NFL Week 14 brought a slew of injuries to fantasy owners during the most important part of their seasons. Mike Evans, Derrius Guice, DeVante Parker, Calvin Ridley, Rashaad Penny, Mark Andrews and D.J. Chark are just a few notable injuries from Sunday. Their statuses are up in the air or ruled out for Week 15. In the most important time of the year for fantasy football, you may not have two WRs or two RBs that are ranked in the top 30 and top 20, respectively. Don’t fret! If you have some of these players stashed on your roster deploy them with confidence in Week 15 to advance in your playoff bracket. Here are our Week 15 NFL fantasy football sleepers!
Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (Week 15 Rank: 24)
The match-up isn’t spectacular for RB Joe Mixon in Week 15 as the New England Patriots boast the best defense against opposing RBs. However, his volume is spectacular! He is clearly the featured back in an improved Cincinnati offense. Ranked No. 9 in total carries (206, 15.8 per game) on the year and No.12 in red-zone touches (2.7 per game) means Mixon always has an opportunity for big games. The Bengals have doubled down on their running game as Mixon has averaged 21 carries, 93.8 yards over the last five games with three total touchdowns. Mixon has shown he can contribute through the air to grabbing seven receptions over the last two games. While the match-up is scary, his opportunities are aplenty and he has rewarded fantasy owners over the last five games averaging 16.4 PPR fantasy points per game.
Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Marlon Mack eased back into work last week with just 13 touches in the Week 14 tilt with Tampa Bay. He had his worst rushing day of the season only accumulating 38 yards. Although, Mack did salvage the day by finding pay-dirt for the fifth time this season. On the schedule for Week 15 is a Saints’ defense who just allowed San Francisco RB Raheem Mostert to score 24 fantasy points with 69 yards rushing and a touchdown paired with two receptions for 40 yards and another touchdown. RB Nyheim Hines will vulture a few targets in the passing game from Mack, but he is rarely used in the ground attack. Mack has the 16th most red-zone touches among running backs. Look for Mack to get at least 20 touches in this game with a good chance to score.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Washington Redskins (Week 15 Rank: 30)
You can’t help but feel bad for the youngster, Derrius Guice. His young career has been derailed by significant injuries. It’s a shame because he has been a pretty productive back when healthy. Alas, as the NFL does, fantasy owners must look elsewhere to continue their season. Where better than Guice’s partner in the backfield, Adrian Peterson? The Redskins realized they have to commit to the run to help QB Dwayne Haskins and they’ve been significantly more effective over the last two games. Peterson has had 99 and 76 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns over that span. RB Chris Thompson is just a third-down back and hasn’t been productive when he’s on the field this way anyway. Deploy Peterson in Week 15 with even more confidence as Guice has already been ruled out for the contest.
Wide Receivers
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants (Week 15 Rank: 36)
So much for WR Darius Slayton not having any rapport with veteran QB Eli Manning. The rookie lit up the Eagles’ defense with five grabs for 154 yards and two scores (32 PPR fantasy points). Slayton plays 83.9% of snaps for an offense that throws the ball over 40 times a game on average – seventh-most in the league. They face a Miami Dolphins defense that surrenders the 28th most fantasy points per game to WRs on the season. Since Week 10, Slayton is averaging 9.5 targets and 96.5 yards per game. Expect this game to be a shootout as it features two below-average defenses. Slayton has another opportunity for a top 15 WR performance in Week 15.
Anthony Miller, WR, Chicago Bears (Week 15 Rank: 37)
Bears’ QB Mitchell Trubisky has drastically improved his play since Week 11 and this has greatly benefited owners of WR Anthony Miller. Since Week 11, Miller has racked up 24 catches, 273 yards and one touchdown. Over that span, he is averaging 15 PPR fantasy points per game. Chicago throws the ball more than they run it so volume and opportunity aren’t an issue for Miller. The Packers have been solid against WRs this year, but most of the attention will be paid to stud WR Allen Robinson. The door is open for Miller to have sneaky good production.
Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons (Week 15 Rank: 56)
Atlanta’s number two WR Calvin Ridley is done for the season. While unfortunate, it opens up targets for other Falcons WRs to secure over the last few weeks of the season. Even with Ridley present, WR Russell Gage increased his role in the offense over the last three weeks nabbing 15 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown. The Falcons throw the ball more than any other team in the NFL. I expect the Falcons to fall behind by two or more scores against the 49ers and have to play catch-up. Gage should end up being a solid flex play for your Week 15 tilt.
