This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Football series.
NFL bye weeks are over, but the Week 15 action is spread out over four different days, leaving 11 games for the Sunday main slate beginning at 1:00 p.m. EST. Besides the main slate, Kansas City and the Chargers will kick off the action at 8:20 p.m. Thursday, followed by Raiders-Browns and Patriots-Colts matchups Saturday. After the main slate, Saints-Buccaneers (Sunday night) and Vikings-Bears (Monday night) matchups round out the week. Whether you're playing the main slate or another one, some of the top Week 15 options include a pair of NFC West quarterbacks, an affordable running back in a favorable matchup and two wide receivers who are primed to get peppered with targets against generous secondaries.
TOURNAMENTS (GPP – GUARANTEED PRIZE POOL)
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo, SF at ATL ($29): The hit-or-miss Garoppolo has thrown for at least 296 yards five times, but he's also been held short of 200 in five of his other seven. He's in position to boom rather than bust this week against a Falcons defense that's allowed a 26:8 TD:INT to opposing quarterbacks. With George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk both playing their best football of the season, San Francisco's passing game is in a groove, even with Garoppolo's favorite target for most of the season (Deebo Samuel) strangely doing most of his damage as a rusher recently. If running back Elijah Mitchell (knee, concussion) remains sidelined, the 49ers will likely employ a pass-heavy approach, further boosting Garoppolo's appeal.
RB: Chase Edmonds, ARI at DET ($17): There's a lot up in the air with the state of Arizona's backfield, as Edmonds (ankle) still hasn't been removed from IR and James Conner appears to have picked up an ankle injury of his own Monday, resulting in an absence from Wednesday's practice. If Conner can't go and Edmonds can, this would be an ideal opportunity for him to use his fresh legs to carve up the hapless Detroit defense. The Lions' 22 scrimmage touchdowns allowed to running backs are one shy of the Jets' league-worst total, while no other team has surrendered more than 18. Even if Conner plays but is limited, Edmonds could see the majority of the workload, and he's been excellent on a per-touch basis, averaging 5.7 yards per carry and adding 30 catches in nine games. If neither Conner nor Edmonds play, third-stringer Eno Benjamin ($12) would be a massive bargain.
WR: DK Metcalf, SEA at LAR ($21): Metcalf has scuffled of late while being consistently outperformed by Tyler Lockett, but the third-year stud is too good to keep struggling for much longer, even if his foot injury is bothering him more than is being let on. After starting the season with eight touchdowns in eight games, he's totaled just 173 yards without finding the end zone over the past five, though Metcalf showed signs of stirring last week, having a touchdown called back. His hot start prior to the slump included a 98-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 5 against the Rams, so maybe he can rekindle the fire while coming in at a sub-$25 valuation for the first time this season.
Other Against-the-Grainers
QB: Tua Tagovailoa (MIA, $28), Davis Mills (HOU, $23), Mac Jones (NE, $23)
RB: Alvin Kamara (NO, $32), Rashaad Penny (SEA, $15), Myles Gaskin (MIA, $21)
WR: DeVonta Smith (PHI, $21), Michael Pittman (IND, $18), Laquon Treadwell (JAX, $13)
TE: Mark Andrews (BAL, $23), John Bates (WAS, $10)
DST: Green Bay Packers (at BAL, $17), Los Angeles Rams (vs. SEA, $13)
CASH GAMES (H2H, 50/50s and DOUBLE UPS)
QUARTERBACK
Matthew Stafford, LAR vs. SEA ($32): After experiencing a bit of a midseason slump, Stafford has gotten back on track with three touchdown passes in each of his last three games, improving his TD:INT to 33:9. Stafford threw only one touchdown in Seattle back in Week 5, but he also racked up 365 passing yards in that one – his high-water mark as a member of the Rams. Seattle's bend but don't break defense is allowing a league-high 278.9 passing yards per game, and Stafford has the talent, weapons and coaching to finish drives in close that other quarterbacks can't, plus he won't have to deal with the elements in Los Angeles.
RUNNING BACK
Nick Chubb, CLE vs. LV ($28): If you're playing in a slate that includes Saturday's games, Chubb is an excellent choice as one of your lineup building blocks. He averages almost 100 rushing yards per game, and with Kareem Hunt (ankle) viewed as doubtful, Chubb won't have much competition for passing-down and goal-line work. Look for him to produce significantly in both of those situations, as the Raiders have allowed the sixth-most rushing touchdowns (12) and third-most receiving touchdowns (six) to running backs, with eight of those 18 scrimmage touchdowns coming over the past four games.
