RADIO
The top daily fantasy football lineup picks for DraftKings in Week 15. Ben Rolfe's NFL DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Two Saturday games on top of the usual prime time games has really left this slate a little devoid of options. However, more significantly is the loss of the Chiefs, Rams, Chargers and Saints to prime time slots on Thursday, Sunday and Monday. That has left us looking more for defenses to pick against this week than looking at explosive offenses. Some prime examples are the Falcons and Bengals who have struggled to stop teams at all this year and have looked pretty ugly on defense. Below are my DraftKings DFS Lineup Picks for Week 15.
These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, performances so far, overall upside/talent levels, opportunity, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great value plays available, so read on to find out which players are the best for Week 15.
Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups!
Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge #2 is back with a massive $100,000 grand prize and $203,250 total prize pool, paying down to 100th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 8 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 17th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $100,000! Sign Up Now!
DraftKings DFS Quarterbacks - Week 15 Picks
Tom Brady - NE @ PIT (DK $5,900)
When you look on DraftKings this looks a bad matchup for Brady. The Steelers appear on there as the ninth-toughest matchup for quarterbacks. However, the Steelers home/road splits have been weird this season. At home, the Steelers defense is actually surrendering five more fantasy points to quarterbacks at home (21.1) than on the road (16.1). In addition, it is expected this game will be high scoring with the over/under having moved from its opening line of 49.5 up to 52. In addition, Brady looked great last week and appears to be preparing to peak at the right time.
Derek Carr - OAK @ CIN (DK $5,400)
I am not sure trusting Carr is ever something I want to do but this is a nice spot for him. The Bengals defense has had major issues this season, surrendering 20 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks on the road. They are also coming off a kitchen sink game on the road against the Chargers and against the lowly Raiders could be primed for a let-down. Carr has scored over 22.5 fantasy points each of the last two weeks.
DraftKings DFS Running Backs - Week 15 Picks
David Johnson - ARI @ ATL (DK $7,100)
Facing the Falcons feels almost a gimme pick for the opposing running back right now. The Falcons are currently surrendering 25.1 fantasy points to opposing #1 running backs at home. Any fears that with the Cardinals focusing on the future might lead to fewer touches for Johnson should have been assuaged last week when he had 15 carries and 10 targets in the passing game.
Dalvin Cook - MIN vs. MIA (DK $6,500)
I am gambling that we see a shift in attitude in Minnesota this week with a new head coach. Cook is incredibly talented but has been misused this season. The Vikings offensive line is not great but the Dolphins are surrendering an average of 20 fantasy points per game to opposing #1 running backs when they play on the road. Cook has scored double-digit fantasy points in each of his last three goals and appears to have had a very defined role in the passing game in recent weeks.
Gus Edwards - BAL vs. TB (DK $4,400)
I am not ready to give up on Edwards in Baltimore. Kenneth Dixon had the better week against the Chiefs but Edwards is still the number one back. In addition, he is facing a leaky Buccaneers defense who have allowed an average of 25.6 fantasy points to opposing #1 running backs on the road. That defense has been allowing an average of 35 fantasy points to running backs in general on the road. Therefore, even if Edwards does not see the bulk of the carries there should still be value for him in this game.
DraftKings DFS Wide Receivers - Week 15 Picks
Julio Jones - ATL vs. ARI (DK $8,400)
In a year of chaos for the Falcons Jones stands tall. Jones found the end zone twice last week as he bounced back from a tough week against the Ravens. He is seeing an average of just under eight targets per game and has scored touchdowns in four of his last six games. His matchup this week is actually pretty favorable with the Cardinals allowing 23 fantasy points per game to opposing #1 wide receivers at home. He has missed practice twice this week but one was precautionary and the other was for flu-like symptoms which are not expected to keep him out this weekend.
Corey Davis - TEN @ NYG (DK $5,600)
Davis has been extremely hit-or-miss this season and the Giants defense has generally been quite good at home against opposing wide receivers. However, they have surrendered an average of 16.1 fantasy points per game to the opposing number one receiver in MetLife stadium. With the Titans in the AFC playoff hunt and severely short-handed when it comes to weapons I expect Davis to see plenty of targets this weekend.
Larry Fitzgerald - ARI @ ATL (DK $4,700)
Fitzgerald and Johnson are the main weapons the Cardinals have and this week both have great matchups. Fitzgerald generally lines up out of the slot and the Falcons have allowed 13.1 fantasy points per game against the slot receiver at home. Jones saw nine targets next week and I think there is a very real chance it sets a season-high in a game which could have more scoring than many expect.
DraftKings DFS Tight Ends - Week 15 Picks
Jared Cook - OAK @ CIN (DK $5,600)
This feels like a slam dunk for me if I have cash to spare at the position. Cook has had over 20 fantasy points each of the last two weeks and has a matchup against the 26th worst defense against the tight end. He is the only reliable weapon the Raiders have and I expect them to use him plenty this week.
Vance McDonald - PIT vs. NE (DK $3,900)
With Zach Ertz and Travis Kelce missing from the slate this is a thin week at the tight end position. McDonald seems to have a fairly good floor and there is potential for upside against a slow New England Patriot defense, who are allowing over 10 fantasy points per game to opposing #1 tight ends. I would prefer Cook but if you are tight for money this is a solid pick.
DraftKings DFS Defenses - Week 15 Picks
Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions (DK 2,800)
A Lions offense that has not looked very good now has to travel on the road to a stadium that seems to experience all sorts of weather conditions. Add in that the Bills defense has been solid this year and this actually becomes quite an easy pick for me this week.
