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Don’t be scared, the mighty Jefferson is on a break and will return soon. I’m the pinch hitter.

I prefer to remember NFL Week 15 2024 for the Tecmo-Bowlesque (now a real word because I say so) Buffalo-Detroit matchup rather than the Los Angeles-San Francisco matchup that kicked off the week and nearly made me swear off football for more hockey.

There was some bizarreness in New Orleans when with nine seconds left, after a Saints completion in the middle of the field, the game clock stopped: curious, because the Saints had no timeouts left. The stoppage allowed Spencer Rattler to spike the ball at :03; the Saints scored a touchdown on the next play that put them into position to tie the game with an extra point or win it with a 2-point play which is what the Saints chose. Fortunately for Washington, Juwan Johnson could not corral Rattler’s pass.

Washington should want some answers and the NFL should be all over that officiating crew with uncomfortable questions.

Your move, Roger.

Let’s see what other players did on a wild week.

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Quarterbacks

Player: Jared Goff

Game: Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills

Stats: 38/59, 494 passing yards, 2 carries, 13 yards, 5 TDs

This week’s “Game of the Year” nearly lived up to the billing even though Buffalo was comfortably in front for most of the game because, in our world of fantasy, this means an offensive coordinator will empty the playbook of passing plays in an effort to come back.

When the team is as good as the Lions are, we get a result like this. In a regular 6-point passing touchdown league, Goff had over 50 points. Just what we need at this time of year on our teams.

If only the Lions had recovered that final onside kick.

Next up: at Chicago (3rd worst for fantasy QBs).

Player: Josh Allen

Game: Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions

Stats: 23/34, 362 passing yards, 11 carries, 68 yards, 4 TDs

Hard to believe Allen’s line was only good enough to be second place among the two quarterbacks in the game…he’ll just have to live with the win.

In the last two weeks, Allen has performed very much like the QB that was drafted first overall in many superflex leagues. For the second consecutive week, Allen led the Bills to six offensive touchdowns, although he did not account for all of them this week.

All of Allen’s tools were on display today as he extended several plays with his feet to find open receivers as the Lions had to respect his threat to run.

This was the Bills’ second consecutive game scoring 40+ points and giving up 40+ points. That had not happened in the NFL since 1966. Next up: vs. New England (13th best for fantasy QBs).

Notables:

Lamar Jackson I expected the Ravens to beat the New York Giants by a wide margin. I did not think they would use their passing game to do it. In an efficient performance, Jackson was 21/25 for 290 yards and an eye-popping 5 touchdown passes. He added 6 carries for 68 yards. It was Jackson’s second 5 passing TD performance of 2024. If Josh Allen has a rival for superflex 1.01 in 2025 redraft leagues, Jackson is at the top of the list. Next up: vs. Pittsburgh (worst for fantasy QBs).

Baker Mayfield The Buccaneers were losing 17-13 at halftime this week. They won 40-17 against a good Chargers defense in Los Angeles. While not quite as sharp as Lamar Jackson’s, Mayfield’s performance was also very efficient: 22/27 for 288 yards with 4 TDs and 25 rushing yards. He did throw an interception that helped give the Chargers the lead at 17-10, but the Bucs buttoned it up in the second half led by three Mayfield TD passes. Baker continues to be a great comeback story and at 8-6, Tampa Bay holds the division lead and their playoff bid is in their own hands. Next up: at Dallas (2nd best for fantasy QBs).

Aaron Rodgers Sometimes the matchup makes the man. Coming into the game, the Jacksonville Jaguars were the league’s friendliest matchup for QBs. Rodgers did not do much to improve it in a throwback performance: while he was only 16/30, he had 289 yards passing and 3 TDs while leading the Jets in rushing with 45 yards. It was only the Jets’ second win in their last 11 games and had to be satisfying. Next up: vs. Los Angeles Rams (8th best for fantasy QBs).

Jameis Winston The thing about Jameis is that he eventually wears out his welcome. In a game the Browns’ defense was ferocious enough to carry the day, the Chiefs’ defense toyed with Jameis, and after his third interception with just over 13 minutes left, Winston was replaced by Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The good news for Jameis is that DTR was even less effective than he was, so he may get another start; stay tuned. Next up: at Cincinnati (4th best for fantasy QBs).

