The 15th Sunday of the NFL season featured several notable comebacks, as well as several notable injuries. The Buffalo Bills started things off by falling behind their AFC East rival New England Patriots by three touchdowns, yet they came back to win the game 35-31. Then QB Philip Rivers, who retired five years ago and is 44 years old, started for the Indianapolis Colts mere days after signing a contract -- and he nearly led his team to a stunning road win against the mighty Seattle Seahawks defense. Alas, the Seahawks won in the closing seconds.
However, a pair of season-ending knee injuries may be what defines this week for both the short- and long-term. The Kansas City Chiefs not only lost to the Los Angeles Chargers, eliminating them from postseason contention, but star QB Patrick Mahomes went down, and he may miss part of next season as well. Mahomes entered Week 15 ranked second among all quarterbacks in fantasy points this season. Shortly after, Green Bay Packers DE Micah Parsons suffered his own non-contact injury. This weakens the Packers D/ST.
We also await clarity on Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams, though in his case it was a hamstring injury and not a knee. In any event, if you're still fighting to advance towards a fantasy crown, you may find yourself with a need to make some unexpected roster changes. We're here to help.
Each Monday, before the current NFL weekend ends, we will identify players available in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues worthy of your attention, from standard formats to deeper options. The NFL is a weekly league, and player valuation and roles seldom remain stagnant. It does not matter how you acquire players for your fantasy rosters, just that you acquire them!
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (44.1% rostered in ESPN leagues): We keep recommending Brissett because he keeps piling on numbers like a true, back-end QB1 option, even in difficult matchups. Brissett scored 20.56 points in a Week 15 blowout loss to the Houston Texans, a noted top defense. Brissett has secured a stunning top-12 fantasy finish in each of his nine starts. The Cardinals are so awful defensively, having permitted 40 actual points (not fantasy) to four of their last six opponents that Brissett spends considerable time throwing the football. The Cardinals don't face a terribly challenging opponent in Week 16. It's the Atlanta Falcons. This should be a fun shootout.
Kirk Cousins, Falcons (3.6%): Speaking of comebacks, Cousins produced quite the statistical effort in the opening game of Week 15 when he rallied the Falcons to a significant win at Tampa Bay, scoring 26.92 points for the 0.9% of ESPN managers who had him active. As noted, the Falcons face the Cardinals in Week 16. Neither team is playoff bound, so hopefully these QBs can continue scoring myriad fantasy points. Brissett comes more recommended than Cousins, of course, but some in multi-QB/superflex formats may need Cousins, too.
C.J. Stroud, Texans (51.7%): Stroud's matchup against the terrible Las Vegas Raiders in Week 16 is quite attractive, so even though he has been a relative disappointment this season, fantasy managers must consider him. Then again, the Texans could just run the football to an easy win, too. Stroud scored 23.4 points in their easy win over the Cardinals on Sunday, and we cannot ignore that Stroud scored a total of only 21.66 points over his prior two games.
Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts
Jacksonville Jaguars starter Trevor Lawrence (47.4%) led this column for multiple weeks, and we loved the tasty Week 15 matchup with the pathetic New York Jets. Few managers listened, since Lawrence was only nominally added to rosters and active in only 23.2% of them. Their loss! Lawrence scored a career-high 44.3 fantasy points in the easy win, tossing five TD passes and rushing for another score. Things are not likely to go as well in Week 16 in Denver against the defensive-minded Broncos, but still, Lawrence hasn't scored under 15 points since Week 10, and it seems odd that a top 10 fantasy QB for the season is still so available.
The Chiefs will have to turn to backup Gardner Minshew (0.1%) for games against the Tennessee Titans, Broncos and Raiders. Minshew, with his fourth franchise in four seasons, has twice been a borderline QB2 option (2019 Jaguars, 2023 Colts), and two of his three matchups are attractive ones. Still, for Week 16, go with New Orleans Saints rookie Tyler Shough (6.9%) against the Jets, Washington Commanders fill-in starter Marcus Mariota (18.9%) against the Eagles or even ascending Titans rookie Cam Ward (6%) against the Chiefs instead.
