X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Under-the-Radar Booms/Busts: Week 15

Craig Rondinone looks at some fantasy football lineup sleepers and busts for Week 15 of the NFL season. Under-the-radar booms and busts for fantasy football.

If you are reading this column, you are either looking to make money in a one-day fantasy football contest, or you have successfully made the playoffs in your fantasy league.

The playoffs are either beginning or are well underway in fantasy football leagues across the country and around the world. Picking the right booms and staying away from the busts could be the difference between winning your league and being the playoff loser everyone talks about during the offseason.

Here are some under-the-radar booms and busts for the 15th week of NFL action to help you set a winning lineup. Good luck RotoBallers!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Week 15 Under-the-Radar Booms

Nick Foles (QB, PHI) at NYG

Carson Wentz’s loss (a season-ending torn ACL) is going to be Foles’ gain this week against a Giants secondary that is ranked 31st against the pass and has been racking up more suspensions than interceptions this season. Over the past three games the Giants have allowed 861 passing yards and a half-dozen touchdown tosses, and with top cover corner Janoris Jenkins out for the year there are no signs that the Giants will suddenly start slowing down receivers anytime soon. Foles is no Wentz, but he is good enough to get the ball to Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor and the returning Zach Ertz this weekend. Look for Foles to have his best game in years in his first game as Philadelphia’s starting QB this season.

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, SF) vs. TEN

The days of Colin Kaepernick ruining receivers’ fantasy values in between political stances are long gone, as are the times when Brian Hoyer and C.J. Beathard were better off handing off to Carlos Hyde than trying to accomplish anything through the air. Garoppolo is running the show and is already leaps and bounds better than any quarterback the 49ers have thrown under center the past several seasons. He has thrown for 627 yards in back-to-back road victories and now gets his first home start against Tennessee’s 22nd-ranked pass defense. Expect Garoppolo and favorite receiver Marquise Goodwin to have another great game together and for San Fran’s starting signal caller to have his first multi-touchdown outing this season.

Deonte Thompson (WR, BUF) vs. MIA

Thompson is no Andre Reed, but who else is gimpy Tyrod Taylor going to throw to this Sunday?  Kelvin Benjamin is questionable to play due to his 100th injury of the season. Jordan Matthews is on injured reserve. Charles Clay is non-existent. Zay Jones is Zay Jones. Thompson should see more targets than usual against a mediocre Miami pass defense that did an outstanding (and shockingly good) job against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots this past Monday night but may not have enough secondary talent to pull that off two weeks in a row as long as Buffalo’s line keeps Miami’s pass rush at bay. Thompson will be in the bargain bin in fantasy leagues and one-day contests and could provide big bang for your buck.

 

Week 15 Under-the-Radar Busts

Jermaine Kearse (WR, NYJ) at NO

Kearse had predictable problems last week at Denver, being held to one catch for four yards after racking up 16 receptions for 262 yards and a score over a two-game span coming into the contest. Those predictable problems should continue this week on the road against New Orleans’ 10th-ranked pass defense and with backup quarterback Bryce Petty directing the Jets offense. Kearse should easily eclipse his previous personal bests in all of the major receiving categories and has been a fantastic fantasy find, but he has a better chance of another one-catch game than he does of a 100-yard game this Sunday.

Cooper Kupp (WR, LAR) at SEA

The biggest game in the NFC West this season happens this weekend, and Kupp has been on a receiving roll with six receptions or more in each of his past five games while breaking the 100-yard barrier in two of his last three outings. He has been the benefactor of No. 1 receiver Robert Woods being sidelined with a shoulder injury, though, and with Woods coming back that means Kupp’s target total will slide. Seattle’s savaged secondary may be missing two prime “Legion of Boom” members, but the Seahawks will play their best with their division title hopes on the line, so Kupp will have trouble catching six passes and doing a lot with his targets.

Jesse James (TE, PIT)

James is coming off the best performance of his career after hauling in 10 Ben Roethlisberger passes for 97 yards against archrival Baltimore this past weekend. The burly tight end has not been the touchdown treasure trove many fantasy experts thought he would be entering the season, but last week’s effort probably has many thinking he is turning a corner and can be trusted against New England’s 29th-ranked pass defense. Well, throw that idea out with the bathwater. The one kind of pass catcher the Patriots have been able to cover has been the tight end. They have not allowed a tight end touchdown over their past seven games. Look for the Pats, especially coming off an embarrassing loss to Miami, to clamp down on James inside the red zone.

 

More Week 15 Lineup Prep




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Drew Doughty

Exits With Lower-Body Injury
Charlie McAvoy

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Against Canadiens
Thomas Harley

Out Week-to-Week
CFB

Virginia Tech Close To Naming James Franklin As Head Coach
C.J. Stroud

Week 12 Status Unclear
Quentin Johnston

Expected to Play in Week 11
Drake London

Should Play Vs. Panthers
Davante Adams

Trending Toward Playing
Brian Thomas Jr.

