Key Fantasy Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights and Betting Tips for Week 15

Scott Engel provides Week 15 fantasy football lineups analysis, spotlighting key NFL players to start and tougher lineup start/sit decisions to make. He also adds some betting tips.

Below you will find some of my spotlight choices and players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions in Week 15. These selections are based on my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the rest of the 2021 season. Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings.

We add in some betting tips, as many of the recommendations here naturally work into some prime player props. Plus, I also share some over/under, ATS, and money line picks for selected games. All odds and prop plays are via DraftKings Sportsbook.

For a significant betting edge, check out RotoBaller's Premium Betting Tools and content.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Running Backs

-Michael Carter has 80+ scrimmage yards in three of four games vs. AFC East opponents. Carter is one of two rookie RBs (Najee Harris is the other) with 400+ rushing yards (430) and 300+ rec. yards (308) this season. He will be active on Sunday and published reports have indicated he will see a significant workload. Carter is easily the Jets best offensive playmaker that they will have available, and he will be the biggest key to stealing a victory from a top divisional rival. Carter can be started as a RB2 or flex in Week 15.

Betting Tip: The Jets will certainly stick close and should certainly cover at +9.5. They have very often played the Dolphins tough throughout the history of the series, which is 55-55-1 all-time. Miami won the last meeting by seven points. If you are feeling daring, take the Jets on the money line at +330. The upset is always possible in this rivalry.

-D'Onta Foreman had 62 scrimmage yards and his first rushing TD of the season last week. He has 60+ scrimmage yards in three of his last four games. Foreman is not an upside play, yet he can provide quality production in a good matchup.

D'Onta Foreman getting downhill. #Titans pic.twitter.com/mhEsmLTXmy

— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) December 16, 2021

The Steelers have allowed the most Fantasy Points Per Game and rushing TDs (seven) to running backs over the last four weeks. The Titans continue to stick to the run and lead the AFC in run/pass ratio despite being without Derrick Henry. Foreman is a good flex play in Week 15.

Betting Tip: Take Tennessee on the money line at +105.

-Rashaad Penny had set career-highs with 137 rush yards and two TDs in Week 14. He took full advantage of facing the Texans, who came into last week's matchup allowing the most rushing yards to RBs and 13 rushing TDs. Penny should certainly continue to be Seattle’s lead RB the rest of the way as long as he stays healthy. But this week’s projected matchup against the Rams is much more challenging if Los Angeles’ defense is not thinned by COVID-19 issues. The Rams rank seventh against the run and their defensive line certainly overmatches the Seattle offensive line. Penny will get volume, but the upside could be limited, so he is more of a low-end RB2 play this week.

Betting Tip: Take the Rams over 3.5 total TDs at +145. Seattle won’t get much of a pass rush, so Matthew Stafford will throw more than two TD passes and lead the Rams to scoring drives in the second half, when the Seahawks defense is worn down more. Also, take the Rams over 13.5 points in the second half at +100.

-Jordan Howard has three rushing TDs in his past four games and is aiming for his fifth game in a row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Howard and Miles Sanders should be Philadelphia’s most productive fantasy RBs this week. Philadelphia leads the league in run/pass ratio, and Howard is clearly the Eagles’ top goal-line runner. If you are looking for a deeper flex choice or a later-week pivot option, Howard must be considered, He should be a viable drive finisher for the Eagles this week for a rushing TD and can add on enough scrimmage yards to post adequate fantasy totals.

Betting Tip: Take Washington at +6.5 (-110) if it gets either one of its top two QBs back for the game. This divisional matchup should be close enough.

Wide Receivers

-Gabriel Davis is aiming for his third game in a row with a TD catch. He had a season-high eight targets against Tampa Bay last week. Emmanuel Sanders is out and Davis is starting to emerge as a notable playmaker for Josh Allen. The Bills want to get back in the win column and will impose their offensive will against Carolina this week. Davis is an upside play.

Gabriel Davis thanked Josh Allen after the Bucs game for trusting him on the 4th and 4 play on the game-tying drive.

Davis is ready for more big moments and is confident he’ll be up to the task #BillsMafia @WKBW pic.twitter.com/TdTd9KfA3c

— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) December 16, 2021

Betting Tip: Davis should certainly go over the projected receiving yardage total of 41.5 (-115). But consider getting bold and taking Davis over 125 yards at +1800.

-Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight receptions and 73 yards last week. He is one of two NFC rookie WRs (DeVonta Smith is the other) with 50+ catches (57) and 500+ yards (511). In his last two games. St. Brown has 18 receptions on 24 targets. He will be heavily involved in the Detroit passing game in catch-up mode against Arizona. Start St. Brown for more volume this week, as he is a worthy WR3 option.

Betting Tip: Take the Lions to be the last team to score at +150, as a garbage time TD will be very possible.

-Marvin Jones had six catches for 70 yards last week. Jones had five catches for 77 yards and a TD in the Week 1 meeting with the Texans. He has finished with five-plus receptions in his last two games vs. Houston. Jones is going to celebrate the departure of Urban Meyer with a quality outing. The Texans are 24^th in receiving yards allowed to WRs.Jones will catch a TD pass and threaten to reach 100 yards for the second time this season. He deserves WR3 consideration in Week 15.

Betting Tip: Take Jones to catch a TD pass (anytime scorer) at +165.

-Darnell Mooney has five or more catches in three of his past four games and is aiming for his seventh game in a row at home with five or more receptions. He had a TD catch in his last meeting with the Vikings. Mooney was held to one catch for 19 yards by Green Bay last week. This will be a rebound spot for him against the Vikings, who have allowed the most Fantasy Points Per Game to WRs among NFC teams this season.

Betting Tip: Take the Bears on the money line at +200. Chicago has won five of the last six meetings with Minnesota.

Quarterback and Tight End

-Russell Wilson has an 8-11 career record against the Rams. Those 11 defeats are the most he has against any NFL team. Wilson has 26 TD passes and has been sacked 74 times in his career by Los Angeles. The Rams have always been Wilson’s toughest opponent. He is certainly back in form recently, but this is not a good fantasy matchup for Wilson. Expect much better statistical outings from Wilson after this week.

Betting Tip: Take the Over of 45.5, as the Rams will contribute significantly to that number.

-Mike Gesicki had seven catches on 11 receptions in Week 13 before Miami’s bye. He had five catches for 50 yards in the Week 11 meeting with the Jets. Expect better numbers vs. New York this week, especially if Jaylen Waddle is out. The Jets are 25^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to TEs.

Betting Tip: Take Mack Hollins to catch a TD pass (anytime scorer) at +450. He has three TD receptions since the first week of November.

More Fantasy Football Analysis