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Fantasy football start em, sit em and lineups advice for the Raiders vs Browns Monday game in Week 15 (2021). Frank Ammirante analyzes the MNF matchups with a detailed breakdown.
Welcome to Week 15 and Monday Night Football! In addition to our matchups analysis for the main slate of games on Sunday, below you will find our matchups analysis for the Monday Night Football game between the Raiders and the Browns. You can also check out the matchups analysis for:
- Vikings vs Bears Start Em, Sit Em - Monday Night
- Seahawks vs Rams Start Em, Sit Em - Tuesday Night
- Washington vs Eagles Start Em, Sit Em - Tuesday Night
This game was originally scheduled to be played on Saturday, but is now part of a Monday double-header. It was announced on Friday afternoon that the Raiders-Browns game has been postponed until Monday due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
So where does that leave us? Below you’ll find our take -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 15 matchup. Stay tuned for any changes with players being active and passing COVID-19 protocols in time for Monday. Good luck RotoBallers!
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Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns
Spread: Raiders -3.5
Implied Total: Raiders (20.75) vs. Browns (17.25)
Pace: Raiders (21st) vs. Browns (24th)
Scheme: Raiders (61% Pass, 39% Rush) vs. Browns (51% Pass, 49% Rush)
Raiders Off. DVOA: 14.5% Pass (16th), -16.2% Rush (28th)
Browns Def. DVOA: 9.0% Pass (20th), -11.9% Rush (11th)
Raiders Def. DVOA: 16.7% Pass (25th), -10.7% Rush (16th)
Browns Off. DVOA: 13.8% Pass (17th), 6.9% Rush (4th)
COVID and Injury Updates
We now have official confirmation on who from the Cleveland Browns will be missing from the Week 15 game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night. Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum, Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper are all officially ruled out for the game after being placed on the COVID-19 list. Nick Mullens will be the starting quarterback:
Matchups We Love
Hunter Renfrow (WR, LV)
Hunter Renfrow is on a ridiculous run right now, catching 30-of-33 targets for 353 yards and a touchdown in his last three games. He's racked up a 28.24% target share during that span. Renfrow should continue to function as the focal point in this struggling Raiders offense, especially with Darren Waller looking unlikely to suit up for this game. Renfrow should continue to see a healthy share of targets this week. The Browns rank 11th in PPR per game allowed to wideouts, but this team could be without several key contributors due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Follow the volume here and fire up Renfrow as a high-end WR2.
Nick Chubb (RB, CLE)
Nick Chubb should see heavy volume with Kareem Hunt out of the lineup. We could also see Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum, Jarvis Landry, and Austin Hooper all out as well, as they each tested positive for COVID-19. While key offensive linemen like Jedrick Wills and Wyatt Teller are also in jeopardy of missing this game, you have to love the potential volume for Chubb here. The Browns really need to feed him the ball, especially with Nick Mullens and a limited passing offense. The Raiders rank 13th in Rush EPA, but Chubb's efficiency and volume make him an elite RB1 in this spot. D'Ernest Johnson is also back on the FLEX radar with Hunt out. The one risk here is the Browns' low implied total, but I still love Chubb in this spot.
Matchups We Hate
Derek Carr (QB, LV)
It's hard to get excited about Derek Carr in this projected low-scoring game. The Raiders have a 20.25 implied team total and this projects as an unfavorable game environment. The Browns are likely to lean heavily on the running game, which could result in lower passing volume for Carr. Carr has finished as QB19, QB8, QB22, and QB22 in his last four games. The Browns rank 21st in Dropback EPA, but this is not the time to stream Carr with the fantasy playoffs on the line. I just don't think we'll see enough volume.
Foster Moreau (TE, LV)
Foster Moreau has been a huge disappointment as a fill-in for Darren Waller, combining for four receptions and 47 yards in two starts. There's no reason to go back to the well as a streamer here given the projected low-scoring game. The Browns rank 24th in PPR per game allowed to tight ends, but I'm not interested in Moreau given his low production. He's a touchdown-dependent TE2 in this game.
Other Matchups
Josh Jacobs (RB, LV)
Josh Jacobs continues to see an uptick in passing-game usage, catching 26-of-31 targets in his last five games. He's racked up five or more targets in four of those games. That's big for his fantasy value. The Browns rank 20th in Rush EPA, so we could see Jacobs find some running room here. The problem here is similar to Carr in that the game environment is not enticing. Having said that, Jacobs remains a solid RB2 given his secure role and passing-game usage.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR, CLE)
Donovan Peoples-Jones is coming off a solid game against the Ravens where he caught 5-of-7 targets for 90 yards. With Landry and Hooper likely out, DPJ becomes the clear-cut top option in this passing game. However, I have to leave him in the lukewarm section because I project an extremely run-heavy approach from the Browns. The Raiders have also been tough on wideouts, allowing the fifth-fewest PPR per game to the position.
David Njoku (TE, CLE)
David Njoku has a huge opportunity this week with Austin Hooper out. He immediately become a potential streamer in this spot given the lack of established pass-catchers in this depleted offense. The Raiders are allowing the second-most PPR per game to tight ends, making this a potential smash spot. We have seen Njoku show a high ceiling this season (7 REC, 149 YDS, 1 TD), so he's definitely intriguing here.
Injuries and COVID
CLE QB Baker Mayfield (COVID-19)
CLE QB Case Keenum (COVID-19)
CLE RB Kareem Hunt (ankle)
CLE WR Jarvis Landry (COVID-19)
CLE TE Austin Hooper (COVID-19)
LV TE Darren Waller (knee/back)
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