- Not great: New York Jets QB Zach Wilson will start for Mike White (ribs), resulting in a downgrade for all skill-position players involved.
- Patriots gonna Patriot: There is all sorts of uncertainty inside the New England Patriots backfield with both Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and Damien Harris (thigh) listed as questionable.
- Tee time?: Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins (ankle) is officially questionable, although his full participation in Friday’s practice is a good sign for him getting his usual full-time role.
Estimated reading time: 17 minutes
QB | RB | WR | TE
Quarterback
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (knee, out), Tyler Huntley (concussion, not listed): Huntley will start Saturday against the Cleveland Browns. Huntley hasn’t stood out as a particularly efficient passer during his seven extended appearances over the past two seasons, but his rushing production has been borderline erotic from a fantasy football perspective, posting 7-40-0, 6-45-0, 13-73-2, 6-54-0, 12-72-0, 10-41-1 and 9-31-0 rushing lines. Adjusting the rankings isn’t as easy as crossing out Jackson’s name and inserting Huntley’s, but this backup has the profile of someone capable of being far better at fantasy football as opposed to real life.
Expert Injury Analysis: Jackson will miss another week with his sprained PCL, He could miss another week or two. Huntley passed through the five-step concussion protocol in four days. This would mean he had to of never actually suffered a concussion last week or there is no way he could go through the protocol that quickly.
Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (knee, IR), Colt McCoy (neck, not listed): Long-term ceiling and rushing ability be damned, McCoy hasn’t exactly been a major dropoff from Murray when it comes to throwing the football. Overall, Murray and McCoy have put up similar numbers in yards per attempt (6.1 vs. 6.3) and adjusted completion rate (77% vs. 76.8%). Yes, McCoy only has one passing touchdown in three extended appearances this season. Also yes, his latter two games have come against the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots, which are not exactly the easiest matchups in the world. This week’s primary problem unfortunately ties back to McCoy’s bad luck in opponent, as the Denver Broncos are PFF’s single-highest-graded defense in terms of pure coverage grade. Ultimately, the Cardinals are implied to score just 16.75 points – the second-lowest mark in Week 15. Hopkins and James Conner have the sort of matchup-proof volume to not overly worry about week-to-week start/sit decisions, but otherwise, I’ll be answering the heavy majority of close questions involving a Cardinals player with the other guy.
Expert Injury Analysis: Murray suffered a torn ACL Monday night and will undergo surgery. He has a chance to be back for Week 1 but I think it is more likely he returns after 10 months, around the middle of October 2023. I have no concerns for McCoy in Week 15.
Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields (illness, not listed): Fields is good to go for Sunday’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The only concern for the stretch run is whether Fields will continue to be deployed so consistently on the ground while continuing to play through his left shoulder injury. Overall, Fields’ three designed rush attempts in Week 13 paled in comparison to the 12, five, seven, 10 and 11-such carries that he had in five games prior to getting injured. Fields will be tested more than ever against the Eagles’ second-ranked defense in fantasy points per game allowed to the position, but this sort of rushing volume makes the Bears QB1 a cheat code of sorts in fantasy land. The only quarterbacks I would start ahead of Fields in fantasy this week are Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes and (probably) Justin Herbert.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Fields in Week 15.
New York Jets QB Mike White (rib, out): Zach Wilson will start Sunday against the Detroit Lions. It’d be nice to think White could serve as an upside QB2 option against the Lions’ 31st-ranked scoring defense, but that’s likely wishful thinking the way that the 2021 NFL Draft’s No. 2 overall pick has played throughout his short career. All Jets offensive weapons deserve to be downgraded.
Expert Injury Analysis: White tried his hardest to get cleared by multiple doctors and was unsuccessful. I expect White to be cleared in time to play in Week 16.
Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (toe, questionable): Lawrence is fully expected to suit up for Sunday’s potential sneaky shootout against the Dallas Cowboys. Overall, T-Law has posted QB4, QB9, QB28, QB9, QB10, QB5, QB18 and QB1 performances in his last eight games, he’s a no-doubt top-10 option at the position down the stretch despite back-to-back incoming difficult matchups against the Cowboys and Jets.
