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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Q: What is one bold fantasy prediction (player-related) for the upcoming week, and why could it happen?

Jerry Jeudy (WR – DEN)

“Jerry Jeudy posts his best game of the season with 125 receiving yards and a score. Since Week 9, Detroit has utilized single-high at the sixth-highest rate (63.2%). Against single-high, Jeudy has a 20.4% target share, a 37.3% air-yard share, 2.14 YPRR, and a team-leading 30.9% first-read share. Slot receivers have gashed Detroit. Since Week 9, the Lions have allowed the 12th-most PPR points per target and the eighth-highest passer rating when targeted to opposing slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Jeudy will run about 63% of his routes against Brian Branch (68.2% catch rate and 101.1 passer rating). If Jeudy wants to prove Steve Smith wrong, this is the week to do so. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)

“Jerry Jeudy’s breakout GAME will happen on Saturday night. Jeudy saw a team-high 6 targets, representing 20% of the target share last week. Alas, just two catches for 16 yards, with a few drops sprinkled in. 77% air yards share that he couldn’t convert on. He had all the makings of a big game last week, but it just didn’t come to fruition. If you are a massive underdog in your playoff matchup and need a miracle Hail Mary play, Jeudy is your guy in the plus-matchup. Denver plays the Lions next. They can’t stop any WRs. And the game is at Ford Field – the Coors Field of the NFL. Points are coming. ”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Bijan Robinson (RB – ATL)

“It is go time for Bijan Robinson. From Week 10 onward, Robinson has looked awesome for the Falcons, with four total scores in four games. Up next, the reeling Carolina Panthers, who stink against running backs, have allowed at least one RB touchdown in every game since Week 10. This is a game Atlanta should have no issues in when it comes to points despite their own, shall we say, offensive inconsistencies this year. Bijan will go off in the first week of playoffs, for most of us, with a 100-yard day and a score. ”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR)

“Matthew Stafford is the overall QB1 against the Washington Commanders. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback has been on fire lately. Over the past three weeks, he has been the QB3, averaging 23.7 fantasy points, 267.3 passing yards, and 3.3 touchdowns per game. More importantly, Stafford has been outstanding despite facing two elite defenses. Now he faces a Washington secondary that has surrendered the second-most fantasy points (21.5) and the most passing touchdowns (2.3) per game to quarterbacks this season. Stafford has had at least three passing touchdowns and 23 fantasy points in three consecutive games. Expect him to make it four straight on Sunday.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR) & Puka Nacua (WR – LAR)

“Rams WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua both go for 100+ receiving yards and a touchdown vs. the Commanders, and Rams QB Matthew Stafford throws for 300+ yards and three touchdowns. The Washington pass defense will dole out early Christmas presents. The Commanders’ pass D has struggled all season, and Washington is nearly defenseless these days after parting with edge rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline. The Commanders are allowing a league-high 8.1 yards per pass attempt for the season, and they’ve been blasted for 9.8 yards per attempt over their last three games. The Commanders have an opponent passer rating of 106.0. For the sake of comparison, Patrick Mahomes is currently the all-time leader in career passer rating at 103.9. Stafford, Kupp, and Puka are going to feast this weekend.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)

“Courtland Sutton will finish as a top 5 WR in Week 15. Sutton gets a matchup with a struggling Detroit Lions squad that has been unable to slow down any offense as of late. Look for Denver to throw the ball at will, allowing Sutton to register a touchdown and more than 100 yards receiving.”
– Aaron St Denis (The League Winners)

Jake Browning (QB – CIN)

“Jake Browing will be a top 5 quarterback this week! He has been effective in the last four games since Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending injury. His confidence has grown with each start, even as he has played some decent defenses (Ravens, Steelers, Jaguars, Colts), which is highlighted by a 354-yard week against the Jaguars in Week 13! This week, he will face Minnesota and continue to excel in the Cincinnati offense, which will also benefit Joe Mixon and Ja’Marr Chase! If you backed into the playoffs and have been playing waiver wire quarterback or lost your quarterback to injury, Jake Browing will lead you to victory in the first round of the fantasy playoffs!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

Mitch Trubisky (QB – PIT) | Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC)

“Mitch Trubisky outscores Patrick Mahomes in Week 15 (4-point passing TD). Trust me. It doesn’t feel good writing that sentence; however, I think it’s justified. Last week, in a game where Trubisky looked horrendous, he managed to find 20 fantasy points. This week, he faces a Colts defense that has allowed the 7th most passing yards with the 5th most rushing yards and 3rd most rushing TDs to the position. Mahomes has only cracked 20 points once in his last 6 games and now faces a Patriots defense that is allowing the 6th fewest passing yards and 2nd fewest passing touchdowns per game this season. In the fantasy playoffs, bold calls walk a fine line between savvy and stupid, so who better to bet on than Trubisky?”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)

DeAndre Hopkins (WR – TEN)

“WR DeAndre Hopkins is a top 10 WR with nine receptions, 150 yards, and a touchdown. We’re going with the David Portnoy pizza review theme: one bite, I mean, one bold prediction. Everyone knows the rules. It’s a revenge game for DeAndre Hopkins, who faces his old team, the Houston Texans, this week. Nuke figures to have an extra spring in his step and will want to stick it to his old team; kind of like how my readers want to stick it to me because of my terrible jokes haha!”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

All of the 49ers

“The San Francisco 49ers finish with a top 5 performance at every position this week! This one is a little bit crazy, but the matchup is awesome against a bad Arizona Cardinals defense. This game is also being played in a dome, so weather won’t be a factor. This game also currently has a very nice 48-point projected combined total, and the 49ers have a massive 30.75-point implied team total as 13.5-point road favorites. Brock Purdy has been awesome this year and has been able to support multiple high-end offensive players. This week, Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Jake Moody, 49ers DST, and one of Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk all go crazy and finish top 5 at their respective positions.”
– Robert Norton (Last Word On Sports)