By J.D. Bagley (@jdbagley5)
Every week, there’s going to be several surprise fantasy football studs (most of them frustratingly stashed on your bench). Why not try to spot them in advance? Here are the players in Week 15 that could make an unexpected splash.
Quarterback
Joe Flacco (BAL) @ CLE — Flacco will be a hot name on many waiver wires this week simply due to his matchup vs the Browns. Cleveland has given up the 5th most points to opposing quarterbacks this season and the Browns run defense ranks a surprising 6th best in the league. The Ravens are getting hot at the right time, winning 3 of their last 4 games to make a strong push for the top Wild Card spot in the AFC. So, expect Flacco and the Ravens to air it out and give the Browns all they can handle on Sunday. He’s a great streaming option especially if you just lost Carson Wentz for the year.
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Nick Foles (PHI) @ NYG — Remember in 2013 when Nick Foles threw for 27 TD’s and just 2 INT’s taking the Eagles to the playoffs? Talk about a career year. No, I am not expecting him to put up those kinds of numbers over the last few weeks of the season. But, he does have a very favorable matchup this week against the Giants who have basically given up at this point in their season. Foles has a much better supporting cast around him with this team than he did in 2013, thanks to some great moves made by the front office over the past year. The Giants have given up the most points to opposing quarterbacks through 15 weeks, giving Foles a great opportunity to have a pretty high ceiling and low floor this week. This is another guy you can replace Wentz with as he has upcoming matchups vs the Giants, Raiders and Cowboys. All of which rank in the bottom third of the league in pass defense.
Running Back
Giovani Bernard (CIN) @ MIN — This only applies if Joe Mixon is unable to go for a second straight week battling a concussion. Let’s be honest, Minnesota is the much better team here and they have a great defense making this a tough matchup for Bernard. But, the volume will be there. Last week with Mixon out, Bernard played over 85% of the snaps and turned 17 touches into 130 yards. I would expect Xavier Rhodes to be glued to A.J. Green all day and continue to show why he is one of the best corners in the league. This will open up opportunity for Gio Bernard to have a nice day in the passing game. He is much more appealing in PPR leagues than standard.
Mike Davis (SEA) vs LAR –– Russell Wilson can’t throw the ball every play, right? As much as they want the ball in Wilson’s hands, the Seahawks can’t be too predictable. The Rams give up the 2nd most points to opposing running backs and Davis looks like he has secured his spot as the early down guy in Seattle.
Wide Receiver
Tyrell Williams (LAC) @ KC — The Chargers are on fire right now and there’s no reason to believe it won’t continue in Kansas City this weekend. These teams are trending in complete opposite directions. Tyrell Williams has the opportunity to take the top off the defense on any given Sunday (even though they are playing on Saturday), especially against the Chiefs who give up the 2nd most points to opposing receivers. Phillip Rivers has looked great over the four-game win streak and has been spreading the ball around while doing so. Williams has a low floor, but a high ceiling this week as well.
Nelson Agholor (PHI) @ NYG — Like I stated earlier, the Giants have given up on this lost season of theirs. With a defense as bad as it is and the firepower the Eagles can bring, Agholor has the opportunity for a nice game this week. He is the No. 3 option in the passing game, meaning he will get a very favorable matchup as the Giants will do their best to slow down Alshon Jeffery and Zach Ertz.
Tight End
Jack Doyle (IND) vs DEN — Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib have been incredible against opposing receivers over the last few seasons and the Colts only have one real threat out wide in T.Y. Hilton. I would expect him to see limited targets this week opening things up for Jack Doyle in the middle of the field against a Denver defense who gives up the 4th most points to opposing tight ends.