Expert Injury Analysis: Lawrence will have no limitations in Week 15.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson (concussion, out): Brett Rypien will be under center for Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals. A matchup against the Cardinals’ league-worst scoring defense certainly isn’t anything to fear, although the Broncos’ league-worst scoring offense hasn’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt in their own right. Rypien is nothing more than a thin QB2 play in Superflex/two-QB formats. Jerry Jeudy is the only man on this offense who fantasy managers should feel even somewhat good about starting in the fantasy playoffs.
Expert Injury Analysis: Wilson was cleared from the five-step concussion protocol but the team has elected to give him another week before letting him play. I expect Wilson to be back in Week 16.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (concussion, doubtful): Pickett briefly cleared the concussion protocol last week, played another drive without taking any additional hits and then was ruled out shortly after. Make sense? Cool, I don’t get it either. The Steelers will announce whether Mitch Trubisky or Mason Rudolph will be under center on Saturday. Fantasy managers should try to avoid everyone involved in this offense this week if they can at all help it.
Expert Injury Analysis: I do not believe Pickett will clear the five-step concussion protocol in time to play this week but I do expect him back in Week 16.
Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle, not listed): Continuing to play through the pain. Tannehill might not need to do too much on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers’ piss-poor run defense. Don’t be surprised if Derrick Henry gets all the carries that he can handle, especially with the Titans’ wide receiver room so banged up at the moment.
Expert Injury Analysis: I expect no limitations for Tannehill in Week 15.
Running back
Las Vegas Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (quad/hand, questionable): The likely 2022 fantasy MVP, Jacobs earned matchup-proof upside RB1 treatment a while ago. Fire up the NFL’s leading rusher as just that against a Patriots defense that has been truly handled at the line of scrimmage this season against the Ravens (188 rushing yards), Green Bay Packers (199) and Bears (243).
Expert Injury Analysis: I expect Jacobs to play through his recent hand injury in Week 15.
New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley (not listed): The good news is that Barkley isn’t even on the Week 15 injury report, and head coach Brian Daboll said there would be no restrictions on his Week 15 usage, but the bad news is that the Washington Commanders have a damn good defense against opposing running backs, and Barkley has emerged as more of a touchdown-dependent RB2 due to career-low marks in receiving yards per game (20.1) and targets per game (4.2). The going on the ground has been awfully rough lately (3.6 or fewer yards per carry in five of last six games), and scoring opportunities don’t exactly figure to be overly accessible inside of an injury-riddled Giants offense implied to score just 17.75 points this week – the fifth-lowest mark in Week 15. Barkley is much more of a borderline RB1 as opposed to a must-start top-five option at the position these days.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Barkley in Week 15.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle, questionable), Damien Harris (thigh, questionable): Stevenson has earned must-start RB1 treatment when healthy enough to suit up thanks to his extremely fantasy-friendly receiving role, but his absence could lead to a bit of a mess. Harris would be a solid candidate to see 15-plus carries against the Raiders’ 27th-ranked defense in PPR points per game allowed to the position if healthy enough to suit up. This could leave the Patriots with rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr., although J.J. Taylor could be elevated to the active roster before Sunday. Does this sound like the sort of clear-cut committee that fantasy managers should be messing around with in the playoffs? Absolutely not. Neither Harris nor Strong will be anything more than RB4 types in the same tier as James Cook, Cam Akers, Tyler Allgeier and Chuba Hubbard should both Stevenson and Harris be ruled out while the latter back would be on the RB2 borderline alongside Brian Robinson, J.K. Dobbins and D’Onta Foreman if healthy enough to return to action.
Expert Injury Analysis: Stevenson had two DNPs followed by a limited session this week. I am not optimistic that he will be ready to play in Week 15. Harris was limited all week and trending in the right direction. I am optimistic he can play in Week 15.
