DeAndre Hopkins is expected to miss the next six weeks with a torn MCL. His knee injury immediately elevates the fantasy values of Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, and possibly even Rondale Moore. What can fantasy football managers realistically expect from these three wideouts in Week 15 against the Lions?
Christian Kirk Week 15 fantasy outlook
To be clear, Detroit’s pass defense is one of the worst in the league. They’re yielding an average 101.1 QB rating to opposing quarterbacks, which is fifth-worst in the NFL.
There’s an opening here for a normally fringe fantasy starter like Christian Kirk, who’s quietly compiled an impressive 53-718-4 receiving line. I say “impressive” because Arizona is No. 1 in the NFL in rushing touchdowns (21), despite their most prolific back (James Conner) averaging only 3.7 yards per carry.
The fact is, Arizona is looking to run near the goal line (7 of Conner’s TDs, which has capped the upside of the Cardinals’ receivers). Kirk had 4 receiving scores inside the 10-yard line last season, but only 1 in 2021.
The good news is that his irregular snap counts should stabilize with Hopkins shelved. And his 75.7% catch rate can’t be ignored. I like Kirk as a WR2/3 this week, with a better chance at WR2 numbers. He should be in most starting lineups.
A.J. Green Week 15 fantasy outlook
Before Monday’s loss to the Rams, I was concerned about Green’s streaming potential. The 33-year-old’s former greatness was on display in spurts the first half of the season. Through Week 6, he racked up 3 touchdowns while enjoying a solid 6 targets in five of those six games.
However, Green hasn’t scored since, and his catch rate has been a sub-pedestrian 62% since Week 7. His targets have ranged from 1 to 10 and everywhere in between. As good as he was this past Monday night, his ceiling is around a back-end WR2 while his floor is around a WR5. In other words, while there’s a lot to like about Green now that Hopkins is out, I still find myself favoring Kirk for a more solid floor.
Rondale Moore Week 15 fantasy outlook
Can we trust the rookie Rondale Moore against the Lions? I want to. The talent is there. If things break right, he could become the No. 2 receiver on this team next season. However, most of his receptions have occurred near the line of scrimmage, capping his big-play opportunities. He’s also averaging only 4.7 targets per game.
In very deep leagues, Moore is worth a flyer if you don’t have a top-32 WR in your flex or final WR slot. Simply understand he needs volume or a touchdown, and the odds of either one remain less than 50/50.