Week 15 of the 2020 NFL season is in the books. For the majority of the league, Tuesday morning brings a whole new week of football and preparing for their next game. However, a handful of players might not want to leave Week 15 so soon. Here’s a look at who impressed and who underachieved this week.
All point totals are based on PPR scoring.
Quarterback
Winner: Jalen Hurts (37.82 FPTS)
The Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie signal-caller put on another show in his second career start. Despite a narrow loss, Hurts tossed for 338 yards, which is more than double his total from last week. He threw for three touchdowns while adding 63 yards and another score on the ground. He fumbled three times in the effort, but all three were recovered by Philadelphia. Hurts remains a must-start ahead of the fantasy championship when he goes head-to-head with the Dallas Cowboys.
Loser: Mitchell Trubisky (13.48 FPTS)
After tossing seven touchdowns over three games, Trubisky regressed this week in the Chicago Bears’ win over the Minnesota Vikings. While he played fine from a football standpoint (David Montgomery saw the bulk of the offensive action), his numbers were less-than-ideal for fantasy managers. Trubisky tossed one touchdown and one interception while accumulating just 202 yards. Nevertheless, Trubisky remains a viable streaming option heading into Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Running Back
Winner: Tony Pollard (31.2 FPTS)
Thrust into the starting role with Ezekiel Elliott being a late scratch, Pollard posted 133 scrimmage yards on 18 touches, finding the end zone twice. His 90 percent snap share was more than double his previous season-best, and he was an instrumental part of the Dallas Cowboys’ win over the San Francisco 49ers. With Dallas still in playoff contention, Elliott will likely return next week. However, if the former Pro Bowler is held out of action again, Pollard will be a must-start against the Eagles.
Loser: Wayne Gallman (2.9 FPTS)
There are always players you can’t trust in a Hue Jackson offense. On Sunday, Gallman was one of them. With the former Cleveland Browns coach taking over the New York Giants’ play-calling duties, Gallman was held to just nine carries for 29 yards and was replaced by Alfred Morris in the second half. Gallman’s 2.9 points were his second-lowest since Week 2—the same week in which Saquon Barkley tore his ACL. Gallman squares off against the Baltimore Ravens next week; a tough defensive line coupled with a negative game script could make the Giants’ running back a low-end FLEX at best.
Wide Receiver
Winner: Calvin Ridley (32.3 FPTS)
When Julio Jones is inactive, Calvin Ridley looks like a top-three receiver in the NFL. Jones sat out Sunday’s contest, leading to Calvin Ridley catching 10 passes for a career-high 163 yards and one touchdown. One of the biggest draft steals of the year, Ridley continues to be a must-start WR1 despite a tough matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs next week.
Loser: Amari Cooper (2.3 FPTS)
While the Cowboys put up 41 points, their No. 1 receiver was virtually nonexistent. Against a tough 49ers defense, Cooper caught just two of three passes for 10 yards while snapping a three-game touchdown streak in the process. He also saw a 78 percent snap share, which was his lowest dating back to Week 9. Cooper is becoming touchdown-dependent with Andy Dalton at the helm, but he remains a WR2 when the Eagles come to town in Week 16.
Tight End
Winner: Darren Waller (30.0 FPTS)
Darren Waller continues to demonstrate incredible ball skills, catching nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown on Thursday Night Football. After Derek Carr left early with a groin injury, Marcus Mariota entered and formed a quick rapport with one of the league’s best tight ends. Waller is a must-start no matter the matchup, so pencil him into your lineups again in Week 16.
Loser: T.J. Hockenson (1.8 FPTS)
After seeing 20 targets over the past two weeks, Hockenson posted his worst game of the season against the Tennessee Titans. The Iowa product caught just two passes for 18 yards, and he was also responsible for a critical fourth-quarter fumble on an end-around. Hockenson remains a must-start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16, but his quiet Sunday was nevertheless frustrating.
Defense
Winner: Bills D/ST (13.0 FPTS)
The Buffalo Bills looked great again this week, stifling the Denver Broncos on Saturday. Responsible for three sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown, Buffalo allowed just 19 points and cruised to the top spot on this week’s defensive leaderboard. The Bills, fresh off clinching the AFC East title, could see continued success against the New England Patriots next week.
Loser: Lions D/ST (-7.0 FPTS)
The Detroit Lions posted one sack and zero turnovers in a painful loss to the Titans on Sunday. In the process, they allowed 46 points and 463 yards, falling victim to a red-hot Titans offense fueled by one of the scariest trios in the league. The Lions are not worth rostering and should be avoided in Week 16 against the Buccaneers.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