Houston Texans RB Dameon Pierce (ankle, out): The decision to waive Eno Benjamin was curious considering Pierce’s health, but Royce Freeman is a candidate to be elevated from the practice squad and handle a good portion of the early-down work. Dare Ogunbowale and Rex Burkhead are expected to lead the way inside of the Texans’ 30th-ranked scoring offense, and even then, rare goal-line opportunities are suddenly at risk of being siphoned away by QB/TE Jeff Driskel. Not great! Ogunbowale is my preferred play with Pierce likely sidelined, and even then, he’s more of a borderline RB3 alongside Latavius Murray, Cam Akers and Tyler Allgeier than anything fantasy managers should want to go out of their way to start.
Expert Injury Analysis: Pierce will miss this week with an ankle injury. I expect him to miss the next week or two.
Steelers RB Najee Harris (hip, not listed): The Steelers have fed Harris 15-plus carries and targets in all but three games this season, so he’s always very involved in the game plan. Still, this is the same guy who was second to only Derrick Henry (20.5 vs. 19.7) in expected PPR points per game last season. This year, Harris (13.6, RB19) simply hasn’t had a large enough workload to make up for his lack of efficiency. There’s no receiving floor here, as Harris has eight total receptions in his last five games. His average of 5.5 targets per game in 2021 has fallen to 3.1 this year. Consider that Harris has 40 targets this season while he received his 40th target on the first drive of Week 6 last year. Ultimately, the Steelers aren’t going out of their way to force-feed Harris the football this year, and he’s been even worse when it comes to simple yards per carry (3.9 vs. 3.8) and yards per reception (6.3 vs. 5.2). Oh yeah, and the Steelers rank 27th in points per game this season. Sadly, the common first or second-round pick back in August doesn’t even crack my top-24 at the position this week against an underrated Panthers defense.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Harris in Week 15.
Bears RB David Montgomery (illness, not listed): Montgomery has handled 21, 18 and 19 combined carries in targets without Khalil Herbert (hip, IR), posting PPR RB6, RB21 and RB12 along the way. The dud performance also took place in a game without second-year QB Justin Fields. Montgomery continues to profile as a volume-based RB2 inside of a Bears offense that has scored at least 24 points in five of their last seven games. This week’s matchup isn’t ideal against an Eagles defense that just got back behemoth DT Jordan Davis. Still, D-Mont should continue to see nearly 20 combined carries and targets with Herbert sidelined, as that kind of workload is awfully difficult to sit on the fantasy bench. I’m fine riding with backs with slightly less fantasy-friendly workloads – but in far better offenses – like Miles Sanders, Isiah Pacheco and Ezekiel Elliott, but just realize Montgomery should be in more starting lineups than not thanks to his continued fantasy-friendly usage.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Montgomery in Week 15.
Miami Dolphins RB Jeff Wilson (hip, questionable): Raheem Mostert is in the RB2 conversation, especially considering how little Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin have played all season. A true three-down workload is probably off the table for the 30-year-old veteran, although Mostert did handle 14, eight, 17, 19, 15, 20 and 15 touches in seven games as the Dolphins’ fairly undisputed lead back in Week 2 through Week 8 before the team traded for Wilson. Still, messy weather and a tough matchup have the Dolphins implied to score just 17.25 points – the third-lowest mark in Week 15. Head coach Mike McDaniel did run the ball against the Buffalo Bills on a robust (for them) 44% of their plays against this defense back in Week 3, but a less-close game script could lead to less volume for Mostert than fantasy managers would prefer.
Expert Injury Analysis: Wilson followed up two DNPs with a limited practice session. I do not believe he will be ready in time to play in Week 15.
Commanders RB Antonio Gibson (foot, not listed), Brian Robinson (quad, not listed): Robinson has handled 15, 26, 15, 20 and 23 touches over his past five games and was playing the best football of his young career before the Commanders’ Week 14 bye. Don’t count on getting much out of Robinson in Week 16 on the road in San Francisco, but he’s a recommended start in this spot thanks to the likelihood that 20-plus touches are again sent his way. Gibson is more of a borderline RB3 due to him only having two games with more than four targets this season despite averaging a very respectable 1.61 yards per route run on the season – the ninth-highest mark among 39 running backs with at least 25 targets this season.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Gibson or Robinson in Week 15.
