Fri Dec 12 4:42pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer
NFL Week 15 is here and regardless of whether or not you made your fantasy football playoffs, we keep rolling here with DFS Pickem contests. We’ve got a little recovery mission to tend to this week as last week was brutal. I’m not afraid nor ashamed to admit it. Sometimes you get thumped and there’s nothing you can do. Chase Brown scored twice and had some decent receiving yards, but for some reason, the Bengals opted not to run the football and kill the clock when they had a late lead. All they needed to do was grind it out on the ground and they could/should have won the game. Meanwhile, Tyrod Taylor left injured six plays in which sunk our Adonai Mitchell play, Darren Waller was a no-show and Brenton Strange found his way into the end zone but also fell short of his receiving yards. It was a tough one indeed, but we’re ready to get it back here with our NFL Week 15 picks.
If you are new to the DFS Pickem format, allow me to help you along because it’s really quite easy. All you do is make your picks for players to produce more or less than their designated stat-line and if you are right, you can earn up to 40 times your wager (minimum wager of $1). Pick correctly for two players and you will 3x your money. Three correct picks will get you a 6x return, four is 10x and so on, up to 40x for six correct picks. You should give a look at the full contest rules, but that’s the gist of it for how to play.
Again, since I’m still hoping to take down that top prize in the Beat Howard Bender Best Ball Tournament, I thought I’d give back to the community each week with some DFS Pickem picks. I do a substantial amount of the NFL betting content and a lot of DFS content on Fantasy Alarm, so I am always diving into the match-ups and player stat lines. Why not turn that into some cold, hard cash so you can afford to play me in season-long contests again next year?
Special Note: Our friends here at RTSports have gifted us with another “gimme pick” to throw into your contest tickets. How about Matthew Stafford MORE than 0.5 Total Yards? I will happily accept and throw it in with my picks below.
Now, let’s get to it!
Pick of the Week:
Davante Adams -- MORE than 0.5 Ruch + Rec TD
We’re being gifted an extra leg to our picks here, so there’s no harm in taking a slightly less than even multiplier for a Davante Adams touchdown. He’s been hampered by a hamstring injury this week, so feel free to double-check or you could pivot to Puka Nacua if you like. But I’ll stay with the guy who’s only missed four games in four years and has 11 touchdowns over his last seven games. Detroit is dealing with some injuries in the secondary so we’ve got that going for us as well.
Other Favorite Week 15 Picks:
If you have never signed up or deposited here at Real Time Fantasy Sports, do yourself a favor and head over to rtsports.com/bender and get a 50% match on your first deposit, up to $500.
If you’re looking to tail my picks in a parlay, you can find them in the DFS Pickem Lobby on the right-hand side of the page.
Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins continues to have a solid rookie season, and he has been able to establish himself as the team's second receiver during their current winning streak. Last week, Higgins had three catches on five targets for 34 yards. He has at least five targets and at least three catches in five straight games and has scored two of his four touchdowns this season during that span. Higgins hasn't posted huge yardage totals, but he's a big target by the goal line and is in a favorable matchup against the Cardinals, who have allowed four wide receiver touchdowns in the last two weeks. Higgins is a touchdown-dependent option this week, but he does bring some upside as the team's second receiver in a game where it should put up plenty of points. Higgins is the No. 46 WR in RotBaller's rankings for Week 15, making him a stretch even as a flex play outside of very deep formats. He is a player on the rise, though, so he definitely is worth monitoring as he finishes out his rookie year.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has had a stellar season. The 26-year-old leads the league in several rushing categories, including yards (1,356) and touchdowns (16). He also ranks second in attempts (247), two behind James Cook III (249). At this point, Taylor appears to be well on his way to having the best season of his career. Unfortunately, the 2020 No. 41 overall pick has cooled since finding the end zone three times versus the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin back in Week 10, scoring only once in his last three appearances. With four regular-season games left on the schedule, Indianapolis is looking for a much-needed win over Seattle on Sunday in hopes of climbing back to the top of the AFC South. However, the Colts have to figure out a way to win without Daniel Jones (Achilles), who will miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign. That means Indy will turn to the recently un-retired Philip Rivers or Riley Leonard (knee) to take over under center in Week 15. All things considered, both quarterbacks could have a tough time getting anything going against a formidable Seahawks defense, meaning Taylor may get his number called even more than usual. Granted, JT might not have the easiest day either, considering Seattle has allowed just four rushing touchdowns this season. Still, despite the challenging matchup on the horizon, Taylor remains a must-start in all season-long fantasy formats. On the other hand, DFS managers should consider alternative options.