 

Running Backs

Player: Rico Dowdle

Game: Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers

Stats: 25 carries, 149 rushing yards

If Dowdle had a touchdown, this would have been transcendent. As it was it stands as the top rushing yardage game of the week so far with the Monday Night games to play.

He’s the kind of guy we dream about getting in the 10+ rounds of drafts: a solid flex or even an RB 2. Since taking over the main role in Dallas, Dowdle has an 86-yard rushing game followed by 3 straight 100+ yard rushing games and the yardage has increased every week.

And this is with Cooper Rush as the quarterback.

He’s not a big factor in the passing game, but he takes some of the heat off a passing game that often needs it. He’s been an underrated stud at the position.

Next up: vs. Tampa Bay (20th best for fantasy RBs).

Player: Bucky Irving

Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Chargers

Stats: 15 carries, 117 rushing yards, 2 receptions, -4 receiving yards

For a guy who had been dinged up, missed most of the Week 14 game, and was not even a sure thing to play until about 90 minutes before game time (although NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo hinted earlier that he would play), Irving was stout and did most of his work while the game was still in doubt, including a 54-yard run with just under 8:00 left in the third quarter.

If there was an award just for rookie running backs, it would be Irving’s to lose. Another draft day steal.

Next up: at Dallas (4th best for fantasy RBs).

Notables:

James Conner Give the big man the ball, and good things happen. Conner followed a great performance against Seattle with his best performance of 2024 so far (16 carries, 110 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 28 receiving yards, 2 TDs) to help the Cardinals keep their playoff hopes alive. Next up: at Carolina (best for fantasy RBs).

Kyren Williams One of the three offensive bright spots in an otherwise miserable game for fantasy purposes on Thursday night. Sometimes a guy has to do the dirty work, and Williams handled 31 touches and gained 112 yards for a Rams team that controlled the clock for over 35 minutes. That doesn’t light up a fantasy scorecard, but that win coupled with the Seahawks’ loss Sunday night puts the Rams in first place in the NFC West with three games to go. It also all but eliminates the 6-8 49ers. Next up: at New York Jets (22nd best for fantasy RBs).

Jahmyr Gibbs I’m having déjà vu. This time David Montgomery got dinged in the 2nd quarter then was pretty much scripted out of a rare game the Lions fell significantly behind. Gibbs had 13 touches for 114 yards and 2 TDs. Gibbs is now fifth in PPR points among RBs – that he’s done that on 212 touches blows away the field. He’s as advertised entering the NFL, maybe better. Next up: at Chicago (9th best for fantasy RBs).

Jonathan Taylor A great running back who is, sadly, at least partially responsible for ending his team’s 2024 season. With a 13-7 lead early in the second half, Taylor broke through for what should have been a 41-yard touchdown run and a 19-7 lead. Unfortunately, while he reached the end zone, the ball did not as revealed on replay. A few series later, the Colts would give up a 61-yard punt return to Marvin Mims to the Colts 15-yard line; the Broncos punched that in for the lead. On the ensuing possession, Indy ran a trick play that did not fool Nic Bonitto who corralled a lateral and returned it for a 24-13 Denver lead. The Colts would not threaten again until it was too late.

 

Wide Receivers

Player: Davante Adams

Game: New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars

Stats: 9 receptions, 198 receiving yards, 2 TD, 12 targets, 1 2-point conversion

Aaron Rodgers was not the only current Jet and former Packer who enjoyed a vintage performance.

Adams got brought down about one yard shy of a third TD. There were many outstanding wide receiver performances in Week 15: none finer than Adams’ 42.8 PPR points.

All of his damage came in the Jets’ 25-point second half. He also had a ridiculous over-the-shoulder catch for 23 yards along the sideline that he somehow got his feet down in bounds on.

It’s nice to know Rodgers and Adams are still capable, even versus a lesser defense with a second-string quarterback.

Next up: vs. Los Angeles Rams (11th best for WRs).

Player: Amon-Ra St. Brown

Game: Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills

Stats: 14 receptions, 193 receiving yards, 1 TD, 18 targets

All of the above numbers are a little ridiculous until we realize Jared Goff dropped back 62 times in this game. Amon-Ra’s 37.3 PPR points would have been even more gaudy except for a fumble near midfield in the 3rd quarter that, coupled with a face mask on the Bills’ return, put the ball on Detroit’s 26-yard line. Buffalo punched it in from there for a 35-14 lead.

