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Adam Koffler's five fantasy football bold predictions for Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season. Expert predictions for Justin Jefferson, Jonathan Taylor, Stefon Diggs, Rico Dowdle, and Isaiah Likely.
Welcome to the fantasy football playoffs! If you're reading this, you're probably dancing with a chance to win a championship.
While this isn't a "start/sit" column, my Week 15 bold predictions could help sway your important lineup decisions one way or another. I don't take that on lightly.
Without further ado, find out why I'm high on Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs, Rico Dowdle, and Isaiah Likely, and low on Jonathan Taylor in my Week 15 bold predictions.
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Justin Jefferson Produces 100+ Receiving Yards and a Touchdown for the First Time This Season
Believe it or not, Jefferson has yet to hit 100+ receiving yards and a touchdown in a single game this season. He hasn't gone over 100 yards since before the Vikings' bye in Week 6.
That all changes this week in primetime vs. the Cowboys.
This will be Jefferson's first trip to Dallas as an NFL player, and he's coming off two very un-Jefferson-like performances in the last two weeks, where he's totaled just 15 yards.
Even through the down individual performances, Jefferson has been a true professional who just wants to win.
#Vikings WR Justin Jefferson on if he can enjoy himself despite not getting the ball a lot:
“I’d rather win and not get the ball than lose and not get the ball.” pic.twitter.com/LatS9QPWhp
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) December 7, 2025
But if there were ever a "get-right" spot for J.J. McCarthy and Jefferson, it'd be against a Cowboys defense allowing the most fantasy points per game (28) and most touchdowns (22) to opposing wideouts.
Jordan Addison (achilles) and T.J. Hockenson (shin) are also somewhat limited by injuries, which means Jefferson could be hyper-targeted in this one.
Jefferson, despite a challenging season, has been much better against zone and single-high coverages this season.
Per Fantasy Points Data, the Cowboys allow the second-most fantasy points per dropback in zone coverage (0.45), and the third-most in single-high (0.51).
It's been frustrating to watch Jefferson in the last few weeks, but don't you dare sit him in this juicy Week 15 matchup.
Jonathan Taylor Goes Under 50 Rushing Yards
The Colts have an implied team total of just 15 this week as they head into Seattle without their usual starting quarterback, Daniel Jones.
Compare that to the two previous weeks when the Colts had implied totals of 23.5 and 24 against two tough defenses in the Texans and Jaguars.
It sounds like it'll be rookie Riley Leonard (although don't rule out 44-year-old Philip Rivers) going up against one of the toughest run defenses in the NFL.
The Seahawks will undoubtedly game-plan to take away the Colts' best weapon, which is Taylor. They will force the rookie quarterback (or 44-year-old off the street) to beat them in rainy conditions.
Seattle is allowing the fewest yards per carry (3.5) and the second-fewest rushing yards per game (84.2) on their home turf this season.
Because of their dominance at home this season, opposing teams have only rushed the ball a league-fewest 36.48% of the time in Seattle.
Maybe Taylor breaks a screen pass for some chunk yardage in this one, but don't expect much production on the ground as the Seahawks make the Colts beat them through the air in Week 15.
Stefon Diggs Puts up 100+ Receiving Yards and a Touchdown Against his Former Team
Diggs caught 10 balls for 146 yards on 12 targets in his return to Buffalo earlier in the season.
So while this might not feel "bold" compared to that outing, it's bold considering his two most recent games.
Before the Patriots' Week 14 bye, Diggs produced fewer than 30 yards on fewer than five targets in favorable matchups against the Bengals and Giants.
But the veteran has now had two weeks to rest up before facing his former team again, this time in Foxborough.
Because he's well-rested and because he's facing his former team, more snaps could be in play.
Here's how Diggs has fared in revenge games throughout his career:
| Revenge Game | Targets | Receptions | Yards |
| 2025 vs. Bills (Week 15) | ? | ? | ? |
| 2025 @ Bills (Week 5) | 12 | 10 | 146 |
| 2024 @ Vikings | 12 | 10 | 94 |
| 2024 vs. Bills | 8 | 6 | 82 |
| 2022 vs. Vikings | 16 | 12 | 128 |
Not only does he historically have success against his former teams, but he's got a lot to play for the rest of the way:
If Stefon Diggs averages 4-5 catches a game for ~75 yards to close things out, he can make an extra $1.5 to $2M. Everyone in that building knows he signed an incentive-heavy deal.
Wouldn't be surprised if he came out of the bye week HOT. pic.twitter.com/R8QHXxt4de
— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) December 9, 2025
Rico Dowdle Seizes Control of Carolina Backfield, Runs for 100+ Yards and Two Touchdowns
Chuba Hubbard out-snapped (and out-produced) Dowdle in a very competitive Week 13 game against the Rams.
But it was Dowdle who still had more touches (20 vs. 19). Hubbard will be involved, but things should swing back in Rico's favor in Week 15 coming out of the Bye.
Head coach Dave Canales told reporters after the team's Week 13 game that a lot of Hubbard's snaps came as a result of third-down and passing situations.
As Chuba ran well on the snaps he played, he continued to get work as the game went on, but things could (and probably will) be different in Week 15.
Dowdle is at least the team's early-down back in what should be a favorable game script in which the Panthers are 2.5-point road favorites.
The Saints have also been awful against the run of late, allowing 154.7 rushing yards per game in their last three games.
They held Dowdle to just 2.94 yards per carry in their first meeting, a game in which rookie Tyler Shough and the Saints went into Carolina and beat the Panthers 17-7.
I'd imagine things are different this weekend for the Panthers with two weeks of rest, scouting, and game-planning.
Based on how bad the Saints have been against the run of late, Dowdle will produce on early downs, and there won't be as many opportunities for Hubbard on third down.
100+ rushing yards and two touchdowns are incoming for Uncle Rico.
Isaiah Likely Leads All Tight Ends in Receiving Yards and Fantasy Points on Sunday
To say the Bengals have been bad against opposing tight ends would be the understatement of the century.
No other team has allowed more than 1,000 receiving yards or 10 touchdowns to opposing tight ends. The Bengals have allowed 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Last weekend, a part-time Dalton Kincaid and a full-time Dawson Knox combined for 10 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets (44.4% target share).
In Week 13, it was Mark Andrews and Likely combining for nine catches for 142 yards on 12 targets (40% target share).
Teams are carving up the Bengals' defense by heavily utilizing the tight ends. That won't change.
But why Likely over Andrews?
Well, for starters, Andrews (glute) was added to the injury report on Thursday. While he could still play, the downgrade is notable.
Second, Likely has been flat-out better following the Ravens' Week 7 bye (last seven games):
| Metric | Mark Andrews |
Isaiah Likely |
| Targets per route run | 0.19 | 0.25 |
| Yards per route run | 1.16 | 2.04 |
| YAC/reception | 2.76 | 5.58 |
| Yards per target | 5.96 | 8.21 |
Expect him to be extremely busy in Week 15, leading all tight ends in receiving yards and fantasy points.