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson's ascension into the lead-back role has come at the perfect time, as he continues to face off against a string of below-average run defenses. This week, Henderson's Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills, who have allowed the most rushing touchdowns, sixth-most rushing yards, and sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. The rookie has fared quite well since replacing Rhamondre Stevenson atop the depth chart. Even in Stevenson's two games since returning from injury, Henderson has totaled 35 touches, 133 rushing yards, and 34 receiving yards. He has double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in each of his last five games, and against a Bills defense that has allowed 18 touchdowns this year, Henderson has a good shot at breaking his two-game streak without a trip to the end zone. He continues to rank as a low-end RB1 for Week 15 against Buffalo.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk has struggled with injuries in his first season with the Texans, and he has been in a minimal role coming into his Week 15 matchup against his former team, the Cardinals. Kirk played only 25 snaps (36%) last week in a big game against the Chiefs and caught only one of his three targets for six yards. Kirk did flash upside with five catches for 56 yards and a touchdown in Week 12 against the Bills, but he has only one catch in the two games since C.J. Stroud has been back at quarterback. With rookie Jayden Higgins as the team's second receiver and Nico Collins dominating the target share, Kirk is left sharing time in the slot with rookie Jaylin Noel. Even though he'll be facing his former team, he's only the WR77 in RotoBaller's rankings, so he can be left on the waiver wire in most standard-sized formats for this week.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins remains the clear go-to option in the Texans' passing game, and he's in a great spot this week at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Collins hauled in four receptions on eight targets for 121 yards in last Sunday's 20-10 win over the Chiefs, and he now has 75+receiving yards in five of his last six games. Collins is up to 916 receiving yards for the season and can get to 1,000 with a good showing this week against the Cardinals, who have allowed four wide receiver touchdowns in the last two weeks and nine on the season, while giving up 146.8 yards per week to the position. Collins is the No. 7 WR in RotoBaller's Week 15 rankings, making him a top starting option in just about all formats in this matchup this week, as he continues to be C.J. Stroud's go-to option as the Texans make their playoff push.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye played quite well during his last meeting against the Buffalo Bills, and he'll get another opportunity to face off against the division rival on Sunday in Week 15. Last time he faced the Bills, Maye completed 22 of his 30 pass attempts for 273 passing yards. He rushed for 12 yards and took four sacks. The former No. 3 pick played turnover-free football in that Week 5 contest, but he also was held without a touchdown for the first and only time this season. He should have more fantasy success this time around while also keeping New England in a competitive battle against the Bills. Buffalo's defense has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2025, and they allowed Joe Burrow to throw for 284 yards and four touchdowns last weekend. Maye remains in the mix as a high-end fantasy QB1 coming off his bye week.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale made the most of his lone carry last week, scampering five yards for a touchdown against the Chiefs. The 31-year-old veteran played only one snap, filling in while Nick Chubb (ribs) and Woody Marks (knee) were temporarily unavailable. He has four carries for 23 yards and a touchdown, along with five catches for 36 yards all season long, but he could be the team's primary backup this week since Chubb is questionable for Week 15 against the Cardinals. The Cardinals are a great matchup for running backs, and if Ogubowale ends up playing meaningful snaps, he has some flier upside. He's only the RB61 in RotoBaller's rankings, though, so he's best left on the waiver wire in most formats. It is worth watching to see if he'll be the primary backup, though, since Marks usually works in a rotation.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (hip) won't carry an injury designation into the Week 15 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Tracy was forced to exit early during the Week 13 loss to the New England Patriots with a hip contusion. The 26-year-old is ready to go after a week off during the team's bye. Tracy figures to handle the bulk of the carries in the backfield, while Devin Singletary gets mixed in as well. The second-year back has rushed for over 60 yards in three of his last four games. During that span, Tracy has also finished with 50 receiving yards or more in two of those games. The Commanders' defense ranks 27th in points allowed to running backs this season. With a full workload, Tracy should be able to offer RB2 value in 12-team formats in Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb (ribs) was forced to leave last week's big win over the Chiefs early with a rib injury, but there's still a chance he's available for Week 15 against the Cardinals. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday but was able to get in a limited session on Friday. If he does play, he'll get a great matchup against the Cardinals' porous run defense that has given up 18 touchdowns to running backs this season. While Woody Marks is likely to get most of the work even if Chubb is healthy, he would bring touchdown-dependent upside. He only had one carry for three yards last week before his injury, but in Week 13, he found the end zone against the Colts for his third score of the season. He's a high-risk flex play even if he's active, even though he does have the potential to get some work, especially if the Texans play from ahead against Arizona
