Welcome to the Week 15 NFL inactives and fantasy cheat sheet, a one-stop shop for The Athletic’s game previews, injury and weather updates, and expert analysis. Bookmark this page and check back often, as we offer regular updates to assist with fantasy lineups and betting decisions.
Player rankings referenced in this article are current as of Dec. 15. For updated rankings, see the “Fantasy football player rankings” section.
The latest NFL news and headlines
Last updated: 3 p.m. ET, Dec. 15
Featured games | Market share report
Flex fliers | Fantasy football player rankings
Injury news
Updated through 3 p.m. ET, Dec. 15
Sunday 4 p.m.
George Pickens, WR, PIT (hamstring) — Out
Pickens has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury that is worse than first thought. With Pickens out in Week 14, WRs Mike Williams, Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller saw four targets each. During the fantasy football playoffs, it’s risky to rely on any Steelers receiver outside of Pickens.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, BUF (knee) — Active
Kincaid is active, meaning Dawson Knox can be dropped if he’s even rostered.
Justin Herbert, QB, LAC (ankle/thigh) — Active
Herbert was limited at practice Thursday due to thigh and ankle injuries he suffered during the loss to the Chiefs, per Eric Smith of the Chargers’ official site but is active. According to The Athletic, Herbert expressed pain but said this ankle injury is “probably not as severe” as the sprain he had earlier in the season.
Will Dissly, TE, LAC (shoulder) — Out
Dissly is expected to miss a couple of weeks after suffering a shoulder injury against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Next on the depth chart, TE Stone Smartt had three targets and caught them all for 54 yards in Week 14.
Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC (shoulder) — Active
McConkey is active for Week 15. When he sat last week, Joshua Palmer led all Los Angeles Chargers receivers with nine targets, six receptions and 78 receiving yards. Quentin Johnston was targeted seven times and ended with 48 receiving yards. But if he stays healthy all game, McConkey will take back his targets.
Bucky Irving, RB, TB (back/hip) — Active
Irving is officially active, which means Rachaad White is limited to a riskier flex play.
Mike Evans, WR, TB (hamstring) — Active
Sterling Shepard, WR, TB (hamstring) — Active
Evans and Shepard are active. Evans is an easy start, while Jalen McMillan is now a risky but viable Week 15 flex play after scoring 21.9 PPR points last week. With all other receivers healthy, Shepard isn’t starting in many fantasy lineups during the playoffs.
Josh Downs, WR, IND (shoulder) — Active
Downs is active for Week 15. He leads all receivers in targets per game (7.8) and PPR points per game (13.76). Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce are behind him, with 6.58 and 4.15, respectively, and stand to benefit most in Downs’ absence.
Sunday Night Football
Romeo Doubs, WR, GB (concussion) — Expected to play
Doubs is now expected to play. Predicting which Green Bay Packers WR will score meaningful fantasy points in any week is nearly impossible, but Doubs leads the pack in targets per game.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, SEA (calf) — Doubtful
Walker is day-to-day, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Zach Charbonnet had a massive Week 14 (38.3 PPR points) in Walker’s absence and should be started if Walker sits again.
Monday Night Football
Zamir White, RB, LV (quadriceps) — Injured reserve
Alexander Mattison RB, LV (ankle) — Expected to play
White was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, and Mattison is expected to play. Head coach Antonio Pierce said Mattison will fill a backup role in Week 15, according to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez. Sincere McCormick has been far more efficient than Mattison, White and Ameer Abdullah and appears to be the new starter going forward.
Aidan O’Connell, QB, LV (knee) — Questionable
O’Connell didn’t practice Friday and is questionable for Week 15. If he can’t play, Desmond Ridder is the next man up. Brock Bowers is playing every week no matter who is under center, but Jakobi Meyers’ and Tre Tucker’s numbers could be affected by a QB change. Jake Ciely has Meyers at WR25 for the week.
Roschon Johnson, RB, CHI (knee) — Out
D’Andre Swift, RB, CHI (groin) — Questionable
Johnson is out while Swift remains questionable for Week 15. If Swift can’t play, the Chicago Bears’ depth at RB is non-existent. If he plays, Swift could see high usage, despite averaging only 3.8 yards per carry. He does average 13.21 PPR points per game and can be flexed if needed. Travis Homer could be a decent flex option with Johnson out and Swift at less-than-optimal health.
Weather report
Outdoor games only
According to Rotowire’s aggregated NFL-related forecasts, the Chiefs-Browns matchup comes with a 64 percent chance of rain. For a complete guide to how weather impacts gameplay, see “Jake Ciely’s Fantasy Football Strategy Guide to Weather.” As Ciely notes, the running game isn’t heavily impacted by rain; RBs typically get more carries in poor weather, so I’ll focus on the passing game below.
Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) at Cleveland Browns (3-10)
Most teams rely on their rushing attacks in the rain, but since his return, Cleveland’s Nick Chubb has averaged only 3.1 yards per carry. Jerome Ford averages 4.6 but has had three games with 2.8 or fewer yards per rush. Jameis Winston could be forced to throw, but he’s dismal in the rain, completing only 53.2 percent of passes with 12 interceptions to seven TDs (TruMedia). Jerry Jeudy has been a fantasy revelation lately (with 40.5 PPR points in Week 13), and Cedric Tillman is nearing a return. But be wary of the forecast. Kansas City’s Isiah Pacheco will likely see a heavy workload, and head coach Andy Reid will plan around the weather. During his career, Patrick Mahomes has played well in the rain, with a 103.8 passer rating, 70.1 percent completion percentage and 7.1 yards per attempt (look for Travis Kelce to have a big game).
Featured games
Game-specific previews and live updates are available on the day of the game.
Sunday afternoon
Buffalo Bills (10-3) vs. Detroit Lions (12-1)
- Venue: Ford Field — Detroit, Mich.
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
The Detroit Lions are slight home favorites over the Buffalo Bills in a potential Super Bowl preview. Last week, Josh Allen scored the most fantasy points ever by a quarterback, and he may need a similar performance to top the high-scoring Lions. Khalil Shakir has emerged as Allen’s primary target, scoring 21.6 PPR points in Week 14 and averaging 14.26 PPR points since Week 7, 106 receiving yards and one touchdown. Amari Cooper had a good showing last week, too, with 95 receiving yards, and although he was targeted 14 times, he only caught six of them. Since Cooper joined Buffalo, Shakir has averaged 8.57 targets per game, compared to Cooper’s 5.4. Detroit has a top-rated rush defense, ranking first overall in defensive rush success, but James Cook has cooked this season, with per-game averages of 16.06 PPR points, 4.6 yards per carry, and one touchdown.
The Lions are fresh off a 34-31 victory over NFC North rivals the Green Bay Packers, where RBs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs shared rushing duties (and targets) per usual and each scored a touchdown. Jameson Williams led receivers with 80 yards on six targets, while Amon-Ra St. Brown, fantasy’s WR3, added 43 yards on five receptions. Buffalo’s pass defense is solid but allows opponents 2.87 seconds to throw, which ranks 26th overall. With an over/under set at an impressive 55 points, expect a thrilling, high-scoring fantasy affair.
Sunday night
Green Bay Packers (9-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
- Venue: Lumen Field — Seattle, Wash.
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock
The Green Bay Packers are field-goal favorites on the road against Geno Smith and the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks, who are on a four-game win streak, defeating the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals (twice), and the San Francisco 49ers. Zach Charbonnet excelled in Week 14 (38.3 PPR points), rushing for 134 yards on 6.1 yards per rush and two touchdowns while adding 59 receiving yards with Kenneth Walker III inactive. If Walker’s out again, Charbonnet may find less room against a Green Bay rush defense top-10 in yards per game and yards per carry allowed. But that paves the way for the resurgence of DK Metcalf, who hasn’t scored more than 10 PPR points since Week 11. Meanwhile, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has performed well with four 19-plus PPR point performances in the past five weeks and 7.85 targets per game over the full season.
On Green Bay’s offense, RB Josh Jacobs (fantasy’s season-long RB7) and QB Jordan Love (QB12 on a per-game basis) are the only clear fantasy starters. Christian Watson had 114 yards receiving against the Detroit Lions in Week 14, but the target distribution among receivers is thin, with Romeo Doubs (out Week 14) leading with 5.3 targets per game. Watson only averages 4.09, below TE Tucker Kraft (4.15). Seattle’s defense is better against the pass (10th in opponent passing yards per game) than the run, allowing 4.7 yards per carry and ranking 22nd in defensive rush success percentage (60.4 percent). Jacobs can exploit this weakness; however, relying on WRs from this team remains a gamble.
Monday night
Chicago Bears (4-9) vs. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)
- Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium — Minneapolis, Minn.
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC
- Streaming: ESPN+
The Minnesota Vikings are touchdown favorites at home against the struggling Chicago Bears, as Sam Darnold, the third-overall draft pick in 2018, faces 2024’s top pick Caleb Williams. Darnold intimately knows Williams’ struggles but is having a career year under head coach Kevin O’Connell as fantasy’s QB7 with a 108.1 passer rating (T-3rd), throwing for 3,299 yards (6th) and 28 TDs (T-3rd). His performance is bolstered by star WR Justin Jefferson (fantasy’s WR2) and Jordan Addison (WR20). Addison capitalizes when defenses focus heavily on Jefferson. RB Aaron Jones adds stability, averaging 14.35 PPR points per game, which gives O’Connell the flexibility in game planning against a vulnerable Bears defense.