Broncos RB Mike Boone (ankle, IR): Perhaps the absence of Boone leads to Latavius Murray getting even more work, but that seems a bit unlikely after Marlon Mack had himself an impressive Week 14. I’ll continue to answer the heavy majority of start/sit questions involving any Broncos running back with the other guy, even in such a tasty matchup against the Cardinals’ league-worst scoring defense.
Expert Injury Analysis: Boone's season is done since being sent to IR with an ankle injury.
New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram (knee, IR), Dwayne Washington (illness, questionable): Alvin Kamara only handled touch counts of 12, 11 and 16 in three games with Ingram sidelined in Weeks 9-11. This came despite elite snap rates of 72%, 88% and 79%. Nothing has been easy in this offense since Kamara’s three-touchdown explosion back in Week 8. Kamara is basically the running back version of Mark Andrews: Disappointing, probably playing through more pain than we know, failing in part because of their newfound not-so-good offensive environment, but ultimately someone with the sort of usage and sky-high ceiling who will continue to warrant weekly top-tier treatment. This is especially true for Kamara this week coming off a bye with only David Johnson and Dwayne Washington as competition for snaps against the Atlanta Falcons‘ mediocre defense.
Expert Injury Analysis: Ingram will miss Week 15 on IR with a knee injury and unlikely to see the field again this season.
Titans RB Dontrell Hilliard (neck, not listed): Suddenly Derrick Henry could push for even more of a workhorse role than usual without the team’s passing-down back in action. Credit to Henry for already posting career-high marks in receptions (26) and receiving yards (320) in his own right. Fire up the overall PPR RB4 as his usual top-five self against the Chargers’ bottom-four defense in both PPR points per game allowed to the position as well as yards before contact allowed per carry.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Hilliard in Week 15.
Wide receiver
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (ankle, not listed): Hill and Jaylen Waddle are two of just seven players with 1,000 receiving yards this season. Fire up the PPR WR2 and WR11 as the fantasy studs that they have been all season long, even if there have been a few more bumps in the road than usual over the past two weeks.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Hill in Week 15.
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring, questionable), Tyler Boyd (finger, questionable), Trent Taylor (hamstring, questionable): It’s unclear if head coach Zac Taylor simply hates fantasy football or takes special pleasure in attempting to hide the severity of injuries to his opponent. Alas, the Bengals head ball coach continues to simply call Higgins “day to day,” making him awfully difficult to trust as his usual upside WR2 self if “healthy” enough to suit up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is especially true considering Higgins only played 10 snaps back in Week 5 against the Ravens with an ankle issue after practicing in a limited fashion all week in addition to last week’s one-snap hamstring-induced effort. Clearly, the Bengals are comfortable making their stud third-year wide receiver active without the intention of, you know, actually playing him. At least Higgins did get in a full session on Friday, but he’s still just a WR3 behind alongside Zay Jones and D.J. Chark if active but with questions about his workload. Trenton Irwin is the main beneficiary from these injuries, but he’s not more than a low-end WR5 due to the likelihood that Ja’Marr Chase simply sees all the targets he can handle.
Expert Injury Analysis: Higgins is another risky play this week with his hamstring issue, as he is at high-risk for reinjury. I would recommend the Bengals sitting him for a couple weeks due to their championship aspirations. I expect Boyd to play in Week 15.