From RotoBaller
New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is hopeful for better results after a lackluster performance against the New England Patriots in Week 13. Dart made his return to the field before the bye after missing two games due to a concussion and completed 17 of 24 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown in the loss. The biggest takeaway is that Dart only rushed the ball four times for 20 yards. Before missing two games, Dart had scored a touchdown on the ground in five straight games. The Giants previously stated they want Dart to be smarter with the way he runs the ball. His passing stats alone are unlikely going to be able to carry him as a QB1 in fantasy, even with a plus matchup against the Washington Commanders in Week 15. Dart has been held to under 200 passing yards in three of his last four games. The Commanders' defense has allowed 58 points over their previous two contests. That's good news for Dart, but he should still be viewed on the lower end of the QB1 spectrum for this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (ankle) remains a solid streaming option in Week 15 against an Indianapolis Colts defense that allows 15.5 points per game to opposing tight ends in fantasy. Barner has been relatively inconsistent this season due to variable target volume. However, he has remained an every-down player, and he is always a threat to score a touchdown. Barner's ceiling is tapped by a lack of volume, but he retains a solid floor for the tight end position. With the Colts having trouble containing opposing tight ends, Barner could find room to work, especially with wide receivers Rashid Shaheed and Jaxon Smith-Njigba running wild on the outside. Look for the Seahawks to deploy an effective passing attack on Sunday. If you are dealing with an inconsistent starter or you have been streaming the position this year, you could do worse than Barner this week. Barner has been listed as a full participant on Seattle's injury report this week, but he should be good to go for Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (knee) missed some practice earlier this week but does not have an injury designation and is ready to go for the Texans' Week 15 matchup against Arizona. The Cardinals have allowed 18 running back touchdowns in 13 games, including eight in the last four weeks. Marks could get more of the workload with Nick Chubb (ribs, questionable) banged up. Marks checks in as the No. 17 RB in RotoBaller's Week 15 rankings, so he's a strong RB2 play this week after setting a new career-high with 26 carries last week. He scored his fifth touchdown of the season in the Texans' win over the Chiefs, and he has a much better matchup this week, giving him a good ceiling, especially if he gets all the work in this favorable matchup. He crushed the Titans as the focal point of the offense in a similar scenario earlier this season, and he's a strong start in Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. would likely be one of the best free-agent options at his position this offseason if he were to reach the open market. The organization might not let that happen, though, and could use the franchise tag on him. Pitts opened everyone's eyes to how great he can be during Thursday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hauling in 11 of his 12 targets for 166 yards while scoring three touchdowns in a comeback victory. The 25-year-old has been underwhelming during his career in Atlanta, but has shown flashes of greatness. There is enough upside that multiple organizations would likely be willing to gamble on Pitts if he were to become a free agent. The Falcons might attempt to delay that with the franchise tag, but we'll see what direction they decide to go in this offseason.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will try to help the Texans earn their sixth straight win when they host the Cardinals this week. Stroud missed the first three games of the winning streak but took back over and led the team to big wins over the Colts and Chiefs. This week, he gets a much easier matchup against the Cardinals, who have allowed 10 passing touchdowns in the last four weeks, including three games of three touchdown passes against them. Stroud has not had outstanding numbers in his two games since returning, totaling 276 passing yards against the Colts and 203 passing yards against the Chiefs. He threw only one touchdown in those two games, but he also threw only one interception and did what was needed to keep drives alive. With an easier matchup, it could be a breakout day for Stroud, but he will most likely continue to rely on his game management skills along with his strong defense and running game. Stroud is the QB19 in RotoBaller's Week 15 rankings, making him a strong second QB in most dual-QB leagues but not a great starter in single-QB formats.