Fantasy Football, Week 15: These 4 players should be in your starting lineup

If you weren’t already encumbered with difficult fantasy football playoff decisions and DraftKings dilemmas, you are now.

It’s Week 15 and both the NFC and AFC have their playoff spots up for grabs due to exceptional play from unexpected faces and catastrophic performances from promising names. The seeding scenarios are endless and may even reflect how your Yahoo league looks.

Stuck on who to spend big on to rack up some holiday cash before the final weeks run out?

Here’s who has to be in your playoff lineup and who you must snag in daily contests.

QB: Josh Allen (BUF) vs. DAL

The Bills are clinging onto their playoff hopes by the smallest of threads. But their upset victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday proves that they are more than alive in the AFC wild-card race – and that’s because of Josh Allen. While 233 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT isn’t the most impressive of stat lines, and while the Cowboys’ defense is shutting teams down left and right, it’s desperation mode for Allen to pull out all of the stops and throw the ball non-stop.

To me, this is one of those win-win scenarios where the season is essentially on the line for the Bills. If they win big, it’s because Josh Allen put up points. If they’re getting hammered by the Cowboys, Josh Allen will have no choice but to throw the ball.

Regardless of the final score and outcome of the game, Allen will be very active in trying to upset his opponent for the second week in a row. He’ll generate points either way and is undoubtedly one of the more reliable quarterback options in Week 15. Plus, he isn’t a petulant crybaby like some former must-have quarterbacks… bonus points!

RB: Rachaad White (TB) vs. GB

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently hold onto the NFC South division lead with a 6-7 record. With half a dozen teams sneaking up behind them (should they slip out of the division lead and into the wild card race), their matchup against the Packers on Sunday is crucial for the season’s final weeks.

Rachaad White has been leading the rushing attack for the Bucs. He’s averaged 20 attempts over the last three weeks and his ground game yardage is close to 100 yards per game.

The other positive? The Packers run defense was abysmal against the Giants on Sunday Night Football. I think White leads the Bucs down the field on multiple drives, continuing his recent trends as of late. Reaching the end zone would also be a bonus.

DJ Moore (CHI) vs. CLE

If the Bears want to keep their playoff hopes alive, they, too, will have to play aggressive football on Sunday – this time on the road against the Cleveland Browns.

DJ Moore is the most reliable target for Justin Fields, has several games with multiple scores, and has been one of the few reasons the Bears are back to relevance after the 2022 season. Moore notched two scores in Week 14 and will look to continue stacking stats in a career-best season.

Luke Getsy (oh Lord…) can’t be afraid to target Moore early and often. Some creative play design will open the field, and I could see Moore finding the end zone (at least) once against the Browns. He’ll likely be a more affordable option than some of the bigger names. Pay mid-tier money for one of your higher ceiling options.

Trey McBride (ARI) vs. SF

McBride’s targets and receptions have slowly increased over the last few weeks, leading to his name being one of the tight ends to target in all facets of play. The Cardinals will have a tough matchup against the NFC-best 49ers, but to keep the game close, Kyler Murray must get the ball to McBride. He found the endzone last game and continues posting impressive yardage.

The Cardinals don’t have many weapons, but they do have one in McBride. He’s more affordable than Kelce and has a larger share of targets.