Carolina Panthers WR D.J. Moore (ankle, questionable), Laviska Shenault (shoulder, questionable): Moore’s talent is never in question; he literally just went for 103 yards and a touchdown back in Week 12 with plenty of that production coming right in the grill of stud Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II. Still, Moore has now finished with 30 or fewer scoreless yards in four of his last five games, and he’s now considered day-to-day with a sprained knee. This is simply an offense that doesn’t even pretend to trust Sam Darnold. Overall, the Panthers have posted a 37.7% pass-play rate in two games with Darnold under center – nearly 10% under the Falcons’ season-long mark of 47.4%, which is the lowest single-season mark since Rex Ryan’s 2009 Jets. Moore is a boom-or-bust WR4 who has done far more of the latter this season and doesn’t figure to have the same sort of volume to survive the ups and (mostly) downs of the Darnold experience in this incredibly run-heavy offense, winnable matchup be damned.
Expert Injury Analysis: I expect Moore to play without limitation in Week 15. Shenault has practiced all week on a limited basis and he is trending in the right direction to play in Week 15.
Packers WR Romeo Doubs (ankle): Doubs practiced in full all week and is expected to suit up Monday night against the Rams. Still, his spot in three-WR sets isn’t a given with each of Allen Lazard, Christian Watson and Randall Cobb healthy. Doubs is a thin WR5 play at best this week.
Expert Injury Analysis: I believe Doubs will make his return from in injury in Week 15.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (hamstring, out), Kendall Hinton (hamstring, out): Jerry Jeudy’s nine targets last week were good for his second-highest total in a game this season. It’s not a coincidence that this occurred with Sutton and KJ Hamler (hamstring, IR) both sidelined. Jeudy will warrant upside WR3 treatment as long as he remains the offense’s only real viable wide receiver. A matchup against the Cardinals’ league-worst scoring defense certainly isn’t anything to fear. I would start Jeudy ahead of guys with slightly more target competition in similarly volatile passing games like Marquise Brown, Mike Evans and Diontae Johnson.
Expert Injury Analysis: Sutton and Hinton will miss this week due to hamstring injuries. They could miss the next week or two.
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson (hip, not listed): Johnson was a mid-week addition to the injury report and didn’t practice Thursday, but he practiced in a limited fashion on Friday and is good to go for Sunday. Unfortunately, Kenny Pickett (concussion, doubtful) is unavailable, meaning Johnson will be catching passes from either Mitchell Trubisky or Mason Rudolph. Not great! The Steelers’ No. 1 receiver isn’t anything more than a low-end WR3 in fantasy land.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns about Johnson in Week 15.
Cardinals WR Marquise Brown (illness, questionable): Hollywood is tentatively expected to suit up after getting in a limited practice on Friday. Fire him up as a mid-tier WR3 in a tough matchup against the Broncos, especially with Colt McCoy under center. The Cardinals are implied to score just 17.5 points this week – the third-lowest mark in Week 15. Only DeAndre Hopkins and James Conner need to be started from this offense.
Expert Injury Analysis: I believe Brown will be ready to go in Week 15.
Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers (concussion, questionable), DeVante Parker (concussion, out): Head coach Bill Belichick hasn’t been afraid to completely abandon the passing game in the past when unable to overly trust the parties involved. A similar strategy could come to fruition if three of the offense’s top-five targets on the season are all sidelined. Nelson Agholor is the best dart throw of the group, but even then, he’s not anything more than a boom-or-bust WR5 in a similar mold as Rams WR TuTu Atwell.
Expert Injury Analysis: Meyers did not log a full practice therefore I am pessimistic he will be cleared from the concussion protocol in time to play in Week 15. Parker will miss Week 15 with a concussion and I expect him to miss next week too.
Titans WR Treylon Burks (concussion, out), Robert Woods (illness, not listed), C.J. Board (rib, out): All of this is good news for TE Chigoziem Okonkwo. The Titans’ 6-foot-2, 243-pound talent boasts a 4.52-second 40-yard dash and seems capable of causing problems for just about any secondary, although expecting sustained volume down the stretch is probably wishful thinking – as is the case with anyone involved in the league’s fourth-most run-heavy offense in non-garbage time situations. Okonkwo is someone who I would start over TE2 darts like Tyler Conklin, Greg Dulcich and Robert Tonyan, although we’ve seen higher highs from guys like Pat Freiermuth, Gerald Everett and Coel Kmet.
