Week 15 Fantasy Football Busts? Players Who May Disappoint (2025)

December 14, 2025

Who should I start or sit for fantasy football in Week 15 of the 2025 season? Andrew's potential fantasy football busts to avoid in Week 15 fantasy football lineups.

It's one of the toughest questions to answer in fantasy football: Do you stick with the players that got you into the playoffs, despite a difficult matchup, or pivot to a riskier bench player who has a less-resistant path to points?

Now that it's win-or-go-home, the margin for error is slimmer, and that decision could be the difference between a championship and an early-round exit.

Below, we sort through the stats and find 10 fantasy football busts, or players who may disappoint, for Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season. Good luck, RotoBallers!

Zay Flowers (WR, BAL) at Cincinnati

Here's a stat that may surprise you: Over the last four weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals have been the best defense against fantasy football wide receivers.

It's somewhat misleading. The Bengals haven't suddenly and vastly improved as a unit. They're just so putrid against tight ends and running backs that wide receivers become an afterthought in offensive game plans (not to discredit cornerback DJ Turner, who has been outstanding). They've allowed 325 yards and six touchdowns more than the next-worst defense against tight ends. They're also allowing over two fantasy points more per game to running backs than the Giants, who are next on the list.

That's how the Ravens attacked the Bengals two weeks ago. Baltimore tight ends had just as many targets (13) as the wide receiver group. The running backs didn't get as many carries as normal, something Derrick Henry noted after the game. That won't be the case on Sunday. Temperatures are forecasted to be in the teens. That's Henry's music.

Zay Flowers hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 1. He has seven red zone targets all year (50th among wide receivers). So, he needs to win on volume, something I don't anticipate happening in Week 15.

Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, IND) at Seattle

Remember how Max Brosmer fared against this same Seahawks defense, in Seattle, two weeks ago? Here's a refresher:

ERNEST JONES 84-YARD PICK-SIX

MINvsSEA on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/VA6dvef6w6

— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2025

It's hard to imagine any quarterback being that bad this season. It was, after all, an undrafted rookie in his first NFL start. The Colts may give Brosmer a run for his money. It's either sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard or 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who hasn't thrown a pass since 2020.

Regardless, it won't be good for Pittman, Alec Pierce, or any other Indianapolis pass catcher. Tyler Warren only avoids the list because of the Seahawks' track record against tight ends this season (second-most receptions and yards allowed). Even T.J. Hockenson scored 11.9 PPR points against Seattle with Brosmer under center. Still, Warren is a risky play.

Seattle's secondary has stepped up in a big way over the last five games. The top two wide receivers for opposing teams are averaging a 41% catch rate. Darnell Mooney, playing without Drake London last week, caught one pass for six yards. Over the last four weeks, the Seahawks have allowed fewer than 20 points per game to all opposing wide receivers. That's good for the fourth-lowest mark.

Christian Watson (WR, GB) at Denver

Christian Watson is on a tear. He's the WR4 over the last four weeks, sparked by five touchdowns. The volume, though, is a tad concerning, especially when facing a stingier secondary.

He's fast, boiiiiii#ProBowlVote + Christian Watson#ProBowlVote + Jordan Love

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Lz99gpApD0

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 7, 2025

In his boom games (Weeks 11, 13, and 14), Watson has exactly four catches in each. Ironically, in his worst game (Week 12), he had his most receptions (five). That was against the Minnesota Vikings, the best defense against wide receivers this season.

The point being, his recent surge has been largely touchdown-based, and that can be worrisome, especially when he's facing the Denver defense, which has given up just five scores to wide receivers this season. Watson will see a lot of All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II.

Watson is the definition of a boom-bust wide receiver, with a high touchdown rate and a third-ranked ADoT of 18.3 yards. If there were any time for him to bust, it'd be in this matchup.

Aaron Jones Sr. (RB, MIN) at Dallas

Perhaps it was because the Minnesota Vikings were, for the first time since early November, in a positive game script, but Jordan Mason was back to receiving double-digit carries. The duo will continue to be used in tandem, and that will cap Aaron Jones' upside.

Let's toss last week out the window for the Dallas defense. Jahmyr Gibbs is not human, and he dominated the Cowboys on the ground and through the air. David Montgomery scored, as well.

In the three games before that, since acquiring defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson, we saw the much-improved Dallas run defense. Kareem Hunt rushed for 58 yards on 14 attempts. Saquon Barkley was held to 10 for 22. Ashton Jeanty? Six for seven! The matchup looks good on paper, since the Cowboys are still fifth-worst against running backs on the season, but don't look past recent production, or lack thereof.

Jones will get his usual passing-game looks out of the backfield, but it's hard to get excited about some middling receiving production when there may not be anything on the ground to complement it.

Breece Hall (RB, NYJ) at Jacksonville

More third-string quarterback woes!

The Jets were without Tyrod Taylor (groin) and Justin Fields (knee) for the majority of the Week 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Breece Hall ran for 43 yards on 14 carries and didn't catch a pass. That'd be a bust.

