• Chuba Hubbard has top-5 upside in Week 15: Hubbard ought to see near 30 touches this weekend in opposition to a Dallas Cowboys protection that has allowed the fifth most fantasy factors to the working again place in 2024.
• Don’t sleep on Tee Higgins: No one needs to be anxious about Higgin’s poor Week 14 efficiency. Higgins was averaging 22 fantasy factors per recreation over his earlier 5 video games performed earlier than this previous Monday.
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Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Are you struggling to set your fantasy lineups? Maybe I might help… Below yow will discover my prime fireplace (growth) and ice (bust) gamers at every place for Week 15. I additionally embody my sleeper of the week at every place in case you’re in a deeper league or in want of a alternative for an ice participant.
Don’t miss my Fire & Ice chart on the backside of this web page. There, I’ve listed out all of my fireplace, good, sleeper and ice performs for Week 15 of the 2024 fantasy soccer season.
Quarterbacks
Fire QB Start of the Week: Tua Tagovailoa (at HOU)
Typically, it’s laborious to belief Tagovailoa to carry out nicely on the highway … however it is a nice matchup and at the very least the sport might be performed in a dome and never in chilly climate. The Houston Texans have allowed a league-high 26 cross touchdowns in 2024, whereas Tagovailoa ranks second within the NFL with 12 passing touchdowns since Week 10, behind solely Joe Burrow (13). The Texans even let Mac Jones throw two touchdowns and put up 20 fantasy factors in opposition to them in Week 13 earlier than their bye.
Tagovailoa has scored at the very least 23 fantasy factors in 4 straight weeks and he’s certain to make it a fifth straight this week in Houston.
Sleeper QB of the Week: Anthony Richardson (at DEN)
Richardson has began to be a strong fantasy producer after a disastrous begin to his sophomore season. Since getting grounded/benched for a number of weeks, Richardson has stepped up his play now that he’s again beneath heart. Richardson has scored 21-plus fantasy factors in two of his final three video games whereas scoring three dashing touchdowns in that span.
In the Denver Broncos‘ final recreation, they let Jameis Winston put up 497 passing yards, 4 touchdowns and 33 fantasy factors in opposition to them … in their very own dwelling. Sure, in addition they picked him off 3 times and introduced two again to the home, however Winston nonetheless had a stellar fantasy day. Richardson has an identical mindset to Winston when making choices as a passer — “screw it, I’m going deep … somebody might be there.”
Ice QB Start of the Week: Jordan Love (at SEA)
Love’s landing fee was absurd for the second half of final season by way of the beginning of this season, nevertheless it has come again right down to actuality as of late. Over his final six video games performed, Love has scored simply six touchdowns and has put up fewer than 15 fantasy factors in 4 video games throughout that span.
The Seattle Seahawks have allowed opposing quarterbacks to attain simply 15.2 fantasy factors per recreation since their Week 10 bye. Plus, it’s by no means simple to play in Seattle, and with the crew preventing to remain in first place of their division, the “twelfth man” might be further loud on Sunday evening.
Running Backs
Fire RB Start of the Week: Chuba Hubbard (vs. DAL)
Only Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley and Kyren Williams have had extra scrimmage touches than Chuba Hubbard since Week 3. As if he wasn’t already getting a ton of labor, Hubbard’s workload is certain to extend with the Panthers’ backfield accidents pilling up — Hubbard is the one wholesome working again left in Carolina. He had 30 touches final week and was the one working again to the touch the ball in Week 14 after Jonathon Brooks tore his ACL early within the recreation. Hubbard has scored over 20 fantasy factors in three of the final 5 weeks and will get an ideal matchup in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, who’ve allowed the fifth-most factors to the working again place in 2024.
Sleeper RB of the Week: Braelon Allen (at JAX)
Breece Hall continues to be off form on account of an injured knee, which implies the New York Jets should depend on their rookie RB duo once more this weekend. Braelon Allen began in Week 14 however didn’t get as a lot work as fantasy managers would have most well-liked, as he break up snaps and touches with fellow rookie Isaiah Davis. However, Allen outproduced Davis in yardage and had two crimson zone carries to Davis’ one — it simply so occurred that Davis introduced his one crimson zone carry 17 yards to the home. I nonetheless imagine that Allen is the man to play on this backfield and if goal-line alternatives come up, it is going to be he who known as upon.
