Week 15 of the 2024 fantasy football season featured big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received A and F grades?
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis, and Seth Walder provides his grades.
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Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an A | Who got an F
Biggest injuries and what's next
Ranking fantasy winners of Week 15
1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Fantasy football's leading scorer for the season, a top-three candidate for NFL Most Valuable Player honors, and the third most common player found on ESPN playoff teams (64.3% of leagues have him in their playoffs), Jackson delivered a season-best 36.10 fantasy points while beating up on a bad New York Giants defense. With the performance, he increased his seasonal total to 357.50, sixth most by any quarterback in history through his team's first 14 games. That also puts him on pace for 434.11 points, which would obliterate Patrick Mahomes' single-season record of 417.40 points, set in 2022. Jackson's Ravens, too, remain in the thick of the AFC North race with a prospective home game within reach, meaning he might play at a high level through Week 18. Speaking of that division race, he faces the Pittsburgh Steelers, ahead of them in the standings and a much tougher matchup, in a Saturday Week 16 game. Jackson then has to play a road game against the Houston Texans during a short week on Christmas Day. It's a challenging trek, for sure, but he's one of the few players who should be up to the task. -- Cockcroft
2. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
When his fantasy managers cry "encore!" Allen obliges. On the heels of his record-setting 51.88-point performance in Week 14, the MVP favorite scored 41.38 points against the Lions ... and his team won the high-scoring affair this time. Allen is the first quarterback in history to score 40-plus fantasy points in back-to-back games, and his 93.26 points combined are the fifth most in history in consecutive contests (see the chart to the right). He also extended his NFL record for games with multiple passing and rushing touchdowns (6). Allen is en fuego right now, and is unlikely to cool off in another plus-matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 16. -- Cockcroft
3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, and Davante Adams, WR, New York Jets
It turns out all the Jets' offense needed to thrive was a matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars' terrible defense, and to be more specific, mostly the final 4 minutes, 19 seconds of the game! The Jets gained 157 of their 400 yards of offense on their two drives after that point, with Adams totaling four of his nine catches and 139 of his 198 receiving yards as the Rodgers-to-Adams connection looked for that brief stint as it did during its heyday in Green Bay. For Adams, his 42.8 PPR fantasy points were his most in a game since Week 16 of 2020, and they represented his fifth career game with 40-plus, tied for fifth most in history by a wide receiver. For Rodgers, his 30.06 points were his most since Week 11 of 2021, and they gave him 22 instances of 30-plus in his career, three shy of the record shared by Tom Brady and Drew Brees. If you're a believer in these two and their matchup capabilities, be aware that a Week 16 assignment against the Los Angeles Rams is another favorable one, albeit not to the extreme of this week's matchup. -- Cockcroft
4. Jared Goff, QB; Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
Goff (41.06 points) and St. Brown (37.3 points) recorded season-best numbers in the shootout loss to the Bills. Goff, who attempted 59 passes, threw for 494 yards and five touchdowns, while St. Brown caught 14 of 18 targets for 193 yards and a touchdown. Ridiculous stuff. The Lions travel to Chicago next week, one of their few outdoor games of the season. I'll have Goff just outside the top 12 for this one, with St. Brown remaining a mid-tier WR1. -- Bowen
5. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
It wasn't an entirely one-sided affair in Jacksonville, however, as the rookie Thomas set seasonal bests in targets (14), receptions (10), receiving yards (105) and PPR fantasy points (32.5), thriving in the Mac Jones-led offense. Thomas has seen double-digit targets in three consecutive games coming out of the bye. The Jaguars' schedule is pass-friendly for the next three weeks (@LV, TEN, @IND), so be sure to lock him into all your lineups. -- Cockcroft
6. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Lamb's 26.6 points in the win over the Panthers were his most since Week 8 (39.6). And Lamb has delivered two consecutive games with 20 or more. Lamb brought in nine of 13 targets for 113 yards and a touchdown versus Carolina, and he gets another positive matchup in Week 16 versus the Tampa secondary. You can lock in Lamb as a top-3 WR for that one. -- Bowen
7. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
McLaurin scored 26.3 points in the Week 15 win over the Saints, his third consecutive game with 21 or more. McLaurin caught seven of a team-high 10 targets in this one, finishing with 73 yards receiving and two red zone touchdown grabs. That gives McLaurin back-to-back games with multiple red zone touchdown receptions and at least eight targets. McLaurin gets the Eagles' defense next, a unit that held him to just one reception for 10 yards (on only two targets) in Week 11. However, if the volume stays up here, McLaurin should be played as a lower-tier WR2. -- Bowen
8. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
