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Week 15 FanDuel Picks

Top Plays for FanDuel Cash Games and Tournaments

Here are the guys I’m considering for FanDuel Week 15:

Cash Game Quarterback

Bo Nix, Broncos ($7,600) vs. Colts

Since Week 5, Nix owns five games of 2+ passing TDs and 0 INTs. Per Next Gen Stats, only Lamar Jackson has more such games over that stretch.

I expect Nix to continue playing well off a bye. 

The Colts enter this one healthy but without a worrisome track record. On the year, they’re 31st in completion rate allowed, 27th in YPA allowed, and 18th in pass defense DVOA.

Tournament Quarterback

Jameis Winston, Browns ($7,000)

At this price point, FanDuel is just daring you to take Winston

And I think I’ll take the bait.

I note this below, but the Browns have a chance to get Cedric Tillman back from a multi-game absence (concussion). His return would carry extra significance with David Njoku likely out.

The Chiefs’ pass D has regressed this year – so much so that it’s now a bottom-12 unit in fantasy points allowed. One key reason why: A weaker pass rush. They sit 22nd in pressure rate; 28th in sack rate.

If Winston’s given time, we’ve seen his ability to beat defenses deep. Per PFF, he’s tallied 7 TDs (and 0 TDs) on throws of 20+ air yards. His completion rate on those attempts ranks ninth.

Also in my player pool: Kyler Murray

Cash Game Running Back

Derrick Henry, Ravens ($9,200) at Giants

Henry’s the second-most expensive RB on the slate. Yet he still ranks first at the position in our FanDuel $ per point projections.

With 15 total TDs, he remains an excellent TD bet. The Ravens are implied for a massive 29.75 points against a hapless Giants squad.

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks ($6,700) at Packers

We’ll have to keep an eye on Kenneth Walker (calf). After missing Week 14, he sat out practice this Wednesday and Thursday.

Without Walker, we saw Seattle lean on Charbonnet in Week 14 (29 total touches). That’s unlikely to repeat against Green Bay, but a reasonable price makes Charbonnet a cash game lock if we get confirmation that Walker will sit out. Note that Seattle doesn’t play until Sunday night.

Also in my player pool: Chuba Hubbard

Tournament Running Back

David Montgomery, Lions ($7,700) vs. Bills

Montgomery sits tied for second among RBs in rushing TDs. He leads the league in goal line carries – 33 – well ahead of Jahmyr Gibbs (16).

No surprise there.

What’s different about his 2024 is the pass-game usage. He’s only two catches behind Gibbs on the year (32).

Now, Montgomery faces a Buffalo unit that can be pushed around up front. They’re 29th in PFF’s rush defense grades; 31st in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Rico Dowdle, Cowboys ($7,100) at Panthers

Dowdle squares off against a Carolina rush defense that’s allowed the most runs of 10+ yards (58). They’re second-worst in EPA per rush allowed.

As for Dowdle, we’ve now seen a growing sample of him as the clear cut lead back. He’s hit 19+ touches in three straight.

Also in my player pool: Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Robinson Jr., Rachaad White (if Bucky Irving sits), Braelon Allen (if Breece Hall sits)

Cash Game Wide Receivers

Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals ($9,400) at Titans

Chase has hit 15 FD points in six of his past seven. In that sample: Stunning games of 41.1 and 52.9 FD points. 

Despite the high cost, Chase ranks third in our $/point ranks at WR. A tough matchup isn’t enough to move me off fantasy’s WR1.

Elijah Moore, Browns ($4,700) vs. Chiefs

Moore is simply underpriced. He’s hit 7 targets in five of his past seven outings, all of which came alongside Cedric Tillman. 

Now, Tillman – battling back from a concussion – might return this week. But note that Cleveland is likely to be without pass-catching TE David Njoku (hamstring). He’d remove nearly 9 targets per game from the equation.

Given a bottom-barrel price and Kansas City’s shaky secondary, Moore looks viable as a salary-saving option.

Also in my player pool: Courtland Sutton, Adam Thielen

Tournament Wide Receivers

A.J. Brown, Eagles ($8,600) vs. Steelers

I’m playing into a narrative here, as you’re not playing Brown for his recent production. In fact, he’s totaled 9 catches for 100 yards over the past two games.

Look beyond that, though, and you’ll see a pair of 100-yard games from Week 10-Week 12.

Saquon Barkley certainly explains some of the inconsistency. Philly has found what works – and it includes a heavy dose of Barkley.

However, the Steelers at least have the personnel to slow down Philly’s rush attack. They’re top-ten in run stuff rate, yards before contact per attempt, and PFF rush defense grade. There’s a lot to suggest they’ll hold up OK.

That might force OC Kellen Moore to dial up a few more passes. But Moore’s entering this game already with a mindset of putting more on Brown’s plate.

“I’m going to focus more on trying to find different ways of increasing the likelihood of the ball going to him,” Moore said via NBC Sports. “Ultimately the quarterback has to play based on the reaction of the defense and trust that there’s progressions within a play. For us we’re always going to evaluate how we can get it to him sooner and create those opportunities. It’s really about probability. Not every play is going to be able to say 100 percent of the time it’s going to one player in particular, but how can we improve our opportunities there?”

Brown ultimately sits third in our WR ceiling projections, while he’s projected for single-digit ownership.

Calvin Ridley, Titans ($6,000) vs. Bengals

I addressed Ridley’s Week 15 outlook in this article. I’ll share a snippet below – but check it out for insight into Ridley and some other key names:

On the year, opposing offenses have totaled the seventh-highest pass-rate over expected against Cincy. Going back to Week 2, opposing WR1s have posted 16+ PPR points nine times.

Also in my player pool: Tee Higgins, Ladd McConkey, Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr.

Cash Game Tight End

Hunter Henry, Patriots ($5,000) at Cardinals

Henry enters the weekend with 8+ targets in four of his past five outings. That type of volume certainly boosts his cash-game appeal, and similar involvement should remain against Arizona.

Coming off a bye week, New England hits the road as 6-point underdogs.

Also in my player pool: Stone Smartt

Tournament Tight End

Travis Kelce, Chiefs ($6,700) at Browns

Kelce hasn’t scored since Week 10, but he’s still averaging nearly 8 targets in the four games since.

Sunday turns up some potential wind/rain, so a gameplan centered on the run and short passes to Kelce makes sense. The Browns also sit bottom-ten in PPR points allowed to TEs. 

Mix in a discounted price, and Kelce looks appealing as a salary-saver with TD upside.

Also in my player pool: Pat Freiermuth

Defense

Carolina Panthers ($3,400) vs. Dallas Cowboys

The home-team Panthers are betting favorites for the first time since 2022.

They haven’t been an attractive fantasy unit in 2024, falling shy of 6 FD points in all but two games. But you’re playing them for the excellent cap savings and the plus matchup with Dallas.

Cooper Rush has already fumbled seven times in five starts. He’s sitting on a 59.3% completion rate and only 5.5 YPA.

Also in my player pool: Ravens, Chargers, Washington

Kevin English, Senior Analyst

Kevin brings 15 years of experience as a fantasy analyst and mid-stakes competitor across various formats (redraft, best ball, dynasty, DFS). His work has been featured on The Mercury News, Rotoworld, and FantasyPros.