Not all on Amon-Ra and his performance was heroic: the only Lion that handled the ball more was Jared Goff. Coming into the week he was only behind Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson in wide receiver PPR points; by tomorrow night he may only be behind Chase. He continues to not care that he was a Day 3 pick in 2021.

Next up: vs. Chicago (worst for WRs).

Notables:

Mike Evans It does not matter who the quarterback is, Mike Evans produces. He can be irritating on a game-to-game basis, but with three games left after today’s 9 reception, 159 yard, 2 TD game, he is just 251 yards from his 11th straight 1,000-yard season. He’s also one TD away from his sixth double-digit receiving TD season in 11 years. Canton awaits. Next up: vs. Los Angeles Rams (11th best for WRs). Next up: at Dallas (10th best for WRs).

CeeDee Lamb I remember saying on Sunday morning’s start/sit show that “Carolina has become a respectable pass defense.” Fooled me. This wasn’t quite a prime CeeDee performance, but with 9 receptions on 13 targets for 116 yards and a TD, this is as good as it’s been since Cooper Rush took over in Week 8. Next up: vs. Tampa Bay (8th best for WRs).

Brian Thomas Jr. He may finish the year in WR 1 territory in PPR. If you invested he’s been a huge profit in redraft and should command multiple firsts in Dynasty. His Week 15 performance of 10 receptions on 14 targets for 105 yards and 2 TDs with Mac Jones should be a point of pride. This kid’s the real deal and at 22, the future is bright. Next up: at Las Vegas (19th best for WRs).

DeVonta Smith I was not figuring the Pittsburgh Steelers was an opponent that would give up two top-10 WRs in PPR for the week (through Sunday night) and the Eagles managed that on only 32 pass attempts by Jalen Hurts. The beautiful thing about the NFL is we can take very little for granted. This week was Smith’s high-water mark in nearly all categories for the season, so it probably won’t last, but he’ll move into WR 3 territory for the season. Next up: at Washington (14th best for WRs).

Terry McLaurin 10 targets. 7 receptions. 73 yards. 2 TDs. His fourth 2-TD game of the year. Touchdowns aren’t a sticky stat, and he’s arguably the best fourth receiver I’ve drafted, so he was a steal this year, and a likely overpay next year. But this is about 2024, and I love McLaurin. And I love Jayden Daniels. Next up: vs. Philadelphia (5th worst for WRs).

Cooper Kupp “Mr. Blutarsky. Zero. Point. Zero.” Such a great movie line, less so in fantasy football. That’s all I got to say about that.

 

Tight Ends

Player: Jonnu Smith

Game: Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans

Stats: 9 receptions, 48 receiving yards, 1 TD, 11 targets

This is the kind of line that makes people say, “Half-PPR is better. It’s purer.”

Prats.

Jonnu is our tight end king since Week 11. Long may he reign. It took almost eight seasons for an offensive coordinator to wise up. We got glimpses in 2023 with Arthur Smith. Jonnu is one player who was nearly free who may win our leagues.

Next up: vs. San Francisco (3rd worst defense for TEs).

Notables:

Brenton Strange The stampede this week will be the people who did not pick up Strange right after it was announced that Evan Engram would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. After an effort of 11 receptions on 12 targets (if only for 73 yards), the dart must be thrown. I look forward to a multitude of start/sit questions regarding Strange. He came in with 32 targets and Mac Jones threw 46 passes this week, but who else is Jones going to throw to besides Brian Thomas? Strange may fight for targets with Parker Washington on a weekly basis and I hope I’m not in a spot where I need him, but I don’t want him on waivers if I have a roster spot. Next up: at Las Vegas (4th best for TEs).

Sam LaPorta It took a 59-pass effort from Jared Goff for LaPorta to get 10 targets, 7 receptions, and 111 yards. There are only so many footballs to go around, know what I mean? I may buy the dip next redraft season, I may not, but this was a season to forget. Next up: at Chicago (15th best for TEs).

Trey McBride I swear, one of these days he HAS to have a TD reception, no? I think the Cardinals are aware of this too, as they manufactured a shovel pass inside the five-yard line that the Patriots sniffed out and stuffed. Looks like we’ll have to be satisfied with another ho-hum, 10-target-9-reception-for-87-yard effort. It’s his 11th straight double-digit PPR point week. Next up: at Carolina (best for TEs).

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