If the Jets are forced to start undrafted rookie Brady Cook against Jacksonville, expect the Jaguars to stack the box and only worry about stopping Hall. Heck, that may be their game plan regardless, as New York has no outside threat with Garrett Wilson (knee) still sidelined.

Jacksonville has been mighty good at stopping the run. This season, they've given up the fewest rushing yards to running backs (64.7 per game) and seen the fewest attempts (17.3). Given that's all New York can effectively do, they may not have the football often on Sunday.

Kyren Williams (RB, LAR) vs. Detroit

We've been saying for weeks that Kyren Williams has a Blake Corum problem. The Rams' coaching staff has said it. They're trying to keep Williams fresh and healthy for a postseason run. As a result, Corum's gotten more runs.

Blake Corum rumbles 48 yards for the TD!

LARvsAZ on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/aroS7jo0iI

— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025

Williams has really only had one bad game since October, but it's been weighted by touchdowns. He has six of them in the last six games. While his rushing efficiency has been great (5.7 yards per attempt), he's only seeing 14 touches per game in the last five weeks, compared to 19.6 in the first five. That's with minimal opportunities in the passing game (1.8 targets per game).

The Lions have one of the best run defenses in football. They're in the top 10 in yards per carry (3.9), rushing touchdowns (six), rushing yards (80.1), and better against receiving running backs, slotting in with the second-fewest yards and zero receiving touchdowns to the position. This season, they've allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs.

We love the over/under in this game. 55.5 is the highest on the slate, and the Rams have an implied team total of 30 points. But there's a clear weak point in the Detroit defense. They allow the sixth-most points to quarterbacks and the second-most to wide receivers. This feels like a game that Matthew Stafford, in FOX's game of the week, takes control of the MVP conversation.

Jacoby Brissett (QB, ARI) at Houston

Jacoby Brissett is in the conversation for the best waiver wire addition of the fantasy football season. He has five games with 20+ fantasy points and hasn't dipped below 18.7 since he became Arizona's weekly starter. Could this be the week the 32-year-old falls back down to earth?

The Texans are the best defense against fantasy football quarterbacks. They've faced three of the top five fantasy quarterbacks this season. Here's how they fared, compared to their seasonal average.

Two of those three, Allen and Mahomes, had to navigate offensive line woes. That allowed the Texans' pass rush to get home without bringing extra defenders. Arizona is already without right tackle Jonah Williams. Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. is likely to join him on the sidelines with a sprained MCL. Guard Evan Brown is also questionable.

Brissett is back where he belongs, in the QB2 range this week, not the QB1 status that took us by surprise.

Caleb Williams (QB, CHI) vs. Cleveland

It's mid-December, and we have a game in Chicago. The wind chill is forecasted to be at or below zero.

That plays perfectly into what the Bears are trying to do, and that doesn't involve Caleb Williams. Ben Johnson is going to make defenders commit to tackling D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai in the frigid temperatures. Williams will pass only when needed.

That's been the case for the last month or so. Williams has under 16 fantasy points in three of his last four starts. The Bears have won three of those games.

It doesn't make things any easier that Williams could be without his top receiver, Rome Odunze (foot), and the Browns surrender the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. This season's QB7 should only be started in Superflex and 2QB formats this week.

Brock Bowers (TE, LV) at Philadelphia

Sans Jalen Carter, there's now an obvious weak spot in the Philadelphia defense. Running the ball down the defense's throat has worked well for the Bears and Chargers in back-to-back weeks.

I'm sure the Raiders will attempt that strategy, but to what success, that remains to be seen. The offensive line can't run block. Ashton Jeanty has more yards after contact than total rushing yards in three of his last four games. Carter's absence may not make a difference.

The Eagles are still elite against opposing tight ends. They've allowed the third-fewest points per game this season. Oronde Gadsden II, Colston Loveland, and Jake Ferguson have combined for 95 yards in the last three games.

Not that Geno Smith has played well this season, but if the Raiders thought Kenny Pickett was better, they would have made that move already. Now, they may be forced into it, with Smith managing a shoulder injury. Pickett has 16 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in his career, and the Raiders have an implied point total of 13.5. That's not ideal for Brock Bowers.

Brenton Strange (TE, JAX) vs. New York Jets

Not to be afraid of the Jets' defense - it's middle of the pack against tight ends - but how often will Jacksonville have to throw to win on Sunday?

When the Jaguars build a lead, as they did in Week 14 against the Indianapolis Colts, they don't keep their foot on the gas. It turns into a conservative, run-first approach. Trevor Lawrence threw 30 times last Sunday. During their four-game win streak, he's averaging 27 attempts per game.

That's resulted in Brenton Strange, who is the third in the target pecking order if Parker Washington (hip) is sidelined again, catching three passes in each of the last two games.

The Jaguars are 13.5-point home favorites, tied with Seattle for the biggest spread at the time of this writing. If the past game scripts are any indication, it'll be a quiet afternoon for Lawrence and Strange again.

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