Week 15 DraftKings NFL DFS Picks - Main Slate (2024): Tua Tagovailoa, Rico Dowdle, Davante Adams, and more

December 13, 2024

Joe Nicely's DraftKings NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for the Week 15 (December 2024) Main Slate. His top daily fantasy football lineups to target for DraftKings DFS contests.

Hello, Ballers, and thanks for joining me for Week 15! With many season-long leagues now headed into the fantasy playoffs, we should get see some new folks turning to the DFS streets this week. If you are one of those who will be trying DFS for the first time this season, welcome... you've come to the right place!

With no teams on byes this week we get a jam-packed Main Slate as we head into the homestretch of the regular season! These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected DK points and ownership, overall upside/talent levels, and opportunity, as well as factors such as Vegas odds, home-field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great plays available on DK for Week 15, and this article includes a couple of my favorite options for each position.

Also, be sure to check out our weekly FanDuel DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win MORE in 2024! Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups -- let's dominate this Week 15 slate together!

DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 15 DFS Picks

Tua Tagovailoa - MIA at HOU ($6,100)

The Dolphins have plenty of issues, but Tua ain't one of them. Over Miami's last four, the southpaw signal-caller has thrown for 11 TDs and zero INTs while averaging just over 325 passing yards and 27 DraftKings points per game. The Dolphins have certainly been content to put their offensive gameplan in his hands, as the team's non-existent rushing attack has led to Tua averaging more than 42 pass attempts per game across the last month.

LEGENDARY: #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is the 1ST PLAYER IN #NFL HISTORY with at least 40 pass attempts, 300 passing yards, and zero interceptions in 3 consecutive games.

🤯

Tua has been elite this season. pic.twitter.com/1M7NB6x5JF

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 12, 2024

We should once again see a pass-heavy scheme from the 'Fins in Week 15. The Texans have a tendency to funnel opposing offenses to the air, as Houston is one of the league's toughest teams to run on, yet has allowed the NFL's most passing TDs this season.

Jameis Winston - KC @ CLE ($5,500)

How can you not love Jameis? Not only does absolute gold come out of his mouth anytime he's in front of a mic, but he's also the league's most fearless thrower. I mean, c'mon, he's turned Jerry Jeudy into a fantasy asset over the past month, for crying out loud. While all of Winston's shenanigans are good for a laugh, we shouldn't forget that his gunslinging style also makes this offense very dangerous and puts him squarely into weekly DFS consideration.

He comes into Week 15 slinging it an eye-opening 43 times per game since becoming the Browns' starter - volume that's resulted in Winston posting 27+ DK points in half of his six 2024 starts. While the matchup against Kansas City feels like a tough one - the Chiefs rank 17th in the NFL in Pass Defense DVOA - it's one that Winston can overcome through sheer volume.

DraftKings Running Backs - Week 15 DFS Picks

Derrick Henry - BAL at NYG ($8,300)

Well-rested off a bye week and with the weather turning cold, Derrick Henry is primed to dominate in Week 15 and down the stretch of the regular season. The King is getting the rock nearly 20 times per game in his first campaign with the Ravens and he's capitalized on that elite volume to stand first in the NFL in TDs (15) and second in rushing yards (1,407).

I don't know if this New York defense could slow Henry down if they were allowed to play with 12 this week. The Giants' defense has been gashed for 4.82 yards per carry by enemy RBs this year while relinquishing the NFL's fourth-most DK points to the position, along with 10 rushing TDs. Look for the Ravens to get a lead and lean heavily on Henry here.

Rico Dowdle - DAL at CAR ($6,100)

It had no business taking as long as it did, but Dowdle has finally exorcised the corpse of Zeke Elliott from the Dallas backfield. Over the 'Boys' last two games - since finally earning the lead dog treatment - Dowdle has had opportunity counts of 20 and 25, which he's parlayed into 264 total yards and a score.