The Jets get a juicy matchup in opposition to a Jacksonville Jaguars protection that has allowed the second most fantasy factors to working backs this season. They have allowed six working backs to attain 22-plus factors in opposition to them this season and at the very least one working again has hit 12-plus fantasy factors in opposition to them in every recreation since Week 3.
Ice RB Start of the Week: Alvin Kamara (vs. WAS)
The Saints could have both Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener beneath heart this weekend — it would come right down to whichever one wins the “who’s the least unhealthy” battle in apply this week. Fantasy expectations for any Saints participant needs to be tempered in Week 15, even Alvin Kamara’s. When Derek Carr missed three video games earlier this season from Weeks 6-8, Kamara was OK — scoring 14.7 fantasy factors per recreation in that span. However, the overwhelming majority of these factors got here from the 26 targets he noticed for a whopping 93 yards.
This isn’t a positive matchup for Kamara to pad his fantasy numbers in point-per-reception leagues because the Washington Commanders have allowed the fewest receptions to working backs this season. Saquon Barkley is the one working again who has scored greater than 11 fantasy factors in opposition to the Commanders over their final 5 video games, and it’s as a result of he dominated them on the bottom.
Wide Receivers
Fire WR Start of the Week: Tee Higgins (at TEN)
Tee Higgins put up a giant stinker in Week 14 with Dallas Cowboys’ CB DaRon Bland doing an ideal job blanketing him a lot of the recreation … however don’t let that lose religion in him as we transfer into the fantasy playoffs. In his earlier 5 video games performed earlier than final week, Higgins was averaging 10 targets, 92 receiving yards and 22 fantasy factors per recreation — he’s a stud. He could have many alternatives to get into the top zone in Week 15 and the Tennessee Titans’ corners are going to be a lot simpler to win in opposition to than the Cowboys. The solely participant within the NFL who has extra crimson zone targets than Higgins in his final three weeks performed (Weeks 11, 13-14) is his teammate Ja’Marr Chase.
Sleeper WR Start of the Week: Joshua Palmer (vs. TB)
Last week with Ladd McConkey out, Joshua Palmer led the crew with 9 targets, six receptions and 78 receiving yards in opposition to the Chiefs. This Sunday, the Los Angeles Chargers will face a really weak Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ cross protection, who’re particularly unhealthy at overlaying slot receivers this season. The Buccaneers have allowed essentially the most receiving yards out of the slot within the NFL in 2024, whereas Palmer ran a team-high 23 routes from the slot in Week 14.
As lengthy as Justin Herbert performs and McConkey doesn’t, Palmer is a prime flex possibility with unbelievable upside and a secure flooring in Week 15. If McConkey can go well with up, he could be a top-12 play of the week, whereas Palmer would fall out of flex consideration.
Ice WR Start of the Week: Tank Dell (vs. MIA)
Despite being so profitable at it in his rookie 12 months, evidently C.J. Stroud simply can not help two good fantasy huge receivers this season. Since Nico Collins returned from his long-term hamstring damage, Tank Dell has zero touchdowns and has averaged simply 2.7 receptions and seven.8 fantasy factors per recreation. The Dolphins’ cross protection has been leaky in opposition to huge receivers during the last couple of weeks however the reward isn’t well worth the threat in terms of plugging Dell into your beginning lineups … particularly within the fantasy playoffs.
Tight Ends
Fire TE Start of the Week: David Njoku (vs. KC)
David Njoku has completed because the No. 2 general tight finish scorer in back-to-back week and has scored at the very least 17 fantasy factors in 5 of seven video games performed with Jameis Winston. He will get a brilliant favorable matchup this Sunday in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs who’ve allowed essentially the most targets, receptions, and receiving yards to tight ends this season — they’ve allowed almost 100 extra receiving yards to tight ends than another crew.
Note: Unfortunately, Njoku is coping with a hamstring damage that popped up on the damage report on Wednesday – so control that earlier than Sunday’s recreation. Jordan Akins would change into a strong sleeper possibility if Njoku is inactive.
Sleeper TE of the Week: Jake Ferguson (at CAR)
It was a disappointing return for Jake Ferguson, who scored simply 6.2 fantasy factors in Week 14 after lacking the 2 prior video games in concussion protocol. Many had been anxious about Luke Schoonmaker taking a giant chunk of his position as he carried out nicely in Ferguson’s absence, however that truly was the case final Sunday. Ferguson performed double the snaps as Schoonmaker and noticed 4 extra targets than him in Week 14. Ferguson is the person you need to begin if you’re going with a Cowboys’ tight finish in your fantasy lineup.
This is Carolina Panthers matchup offers Ferguson an ideal alternative to bounce again. No crew has allowed extra fantasy factors to tight ends than the Panthers in 2024.
Ice TE Start of the Week: Zach Ertz (vs. NO)
Zach Ertz has hit 12-plus fantasy factors in three straight weeks on account of discovering the top zone in every of these video games. However, his receiving yard manufacturing is lower than spectacular — Ertz has not hit 50 yards in a recreation since Week 8, and has averaged simply 31 receiving yards per recreation since Week 9. He wants to attain a landing to offer a very good fantasy day, however sadly, the Saints have allowed only one landing to a decent finish all season lengthy.
Fire & Ice Fantasy Football Plays
Here, I categorize each related fantasy participant into 5 completely different buckets: (1) fireplace begins (greatest begins of the week); (2) thumbs up (good begins); (3) Risky gamers with upside (sleepers); (4) Ice begins (predicting unhealthy efficiency from good participant); (5) Stop (should sits).
Note: If a participant/protection isn’t listed, I’m not contemplating beginning them in Week 15. Also, I didn’t embody Rams/49ers gamers as they play on Thursday evening.
Fire 🔥
- QB: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, Justin Herbert
- RB: Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson, Chase Brown, Saquon Barkley, Joe Mixon, Jahmyr Gibbs, Zach Charbonnet, Chuba Hubbard
- WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, A.J. Brown, Justin Jefferson, Terry McLaurin, Tyreek Hill, Courtland Sutton, Ladd McConkey (if he performs)
- TE: Trey McBride, Travis Kelce, David Njoku (if he performs), T.J. Hockenson
- DEF: Ravens, Vikings, Broncos, Chiefs, Jets
Thumbs Up 👍
- QB: Jalen Hurts, Sam Darnold, Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, Bo Nix
- RB: De’Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor, Rico Dowdle, David Montgomery, James Cook, Tony Pollard, James Conner, Aaron Jones, Brian Robinson Jr., Najee Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson
- WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Drake London, Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson, Zay Flowers, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, DJ Moore, Jordan Addison, Jaylen Waddle, DeAndre Hopkins, Josh Palmer (if Ladd McConkey is OUT)
- TE: Brock Bowers, Jonnu Smith, Sam LaPorta, Pat Freiermuth, Mark Andrews, Jake Ferguson, Tucker Kraft
- DEF: Steelers, Eagles, Chargers, Cardinals, Commanders, Seahawks
Upside 📈
- QB: Anthony Richardson, Jameis Winston, Geno Smith, Will Levis, Caleb Williams, Kirk Cousins
- RB: Rachaad White/Bucky Irving (if he performs), Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Tank Bigsby
- WR: Malik Nabers, DK Metcalf, Jameson Williams, Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, Khalil Shakir, Amari Cooper, Josh Downs, Ray-Ray McCloud, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston, Darnell Mooney, Adam Thielen
- TE: Hunter Henry, Chig Okonkwo, Luke Schoonmaker, Dalton Kincaid
- DEF: Bengals, Dolphins, Cowboys, Falcons
Ice 🥶
- QB: C.J. Stroud, Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers, Drake Maye, Russell Wilson, Bryce Young
- RB: Alvin Kamara, D’Andre Swift, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Isiah Pacheco, Gus Edwards, Nick Chubb, Sincere McCormick, Travis Etienne, Jaylen Warren
- WR: DeVonta Smith, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Tank Dell, Michael Pittman Jr.
- TE: Zach Ertz, Evan Engram, Noah Gray, Cade Otton, Cole Kmet, Michael Mayer
- DEF: Bears, Packers
Stop 🚫
- QB: Aidan O’Connell/Desmond Ridder, Tommy DeVito, Cooper Rush
- RB: Broncos RBs, Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt
- WR: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Xavier Worthy, Tim Patrick
- TE: Mike Geisicki, Dalton Schultz, Kyle Pitts, Saints TEs
- DEF: Giants, Buccaneers, Lions, Bills
