Tastefully Curated Every Wednesday by LineStar Fantasy Experts.

Week 15 Top Plays - MAIN SLATE 😀

QB:

• Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (vs NE) [CASH]Here's the dilly... the Patriots defense has certainly stiffened up over the last 5 weeks, but they did just lose to Jay Cutler and the Dolphins. Certainly Big Ben playing in a home game can get the job done while both teams are fighting for playoff positioning. This game has the highest over/under at 53.5 points which is a full 6 points higher than any other game. In their last 2 meetings Big Ben has put up over 300 yards in each contest and it'll be hard to see how he doesn't eclipse that mark in this high scoring affair. To that we say Dilly Dilly all the dilly long.

• Cam Newton, CAR (vs GB) [TOURNAMENT] Aaron Rodgers is back which makes this a much more exciting game. The Green Bay Packers are ranked 22nd on the season and 32nd over the last 4 games against opposing Quarterbacks, which has Cam doing an early dab dance. This is a must win game for the Packers but the Panthers also need a win here otherwise Saints are going to gain a game on them, as they are guaranteed a victory this week against the Jets. This could easily turn into a shootout as each of these veteran quarterbacks aren't going to want to let down their teams at this point in the season.

• Tom Brady, NE (@PIT) [CONTRARIAN]  Yes, Brady has thrown up 2 straight ugly games. However the Patriots need a win here or could miss out on a bye for the playoffs. Both teams are going to come in ready for a fight to the finish here, which is great for fantasy. Things are looking up for the Patriots though as Brady gets Gronk back and Hogan is one week healthier! Brady also has an excellent history against the Steelers with 2 games over 28 fantasy points in the last 3 times they've faced. Look for Brady to get back on track this week where he could potentially see his lowest ownership all season!

Other QBs to consider:

• Aaron Rodgers, GB (@CAR): DUH!

• Nick Foles, PHI (@NYG): He was a starting Quarterback and he'll be properly prepared on a still-good team against a team with a league bottom defense.

• Blake Bortles, JAX (vs HOU): Could be without Fournette and Houston pass defense is 31st on the season.

RB:

• Kenyan Drake, MIA (@BUF) [CASH]Drake looked like one of the best running backs in the league when he faced off versus the Patriots last week. He's got power, elusiveness, and is darn hard to tackle one on one or even two on one. Now he gets to face the worst defense in the league against running backs. The Bills are ranked 32nd on the season and 22nd over the last 4 weeks. Both teams still have a chance to make the playoffs so expect some sort of rumble here in Buffalo. The Bills are allowing 112 yards and 1.2 TDs a game to opposing running backs.

• Latavius Murray, MIN (vs CIN) [TOURNAMENT]The Bengals will be without Vontaze Burfict for the second week in a row. The Bears were able to run all over the Bengals last week, so expect Murray to see a big workload this week as the Vikings run up and down the field. The Bengals are ranked 27th on the season and 32nd over the last 4 weeks against opposing running backs. They've allowed 110 yards rushing per game .5 touchdowns per game

• Alvin Kamara, NO (vs NYJ) [CONTRARIAN] The Jets are ranked 6th on the season against running backs, which will scare people away from Kamara this week. He's also coming back from a concussion he suffered last week, but he's been cleared to return. The Saints running game isn't a normal running game with Ingram and Kamara as teams haven't figured out how to stop Kamara yet (other than hitting him in the head).

Other RBs to consider:

• Alex Collins, BAL (@CLE): He's passed the eye test over the last couple weeks, he's easily the best Baltimore running back and the coaches certainly see that now.

• Chris Ivory, JAX (vs HOU): Fire up your Ivory stock if Fournette is ruled out!

• Kerwynn Williams, ARI (@WAS): WAS is 27th against RBs over the last 4 weeks. Kerwynn saw 20 carries last week, just zero touchdowns, they’re coming…

TE

• Delanie Walker, TEN (@SF) [CASH]Back where he belongs, Delanie Walker is the cash play this week. Marcus Mariota’s knee injury is definitely something to watch, as Delanie’s success has been when both he and Mariota are healthy, and his bad games have come when one or both were hobbled. His 60+ yard streak ended at 6 games last week when he only had 5 catches for 42 yards on 8 targets, but he was bound to have an off day eventually. SF’s passing defense looks to have improved from the beginning of the season, but they have allowed 6 TDs to TE in their last 7 games. If a Tennessee TE is going to score, it will be Delanie, and he’ll likely have the yards to match as well. And if you like narrative stuff, the 49ers let him go in free agency in 2013 which put a chip on his shoulder.

DEFENSE:

• Jacksonville Jaguars (v.HOU) [CASH]Houston has the third most turnovers, Jacksonville forces the most turnovers. Houston has allowed the fourth most sacks, Jacksonville has the most sacks. When these two teams played earlier this season, the Jags forced 4 turnovers, had 10 sacks and a defensive TD. All of these stats occurred before the Texans were forced to start their 3rd string QB. Don’t mess around, if you can pay up for the Jags, do it.

• New Orleans Saints (v.NYJ) [TOURNAMENT]The Saints defense hasn’t put up double digits since week 9, but this week they’ll get a home date with Bryce Petty that will likely end that streak. The Jets’ Vegas implied total is 16 points, which isn’t good. On the year Bryce Petty is 2/9 for 14 yards. For his career, Bryce has completed 54% of his passes for 3 TD and 7 INTs. The Saints have a good pass defense forcing 1.1 INTs a game. Their run defense is below average, but they are 15.5 point favorites, so it’s likely the Jets will be forced to abandon their running game early and air it out. The Jets are scrappy so I can see them staying in this game, but behind the Jags, this is the highest upside of the week.

• Washington Redskins (v.ARI) [CONTRARIAN] In their last 3 games, defenses against Arizona are averaging over 14 points per game and all scored at least double digits. The Redskins defense has only had two good matchups all year, home matchups with SF and NYG. They scored 6 and 13 in those games, respectively, but their numbers overall this year are deflated. They have ideal conditions for this game, being at home, playing a west coast team in an early game, and a bad offense. This defense is at least worth some consideration. 

Other Defenses to consider:

• Baltimore Ravens (@CLE): Not a bad pivot from the Jags. In 6 quarters without Jimmy Smith, however, the Ravens have looked horrible. On the flip-side, the Browns are definitely better with Josh Gordon, but they’re still the Browns and the Ravens should bounce back just fine.

• Minnesota Vikings (v.CIN): Cincinnati averages the fewest yards per game, and the Vikings allow the third fewest yards per game. Cincy likely won’t be able to move the ball, but will the turnovers be there?

INJURIES TO WATCH 🤕

• Marcus Mariota, TEN - Knee/Hamstring, practicing fully, will play

• Josh McCown, NYJ - Hand, out for season

• Leonard Fournette, JAX - Quad, no practices, unlikely to play

• Lamar Miller, HOU - Knee, limited at practice, likely to play

• Tevin Coleman, ATL - Concussion, didn’t practice, unlikely to play

• Joe Mixon, CIN - Concussion, limited practice, questionable

• Matt Forte, NYJ - Knee, game-time decision

• Gio Bernard, CIN - Knee, limited, will play

• Adrian Peterson, ARI - Neck, out for season

• Andre Ellington, HOU - Knee, limited, likely to play

• Elijah McGuire, NYJ - Ankle, limited, questionable

• Damien Williams, MIA - Shoulder, limited, doubtful

• DeAndre Hopkins, HOU - Toe, not practicing Thur/Fri, expected to play

• Devin Funchess, CAR - Shoulder, will play

• Mohamed Sanu, ATL - Knee, limited, likely to play

• Robert Woods, LAR - Shoulder, practicing fully, expected to play

• JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT - Hamstring, limited, likely to play

• Ted Ginn Jr., NO - Ribs, limited, likely to play

• Amari Cooper, OAK - Ankle, Out

• Chris Hogan, NE - Shoulder, limited, will play

• Mike Wallace, BAL - Ankle, practiced Friday, expected to play

• Allen Hurns, JAX - Ankle, out

• Kelvin Benjamin, BUF - Knee, limited, likely to play

• Ryan Grant, WSH - Ankle, limited, likely to play

• Kendall Wright, CHI - Shoulder, practiced fully Thursday, will play

• Jimmy Graham, SEA - Ankle, didn’t practice Thursday, expected to play

• Kyle Rudolph, MIN - Ankle, doubtful

• Cameron Brate, TB - Hip, limited, likely to play

• Hunter Henry, LAC - Calf, practiced fully Thursday, likely to play

• Charles Clay, BUF - Knee, will play

• Tyler Kroft, CIN - Hamstring, limited, will play

• Jared Cook, OAK - Wrist, limited, likely to play

• Jermaine Gresham, ARI - Illness, didn’t practice Thursday, questionable

• Adam Shaheen, CHI - Chest, limited, likely to play, but GTD

• Garrett Celek, SF - Knee, limited, likely to play

• Tyrod Taylor, BUF - Knee, practicing fully, will play

• Tom Savage, HOU - Concussion, out

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