Week 15 is here and we are in the midst of the fantasy playoffs. Research is always crucial, but the wrong tour guide can leave your fantasy team on the mountain starving to death in the opening round. Thankfully, we have years of knowledge and are ready to guide you to the promised land of the fantasy championship.

Let’s start with a quarterback decision we never thought we would have to make in 2023.

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5 Stats To Know Before Setting Your Fantasy Lineup

The Zap Attack Is In The Building

Yeah, that’s right; this section is about Bailey Zappe. It’s been a tough year for quarterbacks, and maybe your Superflex league has you deciding if you need to start Senior Zappe this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs. If so, do not fret over this decision. We have a chance at a good game, even against a tough defense. The Kansas City Chiefs present the best coverage grades for quarterbacks this week with a +39.8%.

How is this possible? Well, the Chiefs use man coverage at a high rate in 2023. Currently, the Chiefs run man at 34.3%, the 11th highest amount in the NFL. Zappe isn’t incredible against this coverage, as he sits 38th overall in fantasy points per dropback (FP/DB). Yet, all you need is one player, such as a returning (hopefully) Demario Douglas, to create separation. If he plays Sunday, Zappe may even pop one or two plays to the speedy Tyquan Thornton.

Again, Zappe is a high-risk/high-reward player, but with all the injuries at this point in the season, you may not have a choice but to take these stats and PRAY to the fantasy gods that they favor this research.

Changing Of The Guard?

Cooper Kupp was always the apple of Matthew Stafford‘s eye. However, Stafford has had the old bull and now has eyes for the young calf in Puka Nacua. Read this stat correctly; obviously, Kupp is still highly used within the offense. However, did you know the following stats?

First Read Percentage

• Puka Nacua: 31.1%
• Cooper Kupp: 28.8%

Percentage of Targets From Designed Plays Such As Screens

• Puka Nacua: 10.6%
• Tyler Higbee: 7.7%
• Cooper Kupp: 4.5%

Endzone Targets

• Puka Nacua: 7
• Cooper Kupp: 5

Again, these stats don’t state Cooper Kupp is DOA for fantasy or daily fantasy sports (DFS) purposes. Instead, this stat helps you realize that the offense is now a two-steed stable and can allow you to build the proper research and narrative you need in, let’s say, a guaranteed prize pool (GPP) to lean Nacua over Kupp for your stack.

Quez Watkins is your Monday Night Football Dart Throw

You read that correctly; we are writing about Quez Watkins. My DFS heart couldn’t help but write a stat that was such a deep dart throw that you would need to go spelunking with Bruce Wayne to find it.

However, the Eagles are a team in the nation’s eye right now due to the inadequacy they have produced on the field. The media (and everyone on Twitter) sees the predictable, motionless offense created in Philadelphia. There will need to be some changes to right the ship to finish this season strong, and one thing they can take advantage of on Monday is the coverage grade attached to Quez Watkins.

Quez Watkins leads the NFL in Week 15 with a coverage grade of 51.8%. Against Cover 3 (Seahawks use this coverage 43.8% of the time), Watkins is the next man up after the Big 3 regarding fantasy points per route run (FP/RTE). He also produces 30.8% of routes run against this coverage, which is the highest on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles need a spark, and Quez Watkins, with his 97th-percentile, 40-yard speed, could be a nice wrinkle in a very predictable offense.

The Battle Of The Trenches

We love to discuss a battle of the trenches between the offensive line and defense lineup in a crucial matchup. This week, we will focus on the Denver Broncos vs the Detroit Lions in the Motor City. The Denver Broncos allow the second-highest percentage of pressure per dropback in the NFL this year.

They face a Detroit Lions defense that creates the sixth-highest pressure percentage per dropback. Although the Lions’ defense has looked scary in recent weeks, they have also seen the return of CJGJ in their secondary at practice. The Lions could round into form at the right time this Saturday, allowing you to take a shot on them in your waiver wire/use them in DFS this week.

The Touchdown Kings

Running backs are crucial to fantasy football. However, as the weather gets colder in December, running backs play an even more significant part in the NFL. That said, we need to see where to gain an advantage at running back with players who produce the highest touchdown opportunity.

No, this section won’t explain how Saquon Barkley has 100% of the work inside the five-yard line. Instead, we want you to open your eyes and say “wow” when you discover something remarkable. An example is A.J. Dillion and Alexander Mattison landing inside the top-15 in this category. With their respective injuries, they will open the door for players like Ty Chandler and Patrick Taylor to save the fantasy day.

Are you not entertained? (Yes, Gladiator reference here!)

Fine, let’s step it up a bit. This time with D’Andre Swift. Did you know his inside-the-five percentage rate (I5%) is only 40.7%? This total sits below players like Dameon Pierce, Latavius Murray, Dalvin Cook, Zack Moss and Nick Bawden.

Are we still not amazed?

OK, here’s one more stat for running backs in Week 15. Bijan Robinson is 47th in the NFL regarding his I5%, while Tyler Allgeier sits at 28th with 46.2%.

That last one may speak more to Arthur Smith needing to be fired into the sun, but regardless, it is a true statement. Please keep your eyes on your running backs because some seem like absolute locks for your lineups while truly presenting a low floor.

Remember to read all the fantastic work at FantasyPros if you want to win in Week 1 of the fantasy playoffs.

If you need more help with your lineup or DFS advice or want to connect, contact me on X at @jpep20. Good luck in Week 15!