Expert Injury Analysis: Burks will miss his second week in a row with a concussion but I expect him back in Week 16.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring, questionable), Mecole Hardman (abdominal, IR): Neither should be expected to play a full-time role if healthy enough to suit up. Hardman, in particular, isn’t expected to play. JuJu Smith-Schuster is the only true full-time wide receiver inside the league’s second-ranked scoring offense and continues to warrant rock-solid WR2 treatment. Credit to the Texans for allowing the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers this season, but their status as PFF’s second-worst group in terms of team coverage grade demonstrates the reality that they are more so horrendous against the run and incapable of staying competitive in games than overly good against the pass.
Expert Injury Analysis: I believe Toney will return from his hamstring in jury but likely will be eased back.
Jets WR Corey Davis (concussion, out): Davis’ absence should lead to enhanced roles for both Elijah Moore as well as Denzel Mims. Still, Garrett Wilson remains the clear-cut No. 1 passing-game option here with a combined 30 targets in his last three games with Mike White under center. The Lions’ 30th-ranked defense in both PPR points per game allowed to opposing wide receivers as well as team PFF coverage grade is fresh off getting absolutely flamed by Justin Jefferson (11-223-0). Don’t be surprised if Wilson provides a damn good encore this Sunday.
Expert Injury Analysis: Davis has been ruled out with a concussion this week but I am optimistic he will be cleared for Week 16.
Bears WR Chase Claypool (knee, out), N’Keal Harry (back, questionable): Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown should see some more opportunities, but still, nobody in this passing game should be overly trusted in fantasy land. Obviously, Justin Fields has been incredibly impressive since October, but he’s only surpassed even 190 passing yards in a game on two occasions all season inside of the NFL’s second-most run-heavy offense in non-garbage time situations.
Expert Injury Analysis: Claypool was a DNP all week and will miss Week 15 with a knee injury. Harry was a full participant all week and I am optimistic he plays in Week 15.
Texans WR Brandin Cooks (calf, out), Nico Collins (foot, out): Chris Moore absolutely dominated usage with a team-high 11 targets with both receivers out last week. Amari Rodgers (four) was a distant second. Moore could flirt with more (ha!) high-end volume with both starting receivers still sidelined. Of course, this doesn’t mean fantasy managers should go out of their way to play anyone involved from the league’s 30th-ranked scoring offense.
Expert Injury Analysis: Cooks and Collins have been ruled out again in Week 15. With the way the Texans season is going it's no out of the question that we have seen the last of them this season.
Buccaneers WR Julio Jones (knee, questionable): Sadly, Chris Godwin is the only must-start option inside the Buccaneers’ 28th-ranked scoring offense. The target-hot slot receiver has caught at least five passes in 10 consecutive games since returning from injury. The streak would feature six-plus receptions had he not dropped a touchdown that hilariously wound up being caught by Russell Gage last week. Even Mike Evans isn’t someone fantasy managers need to start against a Bengals defense that has allowed fewer PPR points per game to opposing wide receiver rooms than everybody except the Texans, Jets, Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.
Expert Injury Analysis: Jones was a DNP for most the week but got a limited session in Friday and he will be a game-time decision in Week 15.
Giants WR Richie James (concussion, questionable): The only thing holding back Darius Slayton from more consistent WR3 treatment is the reality that there isn’t much overall meat on the bone in this low-volume passing game. Daniel Jones has cleared 230 passing yards in a game just once this season. He’s thrown 12 total touchdowns in 13 weeks of action. Tentatively fire up Slayton as a borderline WR3 against the Commanders. He could see even more volume than usual with James sidelined.
Expert Injury Analysis: James was able to get in a full practice Friday, therefore I believe he will be cleared in time to play in Week 15.