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (concussion) won't carry an injury designation into Sunday's Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Thornton was limited in practice to begin the week, but has been cleared to suit up after two straight full practice sessions. He's back in the mix after sitting out due to a concussion during last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. When healthy, Thornton is unlikely to be a significant contributor in what has been a bad Raiders offense. The 23-year-old has only eight receptions for 123 yards in 11 games this season. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for help ahead of Vegas' tough road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's Week 15 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Wicks was limited during the first two practices of the week before getting in a full session on Friday. He should be back in the mix this Sunday, but he won't draw an easy matchup. The Broncos have allowed the second-fewest yards per target to wide receivers this season. The Packers also have a ton of mouths to feed at the receiver position with Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and rookie Matthew Golden all healthy heading into this game. Wicks had an epic two-touchdown game during the Thanksgiving Day win over the Detroit Lions. That performance put him on the fantasy radar, but he has quickly fallen off as the Packers get healthy. Fantasy managers can leave Wicks on the bench in Week 15 after he wasn't targeted at all last week in the win over the Bears.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (shoulder) will avoid an injury designation ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Reed made his return from a 10-game absence due to a fractured foot and broken collarbone during last week's win over the Chicago Bears. The 25-year-old hauled in all four of his targets for 31 yards while carrying the ball twice for 22 yards. The assumption is that Reed's workload will increase after playing only 47 percent of the offensive snaps last weekend. He'll draw a tough matchup against a Broncos defense that has allowed the second-fewest yards per target to wide receivers this season. Reed still has enough upside to be looked at as a potential flex play in Week 15, but fantasy managers should temper their expectations in a bad matchup as Reed battles for touches in a crowded WR room in Green Bay.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (toe) has sidestepped the final Week 15 injury report and will play on Sunday against the division-rival Washington Commanders. Coming out of the bye week, Johnson was limited on Wednesday and Thursday due to a toe injury, but his ability to practice in full on Friday has cleared him to play this weekend. The 24-year-old should be considered a low-end TE1 for fantasy purposes after seeing a season-high eight targets before the Week 14 bye in the Monday night loss to the New England Patriots in rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart's first game back from a concussion. Dart gives the entire Giants offense more upside, including Johnson, especially in a matchup against a Washington defense that allows a league-high 8.7 yards per pass attempt. Johnson has had double-digit half-PPR points four times this year and has found the end zone three times.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (glute) was added to the Week 15 injury report on Thursday with a glute injury and put in a limited practice. Andrews upgraded to a full practice on Friday, though, and has been cleared to play on Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. The 30-year-old has plenty of chemistry with quarterback Lamar Jackson, putting him on the low-end TE1 map in fantasy football most weeks, but he's caught exactly one pass for nine yards in two of the last three weeks. Isaiah Likely has become more involved in the passing game in recent weeks, too, which has made Andrews more volatile for fantasy managers. Additionally, Andrews has not scored in the last four games and has only gone over 50 receiving yards once in 2025, back on Sept. 22, when he had 91 yards and two touchdowns. The good news this week is that he'll be facing a Bengals defense that has allowed TEs to run wild this year. Andrews caught four of six targets for 47 yards in the last meeting against Cincy on Thanksgiving night.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (ankle) was limited by an ankle injury earlier this week, but he practiced in full on Friday and has been removed from the Week 15 injury report. Lawrence will be active this Sunday when the New York Jets come to town. The 26-year-old former first overall pick is just outside the top 10 at the QB position in overall fantasy points this year, but he profiles as a low-end QB1 option in the first week of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues with a juicy matchup against the Jets. The Jags may not end up having to throw the ball all that much on Sunday, but Lawrence has been more productive in recent weeks, throwing for at least two TDs in each of the last three games with at least 229 passing yards. At the very least, Lawrence will be a viable streaming option for fantasy managers in need at the position in Week 15. During Jacksonville's current four-game winning streak, Lawrence has completed 59.6% of his passes for 882 yards, eight TDs, and four picks while adding 79 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
From RotoBaller