Set your Week 15 lineups with Dalton Del Don's key start/sit advice for every game on the slate.
Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers
Start: Rico Dowdle
Dowdle has completely taken over as Dallas’ workhorse, seeing 66-of-76 RB touches over the last three games. He gets a Panthers’ defense allowing 5.0 YPC and the most average rush attempts (27.8), rushing yards (138.6), touchdowns (1.4) and fantasy points to running backs this season. Game script should remain manageable against the Panthers, so Dowdle is a borderline top-15 back this week.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns
Sit: Nick Chubb
Chubb has three touchdowns over the last three games, but he hasn’t seen a single carry in the red zone over the last two weeks. Chubb saw just 38% of the snaps and 12-of-26 RB opportunities last week, and Jerome Ford has out-snapped him in two straight games. The Chiefs’ pass defense has taken a step back recently, but Kansas City has ceded the fewest RB rushing yards per game (58.5) and fantasy points to running backs this season. Chubb has averaged just 1.4 targets and 3.1 YPC since returning from injury; he’s a bench candidate to start the fantasy playoffs.
Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
Miami Dolphins @ Houston Texans
Start: Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa was the QB25 in fantasy points per game over the first 10 weeks, but he's been the QB2 behind only Josh Allen over four games since. The Dolphins rank second in neutral pass rate (65.4%) and third in pass rate over expectation (+9.6%) while Tagovailoa has averaged 325 passing yards and 2.8 TDs over that span. Sunday's matchup looks primed for a shootout while featuring teams both ranked top seven in neutral pass rate over the last five weeks. The Texans have yielded the fifth-fewest fantasy points to RBs but the 10th-most to QBs this season.
New York Jets @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Start: Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas Jr. saw career highs in targets (12) and target share (40%) from Mac Jones last week. The rookie somehow ranks top-20 in yards per route run despite dealing with shaky quarterback play, and BTJ gets a Jets' defense ranked dead last in EPA/dropback since Week 9. New York has also allowed an NFL-high 81% catchable target rate on passes 10+ air yards over the last month. Thomas Jr. was close to having an epic performance two games ago, and he's a top-25 WR this week.
Sit Travis Etienne Jr., who played just 48% of the snaps and lost 19-of-27 RB opportunities to Tank Bigsby last week. The Jets' run defense has remained above average while their pass D has struggled.
Washington Commanders @ New Orleans Saints
Start: Brian Robinson Jr.
Robinson Jr. should be healthier coming out of the bye, and he'll see extra work with Austin Ekeler on IR. The Saints have allowed an NFL-high 5.4 YPC since Week 6, and they rank 30th in EPA/rush and 31st in Success Rate over that span. Robinson Jr. has gotten the seventh-most YPC (4.9) over the timeframe, and he's on pace for 11 rushing touchdowns despite missing three games and playing injured through multiple others. The Commanders are more than touchdown favorites against a Saints team starting Jake Heaner or Spencer Rattler at QB, so game script should be highly favorable. Robinson Jr. is a top-15 back this week.
Baltimore Ravens @ New York Giants
Sit: Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Tracy Jr. set career highs in snap rate (83%), RB rush share (89%) and target share (21%) last week. He's an emerging star who will be well worth targeting in 2025 fantasy drafts, but Tracy Jr. has an uphill battle Sunday. The Ravens have allowed an NFL-low 3.6 YPC and the second-fewest RB rushing yards per game (64.4). Moreover, the Giants are 16-point underdogs with Tommy DeVito starting. New York has an implied team total (13.5 points!) that requires a microscope to find, so look for Tracy Jr. alternatives if possible.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans
Start: Calvin Ridley
Ridley leads the league in air yards since DeAndre Hopkins was traded, and the Bengals have yielded the fifth-most fantasy points to outside receivers this season. Ridley saw two targets inside the five-yard line last week, as he continues to come close to much bigger games. Volume should be there again Sunday, as the Titans will likely be in a negative game script as underdogs against a surging Bengals offense.
New England Patriots @ Arizona Cardinals
Start: Kyler Murray
Murray’s unquestionably had an up-and-down fantasy season; he’s produced four top-five QB weekly finishes and four bottom-10. But he gets a favorable home matchup this week against a New England defense that ranks toward the bottom of the league in pressure rate. The Cardinals have the third-highest implied team total (26.5 points) this week, when Murray ranks as a top-10 QB.
Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos
Start: Bo Nix
Nix has quietly been fantasy's QB5 since Week 5, as he continues to improve and attack more downfield. Nix's YPA has jumped significantly (1.6 yards) against zone coverage (h/t TruMedia), which the Colts have used at the league's highest rate (80%). Denver sports the league's sixth-highest PROE over the last month, and this matchup should be fast-paced with a lot of plays. Nix is a top-10 QB coming out of his bye.
Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions
Start: Jared Goff
Goff has averaged three touchdown passes over his last four home games, and Buffalo’s offense should help push for more volume in a high-paced matchup Sunday. The Bills have a solid if not strong pass defense, but Matthew Stafford lit them up last week, and opposing quarterbacks have thrown multiple TDs in four of the past five games against Buffalo – the other occurring in a snowstorm that featured no passing. The Lions are projected to score a league-high 28.5 points this week, so Goff is worth starting in a matchup with a whopping 54.5-point total.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Los Angeles Chargers
Start: Rachaad White
White saw 80% of the snaps and 11-of-14 carries after Bucky Irving left last week’s game, finishing as fantasy’s RB4. The Buccaneers have used an inventive offense often featuring two-back sets and designed targets to their RBs, so White is worth starting even in a tougher matchup on paper. He could once again be looking at a heavier workload. Irving remained out of practice Thursday, so there’s a good chance he’s limited even if he’s able to play. White is a borderline top-20 back this week.
Stone Smartt is a sleeper if you're searching for a tight end. Will Dissly is out, Ladd McConkey remains limited at best, and Smartt has an intriguing profile. Tampa Bay has allowed the second-most targets (7.8) and receiving yards (70.5) to tight ends this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Sit: Najee Harris
Harris’ snap share fell to 42% last week when he also got just 45.7% of the running back opportunities. Jaylen Warren plays more on passing downs (Harris ran just seven routes last week), and Pittsburgh enters 5.5-point underdogs Sunday. Harris has been the RB17 during wins but the RB39 during losses this season. The Eagles have ceded the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs (and the second-lowest EPA/rush), and the Steelers have one of the lowest implied team totals (18.5 points) in a slow-paced matchup this week.
Green Bay Packers @ Seattle Seahawks
Start: Zach Charbonnet
Charbonnet replaced an injured Kenneth Walker last week and erupted for one of the season's biggest fantasy performances. Charbonnet accounted for a whopping 47% of Seattle's scrimmage yards and gained the third-most yards after contact in any game this year. Walker missed Thursday's practice and remains "day-to-day" with his calf injury. It doesn't sound like a long-term concern, but Charbonnet figures to remain a major part of Seattle's game plan Sunday night even if Walker returns (after missing practices).
The Packers have allowed the most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs over the last five weeks, so Charbonnet should have another nice game receiving. He's a top-20 back this week.
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
Sit: D’Andre Swift
Swift set season-highs in snap share (79%) and route share (68%) last week with Roschon Johnson out, although it didn’t translate into much fantasy production. Johnson could return this week, but Swift’s matchup is more concerning. The Vikings have yielded by far the lowest EPA/rush and the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. The Bears have a lowly 18.5-point implied total and are touchdown underdogs; Swift has been fantasy’s RB4 during wins this season, but he’s been the RB35 during losses.
Atlanta Falcons @ Las Vegas Raiders
Start: Darnell Mooney
Mooney has more receiving yards (and just one fewer TD) than Drake London this season. Mooney's fantasy production has slipped thanks to Kirk Cousins sporting a 0:8 TD:INT ratio over the last four games, but that should change Monday night. Cousins has thrown 12 of his 15 picks against zone coverage this season, which the Raiders have used at the league's seventh-lowest rate (h/t TruMedia).
Mooney's target rate and fantasy points per route run both jump against man coverage, and Las Vegas has been an extreme pass funnel over the last five weeks; the Raiders have allowed the fifth-fewest schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs but the second-most to wide receivers over that span. The Falcons have a healthy 24.5-point implied total, so treat Mooney as a top-30 WR this week.
