Quarterback
Philip Rivers, LAC (vs Minnesota) - Rivers came out of his rough stretch with a very strong game against Jacksonville last week. While the Jaguars are in give up mode and hitting an historic level of terrible play, Rivers is surrounded by excellent skill position talent and the Vikings have been giving up big numbers to decent quarterbacks with Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan, Dak Prescott, and Carson Wentz all going over 300 passing with multiple scores.
Eli Manning, NYG (vs Miami) - Daniel Jones returned to practice this week, but Manning is still taking first team reps and expected to play. He could get Evan Engram back, but even if he doesn’t, Manning will have his top three receivers and Saquon Barkley. He’ll also face a Miami secondary that has only given up fewer than two passing touchdowns to Brian Hoyer and Sam Darnold.
Mitchell Trubisky, CHI (at Green Bay) - Trubisky’s best two games of the season have come in the last two contests and he’s going into Lambeau, where Kyle Allen, Derek Carr, and Carson Wentz have all had solid fantasy performances against a somewhat suspect Packers defense. Trubisky has been much more involved as a runner over the last three games, with rushing scores in two of them.
Jacoby Brissett, IND (at New Orleans) - Brissett will get the benefit of facing a Saints defense that was just run ragged by the 49ers and lost two key defensive linemen. New Orleans has allowed multiple passing scores in the last five games, and as the Saints offense is also peaking coming out of Week 14, they are likely to force a pass-heavy game script for the Colts. Three of the last four quarterbacks to face New Orleans have gone over 300 yards and there’s a chance Brissett will get TY Hilton back this week.
Running Back
Boston Scott, PHI (at Washington) - Sometimes you should just go with the flow, in this case, the momentum in the Eagles backfield. Miles Sanders isn’t going away, although Jordan Howard still looks unlikely to return. Scott posted the highest total yard game of any Eagles running back this year despite playing a minor or no role coming into Week 14. Head coach Doug Pederson confirmed that Scott will remain a part of the backfield rotation against a defense that gave up over 200 total yards to Packers backs last week.
Patrick Laird, MIA (at New York Giants) - Laird’s outlook will be enhanced with Davante Parker can play this week and get out of concussion protocol, which is still up in the air at this time. Parker’s return could turn some of the seven field goal drives from Week 14 into touchdowns in Week 15, but even if Parker isn’t back, Laird is set up for a solid PPR floor game against a Giants defense that has allowed at least eight running back receptions in each of the last three games.
David Montgomery, CHI (at Green Bay) - Montgomery has a chance to make more than a dent in a Packers run defense that has been suspect this year. Last week, Adrian Peterson had a solid game as Washington’s backfield put up 165 total yards and a score. The 49ers, Chargers, Broncos, and Eagles backfields all posted multiple scores against Green Bay and five teams posted at least 140 running back rushing yards against them. The Bears should try to establish the run with Montgomery, who toted the ball 20 times last week and got some extra rest after a Thursday night game.
Latavius Murray, NO (vs Indianapolis) - Murray posted more than twice as many total yards as Alvin Kamara on just over half of the touches Kamara got, so this sleeper counts on Sean Payton seeing that Murray has more to offer the Saints offense than Kamara right now. Murray is also the better back to use in traditional goal line sets and if the team can build a lead to nurse in the second half, so there are multiple paths for Murray to hit this week.
Nyheim Hines, IND (at New Orleans) - Hines hasn’t been a big part of the Colts offense and he could lose a little prominence with a possible TY Hilton return, but if Frank Reich and Nick Sirianni want to attack a weakness of the Saints defense, they should feature Hines as a receiver. New Orleans has allowed receiving touchdowns to running backs in four of the last five games, including scores to Peyton Barber and Brian Hill.
Wide Receiver
Terry McLaurin, WAS (vs Philadelphia) - McLaurin got back in the end zone in Week 14 and should be primed for a big game against the hapless Eagles secondary in Week 15. Darius Slayton went for over 150 and two scores against them last week. Davante Parker went over over 150 and two scores the week before that. McLaurin posted 125 and a touchdown against them in Week 1 and was wide open for a second score that Case Keenum missed.
