These Week 15 bold predictions aren’t for everyone. Most managers have their lineup locks and aren’t searching for a boost from an unlikely hero. However, depending on your league size, injuries to your team, or a few other factors, you may be looking for a miracle to move on to the semi-finals. These players at each position could be just what your lineup needs to do so.
Week 15 Bold Predictions for the 2024 Fantasy Football Season
Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
Bold Prediction: 250 passing yards, 1 touchdown; 50 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
25.0 fantasy points
Odds are that the six playoff teams in your league have a set-and-forget quarterback. However, for those who made the playoffs streaming the position, I like Bo Nix as a top-10 play with upside for this Week 15 bold prediction. There’s a chance Nix is still available to pick up considering he was on bye in Week 14 and scored just 14.16 points in Week 13. If so, I like Nix more than players like Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, and C.J. Stroud this week.
Nix and the Broncos are coming off of their bye to host the Indianapolis Colts, also off of their bye. The Colts have allowed the seventh-most passing yards and 15th-most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season. Just before their bye, they allowed rookie Drake Maye to throw for 238 yards while adding another 59 yards as a runner. Three weeks prior, Josh Allen threw for 280 yards and added another 50 on the ground, as well.
Nix has a fully healthy complement of weapons around him. Moving the ball through the air shouldn’t be much of a problem. I especially like Nix in this matchup to add points running the ball, especially with the hot-and-cold committee that is the Broncos’ backfield. Nix has averaged just three carries per game over this last five, but is averaging just over five per game this season. Especially if you’re up against Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, or Jalen Hurts in your playoff matchup, Bo Nix is a good quarterback to plug in to attempt to match the others’ rushing upside. My Week 15 bold prediction for Nix rests on him logging his third game of 50+ rushing yards as a rookie.
Sincere McCormick, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Bold Prediction: 16 carries, 85 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
14.5 fantasy points
I regret leaving Sincere McCormick off of my Week 14 bold predictions list last week in favor of Braelon Allen. I even included the possible threat of Isaiah Davis to the upside of Braelon Allen in my discussion that, while writing it, should’ve been enough to pivot to talking about McCormick instead. With this in mind, I’m making it a point to include Sincere McCormick on the Week 15 bold prediction list as a flex play with upside that could earn you a spot in the semis on Monday Night Football.
Over the last two weeks, McCormick has hardly had any competition for touches. We now know Zamir White (quad) is on Injured Reserve, though Alexander Mattison (ankle) will return in Week 15. However, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has made it known McCormick has the “starting running back” job this week.
The Raiders host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. Atlanta’s defense has allowed the 13th fewest rushing yards to running backs and the second-fewest rushing touchdown (4) to the position this season. However, here are a few of the stat lines for running backs against the Falcons over the second half of the season:
Week 9 – DAL RB Rico Dowdle – 12/75/0
Week 10 – NO RB Alvin Kamara – 17/55/0 (plus 5/54/0 receiving)
Week 11 – DEN RBs Javonte Williams/Jaleel McLaughlin/Audric Estime – 19/93/1
Week 12 – BYE
Week 13 – LAC RBs Gus Edwards/Kimani Vidal – 10/52/0
Week 14 – MIN RBs Aaron Jones/Cam Akers – 18/110/1
Nothing outrageous, but a collective 5.06 yards per carry average taking the above stat lines into account. Sincere McCormick only has 32 carries on the season, but six of them (18.75%) have gained 10 or more yards. He even gained a season-best 29 yards on a run just last week.
Whether it’s Aidan O’Connell, or likely Desmond Ridder, getting the start at quarterback in Las Vegas in Week 15, the Raiders should attempt to lean on the run game. Sincere McCormick has seen a snap count increase (8 to 26 to 41) and rush attempt increase (5 to 12 to 15) over the last three weeks. My Week 15 bold prediction leans into this trend. The boldest piece of it all is McCormick to score his first career touchdown, which would be just the fifth by a running back on the ground against the Falcons this season.
Elijah Moore, WR, Cleveland Browns
Bold Prediction: 6 receptions, 70 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
19.0 fantasy points
I’m rolling Elijah Moore back out there for my Week 15 bold prediction after he came up way short in Week 14. Moore drew just four targets in Week 14, his lowest total since logging just one in Week 6. I didn’t anticipate (checks notes) 13 targets for David Njoku just one week after logging 17 targets. Heading into Week 15, David Njoku did not practice all week with a hamstring injury. Though he’s listed as questionable, I’m not overly confident he plays. If he does, it’s hard to anticipate double-digit targets for Njoku for the third straight week.
Jameis Winston has thrown 41 or more passes in five of six starts with the Browns. The one start he didn’t in Week 12 and it was a snowstorm. In the five games Winston has thrown for 41 or more passes, Elijah Moore has averaged 9.4 targets per game. The Browns are hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15. Cleveland is currently a 4.5-point underdog. The Chiefs have also allowed a league-low 760 rushing yards to opposing running backs. Cleveland has had four running backs rush for a combined 882 yards this season. All things considered, Winston should throw north of 41 passes yet again in Week 15. At worst, Elijah Moore is a high-floor flex play in Points Per Reception leagues.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Bold Prediction: 4 receptions, 45 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
14.5 fantasy points
The 2024 season is one to forget for Jake Ferguson. He missed three games due to injury, left one early, and scored 8.3 PPR points or less in five others. He’s averaging just 8.4 points per game as the TE18 and has not scored a single touchdown. That changes this week with my Week 15 bold prediction.
Just as I did last week with tight end Grant Calcaterra on the Eagles, I’m taking advantage of Ferguson’s matchup with the Carolina Panthers this week. The Panthers have allowed a league-high 10 touchdown receptions to tight ends. That includes one to Calcaterra last week and two to Noah Gray in Week 12. Additionally, the Panthers are allowing over 11 yards per reception to the position. In what should be a more competitive game than once thought, I think Ferguson is a high-upside streaming option in Week 15.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!