One of the few bright spots in another forgettable season for the Giants, Nabers scored 24.2 PPR fantasy points in the blowout by the Baltimore Ravens, finishing with 10 catches. Nabers has three games with double-digit receptions, tied with Jaylen Waddle (2021) and Brock Bowers (2024) for the second most by a rookie behind only former Giant Odell Beckham Jr. (4, 2014). Nabers is in good shape to challenge for more such performances in favorable Weeks 16-17 matchups (@ATL, IND). -- Cockcroft
9. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Though the opposing Patriots have had more trouble defending the pass than the run lately, Conner was a one-man wrecking crew in the Cardinals' 30-17 victory, scoring a season-best 30.8 PPR fantasy points. It's what his managers wanted to see, after rookie Trey Benson had been creeping up on the depth chart in recent weeks, but Benson had only five touches in this one. Conner gets one of his best matchups in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers, and he might crack the positional top-10 in scoring in that one. -- Cockcroft
10. Baker Mayfield, QB; Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mayfield scored 28.02 points against a really good Chargers defense, his best total since Week 4, and he was super efficient with the ball, throwing for 288 yards and four touchdowns. And Evans posted a season-high 36.9 points, catching nine of 11 targets for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Big-time numbers from Mayfield and Evans, and the remaining playoff schedule is favorable for both (@DAL, CAR). -- Bowen
11. Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Brown scored 26.3 points in the win over the Titans, logging 113 total yards and two touchdowns. Brown has scored 19 or more points in five consecutive games, with at least one touchdown in four. And with his dual-threat ability, in an explosive Bengals offense, Brown will continue to see touches and scoring opportunities. Up next? It's the Cleveland defense in Week 16. -- Bowen
12. Jonnu Smith, TE, Miami Dolphins
In Miami's offense, Smith continues to produce as a "move player" with route and alignment versatility, scoring 19.8 points in the loss to the Texans. Smith caught nine of a team-high 11 targets, logging 48 yards and a touchdown on a second-reaction throw from Tua Tagovailoa. Smith has recorded at least one touchdown reception in four of his past five games, including double-digit points in each. With a Week 16 home game versus the 49ers, Smith will remain a mid-tier TE1. -- Bowen
Ranking fantasy losers of Week 15
1. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
I expected much more from Henry versus the Giants' run defense in Week 15. This was a matchup he should have hammered. However, Henry posted a season-low 6.7 points, rushing 14 times for only 67 yards, and he didn't record a catch. Henry has scored fewer than 15 points in five straight games, and he gets a tough matchup in Week 16 versus the Steelers' defensive front. Henry will be in my ranks as a lower-tier RB1 for that game. -- Bowen
2. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
After four straight games with 100 or more yards rushing, Barkley was limited versus the Steelers' defensive front, averaging only 3.4 yards per carry. Barkley finished with 65 yards rushing, adding 9 yards receiving on two grabs. And that was good for just 9.4 points. Now, Barkley gets the Commanders' defense in Week 16. He scored 33.8 points against that unit in Week 11. So, expect Barkley to check in as a top-3 play for that one. -- Bowen
3. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
He delivered a big, fat doughnut to his managers who started him in 87.9% of ESPN leagues, failing to haul in any of his three targets on "Thursday Night Football." Rain curtailed the Rams' and San Francisco 49ers' offenses, and the unfavorable matchup didn't help, but the stats count nevertheless. This is only the second time in 102 career games that Kupp was shut out. He doesn't have easy matchups the next two weeks, either (@NYJ, ARI). -- Cockcroft
4. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy posted his worst numbers of the season in the Thursday night loss to the Rams, completing just 14 of 31 passing for 141 yards, while adding one carry for 3 yards (3.98 points). Sure, weather played a role. But Purdy had some critical misses, including a questionable throw late that led to an interception. Purdy, and the Niners' pass game, will look to bounce back in Week 16 versus the Dolphins. -- Bowen
5. Tua Tagovailoa, QB; Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
I was in on Tua this week. Four straight games with 23 or more points. Timing throws. The accuracy. However, Tua really struggled in the loss to the Texans. He had four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble), while failing to top 200 yards passing. The result? A season-low 3.84 points. And the connection with Hill was missing here, too. Hill caught just two of seven targets for 36 yards (5.6 points). Rough day in the opening round of the fantasy playoffs for two players who had been rolling in previous weeks. They'll both look to rebound in the Week 16 matchup versus the 49ers. -- Bowen
6. David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions
Isn't there always a quiet, big-name performer in these high-scoring games such as the Lions' 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills? Montgomery was that guy Sunday, managing only nine touches and 7.5 PPR fantasy points, as fellow Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was the focal point late with the Lions in catch-up mode. Fortunately, the Lions won't face many teams capable of scoring 48, and especially not their Week 16 opponent the Chicago Bears. Consider Montgomery the same mid-range fantasy RB2 he usually is for that one. -- Cockcroft
7. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers' poor defensive play put his team in an early hole and diminished his opportunities. Hubbard turned 10 rushing attempts and four targets into only 8.9 points, despite the fact that many running backs have had big games against the Dallas Cowboys this year. It raises some doubts about his prospective fantasy RB1 ceiling, as Weeks 16 and 17 matchups against the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively, aren't easy assignments. -- Cockcroft
8. Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
I roster Mixon in my home league, and I give him credit for battling through a lower-body injury he suffered during the win over Miami on a hip-drop tackle. Mixon left the game briefly, but he didn't look right when asked to change directions once he returned to the game. And Mixon struggled to find daylight as a runner in this one, rushing for just 23 yards on 12 carries. The five receptions for 33 yards pushed Mixon into double figures (10.3 points), but you expect more from your RB1 in the fantasy playoffs. We'll continue to monitor Mixon's status this week ahead of next Saturday's matchup at Kansas City. -- Bowen
9. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Fantasy managers aren't used to this level of week-over-week inconsistency from Kelce, who from 2016-23 scored at least 219 PPR fantasy points and was a top-three tight end every season. He scored only 6.7 points in Week 15, the sixth time this season he has been held below eight. He was held under that number only four times in any of those eight years. Fortunately for Kelce, he's facing one of the worst defenses against tight ends in Week 16 (HOU), which should be enough to keep him a top-five positional play. -- Cockcroft
Injury impact
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
What we know: Kamara suffered a groin injury in the second half versus Washington. Kamara left for the locker room, and he did not return to the game. Before suffering the injury, Kamara posted 70 total yards and a touchdown reception.
What's next: If Kamara can't go for the Week 16 matchup at Green Bay, Kendre Miller would jump into the top spot for the Saints. Miller scored a touchdown in Week 14, and he rushed for 46 yards on nine carries Sunday. Miller is available in over 90% of ESPN leagues. -- Bowen
Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
What we know: Chubb suffered a foot injury during the second half against the Chiefs, and he was ruled out of the game. Before exiting, Chubb had 41 yards rushing on nine carries.
What's next: If Chubb is unavailable for the Week 16 matchup versus the Bengals, Jerome Ford would elevate to the lead role for the Browns. In relief of Chubb on Sunday, Ford scored 18.4 points, rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, while adding two receptions for 20 yards. Ford is available in over 65% of ESPN leagues. -- Bowen
Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers
What we know: He left Sunday's game in the third quarter because of a groin injury and was unable to return.
What's next: Jalen Coker, who hauled in an 83-yard touchdown in the first quarter after being scratched the week before, would stand to see an uptick in targets if Legette's injury costs him more time. Adam Thielen also would elevate to borderline WR2/3 status. -- Cockcroft
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
What we know: He twisted his ankle with eight minutes to play in Sunday's game, and with the Chiefs up, 21-0, at the time, he didn't return to action. After the game, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Mahomes is "week to week."
What's next: X-rays on the ankle were negative, but a week-to-week timetable raises concerns that it's a high ankle sprain, which almost assuredly would cost Mahomes further game action. If he's unable to play in Week 16, then Carson Wentz presumably would get the start under center. It'd be a negative for the Chiefs' offense, as Wentz is a more erratic passer. -- Cockcroft
Who earned an A this weekend?
Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Houston Texans
The headline for Stingley: two interceptions, including one while defending Tyreek Hill in the final two minutes of the game to ice the victory for Houston. That alone would be enough to put him here, but it wasn't his only contribution to Houston's 20-12 win over Miami. Stingley spent more time lined up opposite Hill than anyone, and he was part of an effort that kept Hill without a catch in the first half.
Marshon Lattimore, CB, Washington Commanders
A quiet game from a cornerback can be a great performance. The Commanders waited patiently for Lattimore -- whom they acquired in a midseason trade from New Orleans -- to be healthy enough to go. But when he was, it was worth it: Lattimore wasn't targeted once on 35 coverage snaps as the nearest defender in Washington's 20-19 win over the cornerback's former team. In fact, Lattimore didn't even appear in the play-by-play. He'll be a big upgrade for the Commanders down the stretch.
Who earned an F this weekend?
Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans
Levis' stat line Sunday was ugly. He completed 8 of 12 passes for 89 yards along with three interceptions and a lost fumble. Yikes. That would be worthy of a write-up in this spot anyway, but the fact that it came against a Bengals defense that has struggled to stop just about anyone this season makes it that much worse. The Titans agreed, benching Levis for Mason Rudolph before the game was over.
Ikem Ekwonu, OT, Carolina Panthers
Ekwonu had just a 65% pass block win rate Sunday -- worst of all tackles in Week 15 through the early window -- as part of Carolina's pass protection unit that had trouble stopping the Cowboys from getting after Bryce Young. Several of those losses resulted in sacks, too. If Ekwonu spent the entire day against Micah Parsons, I would have given him a pass. But Parsons wasn't always lined up opposite him and Ekwonu lost to others, too.