Dede Westbrook, JAX (at Oakland) - Although there was word earlier this week that DJ Chark will still travel with the team to Oakland, he hasn’t practiced yet. If he can’t go on Sunday, Westbrook will be the clear #1 receiver and the only Jaguars receiver with any momentum going into Week 15. The Raiders secondary gave up a massive game to AJ Brown last week and over 200 receiving yards to Jets receivers in Week 12.
Allen Hurns, Isaiah Ford, MIA (at New York Giants) - This one hinges on Davante Parker and Albert Wilson’s status after they ended up in concussion protocol after Week 14. If Parker is playing, Hurns would still be a low-end sleeper, but Ford would need Wilson to sit to have any possible relevance. If neither plays Ford could pick up where he left off after he helped the Dolphins almost win on the road against the Jets. This is a good wide receiver corps to probe because the Giants had allowed 10 touchdowns and eight games of at least 77 receiving yards to wideouts in the previous five games before facing the bailing wire and duct tape Eagles wide receivers last week.
Danny Amendola, DET (vs Tampa Bay) - Marvin Jones was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, freeing up targets for Amendola as the Bucs should put extra coverage on Kenny Golladay and the Lions have no backup receiver or receiving tight ends to pick up the slack. The Bucs have given up a score to a wide receiver for 11 straight games and slot receivers like Sterling Shepard, Cooper Kupp, Russell Gage and Dede Westbrook all posted strong games against them this year.
Greg Ward, PHI (at Washington) - Ward is the healthiest receiver on the Eagles roster right now and he should be prominent in the target pecking order after he gained trust from Carson Wentz last week. Washington gave up four total scores to Eagles wide receivers in the first matchup this year.
John Ross, CIN (vs New England) - The Patriots defense might seem to make Ross an avoid, but Auden Tate going on injured reserve should get Ross all of the snaps he can handle, and the Bengals should have extra incentive to give the Patriots all they can handle this week after the sideline taping incident in Cleveland last week. The Patriots have given up long scores to Kenny Stills and Mecole Hardman the last two weeks, so Ross might find a crack in the vaunted defense.
Tight End
Jonnu Smith, TEN (vs Houston) - Smith is coming on with his first touchdown since Week 8 last week and a good matchup against Houston. Last week the Texans allowed two Broncos tight ends to find the end zone on their way to a 7-153-2 combined line. Patriots tight ends only had 47 receiving yards the week before - but on two receptions. Eric Ebron had one of his best games of the year against Houston. The Titans have also got Mycole Pruitt and Anthony Firkser open for gains of 39 and 42 yards last week, so they are scheming their tight ends into big plays, like the 61-yard touchdown Smith scored the last time these two teams met.
Dawson Knox, BUF (at Pittsburgh) - Knox could get free for a big gain or two and a score against a Steelers defense that has allowed touchdowns to Charles Clay and Stephen Carlson over the last four games. Will Dissly and Hunter Henry each posted two scores games against them this year and Rams tight ends combined for 12 receptions and 99 yards.
David Njoku, CLE (at Arizona) - Njoku is getting close to full speed just in time for the Cardinals matchup that has been so good to fantasy players - at least until last week when Vance McDonald was unproductive and then left the game with a concussion. Njoku went for 4-37-1 in Week 1 in his only full game this year so this play might not be as risky as it feels.
Nick O’Leary, JAX (at Oakland) - As mentioned above, the Raiders had no answer for the Titans tight ends last week as they were geared up to stop Derrick Henry and they should be focused on Leonard Fournette this week. O’Leary was solid in the blowout loss to the Chargers last week with four catches for 30 yards and a score - his second game with four catches and at least 30 receiving yards since he took over the frequently vacated position for Jacksonville. Oakland has given up nine touchdowns to tight ends this year.
