Fantasy Football Risers and Fallers - Week 15

December 17, 2020

Fantasy football risers and fallers heading into Week 15 of the NFL season. Jason looks at recent changes in fantasy values including lineup starts and sits.

Whether due to their own play, the play of others, or injuries, players' stock increases and decreases on a weekly basis. Perhaps more than any other, the NFL is a league that experiences ups and downs at a rapid pace. With only 16 games, there’s little room for error and seemingly endless opportunities for improvement. The same goes for fantasy football; managing rosters effectively is key to winning that championship.

Throughout the season, players get hot and see an increased role while others struggle and fight to stay relevant. Experienced fantasy players know this happens every year. In this weekly column, we’ll showcase those who have taken important steps forward and those who have taken steps back.

These are the key risers and fallers heading into Week 13 of the NFL season.

Week 15 Fantasy Football Risers

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

I don't think it's hyperbole to say that Doug Pederson directly cost the Eagles the NFC East. This division has never been more winnable. All he had to do was realize Carson Wentz was so obviously one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL and replace him with Jalen Hurts. He finally did it last week, but it's too little too late for the Eagles. It's not too late for fantasy managers, though. Hurts displayed the elite rushing ability he showed at Alabama and Oklahoma, rushing for over 100 yards in his first career start. He was also competent through the air - far more poised and accurate than Wentz ever was this season. The difference in talent between Hurts and Wentz is as large as any starter vs any backup. Hurts is going to start for the remainder of the season and if he can put up QB1 numbers against the Saints, he can do so in the fantasy semi-final and final.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

I actually didn't realize how incredible Brandon Aiyuk has been until I was researching for this column. Since Week 7, Aiyuk has missed two games due to injury and Covid. In every game he's played over that span, he's scored at least 17.5 fantasy points. He has at least nine targets in four straight games and at least 75 receiving yards in five straight games. He had 16 targets last week in a low scoring game against the Football Team. The 49ers close the fantasy season against the Cowboys and Cardinals. Aiyuk is an every week WR1 and should be treated as such. Deebo Samuel being out really doesn't matter one way or another - Aiyuk has been elite regardless.

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

After a grand total of six targets in Taysom Hill's first three starts, it was looking like Alvin Kamara was no longer a must start as a touchdown dependent RB2. One week doesn't change that for certain, but the fact that Kamara saw 10 targets last week is extremely encouraging. With the Chiefs on deck and Drew Brees likely back for Week 16, Kamara has the situation he is going to need to see continued usage in the passing game. Alvin Kamara is back.

J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team

It wasn't a huge game for J.D. McKissic last week, but it was encouraging for McKissic over the final two weeks. Not only did McKissic play 65% of the snaps, but he handled 11 carries. He only saw four targets, but the Football Team was leading throughout and Dwayne Haskins, one of the least talented quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL, had to play the entire second half. With home games against the Seahawks and Panthers, the Football Team should need to throw a bit more, which will only benefit McKissic as a high floor ppr guy.

Week 15 Fantasy Football Fallers

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

I've been reluctant to put Matt Ryan here for a couple weeks now because I guess I was in denial. The matchups have consistently been good for Ryan. It turns out it doesn't matter. Ryan is terrible. Ryan hasn't hit 15 fantasy points since Week 9. Positive game script. Negative game script. Bad defense. Good defense. Ryan faced them all and failed at every turn. He's unstartable. The Falcons should probably draft a quarterback in April.

Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

I must preface this by saying that Dionate Johnson is extremely talented at almost every aspect of football. Emphasis on almost. So there's always the chance he and the Steelers have a huge bounce back this week. However, we cannot ignore what we've seen all season - Johnson has a drops issue. He leads the league in drops and was benched for the entire first half last week after dropping two of his first three targets. He returned in the second half and didn't drop another pass, but starting him is definitely risky this week as even a single drop could result in him getting planted on the bench for the remainder of the game. The Bengals are a fantastic matchup, but caution is warranted.

Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

Through 14 weeks, Tyler Lockett has 217.6 fantasy points. He scored 41% of those points in two games. Lockett is not a good fantasy receiver. D.K. Metcalf being the more valuable fantasy option was obvious before the season. Lockett being this unproductive has been a bit surprising. Here are some of Lockett's accomplishments in the 2020 season. He's been the overall WR1 twice. He's been a WR1 four times. He finished as WR40 or worse six times. Since that 53 point effort, which was back in Week 7, Lockett has been better than WR31 just once. Lockett belongs in start/sit questions and you can certainly justify benching him.

Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals

Since the Bengals' bye week, Giovani Bernard has not reached double digit fantasy points in a single game. His high point was 9.5 in Week 11. He's scored fewer points than the previous week in every week since. Against the Cowboys' bottom of the barrel run defense, Bernard carried the ball just three times and fumbled in the first quarter. Trayveon Williams and Samaje Perine are better players. You can drop Gio.

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