On the Wrong Side of Questionable
Calvin Ridley

Expected to Play in Week 11
Coby White

Could Make Season Debut Sunday
Josh Giddey

Set to Return Sunday
Zion Williamson

Tagged as Questionable for Sunday
Ja Morant

Exits With Calf Injury Saturday
Alex Caruso

Injures Hand, Won't Return Saturday
Domantas Sabonis

Considered Questionable for Sunday
Paolo Banchero

Out Again on Sunday
Anthony Davis

Listed as Doubtful for Sunday
Aaron Nesmith

Ruled Out for at Least Four Weeks
Victor Wembanyama

Questionable for Sunday
Tari Eason

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
Julian Strawther

Will Play on Saturday Versus the Timberwolves
Marcus Smart

Out With Illness Saturday
Cameron Johnson

Ruled Out on Saturday Evening
Rui Hachimura

Won't Play on Saturday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Officially Available Versus the Lakers
Jeff Skinner

Placed on Injured Reserve
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Available on Saturday Night
Matt Duchene

Continues to Sit Saturday
Thomas Harley

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Kaapo Kakko

Out Week-to-Week
Joseph Woll

Starts on Saturday
John Carlson

Out on Saturday
Rasmus Dahlin

Rejoins Sabres Lineup Saturday
Jack Hughes

to Miss Eight Weeks After Finger Surgery
Luguentz Dort

Will Return Versus Charlotte
Darius Garland

Remains Out on Saturday Night
Zach Edey

Cleared to Make 2025 Debut on Saturday
Cedric Coward

Available Against Cleveland
Sam LaPorta

Placed on Injured Reserve
J.K. Dobbins

Will Undergo Season-Ending Surgery to Repair "Significant" Foot Injury
Tyler Bertuzzi

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Andre Burakovsky

Available Saturday
Alex Nedeljkovic

Available for Saturday's Action
Filip Hronek

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Friday
Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Hurts Ankle in Friday's Win
Seth Jarvis

Not Expected to Be Out for Long
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful vs. Arkansas On Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Blue Jays Interested in Signing Edwin Diaz?
Jacob deGrom

Named AL Comeback Player of the Year
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Wins NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
Aroldis Chapman

Named AL Reliever of the Year
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Named NL Reliever of the Year
NFL

Bill Belichick Won't Pursue NFL Head-Coaching Vacancies
Khalil Shakir

in the Clear to Play in Week 11
Bam Knight

Considered Questionable for Week 11
Brian Thomas Jr.

Tagged as Questionable for Week 11
Calvin Ridley

Listed as Questionable for Week 11
John Gibson

Fine for Saturday
Kaiden Guhle

Ruled Out for 8-10 Weeks
Justin Thomas

Will Miss Start Of 2026 After Undergoing Back Surgery
Alex Newhook

to Miss Four Months With Broken Ankle
Marco Rossi

Out Week-to-Week
J.K. Dobbins

Out in Week 11 and for "Foreseeable Future"
Rashod Bateman

Ruled Out for Week 11
Sam LaPorta

Ruled Out for Week 11 With Back Injury
Isiah Pacheco

Officially Ruled Out for Week 11
Trey Hendrickson

Shemar Stewart Both Out for Week 11
Jaxson Dart

Officially Ruled Out for Week 11 Due to Concussion
Darius Slayton

Ruled Out for Sunday
Davante Adams

Questionable for Sunday but Expected to Play
Islam Makhachev

Set For UFC 322 Main Event
Jack Della Maddalena

Set For His First Title Defense
Zhang Weili

Can Become The New Women's Flyweight Champion
Valentina Shevchenko

Set For UFC 322 Co-Main Event
Michael Morales

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Mario Craver a Game-Time Decision for Week 12
Sean Brady

Set For Title Eliminator Bout
Carlos Prates

A Favorite At UFC 322
Leon Edwards

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set To Open Up UFC 322 Main Card
Beneil Dariush

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
CFB

Virginia's Chandler Morris Trending Toward Facing Duke on Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Says There's a "50-50" Chance he Returns to Mets
Shohei Ohtani

Wins his Fourth MVP Award
Aaron Judge

Wins AL MVP Award Again
Raisel Iglesias

Dodgers Interested in Signing Raisel Iglesias
Pete Alonso

Orioles Could be in the Mix to Sign Pete Alonso
Félix Bautista

Felix Bautista Could Return in Second Half in 2026
Kodai Senga

Attracting Trade Interest, Will the Mets Move him?
Yordan Alvarez

Expected to be Ready for Spring Training
Byron Buxton

Could Waive his No-Trade Clause
Paul Skenes

the Unanimous NL Cy Young Winner
Tarik Skubal

Wins AL Cy Young for Second Straight Year
CFB

Still No Update on Jermod McCoy's Return Timeline
Sami Valimaki

Riding Momentum Into Bermuda
Matthieu Pavon

Struggling Through a Rough Season
Taylor Montgomery

Hopes to Get Back on Track at Port Royal
Ben Martin

a Risky Play at Bermuda Championship
Mark Hubbard

Primed for a Bounce-Back Week in Bermuda
Lee Hodges

Searching for a Spark in Bermuda
Stephen Vogt

Wins Back-to-Back AL Manager of the Year Honors
Milwaukee Brewers

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager of the Year Again
Patrick Fishburn

Looking to Bounce Back in Bermuda
Eric Cole

Carrying Momentum into Bermuda
Tommy Edman

to Have Ankle Surgery Next Week
Ketel Marte

Diamondbacks Unlikely to Trade Ketel Marte
Roman Anthony

to Have a Normal Offseason
Sahith Theegala

Finishes Tied for 27th at Bank of Utah Championship
Sam Stevens

Finishes Tied for 36th at Baycurrent Classic
Patrick Rodgers

Finishes Tied For Sixth at World Wide Technology Championship
Luke List

Finishes 75th at World Wide Technology Championship
Ben Kohles

Finishes Tied for 63rd at World Wide Technology Championship
PGA

Nico Echavarria Finishes Tied for 14th at World Wide Technology Championship
Luke Clanton

Finishes Tied for 46th at World Wide Technology Championship
Blades Brown

Finishes Tied for 18th at Korn Ferry Tour Championship
CFB

Nic Anderson Could Return for LSU this Season

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP