Hey, are you there? Are you still around for the fantasy playoffs? If so, then there’s more work to be done. There’s good news, we have no more bye weeks if you were able to make it without players like Lamar Jackson, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, and Nico Collins among others last week. With that being said, you’ll now have all your healthy players at your disposal which could lead you to wonder which guys to start and bench. We’ll get to that here. In last week’s version of this article players like Khalil Shakir (WR10), Adam Thielen (WR17), Jameson Williams (WR32) and Rico Dowdle (RB16) supplied us with enough fantasy points to help our lineups. Tre Tucker finishing as WR68 and D’Andre Swift scoring a measly five fantasy points are two I don’t regret, I just wished it’d worked out better. Last week is last week, let’s get this money.
Jordan Addison, WR, Vikings vs. Bears
Addison should have been in the STOCK UP portion of my Stock Up, Stock Down article this week, but I won’t let this week go by without advising you to put him in your lineup this week. This young man has been on a tear as he’s been the WR4 in fantasy on a points per game basis over his last four games. His latest effort saw him score 39.3 fantasy points (in PPR scoring formats), which was aided by his three touchdown catches. So there’s that, then there’s the fact that the Bears are just not a good team and their morale is low. They’ve allowed a wideout to gain at least 90 receiving yards in three straight games while scoring in two of those. The Vikings are on a roll right now and so is Mr. Addison.
Isaac Guerendo or Patrick Taylor, RB, 49ers vs. Rams
You’ll have to monitor this one as Guerendo will likely be questionable (foot) heading into Thursday night. He was as advertised in Week 14 racking up 128 yards from scrimmage, scoring two touchdowns and finishing as RB2. He did this before leaving in the fourth quarter and giving way to Taylor who also scored a touchdown (and also had 25 rushing yards on seven carries) while finishing as RB30. If Guerendo is in, he’s a must-start in your FLEX spot, but if he’s not, get ready to fire up Taylor in a game against the Rams that has the second highest Over/Under of Week 15 at 49.5 points. One of these guys will see enough volume to have a chance at scoring.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Dolphins at Texans
In a game between the Dolphins and Texans where the Over/Under is 47 points (tied for third highest in Week 15), I expect a lot of passes to be thrown in this game and Waddle plays a position where you catch passes, duh. He’s been heating up lately as he’s been the WR9 in fantasy over the last three weeks on a points per game basis, so of course I’m probably jinxing him here. Tua Tagovailoa is also on fire, but what’s more important here is that he’s had at least 40 passing attempts in each of his last three games while completing at least 33 passes in each of his last two. That is massive for Waddle as that kind of volume almost eliminates whatever the matchup is. Look for Waddle to stay on track here.
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Rico Dowdle, RB, Cowboys at Panthers
Outside of this game, Dowdle could end up being a fantasy playoff hero in 2024. In two straight week’s he’s gotten career-high marks in rushing yards (112 then 131). Over the last three weeks he’s the RB11 in fantasy on a points per game basis. With no bye weeks left you may (or may not) struggle to get him in your lineup, but I’m saying for a second straight week that you must roll with him. He’s facing a Panthers defense that still can’t stop the run as evidenced by the fact that four out of the last five running backs they’ve faced reached 100 yards on the ground. Three of those ran for over 120. Dowdle may only have one rushing touchdown this season, but his chances to get a second will be high against the Panthers as they’ve allowed the most this season to running backs (15).
Josh Downs, WR, Colts at Broncos
Assuming he’s healthy enough to go, I expect Downs to assume the role of being Anthony Richardson’s favorite receiver. The Broncos have won three straight contests, but their defense has been more “name than game” recently. In their last time out (Week 13) against the Browns, they allowed Jerry Jeudy to go for a career-high 235 receiving yards while also giving up 111 to Elijah Moore. In Week 12 against the Raiders, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker combined for 203 receiving yards against the Broncos’ defense. Their last good defensive effort was against the Falcons who aren’t very good. Everyone gets scared to start receivers in fantasy because of Patrick Surtain, well he’s one guy and he’s not likely to ever be on Downs. If Downs can’t go, expect the other Colts receivers to step up.
Amari Cooper, WR, Bills at Lions
In a game where the Over/Under is a whopping 54.5 points, by far the most of any game in Week 15, you could go a lot of ways in this game. Two guys I had here last week, Khalil Shakir and Jameson Williams are also both viable FLEX plays this week. I’ll also be in on Cooper even though he continues to play a lower percentage of snaps (no more than 55%) in a game. He made it count in Week 14 as he had season high marks (including games with the Browns) in targets (14) and receiving yards (95) on six receptions. Furthermore, as the Lions defense continues to get more banged up it’s becoming harder for them to stop offenses and that’ll be a problem when Josh Allen comes to town. I expect the Bills to be in another back-and-forth shootout and Cooper should benefit.