David Johnson, HOU at JAX ($11): Johnson has been a major fantasy disappointment this season, but for one week, he should be a strong value play. Rex Burkhead (hip) has been ruled out, while Johnson should be fresh after missing last week's game while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He'll face a Jaguars team that's allowed 13 rushing touchdowns to running backs – fifth most in the league – and Johnson's lone touchdown of the season came through the air against Jacksonville in the season opener. As far as ceding work to alternative options, Johnson's 3.1 yards per carry leave a lot to be desired, but backup Royce Freeman has been even less impressive, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.
WIDE RECEIVER
Davante Adams, GB at BAL ($32): As long as Aaron Rodgers (toe) plays, Adams should be dominant against the banged-up Baltimore secondary. The Ravens were already struggling to cover wide receivers before losing top cornerback Marlon Humphrey for the season the week before last, having allowed the ninth-most yards (2,210) to the position. Adams is in his customary spot among the league leaders in all the major receiving categories, ranking third in catches (90) and yards (1,204), as well as 10th in receiving touchdowns (seven). That production includes 100-yard performances in each of Adams' past three games, while he scored a pair of touchdowns in two of them.
Diontae Johnson, PIT vs. TEN ($28): Johnson has seen double-digit targets in 10 of 12 games this season, including each of the past five. On the season, his 130 targets are third most in the league, two ahead of fourth-place Adams. All that volume has given Johnson an excellent floor, as he's scored at least 9.2 fantasy points in every game while averaging 15.0 this season. He should deliver another strong performance against a Titans defense that has allowed the most catches (200) and receiving yards (2,569) to wide receivers this season, and Tennessee's 16 touchdowns allowed to the position are just one short of the league-worst total shared by three teams.
Michael Gallup, DAL at NYG ($16): The most affordable member of Dallas' impressive wide receiver triumvirate has had a consistent role in the offense since making his return from injury in Week 11, being thrown to at least eight times in each of the four subsequent games en route to 36 targets over that stretch and exactly five catches in each of those contests. Gallup would have two 100-yard performances in his last three games if it wasn't for a 46-yard gain being called back last week, and he has a nice opportunity to get back over that mark against a Giants team that's been struggling in all phases. Three different Charger wide receivers topped 60 yards against New York last week, with two of them finding the end zone, and the explosive Dallas offense put up a 44-spot against the Giants back in Week 5.
TIGHT END
Mike Gesicki, MIA vs. NYJ ($19): The Jets' young cornerback corps has actually held up better than expected, but New York's linebackers and safeties are inept in coverage, leading to plenty of big receiving performances from opposing running backs and tight ends. With the state of Miami's backfield in flux, Gesicki's poised to lead the team's skill position players against a Jets defense that has allowed tight ends to lead the opposing team in receiving yards each of the past two weeks, including a 105-yard, two-touchdown performance to the similarly skilled Dallas Goedert in Week 13.
DEFENSE
Dallas Cowboys, DAL at NYG ($20): The Cowboys' defense has made plenty of plays all season, but Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs and company have been especially locked in over the past two weeks, during which Dallas has totaled 39.0 fantasy points thanks to seven sacks, five interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a pair of touchdowns. Another strong performance should be forthcoming against a lackluster Giants offense that's averaging 17.8 points per game and is without starting quarterback Daniel Jones (neck). New York was on pace for a fourth consecutive game with no more than 10 points last week before scoring a pair of garbage-time touchdowns against the Chargers.
Honorable Mentions
QB: Dak Prescott (DAL, $34), Justin Fields (CHI, $27), Aaron Rodgers (GB, $32)
RB: Javonte Williams (DEN, $23), James Robinson (JAX, $22), Ezekiel Elliott (DAL, $25)
WR: Brandin Cooks (HOU, $17), Tee Higgins (CIN, $22), A.J. Green (ARI, $14)
TE: Dawson Knox (BUF, $21), Travis Kelce (KC, $31)
DST: Miami Dolphins (vs. NYJ, $19), Houston Texans (at JAX, $15)