Finally, we must evaluate the Colts' Philip Rivers (7.9%), after he performed competently on Sunday versus a difficult Seahawks defense. Rivers scored only 6.3 points, completing 18 of 27 generally safe passes (only 4.4 yards per attempt) for 120 yards. He threw a touchdown pass to WR Josh Downs, and he threw his lone interception on the game's final play. The Colts play next on Monday night at home against the San Francisco 49ers, but there is little statistical upside for Rivers. Rely on a quarterback with more mobility, who has been playing for most of the season, instead.
Running back
Blake Corum, Rams (29.7%): Another repeat recommendation from recent weeks, Corum scored a touchdown for the third consecutive game (four TDs in that span) in the shootout win over the Detroit Lions, and he continues to see enough volume to contribute as a flex option. Starter Kyren Williams turned his 16 touches into 21.8 points, as he scored two touchdowns. His fantasy value is not in jeopardy, but Corum has earned his role, too.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (47.9%): The seventh-round rookie from Arizona who was so overly popular in preseason drafts had not scored double-digit fantasy points since Week 5. Even with the Sunday morning news that starter Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) would sit, few fantasy managers seemed interested. Croskey-Merritt, active in just 7.4% of ESPN leagues, scored 15.6 points against the New York Giants. The Commanders host the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys over the next two weeks, and if Rodriguez is inactive, we must consider Croskey-Merritt a reasonable flex choice.
Michael Carter, Cardinals (9.1%): Starter Bam Knight (ankle) left Sunday's game on a cart and was quickly ruled out, permitting Carter the opportunity to handle 18 touches, which he turned into 94 scrimmage yards and 13.4 fantasy points. Carter, who still boasts more receiving yards than rushing yards this season, had not seen this much volume since Week 5. He appears to be a reasonable flex choice for Week 16 against the Falcons, although Emari Demercado (8.8%) may factor in.
Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts
Chances are you never heard of Texans practice squad RB Jawhar Jordan, (0.0%), because he hadn't played in an NFL game since being a sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft from Louisville. You may need to learn the name now. Jordan earned his first NFL touches in relief of an injured Woody Marks (ankle) on Sunday, turning those 17 chances into 118 yards from scrimmage. Veteran Nick Chubb (ribs) was inactive. The Texans host the terrible Raiders this Sunday and, if Marks isn't healthy enough to play (or even if he is, perhaps), Jordan may see enough volume to be under at least flex consideration himself. It doesn't take much when it comes to running backs.
Saints fill-in starter Devin Neal (hamstring) left Sunday's game prematurely and, with Alvin Kamara (knee) already out, that left Audric Estime (0.1%) and Evan Hull (0.0%) to split 10 touches. Estime caught three passes for 39 yards, and he scored 8 points. The former Denver Broncos 2024 fifth-round pick appears to be next in line if Kamara and Neal miss Week 16 against the Jets. Again, the matchups matter!
Wide receiver
Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets (29.6%): Mitchell scored 17.4 points in the blowout loss to the Jaguars, catching six of nine targets for 58 yards and his second touchdown in three weeks. The Jets were led by rookie QB Brady Cook in his first start. Mitchell scored 24.2 points in Week 13, but he followed it up with a mere 3.4 points the following week against the Miami Dolphins, so one may never know what they are getting here. The former Colts WR in his second season isn't reliable for fantasy, but he is New York's top WR option with Garrett Wilson (knee) still sidelined. The Jets face the Saints in Week 16.
Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears (15.1%): Fantasy managers found out just before the Sunday games began that Rome Odunze (foot) would sit again, though the announcement came so late he remained active in 23.7% of ESPN leagues. Tough one. Burden was active in only 3%. Teammate DJ Moore scored a pair of touchdowns, but the rookie Burden bested Moore in catches, yards and targets, although he left in the third quarter with an ankle injury. If Burden is active and Odunze is not for Week 16 against the Packers, then the emerging Burden is worth a look. If both sit, look at Olamide Zaccheaus (1.6%), as he caught a TD pass in Week 14 against the Packers.
Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts
The Packers not only lost their top defensive option on Sunday, but also WR Christian Watson (not exactly a stranger to injuries), who left early due to a chest injury. Rookie Matthew Golden (40.7%) stepped up in the fourth quarter, and he presumably will handle some role if Watson misses time. Just be careful with Packers WRs, as one never knows who QB Jordan Love will target. Often, it is a balanced attack -- currently featuring Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, too.
The Rams play this Thursday night against the NFC West rival Seahawks, and it seems unlikely that Adams (hamstring) will suit up. Tutu Atwell (0.9%) would be next in line. One must notice that he is averaging 34.6 yards per reception this season, albeit on only five catches. The Seahawks do defend WRs well. Trusting Atwell is risky.
We don't know if the Falcons will get WR Drake London (knee) back for Week 16, or beyond really. David Sills V (0.1%) scored 13.8 points in Week 15. He entered play with just eight receptions all season, though he had scored touchdowns in Weeks 12 and 13. The Falcons and Cardinals should play a high-scoring affair this week, and if London sits, and Darnell Mooney continues his dreadful season (honestly, move on, already), Sills may matter.
Tight end
Dalton Schultz, Texans (54.7%): Schultz took advantage of the matchup with the Cardinals to score his first touchdown since Week 10 and ended up with 21.6 overall points. The Texans should enjoy another fun foe in Week 16 as they host the Raiders. Schultz is among the top 10 tight ends for fantasy scoring, but he remains far too available. This is a player who should be in lineups.
Colby Parkinson, Rams (10.5%): Parkinson is among the top 10 scorers at his position over the past six weeks, as he has scored six touchdowns in that span, including two on Sunday. Instead of adding Atwell this week, see if Parkinson is a better option than the TE you generally rely on (like the Chiefs' Travis Kelce or Colts rookie Tyler Warren, for example). Parkinson may become the prime red zone target if Adams misses time.
Deep-league options/streamers/random thoughts
New York Giants starter Theo Johnson (46.9%) isn't like most at the position, as he has reached 70 receiving yards in three of the past five games, and he looks for another solid outing this week against the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson is underrated, based on the fact he may well finish the season as a TE1 option. He and Bears rookie Colston Loveland (40.4%) are peaking at the right time.
Bills starter Dalton Kincaid is rostered in 77.7% of leagues, and since he is among the top 10 scorers at the position as well, the attention is warranted. However, Dawson Knox (1.9%) has played more snaps recently, and QB Josh Allen has looked at Knox quite a bit over the past two games, as he scored 17.3 points in Week 14 and 18.7 points in the win over the Patriots on Sunday. Yeah, we would still play Kincaid over Knox, but perhaps Knox, who scored on a pair of second-half red zone targets Sunday, may matter, too.
Defense
Those fantasy managers streaming defenses this late in the season should be looking for matchups. The Bills D/ST (43.7%) has a positive one against rookie QB Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns. Sanders threw three interceptions and took five sacks in a 31-3 loss to the Bears on Sunday. Other readily available D/ST units with favorable matchups include the Saints (9.8%) against the Jets, the Vikings (38.2%) against the Giants, and the Chiefs (30.3%) against the Titans.
The Chargers D/ST (39.3%) does not face a favorable matchup on the road against the Cowboys, but this unit has been one of fantasy's top-scoring groups of late, reaching double digits in three consecutive games and five of seven. Only six D/STs have scored more fantasy points this season. Even against Dak Prescott and his excellent wide receivers, the Chargers may be your best option.