#Cowboys Rico Dowdle since Week 13 among all NFL running backs (min 20% of carries):

- 40 attempts (4th)
- 243 rushing yards (1st)
- 6.1 yards per carry (6th)
- 183 yards after contact (1st)
- 10 forced missed tackles (4th)
- 9 carries of 10+ yards (1st)#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/kLELxZK7hO

— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) December 10, 2024

While no one would argue that the Panthers aren't playing better ball as of late, this is still a defensive front that ranks dead last in the NFL in rushing yards, rushing TDs, and DK points allowed to the running back position this season. Even in competitive games over the last two weeks against the Eagles and Bucs, Carolina allowed over six yards per carry and 100 rushing yards to both Saquon Barkley and Bucky Irving.

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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 15 DFS Picks

Davante Adams - NYJ at JAX ($6,900)

With the 3-10 Jets eliminated from playoff contention and likely looking at a massive overhaul ahead of 2025, it appears as though Aaron Rodgers has decided to go down swinging with his old Packers teammate, Davante Adams. Rodgers has targeted Adams 11 or more times in four of New York's last five and his average of 10.8 targets per game since Week 9 trails only Ja'Marr Chase.

Davante Adams has an opportunity for a high-volume game against a vulnerable Jags secondary

Adams ranks 12th among WRs in receptions per game entering this matchup. Jacksonville ranks 26th in receptions per game allowed to opposing WRs. pic.twitter.com/jVPdt10Oxi

— PFF NY Jets (@PFF_Jets) December 13, 2024

While we know the Jets are #Bad, they are coming off their passing attack's most productive outing of the season in a Week 14 loss to the Dolphins - a game in which Rodgers threw for 339 and Adams reeled in nine catches for 109 yards and a score. New York brings that momentum into a Week 15 matchup against a Jaguars defense that's been the NFL's worst unit against the pass by almost every statistical measure.

Courtland Sutton - IND at DEN ($6,600)

Rostering Courtland Sutton never feels particularly exciting, but the Denver wideout has been a very profitable DFS producer this season. Sutton has quietly scored the ninth-most DraftKings points at the WR position this year while showcasing an elite floor. Since Week 3 he's scored less than 13.8 DK points only once and he's posted 70 or more yards in six straight games.

All the underlying metrics that you could want are there with Sutton. He ranks second in the NFL in Air Yards (1,383), fourth in Red Zone targets (17), and sixth in deep targets (21). This week he gets a plus matchup against a Colts secondary that's been susceptible to big plays. Indy is relinquishing the league's fourth-highest yards per target to the WR position - a chunky 8.77 - while allowing the NFL's second-highest catch rate (69.5%) to opposing wideouts.

DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 15 DFS Picks

Hunter Henry - NE at ARI ($4,300)

In the absence of any legitimate weapons at the wide receiver position, tight end Hunter Henry has served as Drake Maye's de facto WR1. Per Evan Silva, Henry leads the Patriots in targets, catches, and receiving yards on Maye's 2024 throws. On the season as a whole, Henry ranks inside the top five at the TE position in both Air Yards (598) and Red Zone targets (14).

His Week 15 matchup against the Cardinals isn't particularly desirable on paper, but it's not one worth shying away from either. Arizona is allowing a 72.9% catch rate and 6.72 yards per target to opposing tight ends. While Henry isn't likely to break the slate in this spot, he offers a solid floor with dependable volume at a moderate price point.

Stone Smartt - TB at LAC ($2,600)

I'm always interested in saving salary at the TE position, and at just $100 over the minimum price tag, L.A.'s Stone Smartt is an intriguing value option on this slate. After Chargers tight end Will Dissly was injured in Week 14, Smartt was on the field for a season-high 22 snaps which he parlayed into three catches for 54 yards on a 25% target share.

stone cole smartt pic.twitter.com/DthCNpvUMM

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 10, 2024

With Dissly expected to miss multiple weeks with the shoulder injury he suffered last week, Smartt will slot in as the Bolts' starter against a leaky Tampa Bay defense in Week 15. The Bucs have been one of the NFL's worst defenses against the pass this year and have especially struggled to stop the TE position. Tampa has allowed the league's second-most receiving yards (917) to enemy tight ends in 2024.

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