NFL DraftKings Plays: Week 15

Week 15 of the NFL slate is upon us, and we have several great games to target for DraftKings. Even though Week 1 feels like yesterday, we only have three more weeks of regular-season action, followed by some playoff slates, so we have to make this limited time count. No real weather concerns this week, opening up the game pool, so nothing is off limits. However, there are a few games that you’ll want to focus on this week.

The Detroit Lions against the Los Angeles Rams have a projected point total of 55. And the Cincinnati Bengals’ matchup against the Baltimore Ravens is projected to total 51.5 points. So, if I do not mention a particular player from either of those games or the AFC East matchup taking place in Foxborough, they are all in play for DraftKings lineups today. For our first play, we will be going out west instead, for a quarterback in a great matchup.

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Favorite DraftKings NFL plays for Week 15

Quarterback

Favorite Play: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (6.2k)

With how many fantasy points the Tennessee Titans allow to the quarterback position, the ninth-most, Purdy was already on my radar. Now, with Christian McCaffrey being a late addition to the injury report, it boosts Purdy up even higher. They will not need to lean on McCaffrey much, as they are 12.5-point favorites. So it is safe to say Brock Purdy will carry the offensive load for the 49ers. And he should move the ball with relative ease, as the Titans allow the fourth-most estimated points added through the air. Everything is lining up for Purdy to have a monster day. The 49ers have the second-highest team total at 28.5 projected points. That number is only behind the Los Angeles Rams. Stafford is another great play, but I will save the DraftKings salary here with Purdy.

Contrarian Play: Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (5.4K)

Even though Toyotathon is over, Jordan Love is still an option on DraftKings. And he’s been playing lights out recently. He has three QB1 finishes in the past four weeks, including a QB2 overall finish against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. Those numbers aren’t because of Toyotathon; they are because Christian Watson has become the number one option. Something that this offense needed after Tucker Kraft tore his ACL. The Packers’ offense is currently tenth in the league in points per game over the past month. And with Josh Jacobs on the injury report, they will likely have to rely on Love and the passing game more. Denver’s defense is what makes him a contrarian option this week. They are allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, but Jordan Love is still a viable option on DraftKings that will go overlooked due to his matchup.

Running Back

Favorite Play: TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots (6.1K)

I talked about Derrick Henry in my trade article on Thursday, so it would feel cheap to use him again. So, we will go with another running back who has an excellent matchup. TreVeyon Henderson was still working his way up the depth chart the first time these two teams met. And this was the game when everyone started souring on Henderson in fantasy. Antonio Gibson got injured in this one, and Henderson still struggled to get on the field.

Well, now things couldn’t be more different. Henderson has finally come into his own with two breakout performances, totaling over 30 DraftKings points against the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His numbers have lowered in the past two weeks in games where Rhamondre Stevenson has been active after returning from injury. I believe both running backs are in play for this matchup. The Bills allow the seventh-most fantasy points, the most rushing touchdowns, and the sixth-most rushing yards. Against a team that averages the sixth most rushing attempts is a matchup I want to target. I prefer Henderson, but Stevenson could work as a potential play to gain leverage on the field. Either way, I want a Patriots running back in my DraftKings lineup today.

Contrarian Play: Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders (5.8K)

The Eagles have been secretly bad against the running back position this season. They are allowing the ninth-most points to the position. That includes the last two weeks, when the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers had two running backs, posting top-24 finishes on defense. Both D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai were RB1s against the Eagles. Jeanty’s DraftKings salary is low enough to take a chance on an Eagles’ defense that is without Jalen Carter and has been allowing solid performances.

The Eagles’ defense has been susceptible to pass-catching running backs. They are allowing the fifth-most receiving yards to the position. Ashton Jeanty has the sixth most targets for running backs this season, with eight apiece in his last three games before Week 14. He could reach the optimal DraftKings lineup due to his receiving ability in a plus matchup for his skill set.

Wide Receiver

Favorite Play: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (8.7K)

The Rams are averaging the third-most passing yards per game. They are also averaging the most points per game, and the Lions are giving up the second-most points per game to receivers. There’s not much to dislike about the matchup for Puka Nacua. The Rams’ projected point total against the Lions is 30.5. Nacua is fourth in total targets at wide receiver. The only concern is his teammate. Davante Adams has been scoring all of the touchdowns this season. Outside of that, expect Puka to feast against a weak secondary that is now even weaker with star safety Brian Branch. Nacua will be in a ton of DraftKings lineups today, and he will be well worth the premium salary when it is all said and done.

Contrarian Play: Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (6.6K)

Jordan Love against the Denver Broncos is not the biggest test of recent performance vs matchup in this article. That title belongs to Michael Wilson. Wilson has been elite without Marvin Harrison Jr. In the three games without him, Wilson has had 16, 15, and 18 targets. A truly elite target share that will be tested today against the Houston Texans. The Texans are first in estimated points allowed against the pass, allowing the fewest passing touchdowns and the fifth-fewest passing yards. Wilson is a risk against this fantastic defense, but playing from behind the entire time as a double-digit underdog could allow him to see the optimal lineup on DraftKings as the Cardinals lead the league in pass attempts per game.

Tight End

Favorite Play: Harold Fanin Jr., Cleveland Browns (4K)

Coming off a TE1 overall week and his first career 100-yard game, it was one fantastic week for Fanin Jr. David Njoku missed most of this game after he scored a touchdown, and will now miss this week against the Chicago Bears. Fannin Jr. dominated the targets with 11 with no Njoku, and figures to do it again this week. The Bears are middle of the road against the tight end position, allowing the 14th most points to the position. His DraftKings salary is another main reason to pick him, as it’s only $4,000.

Contrarian Pick: Theo Johnson, New York Giants (3.5K)

Johnson is a player who could go overlooked in a great matchup today. DraftKings users will naturally gravitate to players like Brock Bowers and Trey McBride despite their tough matchups. Johnson is in a great one against the Washington Commanders. Their defense allows the third-most points to the position. And Johnson quietly amassed eight targets in that blowout loss to the New England Patriots. The Commanders’ defense is one of the worst in the league, allowing the fifth-most points. I like Johnson to score a touchdown, as we saw Josh Oliver score two for the Minnesota Vikings against the Commanders last week.

Final Thoughts

This week will be the one to play from a consolidated group of games if you so choose. However, as I have said, everything is on the table on this DraftKings slate. There are many great matchups to pick on as well that have not been mentioned. Jaxon Smith-Njigba against the Indianapolis Colts, A.J. Brown against the Las Vegas Raiders, and Ja’Marr Chase against the Baltimore Ravens.

So, keep your options open, and do not be afraid to make lineup changes before lineups lock. I wish everyone the best of luck as we near the end of this season.

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