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With most fantasy leagues starting their playoffs in Week 15, there are three NFL games scheduled for Saturday, December 16. The contest featured in this article could certainly have some serious impact on fantasy football matchups. Below you can read our matchups analysis article for the Steelers vs. Colts game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS.
This matchup features a pair of teams that have been inconsistent throughout 2023 and enter Week 15 with matching 7-6 records. With rookie QB Anthony Richardson lost early in the season, Gardner Minshew will be again be under center for the Colts, while Steelers backup Mitch Trubisky will get the start for the injured Kenny Pickett for the second straight week.
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for these games -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 15 matchups. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts
Spread: Colts -1.5
Implied Total: Steelers (20.25) vs. Colts (21.75)
Pace: Steelers (19th) vs. Colts (3rd)
Steelers Off. DVOA: 5.4% Pass (21st), -1.6% Rush (11th)
Colts Off. DVOA: 7.3% Pass (20th), 0.5% Rush (8th)
Steelers Def. DVOA: -1.7% Pass (8th), -13.5% Rush (11th)
Colts Def. DVOA: 2.4% Pass (11th), -1.5% Rush (26th)
WEATHER: This game is inside a dome.
Matchups We Love
Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, IND)
Pittman keeps tearing it up week after week. Even when the offense sputters somewhat as it did against the Bengals, he still earns 10-plus targets and totals 90-plus yards. Additionally, what was once a two-headed monster with him and Josh Downs is now a one-man band. The next highest target total was actually Will Mallory with five, which tells you all you need to know about the secondary options. Pittman is a top-15 receiver with Downs, who gets a juicy slot matchup against Pittsburgh, and Alec Pierce, hard to trust.
Michael Pittman Jr’s stats this season:
• 95 catches
• 984 receiving yards
• 4 TDsHe’ll be a free agent this offseason 👀 pic.twitter.com/ZtYlnRrgzp
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) December 15, 2023
Steelers RBs
It was a night to forget for Pittsburgh, who has now dropped two straight games they should've won easily. Mitch Trubisky has proven to be a downgrade compared to Kenny Pickett, and he'll get the nod again in this one. Neither Najee Harris nor Jaylen Warren had much success on the ground against New England, but that's to be expected. Warren did haul in four passes for 29 yards while Harris caught three for 19. The Colts are a much better matchup, which should help these two and the offense as a whole produce. They're both flex options with Warren as the favorite because of his explosiveness and receiving ability.
Matchups We Hate
Gardner Minshew (QB, IND)
Minshew continues to be an average NFL quarterback and an okay streamer with occasional spike weeks. Last week was not one of them because he only threw for one touchdown. While the Steelers did give up three touchdowns to Bailey Zappe last Thursday, it's not been a favorable matchup for signal-callers. He's in the risky streamer tier.
Other Matchups
Zack Moss (RB, IND)
The frustration with Moss's production persists. Once again, he had a dominant workload with all but two RB carries and all but one RB target. His eight targets did result in four catches for 28 yards, but failing to find the end zone on both his rushing attempts inside the 10-yard line after doing so with such consistency all year is tough. As a caveat, he did have a touchdown called back. The usage is elite, so he remains a top-15 back, but it's getting more difficult to play him ahead of other great tailbacks.
Steelers WRs
Diontae Johnson managed to find pay dirt for the second time this year, which is two more than in 2022. It boosted his otherwise mediocre stat line of three for 57. George Pickens was more involved with five grabs but only 19 yards. It's hard to get too excited about this duo with Trubisky leading the way. On the road in Indy, Johnson is a flex option.
Diontae Johnson has more touchdowns in his last 2 games than the previous 24 games pic.twitter.com/vA77F2SKbK
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 8, 2023
Pat Freiermuth (TE, PIT)
The volume was there in Week 14, as 'Muth saw seven targets, but three receptions for 18 yards is not ideal. It's a decent matchup, so he's still a streamer, but the floor is very low with Trubisky again at the helm of this Steelers passing attack.
Notable Injuries
Kenny Pickett (ankle) - OUT
Jonathan Taylor (thumb) - OUT
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