Fantasy Outlook - Week 15
It's Week 15, folks. Are you still in the running for your league's coveted championship trophy, or are you now playing for pride and doing your best not to finish last?
Either way, the fantasy football season is in the homestretch. A time when champions are made, and losers choke the title away. Which one will you be?
The Packers travel to Buffalo this week to face a surprisingly resilient Bills team that is currently ranked fourth in in the NFL in points allowed (18.5) and yards allowed per game (311.9). On the fantasy side of things, they are currently surrendering an average of 14.3 points to QBs, 13.9 points to RBs, 19.8 points to WRs, 4.7 points to TEs and 8.5 points to opposing D/STs.
That being said, their defense is solid. The numbers I just listed are all within the top ten in the league. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense will surely not have a cakewalk on Sunday - in reality or fantasy.
Rodgers himself is currently projected for approximately 240 yards and two touchdowns - a stat line warranting around 17 fantasy points, which is much lower than his games of 28, 25, 29 and 37 points in recent weeks. With the Bills' strong defensive line, Rodgers may also tally some valuable points scrambling out of the pocket.
His favorite targets Randall Cobb (70 yds, TD) and Jordy Nelson (86 yds, TD) are both projected to find the end zone. The experts also think that Eddie Lacy will finish as a top ten running back this week (67 yds, TD / 25 yds receiving).
To be honest, there is no reason not to start the four players listed above. They have all done more than enough to prove themselves as must-start players that could lead you to a fantasy championship. I personally hope that the Cobb projection is correct - #18 hasn't found the end zone since Week 10 against the Bears.
If you've made it this far in the fantasy playoffs, chances are that you haven't been leaning on Green Bay's other fantasy players like Davante Adams, Andrew Quarless or Jarrett Boykin. They should only be started this week if you have NO other options on your roster.
Mason Crosby has been surprising lately after posting fantasy scores of 14 and 15 points in the last, two weeks, making him a great start again this week. A chilly Orchard Park, NY may make it a little tougher to boot the ball, but no precipitation is forecasted for Sunday.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Kyle Orton led Bills average 21.6 points per game on 230 yards passing (17th) and 96 yards rushing (25th). Not the most potent of offenses, but if Julio Jones is any indication, the Packers D is susceptible to good wide receivers. And the Bills' rookie Sammy Watkins is nothing to shake a stick at. If they can contain him, the defense should have a strong outing on Sunday.
Around the league, look Andrew Luck to continue his onslaught of fantasy points as he faces a Texans defense that ranks 28th against the pass. Le'Veon Bell has been a monster in recent weeks, posting fantasy scores of 41.5, 31.4 and 28.2 points in his last three games. This week, he faces a Falcons defense that has given up 17 rushing touchdowns this season - the most in the league.
Receivers Antonio Brown, T.Y. Hilton and Alshon Jeffery are all projected for over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown on ESPN.com leading up to this week. Odell Beckham, Jr. also faces a tasty match-up against a struggling Washington defense.
And finally, the defensive squads of the Ravens (vs Jax), Lions (vs Min) and Seahawks (vs SF) line up as the top three D/STs for the week.