At this point of the season, you’ve either been eliminated from the playoffs or are making your last dash for glory. If you’ve been eliminated but still want to have some stake in the games, you may be looking at DFS for the first time. If so, welcome to The A List! To get caught up on this column, check out my Week 1 article. To learn more about my DFS philosophy, refer to Week 2. Got other questions? As always, my DMs are open for feedback and questions, both on Twitter and Instagram,
But if you’re in your fantasy playoffs, you are still slogging through waivers and potentially making trade offers as you shore up your championship run. So while that keeps you busy, I’m here to streamline your DFS Cash decisions, so we can continue to build our bankroll as the holiday hustle crescendos. So let’s get straight to the point.
Cash is in session.
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NFL DFS Week 15
Teacher’s Pet
Garrett Wilson (DraftKings $6,000 / FanDuel $7,800)
How good has Garrett Wilson been since Mike White became the quarterback? Seriously, it has been so good to see Wilson succeed and show everyone why he was a top-ten pick in the NFL draft. And yet, he is only $6,000 on DraftKings? Against the Lions? Honestly, that price is so low I had to triple-check it because I thought it was a typo. He has averaged 22.5 DraftKings points since Mike White took over as the starter, and one of those games was against a stingy Buffalo Bills defense. Now he gets the Lions, who have given up the most points to opposing receivers since Week 11. Lock it in.
Editor’s Note: After this article was submitted, Mike White was declared Out, and Zach Wilson will start for the Jets. Austin recommends a pivot to Tee Higgins.
The Honor Roll for NFL DFS Week 15
Justin Herbert (DraftKings: $7,200 / FanDuel: $8,300)
The Los Angeles Chargers finally started getting going as their star receivers have returned to the lineup. Now they face the Tennessee Titans, who have written the script for how to beat them on a giant billboard: ignore the run game and let it fly. The Titans have given up more points to opposing quarterbacks than any team since Week 11, averaging over 27 points allowed per game in that span. Time for Justin Herbert to coax us back into overhyping his fantasy prospects with a dominant performance on Sunday.
Rhamondre Stevenson (DraftKings: $7,000 / FanDuel: $8,500)
Let’s be honest; this matchup isn’t as appealing as it was a few weeks ago. The Las Vegas Raiders have started trending up in terms of defending the run. That said, they still give up the 11th most points to opposing running backs. Additionally, Rhamondre Stevenson has been heavily utilized in the passing game, having five games with five or more receptions through Week 14. Now, we need to track the injury reports, as Stevenson went out of the game on Monday Night Football. If he starts, I’m playing him. If not, I’m pivoting to Kevin Harris, who showed some spark on Monday night.
Miles Sanders (DraftKings: $6,500 / FanDuel: $7,800)
I have been on a much-needed hiatus from Miles Sanders for the past several years. Sander won me a championship several years back, leading me to choose him as one of my keepers, just for him to fall off a cliff for several years. But after telling fantasy managers not to draft him, he has shown out, and now, I’m ready to get hurt(s) again. The Chicago Bears have given up the sixth most points to opposing running backs since Week 11. Further, Philadelphia is an 8.5-point favorite, with a 28-implied point total. Sanders will undoubtedly contribute to building that lead and keeping it padded once they get ahead.
Keenan Allen (DraftKings: $6,800 / FanDuel: $8,000)
Isn’t it nice when a team has all of their best receivers healthy? Keenan Allen is coming off two consecutive games with 14 targets each. That is an absurd amount of opportunities that led to 12 receptions last week against Miami. And despite that, his DraftKings price has only increased by $300 in that time. Now, the Chargers face a depleted Tennessee secondary that simply cannot stop opposing receivers. It seems like they are still shaken from getting dominated by A.J. Brown. Time for Allen to feast.
Before you set your Week 15 NFL DFS lineups, be sure to check out Austin and Ryan’s weekly rankings!
Check the Chalkboard
Isiah Pacheco (DraftKings: $5,900 / FanDuel: $7,600)
I have been slow to warm up to Isiah Pacheco, in part because the Kansas City offense is so dynamic it’s hard to find a fantasy relevant running back. But this week, he gets an incredible matchup against the Houston Texans. Kansas City should dominate this week, getting up early and then running the clock out. As such, Pacheco should get plenty of rushing opportunities. Additionally, he has started to get involved in the passing game, adding to a healthy floor. As a result, I imagine he will be highly rostered as DFS players chase the easy matchup.
Participation Grade
Elijah Moore (DraftKings: $3,600 / FanDuel: $5,600)
Yes, this is the second Jets receiver I picked this week, but this matchup is too good, and Elijah Moore is too cheap. If he catches one touchdown, he is already halfway to paying off, and I believe the Jets will need to pass way more than that to stay competitive in this game. The Detroit Lions are defending the run with the best of them but are still struggling in the secondary. Because of that, there is an easy pathway for the Jets to have two fantasy-relevant receivers on Sunday. Plus, Moore is only $3,600 on DraftKings. You can’t get much better than that.
Editor’s Note: After this article was submitted, Mike White was declared Out, and Zach Wilson will start for the Jets. Austin still likes Moore at his current price.
Back of the Classroom Studs for NFL DFS Week 15
Drake London (DraftKings: $4,700 / FanDuel: $6,300)
I have not been this excited about a week of football since the season’s opening game. It’s finally time. Desmond Ridder season is here. Sure, we haven’t seen Ridder play a snap of regular-season football yet. But I got enough in the regular season to know one thing: he is more accurate than Marcus Mariota. And say what you will about the Falcon’s offensive scheme, one of the primary things impacting their pass catchers this season has been the inconsistency of Mariota. So with Ridder under center, I’m looking for Drake London to get going. His price has also dropped to a point where a five-catch, 50-yard, one-touchdown game returns his value—time to Rise Up.
Mike White (DraftKings: $5,400 / FanDuel: $7,000)
Mike-White-season continues as the New York Jets take on the Detroit Lions, who have given up the second-most points to opposing quarterbacks since Week 11. White has continued to look competent in this offense, consistently putting up yards, despite facing trouble in the red zone against Buffalo last week. As we’ve seen in recent weeks, opposing offenses can aptly pass the ball against Detroit, and I expect New York to do the same with this proliferating pass game.
Editor’s Note: After this article was submitted, Mike White was declared Out, and Zach Wilson will start for the Jets. Austin recommends a pivot to Dak Prescott.
Latavius Murray (DraftKings: $5,100 / FanDuel: $6,500)
This may be the first time I have selected a Broncos running back since Javonte Williams went down with that season-ending injury. But the matchup is too good, as Arizona is giving up the seventh most points to opposing running backs since Week 11. Latavius Murray has been the dominant running back in Denver and has a high touchdown upside. Further, if Russell Wilson sits, Denver may just want to grind it out and slow the game down, which will benefit their running backs.
Dalton Schultz (DraftKings: $4,400 / FanDuel: $6,500)
Is anyone else exhausted by the constant work of finding a fantasy-relevant tight end? It has felt impossible to find a tight end you can genuinely count on outside of Travis Kelce. Honestly, the only reason I’m not contemplating Kelce this week is that I’m looking to spend up elsewhere. This is where Dalton Schultz comes in, who faces a Jacksonville Jaguars team that has given up the most points to tight ends since Week 11. Further, with Jacksonville being more successful against the run in recent weeks, Dallas will need to pass to get the win on Sunday.
Greg Dulcich (DraftKings: $3,600 / FanDuel: $5,600)
Want an even cheaper option at tight end? I’m still looking to target Greg Dulcich, who has been lining up as a receiver as the Broncos receiver room is facing numerous injuries. Now, this option becomes less juicy if Russell Wilson doesn’t start, in which case I’ll likely pivot to someone like Foster Moreau.
Atlanta Falcons (DraftKings: $2,500 / FanDuel: $3,300)
Look, I need something to cheer for, okay? Just kidding, it’s Desmon Ridder season, baby; I’ve got plenty to cheer for now. In all seriousness, the Falcons are coming off a much-needed bye week to a matchup that, oddly enough, has playoff implications. But let’s be honest, this is about taking the best punt play I can find. The Falcons have Grady Jarrett, who can disrupt the pocket against a struggling Saints offensive line. Our secondary has left plenty to be desired, but hey, anything is possible when Andy Dalton is throwing the ball. Take the cheap option and spend big elsewhere.
Denver Broncos (DraftKings: $2,700 / FanDuel: $3,700)
The Denver Broncos’ defense has been incredible this year. Sure, they just got blown out by Kansas City, but who hasn’t? Outside of last week, the Broncos have only allowed a team to score more than 30 points one other time. Further, they’ve only given up 20 points to opposing teams five times. Not to mention they are a consistent threat for sacks and takeaways. So fire them up against this struggling Arizona Cardinals offense.
Report Card
Scoring System
- A: Scored over three times their price
- B: Scored over two times their price
- C: Matched their price
- F: Scored lower than their price
DraftKings
| Player | Price | Points | Grade |
| Joe Mixon | $6,900 | 12.6 | C |
| Josh Allen | $8,300 | 20.58 | B |
| Tony Pollard | $6,700 | 22.2 | A |
| Devonta Smith | $6,300 | 17.4 | B |
| T.J. Hockenson | $5,100 | 12.7 | B |
| Justin Jefferson | $9,000 | 36.3 | A |
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | $4,000 | 11.3 | B |
| Ryan Tannehill | $5,200 | 19.76 | A |
| D’Andre Swift | $5,800 | 6.9 | C |
| D’Onta Foreman | $5,400 | 8.6 | C |
| D.J. Chark Jr | $4,300 | 21.4 | A |
| Austin Hooper | $2,900 | 11.8 | A |
| Dallas Cowboys | $3,800 | 4 | C |
| Carolina Panthers | $2,200 | 7 | A |
| Overall | $75,900 | 212.54 | B |
| Season Long | $1,077,000 | 2,795 | B |
FanDuel
| Player | Price | Points | Grade |
| Joe Mixon | $8,500 | 11.6 | C |
| Josh Allen | $8,700 | 20.58 | B |
| Tony Pollard | $7,500 | 20.2 | B |
| Devonta Smith | $7,000 | 14.9 | B |
| T.J. Hockenson | $7,500 | 8.7 | C |
| Justin Jefferson | $9,300 | 27.8 | B |
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | $5,500 | 9.8 | C |
| Ryan Tannehill | $6,700 | 18.76 | B |
| D’Andre Swift | $7,200 | 5.4 | F |
| D’Onta Foreman | $6,900 | 8.1 | C |
| D.J. Chark Jr | $5,700 | 18.4 | A |
| Austin Hooper | $4,900 | 9.3 | C |
| Dallas Cowboys | $5,200 | 7 | C |
| Carolina Panthers | $3,600 | 4 | C |
| Overall | $94,200 | 184.54 | C |
| Season Long | $1,291,500 | 2,428 | C |
Looking for more Week 15 NFL DFS plays with the best possible matchups? Our Weekly Matchup Report gives you that info every Wednesday.