🔥Monday Morning Fantasy Football Recap

One week after playing the highest-scoring NFL game of the season (a 44-42 loss to the LA Rams), the Buffalo Bills once again played in a shootout that became the new highest-scoring game of the year. In a 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions, Josh Allen once again tightened his grip on the NFL MVP race and likely sent his managers to the second round of the playoffs.

Even on a day when James Cook rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns, Allen was able to throw for 362 yards and two scores while rushing for 68 yards and another two touchdowns. He was able to get touchdowns to Khalil Shakir and Ray Davis, while also producing big games for Dalton Kincaid and Ty Johnson.

Heading into Monday Night Football, Allen was the QB1 by just .22 over Jared Goff, who also did his part by throwing for an astronomical 494 passing yards and five scores of his own. All of the key guys excelled: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jameson Williams. Only David Montgomery was contained, although he was able to catch four balls for 31 yards.

This was likely the offensive game of the year and one that was helpful all around for fantasy managers.

The Deep Dive Fantasy Newsletter will hit your inboxes four days a week this season and each Monday I will bring you the highlights, lowlights, injury reports, and Monday Night Football look-ahead all here in one place.

First up are the top fantasy football headlines from a wild Week 15.

2️⃣ Scoring Two Touchdowns is What the Cool Kids Do Now

Scoring one touchdown for your fantasy team is so early-2024. In the fantasy playoffs, if you didn’t have one or more of the two-touchdown scorers, you are likely behind the eight ball heading into the last two games of the week during Week 15.

On Sunday, the following players all scored twice: Davante Adams, Mike Evans, James Conner, Brian Thomas Jr., Jahmyr Gibbs, James Cook, Chase Brown, Tyjae Spears, Terry McLaurin, Rashod Bateman, and Nico Collins. Fantasy scoring was way up this week, with all positions included, but teams who had multiple players on this list are likely already looking ahead to their playoff matchup in Week 16.

🐦‍⬛ Lamar Jackson Asks MVP Voters to Remember Him

Josh Allen likely wrapped up the 2024 MVP award on Sunday afternoon, but last year’s MVP - Lamar Jackson - reminded us all just how special he is by throwing for 290 yards, five touchdown passes, and rushing for 65 additional yards.

The competition against the New York Giants wasn’t exactly the 1985 Bears, but Lamar Jackson took it upon himself to make sure the Ravens stayed in contention for the AFC North division championship on a day when the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.

🏈 Backup Running Backs Go Off While on Everyone’s Bench

On days where Derrick Henry, David Montgomery, Isiah Pacheco, and Saquon Barkley struggled, four of the top-12 running backs on Sunday entered their games with the backup designation. Tyjae Spears, Jerome Ford, Ty Johnson, and Justice Hill all broke out for big plays in their respective games.

The only downside, of course, is that most of these players were on fantasy benches this week. In fact, at least in Yahoo leagues, Spears and Ford had the highest start percentage, both at 10% for Week 15. Managers moving on with these players will have a tough decision to make next week, particularly for players like Ty Johnson and Jerome Ford who both have bigger opportunities ahead.

🦅 The Eagles Heal Their Passing Game Woes

After some major drama was percolating all week out of Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts put his passing concerns to rest, satisfying the tense relationships with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith at the same time. Hurts threw for 290 yards, two passing touchdowns, and rushed for 45 yards and a score. He allowed both of his top receivers to exceed 100 yards and a touchdown. They both also had more than 10 targets, proving the Eagles can win with more than just a strong run game. Sorry Saquon Barkley owners. You got squeaky-wheeled this week by Philadelphia.

☀️ Amon-Ra St. Brown Explodes In PPR Formats With Best Game of Season

In the Buffalo Bills game, Amon-Ra St. Brown had his best performance of the season with 18 targets, 14 receptions, 193 receiving yards, and a touchdown catch. It was a welcome site after three straight weeks with under 100 yards and no touchdowns. It just showed that when the chips are down, the Sun God is still the Lions’ most reliable weapon in the passing game. For fantasy purposes, the loss for the Lions is probably the best thing that could have happened as Detroit now must be in win-now mode over the next two weeks heading into a Week 18 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

🐦 Trey McBride Catches Nine More Passes, Sets Unfortunate Record

With another nine catches and 87 yards, Trey McBride now holds the NFL record for most receptions in a season without a touchdown. McBride has caught 89 passes for 938 yards this season but still hasn’t crossed the chalk in 2024. The Cardinals tried to get him in the end zone yesterday with a little flip pass right at the goal line, but he was stuffed at the one-yard line and James Conner took it in on the next play. The Cardinals have to get him in the end zone at some point this season, right?

Patrick Mahomes is now considered week-to-week, having suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns. Andy Reid said the ankle is not broken, but there is serious concern he will miss Saturday’s game against the Houston Texans. More tests will be run on Monday and an evaluation of the severity of the injury should be available in a couple of days.

Geno Smith left Sunday Night Football in the second half with a knee injury after taking a low hit. Sam Howell replaced him for the rest of the game and played quite poorly. If Geno Smith has to miss any time, his absence would impact all other skill players on the Seahawks.

Alvin Kamara is deemed to be day-to-day after suffering a groin injury against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The severity is unknown at this point, but Kamara does have an extra day to recover as they play on Monday Night Football in Week 16.

Jaylen Waddle had zero fantasy impact in Week 15 as he left the game against Houston with a knee injury before he could record a catch. As of early Monday morning, there was not a status update, but this injury could be compounded by a hamstring injury Waddle was dealing with before this game.

Xavier Legette was the victim of a groin injury as well in Week 15. He left the game against Dallas early in the third quarter after recording just two catches for seven yards. As with most injuries, his severity is unclear at this point, but more information should be available early in the week.

Alec Pierce took a very hard hit to the head in the second half of the Colts’ game against the Denver Broncos and was forced to leave the game. He was evaluated for a concussion and did not return. He needed help off the field and should be entering concussion protocol immediately. His status for Week 16 is very much up in the air as of Monday morning.

Zach Ertz was another player to leave his game early with a concussion. After taking a very hard hit on a short reception, he was immediately ruled out and will enter concussion protocol. Considering the severity of the hit, fantasy managers should prepare to not have Ertz in Week 16.

Monday Night Football Play on Bleacher Nation Fantasy.

Receiving Yards: Jordan Addison OVER Darnell Mooney (+4 yards)

From Weeks 11-14, it’s Jordan Addison, not Justin Jefferson, who leads the Vikings in targets and receiving yards. If Jefferson is the definitive 1A of this Minnesota offense, Addison is clearly now the 1B. Addison averages right at 100 yards per game in that span and the Vikings are throwing 62% of the time over the last three weeks.

Darnell Mooney is tied with Ray-Ray McCloud and is second on the Falcons in targets over their last four games, and trails Drake London by 18 targets in that span. Fewer targets don’t necessarily mean fewer receiving yards, but Kirk Cousins’ throws have been, shall we say, not great over the last four weeks (eight interceptions, zero touchdowns. anticipate the Falcons will feature Bijan Robinson in this must-win game on Monday night.

Give me the wide receiver with the passing game that is clicking on all cylinders over the quarterback who looks old and broken.

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There are also more articles on 4for4.com discussing all things Week 15 in the NFL. Check back throughout the week for much more.

Week 15 Recap

Week 15 Starts and Sleepers