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Best Week 15 Moves From Our Fantasy Football Pros

Best Week 15 Moves

Whether you're playing redraft, dynasty, or even DFS, knowing what moves to make is crucial to success.

That's why we're having each of our fantasy football pros give you one move to take advantage of this week.

Start Sam Darnold and Kyler Murray Over Jalen Hurts

Matt Schauf

“Start your studs.”

You’ve heard it. You’ve probably said it. And it’s basically good advice. 

You don’t want to overthink your lineup decisions just because it’s the fantasy football playoffs. You don’t want to overplay matchups and bench the guys who got you here.

But that logic can also be misapplied.

We’re Talking Good vs. Good Here

At any other point in his career, Darnold would be a bad play vs. Hurts for your fantasy playoffs. But you’re not playing career Sam Darnold this week. You’re playing 2024 Vikings Sam Darnold. And that guy’s been good.

He’s seventh among QBs in fantasy points for the season. He has tossed 2+ TD passes for four straight weeks and 10 of his 13 outings for the year. He racked up 330 yards and 2 TDs against these Bears just three weeks ago – on the road.

Murray’s been a little shakier. But he also has four top-11 weeks among his past six games and four top-5 finishes for the year. And he gets the Patriots this week. They’re the ninth-best scoring matchup for QBs and have allowed 3+ total TDs to the past three QBs they’ve faced.

Why Not Hurts?

I point out those specific guys because they sit close behind Hurts in our Week 15 QB rankings as of this writing, and I wouldn’t reach far to get a Hurts replacement. That’s how you can get into trouble.

But Hurts has endured three of his four worst fantasy scores within the past four games. And the other contest found him throwing for just 108 yards against the Panthers.

Pittsburgh hits Week 15 as the toughest QB matchup by adjusted fantasy points allowed. And the Steelers are well built to limit Hurts. They’ve faced the seventh-most pass attempts but the fewest QB rushing attempts – despite having faced Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, and Daniel Jones. That points to the defense’s ability to limit QB scrambling.

Jackson posted his lowest fantasy score of the season against Pittsburgh in Week 11. Daniels and Jones combined for 6 rushing yards.

Add all that to a Philly pass offense that has struggled recently, and I think Hurts presents more downside risk than Darnold, Murray, and the QBs just ahead of him in our ranks.

It's also important to note the Vegas-projected team totals involved here:

• Cardinals 26.0 (fourth-highest)
• Vikings 25.25
• Eagles 24.25

Go Back to Calvin Ridley in DFS

Kevin English

Facing his old team, Ridley looked poised for a huge Week 14.

The volume was there…but he posted 59 scoreless yards on 7 catches.

Here’s the good news: 

Ridley’s volume followed an encouraging trend. He's hit a 26% target share in five of his past seven outings. In there are spike weeks with two 38% shares.

Look for him to remain heavily involved against the Bengals. 

On the year, opposing offenses have totaled the seventh-highest pass-rate over expected against Cincy. Going back to Week 2, opposing WR1s have posted 16+ PPR points nine times.

You know the volatility you’re absorbing with a Will Levis-led offense. But his volume should tick up with the Titans installed as 5-point home underdogs. 

Ridley’s reasonably priced at 5.9K on DraftKings and 6K on FanDuel, so he’s easy to fit into lineups.

Sincere McCormick: League Winner?

Shane Hallam

One of the season's biggest surprises has been 2022 UDFA RB Sincere McCormick's emergence as the Raiders' lead back.

HC Antonio Pierce already anointed McCormick as the starter, even when Alexander Mattison returns from his quad injury.

Over the last three weeks, McCormick has totaled 175 rushing yards with 5.5 yards per carry. 

On film, his vision and quickness hitting holes are particularly advanced for a player no one saw coming.

This is backed up by his PFF rushing grade, which has improved over the last three weeks. Among RBs with at least seven carries, McCormick ranked 10th in Week 14 in rushing grade. 

McCormick was a talented runner in college, gaining at least 1,400 yards and 11 rushing TDs in each of his final two years at UTSA.

He just isn’t a superb athlete.

At 5’9 and 205 pounds, McCormick ran a 4.60 coming into the NFL, posting poor numbers in all the drills.

But his football intelligence shines through.

The Raiders' lack of scoring may limit McCormick’s upside, but they can be competitive in their final few games.

He has the eighth-easiest RB schedule for the fantasy playoffs, with excellent match-ups against the Jaguars and Saints in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively.

McCormick has also had two receptions in each of the last two games and is starting to get some love in the passing game. 

He is still available in 75% of ESPN leagues, so go grab him if he's available! Don’t be shy about using him in your playoff run.

Grab the Colts DST

Jared Smola

With bye weeks behind us, it’s time to consider stashing a second DST for the home stretch. It’s better to make sure you have favorable matchups at the position than stashing, say, a fifth WR who’s never going to help you win a championship.

The Colts DST makes for an excellent stash right now. You don’t want to use them against the Broncos in Week 15, but this will be a top-10 option – with upside beyond that – for Weeks 16 and 17.

The Colts host the Titans in Week 16. QB Will Levis has been better since returning from his shoulder injury – but he’s still taken 24 sacks and turned it over three times in his last five outings.

Week 17 brings an even better spot for the Colts at the Giants, who have been the second-best matchup for DSTs this season. Only five teams have allowed more sacks per game than New York’s 3.2. And that’s climbed to 4.0 in three games without QB Daniel Jones.

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format including redraft, dynasty, devy, IDP, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance.