Dynasty Fantasy Football Stat Pack: Week 15
If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.
I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.
Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.
All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.
Quarterbacks
Week Fourteen QB1s (top 12 scorers)
It’s becoming commonplace now to see the names of Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes among the top-scoring quarterbacks on a weekly basis. In fact, in Week Fifteen, those were the top-three fantasy producers, just as they are for the season as a whole. The QB4 for the week, Kirk Cousins, took a totally different path. After scoring just a single fantasy point in the first half against the Colts, Cousins exploded for over 30 fantasy points as he led the Vikings to the largest comeback in NFL history.
Year to Date QB1s
Trevor Lawrence has been red-hot for the Jaguars, and another week as a top-five scorer helped to push him up two spots in the season-long ranks, now sitting at QB6 for the year. Cousins’ massive game moved him from QB11 to QB8 while the injured Lamar Jackson tumbled three spots down to QB10 for the year.
QB1 Games this Season
Most QB1 Games Allowed
As teams face the weekly challenge of trying to match Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs point for point, the Kansas City defense has allowed the most QB1 performances in the league. Even Davis Mills, playing in a quarterback timeshare, notched his second QB1 game of the season last week against the Chiefs. This week, Geno Smith faces the Chiefs with a chance to continue his late-career breakout. Smith is a must-start this week.
The Lions and Raiders have surrendered ten QB1 games this season, making Sam Darnold and rookie Kenny Pickett tempting streamers. If you’ve potentially lost Hurts from your lineup, these could be your desperation options. Other quarterbacks with plus matchups this week are Zach Wilson (vs. JAX), Daniel Jones (vs. MIN), Mills (vs. TEN) and Aaron Rodgers (vs. MIA.)
A trio of teams have allowed only two QB1 games this season. Let’s begin with the Eagles. Their two QB1 opponents have each come in the past two weeks and this week, the Cowboys and Dak Prescott will look to make it three straight. The Bengals face the Patriots, in case you needed yet another reason to leave Mac Jones on your bench. Finally, the 49ers host the Commanders and ice-cold quarterback Taylor Heinicke. No thanks!
Other signal callers with matchups to avoid include Baker Mayfield (vs. DEN), Ryan Tannehill (vs. HOU) and Andy Dalton (vs. CLE.)
Running Backs
Week Fourteen RB1s (top 12 scorers)
For the second straight week, Chiefs veteran Jerick McKinnon finished as the overall RB1. McKinnon is only the fourth back in the past five seasons to post consecutive overall RB1 games, joining Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook and Austin Ekeler.
Year to Date RB1s
There will little change in the season-long top-twelve running back scorers last week. Dalvin Cook jumped up a pair of spots, now sitting at RB10, while Miles Sanders dropped to RB12.
RB1 Games this Season
Most RB1 Games Allowed
The Texans have been much better against the run in recent weeks, but are still tied with the Chargers with a league-worst ten RB1 games allowed. This week, Houston faces one of the biggest challenges, literally, when they try to stop Derrick Henry. The Chargers got somewhat lucky with Jonathan Taylor landing on the injured reserve list, but could still have their hands full with the duo of Deon Jackson and Zack Moss.
Other teams offering nice matchups this week include the Cardinals (vs. Leonard Fournette/Rachaad White), Seahawks (vs. Isiah Pacheco/Jerick McKinnon), Browns (vs. Alvin Kamara) and Raiders (vs. Najee Harris.)
We now have six teams that have allowed only two RB1 games on the season. The Cowboys (vs. Miles Sanders), Lions (vs. D’Onta Foreman), Patriots (vs. Joe Mixon), Jets (vs. Travis Etienne), 49ers (vs. Brian Robinson/Antonio Gibson) and Titans (vs. Royce Freeman) are all situations to avoid this week.
Wide Receivers
Week Fourteen WR1s (top 12 scorers)
A pair of little used (at least in fantasy lineups) receivers led the way in fantasy scoring in Week Fifteen. Zay Jones stayed hot and is now the WR4 over the past month. He should certainly be in starting lineups moving forward. KJ Osborn helped to spark a historic Vikings comeback and enjoyed the best game of his career.
Year to Date WR1s
Jaylen Waddle bounced back from his recent cold streak and moved up a pair of spots into the WR9 hole for the season, while Ja’Marr Chase re-entered the WR1 range, sitting at WR11. Speaking to how well he was playing prior to his season-ending injury, Rams veteran Cooper Kupp finally fell from the top-twelve scorers and now sits at WR13.
WR1 Games this Season
Most WR1 Games Allowed
The Lions continue give up massive fantasy production to the wide receiver position, now allowing a dozen WR1 games on the year. This week, they face the Panthers, giving DJ Moore a huge opportunity for a big game when dynasty managers need it most. The Titans (vs. Chris Moore) and Rams (vs. Jerry Jeudy) are next in line, allowing at least ten WR1 games on the year.
Other teams to target when looking for Week Sixteen wide receivers are the Vikings (vs. Richie James), Chiefs (vs. DK Metcalf) and Falcons (vs. Demarcus Robinson.) While Metcalf is an obvious and easy fantasy starter, it will be difficult to rely on Giants or Ravens wideouts, even in these juicy matchups.
The Texans have still allowed just one WR1 game on the year, and none since Week Two, now face a team with very little to stop when it comes to opposing wideouts, the Titans. If rookie Treylon Burks does return to the lineup, he will likely do so without his veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill in a rough matchup. Easy spot to keep the rook on the bench.
Four squads have allowed just three WR1 games on the year and are matchups to avoid in Week Sixteen. They are: Raiders (vs. Diontae Johnson/George Pickens), Patriots (vs. Chase/Tee Higgins), Giants (vs. Justin Jefferson/Adam Thielen) and Seahawks (vs. Juju Smith-Schuster.)
Tight Ends
Week Fourteen TE1s (top 12 scorers)
George Kittle broke out of his mini-slump and got many playoff teams off to a good start with his Thursday performance. Saints tight end Juwan Johnson took advantage of a great matchup and scored twice, finishing as the TE2. Darren Waller was back on the field for the Raiders after a long stint on the injured reserve list and paid off quickly with a touchdown.
Year to Date TE1s
Outside of the top-three tight end scorers, the season-long tight end list is a mess. Veteran Zach Ertz hasn’t played in weeks and has still held onto his TE1 spot. Kittle has been a frustrating player to start in most weeks this season but one good game pushed him up inside the top-five. Dallas Goedert and Cole Kmet fell off this list, replaced by Johnson and Dawson Knox.
TE1 Games this Season
Most TE1 Games Allowed
The Cardinals, Falcons and Seahawks have each allowed ten TE1 games on the season and have become easy teams to pick on for fantasy managers. This week, that is huge news for Mark Andrews (vs. ATL) and Travis Kelce (vs. SEA) and might even make Cade Otton (vs. ARI) a player to take a chance with in your lineups. Other tight ends to consider, based on matchups are Robert Tonyan (vs. MIA), Jordan Akins (vs. TEN) and Trey McBride (vs. TB.)
The Bears and Commanders have each allowed just two TE1 games this year. That is seemingly bad news for Knox (vs. CHI) and Kittle (vs. WAS) though it is difficult to bench either at this point in the season. The Browns (vs. Johnson/Taysom Hill). Cowboys (vs. Goedert) and Saints (vs. David Njoku) each offer difficult matchups as well.
Finally, here is the chart summarizing how teams have fared against each position. I’ve also included the schedule for this week for reference.
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