lions in Week 15. I already mentioned you can pass on the Lions. The Lions give up the second-most fantasy points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. This game also has an over/under of 55 points, the highest on the main slate. The overall situation could not be better for Nacua. Let’s throw in there that Puka already has 93 receptions, 1186 yards, and six touchdowns on the season. He is good, really good. What happens when you have one of the best wide receivers in the game in a situation like this? Well, you play him, dummy.

$8,700 on DraftKings
$9,700 on FanDuel

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

McLaurin is back. He has had 20 targets over the last two games. So, the volume will be there in Week 15. The Commanders also play the Giants this week. The Giants happen to give up the fourth most fantasy points to wide receivers. It is a good week for Terry to get scary. You might want to plug Deebo Samuel in too.

$5,400 on DraftKings
$7,100 on FanDuel

Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns

I know, I cannot believe I am saying to play Jerry Jeudy as well. His stat line from Week 14 was 5 targets, 3 receptions, 76 yards, and a touchdown. This week, the Browns play against a Bears defense that can be beaten downfield. Look for Shedeur Sanders to sling it a little again against the easiest defense he has faced, which makes Jeudy a play in Week 15. Jeudy, Jeudy, Jeudy, you’re beautiful this week.

$4,400 on DraftKings
$5,700 on FanDuel

Other Wide Receiver DFS Picks for Week 15

AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

$6,800 on DraftKings
$8,200 on FanDuel

Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants

$00 on DraftKings
$5,800 on FanDuel

Tight Ends

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens will play the Bengals in Week 15. When they played last in Week 13, Likely saw 6 targets. He turned that into 5 receptions and 95 yards. The Bengals give up the most fantasy points to opposing teams’ tight ends. It is likely that Isaiah and Mark Andrews both a good plays this week.

$3,400 on DraftKings
$5,200 on FanDuel

Theo Johnson, New York Giants

The Giants play the Commanders in Week 15. The Commanders give up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends. In the last five games, Johnson is averaging six targets per game. Against the Commanders’ defense, that volume should carry Theo to good fantasy production in Week 15.

$3,500 on DraftKings
$5,200 on FanDuel

Other Tight End DFS Picks for Week 15

Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

$4,700 on DraftKings
$5.900 on FanDuel

Harold Fannin, Cleveland Browns

$4,000 on DraftKings
$5,700 on FanDuel

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

$5,400 on DraftKings
$6,500 on FanDuel

Defense

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles will play the Raiders in Week 15. The Raiders give up the most sacks in the league, with defenses averaging 3.8 sacks per game against the Raiders. The Eagles just had seven sacks in Week 14; they can and will get after the quarterback. It doesn’t matter if it is Kenny Pickett instead of Geno Smith; either one will be running for his life in Week 15.

$3,800 on DraftKings
$4,800 on FanDuel

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners play the Titans in Week 14. The Titans give up the third-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. I know the Titans have been better lately, but the Niners’ defense is coming off a bye week and playing at home. They should come out and hurt this Titans team.

$4,000 on DraftKings
$4,700 on FanDuel

Jacksonville Jaguars

Brady Cook may end up starting for the Jets on Sunday. The Jaguars play the Jets on Sunday. Cook took six sacks and threw two interceptions in Week 14. The Jaguars’ defense is actually good. That is all you need to know.

$3,900 on DraftKings
$4,900 on FanDuel

💔Heart Breakers

Quarter Backs

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals will play the Texans in Week 14. The Texans are the most formidable defense against quarterbacks. Not a single quarterback has surpassed 20 fantasy points against the Texans this season. Not even Patrick Mahomes in Week 14. I expect Brissett to throw the ball a lot, because that is what he does, but do not expect a ceiling game here.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

You know who has not surpassed 20 fantasy points in four of his last five games? That is correct, Patrick Mahomes has not. This week, he gets to play against a Chargers defense that is the second-toughest in the NFL against the pass. Yuck. The floor for Mahomes is low this season, and this is a floor game.

Running Backs

Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Maybe Kyren can punch in a touchdown in Week 15. He will need it even in a shootout. The Lions are the opponent, and they are a pass-funnel defense. The Lions you see give up the least amount of fantasy points to opposing teams’ running backs. I do not like Blake Corum in this game as well.

James Cook, Buffalo Bills

The Patriots give up the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing teams’ running backs. I know Cook is a great running back, one of the best in the league, but the Pats’ defense is really good at stopping the run. Look elsewhere in DFS.

Wide Receiver

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

When Rice has faced a defense that is hard on wide receivers, he has not produced. Rice had only 34 yards in Week 14. The Chargers’ defense is hard on wide receivers. How hard, you ask? Well, they give up the second-fewest amount of fantasy points to wide receivers. Rice crashes in Week 15.

Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts

This is my gimme. Danny Jones is out, and it looks like Philip Rivers may have risen from the dead and start for the Colts. The Seahawks have an outstanding defense. The combination of an old man throwing his walker to the side and hitting the field in a bad match-up has me thinking Pittman is probably not playable in Week 15. When I say probably, I mean do not play him.

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

The Patriots play the Bills in Week 15. The Bills give up the least amount of fantasy points to tight ends. Only twice this season has a tight end scored 10 or more fantasy points against the Bills. I do not expect a great game from Henry in Week 15, as a Patriots fan that makes me sad.

Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

Kenny Pickett at quarterback may revive Bowers a bit. At least I hope he does. The Eagles are up in Week 15. The Eagles give up the third fewest fantasy points to tight ends. There is hope with Pickett, but hope is not a strategy, so we will avoid Bowers in DFS altogether.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!