“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.”
-Helen Keller
It’s time for weekly bold predictions.
The point here is that if you follow the consensus, you’re probably going to have a good team. But in order to go from good to great, you have to take some chances. You have to do your homework and figure out where you can zig when the rest of your league (or at least your opponent this week) zags. In short, you need to know how and when to be bold.
We asked our analysts to provide a bold prediction for Week 15. Their answers and justifications are below.
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Week 15 Bold Predictions
Elijah Moore goes over 100 yards and scores vs. the Lions
Elijah Moore led the Jets with 10 targets (23% target share, 104 air yards), catching 6 for 60 yards while running a route on 91% of the dropbacks in Week 14. With the second-year WR back into a full-time role, he can be trusted to explode in a juicy matchup vs. the Lions in Week 15. Their defense has been destroyed by slot WRs this season. Since Week 6, no team has allowed more fantasy points per game to slot WRs than the Detroit Lions (26.9/game in PPR).
– Andrew Erickson
Isiah Pacheco has his first 100-yard rushing game WITH a TD
Pacheco has one lone 100-yard game (Week 11 v LAC) and three games with a TD. However, he’s yet to bring both to the yard on the same day. This Sunday against the Houston Texans, Pacheco will combine these two feats and help carry fantasy managers to round 2 of the playoffs.
– Joe Pisapia
Cam Akers rushes for 100 yards with two scores
Since Week 13, Akers has averaged 15.5 touches and 51.5 total yards. Akers has quietly been a much-improved rusher over the last few games. Since Week 11, Akers is 20th in yards after contact per attempt, fourth in missed tackles forced, and tenth in PFF’s elusive rating (minimum 25 carries, per PFF). The Rams have shown more commitment to Akers recently, as he has garnered all red zone work since Week 13. Since Week 8, the Packers are 32nd in rushing success rate, 32nd in rushing yards per game, and 27th in explosive run rate allowed. Akers will pass the century mark this week and dive in for two touchdowns.
– Derek Brown
Christian Watson will score two touchdowns against the Rams
I’m inviting scorn with this prediction because it’s no longer bold to forecast a multiple-TD game for Watson. The rookie from North Dakota State has had three such games in the last four weeks — but let’s make it four out of five. Watson is an established part of the Green Bay offense now. He’s logged snap shares of 80% or higher in each of his last four games and 90% or higher in each of his last two. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown 15 TD passes in his last five December home games. The Rams’ once-mighty pass defense is now average at best. The stage is set for another big Watson game.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Austin Ekeler leads the league in targets for the third week this season
Ekeler underwhelmed in Weeks 1-3, but since Week 4 he has been an elite producer (No. 2 with 21.4 FPPG), and for the year he has 1,257 yards and 13 touchdowns from scrimmage in 13 games. He has been especially strong as a receiver: Ekeler is the only back to lead the league in targets in any week this year – and he has done that twice (Weeks 6 & 12: 16 & 15 targets). For the year he’s No. 1 at the position and No. 8 overall with 112 targets. Ekeler’s pass-catching ability gives him a consistently high weekly floor, and he should be targeted heavily this week against a Titans defense missing both starting offball linebackers in David Long (hamstring, IR) and Zach Cunningham (elbow, IR). Ekeler against backup linebackers in coverage just isn’t fair.
– Matthew Freedman
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
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