It’s hard to believe that the fantasy football season is almost over and it means the end of my weekly Sleepers & Duds story is coming soon.
This is the story I struggle with the most as my focus turns to DFS late in the week working on my spreadsheet for the DraftKings Main Slate.
But the spreadsheet also helps to identify the Sleepers & Duds for the week – a little love-hate relationship.
Well enough chit chat, let’s get into Week 15’s picks!
QB Sleepers
Marcus Mariota, Washington
The Washington offense was awful last week in Minnesota with Jayden Daniels back at the QB helm.
Well, Daniels injured his non-throwing elbow again and is being replaced by Mariota again.
Mariota steps into a nice matchup against the Giants defense.
New York have given up the second most fantasy points a game to quarterbacks this season at 20.8 points.
QB Duds
Drake Maye, New England
Maye walks into his second matchup of the season against the Bills after claiming a 23-20 win in Week 5.
But the sledding could be tough for Maye and the Patriots in Round 2 of the AFC East Division leaders.
The Bills defense has been stingy against QBs this season, allowing on 13.3 fantasy points against the position.
And guess who gave the Maye his worst week of the season? If you guessed Buffalo, you are correct. The Bills held Maye to 12.1 points in the early season matchup.
RB Sleepers
Washington RBs
At this time Chris Rodriguez Jr. is listed as questionable with a groin injury, which is never good for a running back, but this spot against the Giants’ 31st run defense is hard to ignore.
Rodriguez could excel with his bruising rushing style, but the injury may limit him or keep him completely out of the game.
Enters Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols. Croskey-Merritt was a fantasy darling after his big game against LA Chargers earlier in the season, and McNichols has showed some flashes with his time with the Commanders.
The Giants give up the second most fantasy points to RBs at 28.6 points a game. This is a watch the game-time actives list play.
RB Duds
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis
This will mark the third time in the last four weeks where I’ve listed the NFL’s leading rusher as a Dud.
But Taylor and Colts‘ matchups have been brutal.
The last three weeks he faced three of the Top 7 run defenses in the league in Kansas City, Houston and Jacksonville.
It doesn’t get any easier this week at Seattle. The Seahawks are the 4th best rush defense in the NFL at 91.2 yards a game.
Seattle is also on a 22-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher. The road will be bumpy again for Taylor.
WR Sleepers
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco
Jennings has been one of the more frustrating WRs all season as he battled injuries to start the season as did his starting QB Brock Purdy.
But now the 49ers offense appears to be getting healthy at the right time.
Jennings has seen 19 targets in his last three games where Purdy has played. And now they face the Tennessee defense that just gave up 351 passing yards to Cleveland’s Shedeur Sanders.
The Titans allow just less than 35 fantasy points to the WRs this season.
WR Duds
Michael Wilson, Arizona
Wilson has been a league winner for teams down the final stretch of the fantasy season, but he will be hard pressed to put up his recent Godly numbers for the Cardinals again.
Houston has the 3rd best pass defense in the league at 172 yards a game, but the Texans have been down right stingy at home, allowing only 155.3 yards a game at NRG Stadium.
The Texans are only allowing 25.7 fantasy points to WR groups this season, which is 14 points less than Wilson scored by himself last week.
TE Sleepers
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati
The Bengals face AFC North Division rival Baltimore and the Ravens have been a solid defense this season against TEs.
But Gesicki is getting the boost thanks to Tee Higgins missing the game from concussion symptoms, and Gesicki has seen an uptick in production with Joe Burrow’s return.
Gesicki has seen 10 targets in his last two game with Burrow back under center, and had breakout game last week against the Buffalo defense that had shut down TEs this season.
TE Duds
Trey McBride, Arizona
McBride is in the same boat as Wilson against Houston stellar pass defense.
The Texans have allowed just less than 10 points a game to TEs this season, and with Greg Dortch on IR, Houston should be able to focus on McBride and Wilson this week.
In his one career game against the Texans, McBride was limited to 5 catches for 43 yards.
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