Cleveland Browns WR Amari Cooper (hip, not listed), David Bell (thumb/toe, questionable): Cooper has 16 targets in his first eight quarters with Watson. Better days on the box score should be ahead for the season-long PPR WR13. Donovan Peoples-Jones somehow left plenty of meat on the bone during his big Week 14 with a four-yard dropped touchdown and week-high 132 unrealized air yards. Fire up the Browns’ field-stretching No. 2 receiver as a boom-or-bust WR3 with serious potential to do the former against this leaky Ravens secondary.
Expert Injury Analysis: I expect Cooper and Bell to play in Week 15.
Ravens WR Demarcus Robinson (illness, not listed): Robinson is a good candidate to lead Ravens wide receivers in targets, albeit this Tyler Huntley-led passing attack isn’t one to go out of your way to get exposure to during the fantasy playoffs. Expect Baltimore to take plenty of swings at the Browns’ shoddy run defense before leaning too heavily into the passing game.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Robinson in Week 15.
Eagles WR Quez Watkins (shoulder, not listed): Watkins will be replaced in three-WR sets by Zach Pascal if unable to suit up. Neither is realistic fantasy options in a passing game more than happy to simply flow through its top-three targets in A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert (shoulder, IR).
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Watkins in Week 15.
Tight end
Browns TE David Njoku (knee, not listed): Njoku has ripped off top-eight finishes in five of his last seven games not impacted by injury. Fire him up as a legit top-six option at the position against a Ravens defense that has already allowed six receiving touchdowns to the position this season – tied for the fifth-highest mark in the league.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Njoku in Week 15.
Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (shoulder, IR): Reports indicate the expectation is for Goedert to return to the active roster Sunday, and if not, then almost certainly on Christmas Eve against the Cowboys. We’ll know for sure if he’s active by Saturday afternoon. Ultimately, this pristine offensive environment should win out in the majority of close start/sit questions throughout the fantasy playoffs; it’s probably a good thing if your fantasy squad has anybody involved from the league’s single-best offense in terms of combined supporting cast PFF grades.
Expert Injury Analysis: I do not expect Goedert back until Week 16.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth (foot, not listed): He said earlier this week that he’ll suit up Sunday against the Panthers. It remains to be seen who will be under center for the Steelers, but just realize Freiermuth faces problems with their efficiency as well as his own health. The Steelers haven’t been afraid to split up routes fairly evenly between him and Zach Gentry from time to time. Close start/sit decisions with Freiermuth should probably go to the healthier option.
Expert Injury Analysis: No concerns for Freiermuth in Week 15.
Bengals TE Hayden Hurst (calf, out): None of the Bengals backup tight ends are realistic fantasy options due to the committee and limited targets at hand.
Expert Injury Analysis: Hurst will miss Week 15 with a calf injury. He could miss the next week or two.
Giants TE Daniel Bellinger (rib, questionable): It’d make sense if Bellinger’s reps are limited while attempting to play through the pain. Neither he nor Nick Vannett is a realistic fantasy option in this Saquon Barkley-centered offense.
Expert Injury Analysis: Bellinger has been limited all week and is trending in the right direction to play in Week 15.
Saints TE Juwan Johnson (ankle, questionable), Adam Trautman (ankle, questionable): Both should have their typical roles. Johnson is a touchdown-dependent TE2, while Trautman is well off the fantasy radar. Taysom Hill remains the preferred tight end here, but even he carries a low weekly floor inside of the Saints’ up-and-down offense.
Expert Injury Analysis: I expect Johnson and Trautman to play in Week 15.
Other
Chargers S Derwin James (quad, doubtful): This is great news for TE Chigoziem Okonkwo. The Titans’ 6-foot-2, 243-pound talent boasts a 4.52-second 40-yard dash and seems capable of causing problems for just about any secondary, although expecting sustained volume down the stretch is probably wishful thinking – as is the case with anyone involved in the league’s fourth-most run-heavy offense in non-garbage time situations.
Saints CB Marshon Lattimore (abdomen, questionable): He hasn’t played since Week 5 and didn’t shadow anybody on the Falcons when these teams matched up back in Week 1. Drake London’s projection isn’t impacted by Lattimore’s status.
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