RADIO
Week 15 is now here, and for most of you if you're reading this that means you've made it into your league's semifinal matchup. Or perhaps you're tangled up in a two week long first round of the playoffs. Regardless, these weeks tend to be entirely "win or go home". No mulligans here.
While we'd all like to think we have a grasp on player and team trends, each week of football serves to remind us that "any given Sunday" is a real thing. We have upsets, expectations that are exceeded, injuries, and so on. For some of you the playoffs are already clinched, for many others you are in the middle of a dogfight for those last spots, and for some the dream is dead, but perhaps you are in a keeper or dynasty league and can make some moves based off of the changes we're noting.
Let's look at players who are on the rise heading into a crucial Week 15.
Week 15 Fantasy Football Risers
Blake Bortles - QB, JAC
Remember when the Jaguars were losing at halftime? Yeah, me neither. Bortles ended up leading the Jaguars to scoring 21 points in both the third and fourth quarters each for a blowout win over the hapless Colts defense, throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns while also sneaking one into the endzone on the ground.
The Jaguars appear to be moving forward as if T.J. Yeldon will be unavailable for next week thanks to their signing of Jonas Gray, and while Denard Robinson stepped up and filled in admirably, the Colts defense sucks and this should mean the Jags lean on the passin game even more. All of Bortles' passing weapons are healthy and putting in work right now. He now gets to pick on the broken Falcons team before a dream date with the Saints in Week 16. Yup, that'll do.
Tim Hightower - RB, NO
Speaking of the Saints, they managed to get Tim Hightower his first rushing touchdown since September of 2011 against Tampa Bay on Sunday. He only mustered three yards per carry, rushing for 85 yards on 28 carries, but he was being absolutely fed by New Orleans. They clearly don't trust C.J. Spiller and Hightower is the beneficiary here.
Look for the Saints to keep things going against the Lions this upcoming week, and then they get the Jags and Falcons to finish out the year. Hightower doesn't have to be the most effective or efficient runner if he is going to feast on volume alone. Those who scooped Hightower were rewarded on Sunday and should continue to be a decent option moving forward.
Todd Gurley – RB, STL
It had been a few weeks since Gurley had a chance to really flex on the league, but he reminded us all that he is here to ball out with a 140 yard and two touchdown effort (on only 16 carries) against the Lions on Sunday. He looked absolutely great out there, with his jump cuts leaving many defenders in his wake. Gurley has to go against a tough Buccaneers' run defense on Thursday night this week, then the Seahawks in Week 16, and the 49ers to finish the year.
Not ideal, but the man is near impossible to sit. The Bucs did just give up a nice statline to Hightower as we said, but I doubt Gurley gets fed around 30 times on Thursday. He should still be able to contribute for you, but Week 16 against Seattle is a different story. He's more of a flex option there. Regardless, he revamped his hype train with this one.
The Seattle WRs – WR, SEA
(Insert bomb emoji here). This passing attack has just gone off lately. Last week we were talking about the Pittsburgh receiving corps, and now it's Seattle's turn. There's the fact that Russell Wilson is absolutely destroying all opposition right now, along with the fact that Thomas Rawls is out for the year and they have a cakewalk matchup against the Browns this upcoming weekend.
Mix all of that together and baby, you've got a stew going. Luke Willson isn't a real threat to steal targets away. DuJuan Harris was just waived. Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, and even Jermaine Kearse appear set to carry the load from here on out, at least until Marshawn Lynch can perhaps come back.
Jordan Reed - TE, WAS
I hope y'all didn't forget about this bad bad man. Jordan Reed saw nine targets on Sunday, catching all of them for 120 yards and a touchdown. He finished the week as the best tight end, leading the Redskins to a victory over the Bears. We are spoiled by the likes of Rob Gronkowski, but we need to remember that outside of his elite tier that Jordan Reed is really one of the best in the game so long as he is healthy.
Reed is healthy right now and it shows. Or heck, maybe he's playing at 80% and he's just still that good. Either way, he's the best receiver on Washington and Kirk Cousins realizes that he has a great safety valve in Reed, along with him being the biggest target on the team in the red zone, makes him a clear TE1. His ownership is only 75% on Fleaflicker, but it should definitely be >90%.
Other Risers to Note: Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, NYJ), Eddie Lacy (RB, GB), DeAngelo Williams (RB, PIT), Michael Floyd (WR, ARI), Sammy Watkins (WR, BUF), Gary Barnidge (TE, CLE).