Williams has faced scrutiny but is showing some promise with 16 touchdowns, only five interceptions and nearly 3,000 yards passing, which he could achieve with 254 yards in this game. Although his completion percentage and passer rating are low, he has scored over 26 fantasy points in two of his last four games. His inconsistency impacts receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze; however, Moore and Allen have had two 20-plus PPR point outings in the past three weeks, whereas Odunze put up 20.2 points in Week 14. Compounding Williams’ challenges is RB D’Andre Swift, whose 3.8 yards per carry and rush EPA of -31.95 are concerning. For comparison, league-leading Saquon Barkley’s rush EPA is 49.3. Moreover, Minnesota’s defense leads the league in defensive total rush EPA and is ranked second in yards per carry allowed, making Swift a bench candidate this week.
Read the full preview (coming Monday)
Atlanta Falcons (6-7) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
- Venue: Allegiant Stadium — Las Vegas, Nev.
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
In a potential low-viewership “Monday Night Football” matchup, the Atlanta Falcons are favored over the struggling Las Vegas Raiders, who are eyeing the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Fantasy implications are murky, particularly with Kirk Cousins’ recent struggles, averaging just 6.8 fantasy points per game (FPPG) since Week 10 with a passer rating of 62.0. However, a matchup against the Raiders could mean redemption, especially if Maxx Crosby can’t get to Cousins, who struggles under pressure. (Meanwhile, could a poor performance could lead to a Michael Penix Jr. appearance?) Darnell Mooney remains a boom-or-bust flex option with 20.2 PPR points in Week 14 but only 5.0 in Week 13. Drake London offers a good floor with 15.18 PPR points per game this season, with a rare ceiling of about 30 points. Bijan Robinson is fantasy’s RB4, limiting Tyler Allgeier’s appeal.
On the Raiders’ side, Aidan O’Connell’s MRI (after a Week 14 exit) revealed a minor bone bruise, leaving his availability in question. If he can’t play, Desmond Ridder may start, creating uncertainty for Raiders receivers. Jakobi Meyers has a solid floor, averaging 15.1 PPR points per game, while Tre Tucker is a bench candidate with only 7.9 PPR points per game. Sincere McCormick is the most intriguing fantasy candidate for Las Vegas, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, more efficient than any other Las Vegas back. Zamir White was placed on injured reserve, and even if Alexander Mattison returns, McCormick should lead this backfield against a weak Atlanta rush defense.
Can anyone believe this is a MNF matchup?
Read the full preview (coming Monday).
Market share report
Michael Salfino looks at usage around the league to provide fantasy insights.
Zach Charbonnet was a beast — No. 1 in the rankings — but the party is probably ending if Kenneth Walker (calf) is back this week. Charbonnet is playable, but he’s expected to be 50/50 in touches, though with more projected value than Walker, given his involvement in the passing game.
Jordan Addison was second and has to be played this week, with Sam Darnold on pace for nearly 40 TD passes. The Minnesota Vikings have a narrow passing tree. Addison had 17 more market share points than Justin Jefferson. Darnold is having success passing where the defense isn’t, and that’s often away from Jefferson.
Amari Cooper was No. 5. I’d start him against Detroit. There’s a two-TD game coming at some point.
—Salfino
Flex fliers
Scott Engel discusses last-minute free agency options to fill roster holes.
Keon Coleman, WR, BUF (64 percent rostered): The Bills rookie was cut in some leagues after going down with a wrist injury. Check your league’s free-agent list to see if he is available because you want any fantasy involvement possible in a Buffalo Bills-Detroit Lions game with an over/under of 54.5 points. Coleman was starting to show signs of breaking out in Weeks 7 and 8 (195 yards and a touchdown in two games) before he went down. Detroit ranks 28th in fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to wide receivers.
Joshua Palmer, WR, LAC (32 percent): Palmer caught six passes on nine targets for 78 yards last week. If Ladd McConkey (knee) is out again or limited this week, Palmer will be a quality play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 30th-ranked pass defense.
—Engel
Jake Ciely’s Week 15 fantasy football player rankings
Find out Jake’s top QB, RB, WR and TE for the week!
- There is no perfect widget out there, sadly, still. I know many view this on your phone, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop/etc. if possible or 2) open in your phone’s browser, especially for Android users, to get the scrolling to work (or Android people can try a two-finger scroll).
- ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t updated by everyone consistently, so take with a grain of salt).
- Updated regularly, so check up to lineups locking.
Get Ciely’s full Week 15 analysis. Plus sleepers and projections.
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
