Set your lineups for Week 15 with Dalton Del Dono’s key start/sit tips for every game on the table.
Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers
Start: Rico Dowdle
Dowdle has completely taken over as Dallas’ workhorse, seeing 66 of 76 RB touches over the last three games. He gets a Panthers defense that is allowing 5.0 YPC and the most average rush attempts (27.8), rushing yards (138.6), touchdowns (1.4) and fantasy points to running backs this season. The game script should remain manageable against the Panthers, so Dowdle is on the edge of the top 15 this week.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns
Sitting: Nick Chubb
Chubb has three touchdowns in the past three games, but hasn’t seen a single red-zone carry in the past two weeks. Chubb saw just 38% of the snaps and 12 of 26 RB opportunities last week and has been outscored by Jerome Ford in two straight games. The Chiefs’ pass defense has taken a step back of late, but Kansas City has given up the fewest RB rushing yards per game (58.5) and fantasy points this season. Chubb is averaging just 1.4 targets and 3.1 YPC since returning from injury; he is a candidate for the bench to start the fantasy playoffs.
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Miami Dolphins @ Houston Texans
Start: Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa was QB25 in fantasy points per game through the first 10 weeks, but has been QB2 behind only Josh Allen in four games since. The Dolphins rank second in neutral completion rate (65.4%) and third in pass completion rate (+9.6%), while Tagovailoa is averaging 325 yards and 2.8 TDs in that span. Sunday’s game appears set for a shootout, with both teams ranked in the top seven in neutral passing percentage over the past five weeks. The Texans have gotten the fifth-fewest fantasy points by RBs this season, but the 10th-most by QBs.
New York Jets @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Start: Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas Jr. He tied Mac Jones’ career highs in goals (12) and goal percentage (40%) last week. The rookie somehow finished in the top 20 in yards per route run despite dealing with shaky quarterback play, and BTJ got the Jets’ last-ranked defense in EPA/dropback from Week 9. New York also allowed 81% of the NFL’s catchable targets. rate for flights of 10+ air yards in the last month. Thomas Jr. he was close to an impressive performance two games ago and is a top-25 WR this week.
Take a seat Travis Etienne Jr.who played just 48% of the snaps and lost 19 of 27 RB opportunities to Tank Bigsby last week. The Jets defense remained above average while their passing D struggled.
Washington Commanders @ New Orleans Saints
Start: Brian Robinson Jr.
Robinson Jr. should be healthier from the bye and will see extra work with Austin Ekeler on IR. The Saints have allowed an NFL-high 5.4 YPC since Week 6 and rank 30th in EPA/rush and 31st in passing yards during that span. Robinson Jr. he’s got the seventh-highest YPC (4.9) over the span and is on pace for 11 rushing touchdowns despite missing three games and playing injured in several others. The Commanders are more than a touchdown favorite against a Saints team starting Jake Heaner or Spencer Rattler at QB, so the game script should be very favorable. Robinson Jr. is in the top 15 this week.
Baltimore Ravens @ New York Giants
Seated: Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Tracy Jr. last week set career highs in rushing rate (83%), RB rush share (89%) and target share (21%). He’s a rising star worth targeting in 2025 fantasy drafts, but Tracy Jr. he has a tough fight on Sunday. The Ravens allowed an NFL low 3.6 YPC and the second fewest RB rushing yards per game (64.4). Plus, the Giants are a 16-point underdog with Tommy DeVito starting. New York has a projected team total (13.5 points!) that requires a microscope to find, so look for Tracy Jr. alternatives if possible.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans
Start: Calvin Ridley
Ridley has led the league in passing yards since DeAndre Hopkins was traded, and the Bengals have scored the fifth-most fantasy points by an outside receiver this season. Ridley saw two targets inside the five-yard line last week as he continues to approach much bigger plays. The volume should be there again on Sunday, as the Titans will likely be in a negative game scenario as the underdog against a surging Bengals offense.
New England Patriots @ Arizona Cardinals
Start: Kyler Murray
Murray’s has undoubtedly had a fantastic up-and-down season; he has four weekly top 5 QB finishes and four in the top 10. But he gets a favorable home matchup this week against a New England defense that ranks at the bottom of the league in pressure rate. The Cardinals have the team’s third-highest implied total this week (26.5 points) when Murray is a top-10 QB.
Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos
Start: Bo Nix
Nix has quietly been a fantasy QB5 since Week 5 as he continues to improve and attack more downfield. Nix’s YPA jumped significantly (1.6 yards) against zone coverage (h/t TruMedia), which the Colts used at a league-high rate (80%). Denver has the sixth-highest PROE in the league over the past month, and this should be a fast-paced game with plenty of plays. Nix is a top 10 QB coming out of his bye.
Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions
Start: Jared Goff
Goff has averaged three touchdown passes in his last four home games, and Buffalo’s offense should help produce more volume in Sunday’s up-tempo game. The Bills have a solid, if not stout, pass defense, but Matthew Stafford lit them up last week, and opposing quarterbacks have thrown multiple TDs in four of the last five games against Buffalo — the latter in a no-pass blizzard. The Lions are expected to score a league-high 28.5 points per game this week, so it’s worth it for Goff to start the game with a whopping 54.5 points.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Los Angeles Chargers
Start: Rachaad White
White saw 80% of the snaps and 11-of-14 carries after Bucky Irving left last week’s game and ended up as the fantasy RB4. The Buccaneers used an inventive offense that often featured two sets and designed targets for their RBs, so White is worth starting even in a tougher matchup on paper. Again, he could be looking at a bigger load. Irving sat out practice on Thursday, so there’s a good chance he’ll be limited even if he’s able to play. White is on the edge of the top-20 this week.
Stone Smartt is a sleeper if you’re looking for a solid finish. Will Dissly is out, Ladd McConkey remains limited at best, and Smartt has an interesting profile. Tampa Bay has allowed the second most targets (7.8) and receiving yards (70.5) this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Seated: Najee Harris
Harris’ snap percentage dropped to 42% last week when he also caught just 45.7% of running opportunities. Jaylen Warren is playing more of the pass game (Harris ran just seven routes last week) and Pittsburgh enters Sunday with a 5.5-point deficit. Harris was RB17 in wins but RB39 in losses this season. The Eagles have given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs (and the second-lowest EPA/rush), and the Steelers have one of the lowest implied team totals (18.5 points) in a slow game this week.
Green Bay Packers @ Seattle Seahawks
Start: Zach Charbonnet
Charbonnet filled in for the injured Kenneth Walker last week and turned in one of the biggest fantasy performances of the season. Charbonnet accounted for a whopping 47% of Seattle’s scrimmage yards and gained the third most yards after contact in any game this year. Walker missed Thursday’s practice and remains “day-to-day” with a calf injury. It doesn’t sound like a long-term concern, but Charbonnet figures to remain a major part of Seattle’s game plan Sunday night even if Walker returns (after missing practices).
The Packers have allowed the most scheme-adjusted fantasy points to running backs over the past five weeks, so Charbonnet should have another nice game. It’s back in the top 20 this week.
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
Sitting: D’Andre Swift
It quickly set season highs in rush share (79%) and route share (68%) last week when Roschon Johnson went out, though it didn’t translate into much fantasy. Johnson could be back this week, but Swift’s matchup is more concerning. The Vikings have given running backs by far the lowest EPA/rush and third fewest fantasy points this season. The Bears have a low implied total of 18.5 points and are touchdown underdogs; Swift was a fantasy RB4 during wins this season, but was RB35 during losses.
Atlanta Falcons @ Las Vegas Raiders
Start: Darnell Mooney
Mooney has more receiving yards (and just one less TD) than Drake London this season. Mooney’s fantasy production has slipped thanks to Kirk Cousins’ 0-8 TD:INT ratio over the past four games, but that should change Monday night. Cousins has thrown 12 of his 15 picks against zone coverage this season, which the Raiders have used at the league’s seventh-lowest rate (h/t TruMedia).
Mooney’s target rate and route fantasy points fluctuate against man coverage, and Las Vegas has been an extreme funnel over the past five weeks; the raiders have allowed the fifth fewest schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs, but the second most to wide receivers in that span. The Falcons have a healthy implied total of 24.5 points, so consider Mooney a top 30 WR this week.