December 15, 2017

Week 15 daily fantasy football lineup picks and NFL DFS cheat sheet for Yahoo. DFS lineup targets and sleepers for GPPs / cash games at RB, WR, QB, TE, and DEF.

Hey there RotoBallers! In this article, I will be taking a look at some of my favorite Yahoo DFS lineups picks for the Week 15 slate. These DFS picks are based on a multitude of factors including matchup, talent, recent performance, Vegas odds, and pricing on Yahoo.

There were plenty of values to pick from on Yahoo this week. I am electing to capitalize on a few cheaper running backs and filling in higher-priced stars around them. The quarterback position was pretty flat so I elected to go with a high-upside, high-priced option in Cam Newton while also adding a solid mid-range play in Blake Bortles.

While I didn't write them up, both Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are great plays in a great spot against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While it's hard to trust Ryan as anything more than a GPP dart-throw this season, I will be trying to fit Jones in where I can. The last time Jones faced the Bucs, in Week 12, he blasted them for 253 yards and two scores.

Quarterback Picks for Yahoo DFS

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers vs. GB, $35

Newton didn't do much last week in a brutal matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. The Panthers leaned heavily on their running game, namely Jonathan Stewart, to overpower Minnesota. Look for Newton to bounce back in a fantastic spot against the Packers this week. Green Bay is fresh off of allowing DeShone Kizer to turn in a career day which saw him rack up three passing touchdowns for the first time in his career. Newton should have no trouble moving the ball against a Packers pass defense that is ranked 20th in DVOA this season. The return of Aaron Rodgers gives this game some shootout potential, which is great for Newton's prospects as it means he will have to throw. Cam is safe for cash games and has the upside to be utilized in GPPs, as well.

Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. HOU, $28

Bortles has turned in two of his best performances of the season over the past three weeks. The Jacksonville signal-caller has rolled up six total touchdowns (four passing, two rushing) while throwing just one interception. He draws a lovely Week 15 matchup with a Houston pass defense that has been extremely generous to opposing passers this season. The Texans are allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and rank 18th in pass defense DVOA. They have remained solid against the run, ranking sixth in DVOA, which means they have a good shot at slowing the Jacksonville running attack and forcing extra passes out of Bortles.

Running Back Picks for Yahoo DFS

Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins @ BUF, $21

Drake has been extremely impressive since taking over as Miami's lead back in Week 13. The second-year runner hasn't looked back since, rolling up 234 rushing yards and adding eight catches and 100 receiving yards in two games. He draws an extremely favorable Week 15 matchup against a Buffalo defense that has been getting shredded by opposing running games, allowing the most fantasy points per game to the position and ranking 24th in DVOA. Look for Miami to lean on him yet again as they attempt to build upon their surprising upset victory over the Patriots this past Monday. Drake is way underpriced on Yahoo considering he's a lead back who has been producing through the roof over the past two weeks.

Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers @ CAR, $21

Williams is in a similar situation as Kenyon Drake. He is a bell cow back who has performed well and is extremely underpriced given his recent production. He doesn't draw the cake matchup that Drake has but he will benefit from the return of Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers being back under center will serve to open up the Green Bay offense and prevent opposing defenses from stacking the box and daring Brett Hundley to throw the ball. Williams is clearly Green Bay's lead back at this point of the season. They tried to get Aaron Jones involved for a series against the Browns last week and he did nothing, which should cement his role as the backup. This is clearly Williams' backfield but Yahoo's pricing doesn't reflect that fact.

Wide Receiver Picks for Yahoo DFS

Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings vs. CIN, $29

Thielen pulls an excellent Week 15 matchup against a Bengals secondary that is extremely banged up. The Bengals, on the season, have done a solid job limiting opposing wideouts, but they are likely to be without starting both of their starting cornerbacks. Adam Jones is on injured reserve and Dre Kirkpatrick is in the league's concussion protocol. Third cornerback Darqueze Dennard is likely to play but he's dealing with a knee injury. Thielen has been one of the most reliable fantasy receivers this season and should be able to get open at will in Week 15.

Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys @ OAK, $22

Bryant finally hit on a splash play as he burned the Giants for a 50-yard touchdown in the first half in Week 14. The veteran wideout has shown signs of slowing down this season but he remains an elite red zone weapon who is heavily targeted. The Raiders represent a plus matchup for opposing wideouts as their pass defense is ranked dead last in the league in DVOA both overall and against the opposition's WR1. Bryant is a great bet to score a touchdown and very well could post his first two-score game of the season this weekend. At just $22 he's an excellent value.

Tight End Picks for Yahoo DFS

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots vs. PIT, $26

Gronkowski is underpriced as an elite pass-catching option in Week 15. The Steelers have been tough on enemy tight end this season but they are also without star linebacker Ryan Shazier, who is excellent in coverage and played a large role in shutting down the position this season. Gronk has the weekly upside to score like a WR1, yet he's priced down well below the top options. The star tight end is even worth using in Yahoo's flex spot if there's another tight end you feel strongly about.

Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins vs. ARI, $12

Davis has been up and down since stepping in as Washington's starting tight end after Week 9. He rattled off a strong string of games before disappearing in Weeks 12 and 13. He bounced back with two catches for 29 yards and a score last week while leading his team with seven targets. He certainly isn't a safe play but the targets have been there as he's averaging six per game over the past six contests.

Defense/Special Teams Pick for Yahoo DFS

Minnesota Vikings vs. CIN, $14

The Vikings are an extremely talented defense going up against a Bengals offensive line that is in the bottom third of the league in adjusted sack rate according to Football Outsiders. The Vikings are massive 12-point home favorites in a game where the Bengals offense only has an implied team total of 15.75 points. This is a perfect opportunity to get one of the top defenses in the NFL at a reasonable price on Yahoo.

More Week 15 DFS Analysis