Football
Fantasy Football Week 15: Purdy, Robinson & McLaughlin's Storylines
2024-12-10
Two offenses that made a big impact in Week 14 are all set to kickstart Week 15. Will they maintain their hot streaks and build on last week's fantasy-friendly Thursday Night Football game? Additionally, the other two most captivating storylines for this week come from teams emerging from their byes. Let's dive into the details.
Uncover the Fantasy Potential in Week 15's Showdowns
Will Week 15's NFC West Showdown Match Last Week's Fireworks?
The Rams and 49ers have clear fantasy starters, similar to last week's expected high-scoring battle between the Packers and Lions. Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and George Kittle are must-starts. But there could be even more fantasy goodness in this week's NFC West showdown on Thursday Night Football.Matthew Stafford is on a roll, tossing multiple touchdowns in six of his previous seven games and clearing 275 passing yards five times. When healthy, the LA offense is a force to be reckoned with, and their offensive line keeps Stafford upright.Brock Purdy rebounded from a bad game in the snow. Without Trent Williams on Sunday, he had an explosive performance, providing hope that he can succeed this week if the star tackle is sidelined again. The Rams also have a vulnerable pass defense, as Purdy threw for 292 yards and rushed for 41 yards in Week 3 without Kittle and Deebo Samuel.Sadly, Deebo Samuel is no longer a reliable fantasy option. He's had fewer than 25 receiving yards in four consecutive contests, and even with five rush attempts in Week 14, he managed only 13 scoreless yards.Fortunately, Jauan Jennings has emerged as a valuable asset in fantasy leagues. In three of his previous five games, he's had at least seven receptions and 90-plus receiving yards, with excellent underlying data and three receiving touchdowns. Since Week 10, Jennings has a high route participation rate, a significant air-yard share, a good target share, and a high first-read percentage. He's been a reliable WR1 and at worst a high-end WR2. He should have been listed among the top fantasy players earlier, but it's important to remind readers of his talent.Isaac Guerendo made the most of his first NFL start. He had 15 rush attempts, 78 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, two targets, and 50 receiving yards. Unfortunately, he left the game early with a possible foot sprain, which is not ideal for his recovery.The 49ers added Israel Abanikanda and Patrick Taylor to their roster. Abanikanda was inactive in Week 14, while Taylor was Guerendo's backup. Taylor played more snaps and had more rushing attempts and receiving targets than Vaughn. Taylor isn't a must-start RB2 if Guerendo is out, but he could be a waiver claim if he gets more opportunities.Should Gamers Be Excited About the Commanders After Their Week 14 Bye?
The Commanders have legitimate fantasy talent. Jayden Daniels is the QB6 in points per game, Brian Robinson is tied for the RB19 in half PPR points per game, Terry McLaurin is the WR9 in half PPR points per game, and Zach Ertz was the TE12 in half PPR points per game. Their offense was underwhelming in some games but showed great potential in others.Washington has a favorable matchup and betting information coming out of their bye. They are 7.5-point favorites, and the game's total is 43.0 points, indicating a high-scoring game. Gamers should be excited to start Daniels and McLaurin.Robinson is also a tempting option. With Austin Ekeler on the Injured Reserve, Robinson became the team's lead runner. He had a high route participation rate in their blowout victory in Week 13 and should see an even higher rate in competitive games.Robinson has a great matchup this week. The Saints have allowed a lot of rushing and receiving yards to running backs this season. B-Rob is an RB1 this week and a promising option going forward.Ertz is a viable low-end TE1. Ben Sinnott was behind Ertz and John Bates in the previous four games. Even if the rookie tight end sees a boost after the bye, it won't affect Ertz's position in the depth chart.Noah Brown is a worthy bench stash in 14-team leagues. In Washington's last four games, he had a high route participation rate and some solid receiving stats. There's room for his role to grow.Do the Broncos Have Any Intriguing Deep-League Sleepers Coming Out of Their Bye?
Like the Commanders, the Broncos are coming out of their bye. Bo Nix has become a reliable QB1. He's in the top 15 in points per game since Week 5.Courtland Sutton is a reliable fantasy option. Despite a slow start to the season, he's been in the top 15 in half PPR points per game since Week 3.Sadly, no other player has emerged as a consistent fantasy option in Denver's offense. But there are two players in deep leagues or desperate managers should consider: Jaleel McLaughlin and Marvin Mims.McLaughlin had a season-high in rush attempts and rushing yards in Week 13. He's a shifty, explosive running back but is undersized. The Broncos will likely pair him with bigger running backs. His size is a drawback in pass protection, but he's had multiple receptions in several games. His explosiveness is notable in a favorable matchup against the Colts.Mims probably has a limited playing time due to his size, but he has explosiveness that others in the receiving corps lack. Sean Payton has found creative ways to use him. Since Week 10, he's had a good target per route run, a decent number of receptions and receiving yards, and some rushing attempts. He has a low floor but could be helpful in 14-team leagues or larger.Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.