Here are my favorite NFL DFS lineup picks for Week 15 tournaments and 50/50 competitions today. It assumes a handful of game scripts that would yield high-upside fantasy football performers. As always, this Week 15 DFS lineup is based on FanDuel pricing.
Top NFL DFS picks for Sunday Week 15 | QB and RBs
This lineup’s quarterback and running backs assume a pass-friendly game script for Pittsburgh. Additionally, they assume a blowout victory for San Francisco and a statement game for Jacksonville after the firing of head coach Urban Meyer.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers ($6,600)
I keep writing about Ben Roethlisberger because he remains shockingly undervalued. No longer carrying any injury designations, he is a strong streamer in the right circumstance. Today’s game against Tennessee is “the right circumstance.”
The Titans’ run defense is rock solid, allowing only 4.0 yards per carry. But their bottom-third pass defense is very beatable. In fact, they’re giving up an average of 42.7 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs — the second-most points in the league. Big Ben is one of the cheapest starting QBs in DFS and one of the biggest bargains.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, San Francisco 49ers ($5,800)
If you enjoy chasing points, you’re probably not starting Jeff Wilson Jr., who picked up only 5.6 fantasy points last week while starting for injured starter Elijah Mitchell. But that was in Cincinnati. Today, he’s at home against the more defensively vulnerable Falcons.
Mitchell is once again sidelined. Wilson looked pretty good with 13 carries for 56 yards. In a game that should see 30+ points for the Niners, Wilson is a candidate for at least 1 touchdown, making him a worthwhile investment.
James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars ($6,300)
If you listened to Friday’s “In the Mood” fantasy podcast, PFN’s Tommy Garrett, Jason Katz, and I gave six detailed reasons why James Robinson easily could be an elite RB this week against Houston.
On paper, he has been fantastic in 2021: 4.8 yards per carry and 7 rushing scores compared to 4.5 ypc and 7 rushing TDs last year. However, his volume is down — 12 rushing attempts per game vs. 17 last year. His passing-game usage has also taken a hit — 2.3 receptions per game versus 3.5 last year. I believe the Jags will lean on him today to the tune of 22+ touches, making him an absolute steal at his DFS price.
Top NFL DFS picks for Sunday Week 15 | WRs
This lineup’s wide receivers assume a blow-up game for one of the top wideouts in the league. I’m also betting on terrific performances for two normally tertiary options who should earn more scoring opportunities.
Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers ($8,500)
Let’s not overthink this. Baltimore is elite against the run and anemic against the pass. Davante Adams has three straight 100-yard performances while catching 25 of 30 passes thrown his way — including 4 for touchdowns. As Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon struggle to gain traction against the Ravens’ front line, Adams will remain a featured offensive component.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers ($6,600)
As I shared on the PFN Facebook blog earlier this season, it was only a matter of time before Brandon Aiyuk got going. The 49ers’ postseason hopes were bolstered when they finally turned him loose.
Aiyuk’s a consistent threat for double-digit fantasy points, and I love his matchup against a Falcons defense yielding the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing WRs. Deebo Samuel also might play huge, but he’s $1,600 more expensive.
DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins ($5,800)
Earlier this week, I was committed to starting Jaylen Waddle. But with Waddle now on the reserve/COVID-19 list, DeVante Parker has a chance to reassert himself — at least for one game — as the Dolphins’ No. 1 receiver.
Parker has always had big-play potential, and we’ve seen it on display the past few years. Against the very vulnerable Jets pass defense, I like Parker exceeding 15 fantasy points today.
Top NFL DFS picks for Sunday Week 15 | TE, Flex, D/ST
I know what you’re thinking: “The rest of this lineup better be great.” Oh, it is. Or at least, I’m betting that it will be.
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers ($7,800)
It’s hard to rationalize starting any other tight end in DFS this week. George Kittle has been on another planet the past two weeks, racking up 22 catches on 27 targets to go with 332 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Has any TE in NFL history had a better back-to-back stat line? We know what Kittle means to this offense. And we know the opposing Falcons will find it nearly impossible to shut him and his exceptional playmaking teammates down.
Diontae Johnson, Flex, Pittsburgh Steelers ($7,200)
Remember what I wrote about Big Ben? The same goes for pre-prime Diontae Johnson, who has been a key to Roethlisberger’s recent resurgence.
Johnson has enjoyed double-digit targets in all but two games this season. As with several guys in this DFS lineup, we can’t overthink things with Johnson, who’s facing a beatable Tennessee secondary while serving as Pittsburgh’s clear-cut No. 1 receiver. This is the type of high-probability bet worth making.
Buffalo Bills, D/ST ($4,900)
We could go with the $5,000 Dolphins instead. After all, they’re playing the Jets at home. But I like the Bills bouncing back in a big way against the descending Panthers.
After starting 4-1, Buffalo is now 7-6 and fighting for their playoff lives. Meanwhile, Carolina quarterbacks Cam Newton and P.J. Walker have turned the ball over 8 times in their last three games. The Bills D/ST realistically could score 18+ points today; I believe they’ll be a top-three D/ST in Week 15.