Fantasy Football Outlook: Brandin Cooks, Cole Kmet, Raheem Mostert, Russell Wilson

Every week we’ll bring you The Primer, a deep dive into every fantasy-relevant player from every NFL game of the week. You can find the full weekly Primer here. Below we dive into a few notable players ahead of this weekend’s games.

Fantasy Football Outlook

Russell Wilson: Wilson is the QB15 in fantasy points per game, but he’s been flirting with QB1 production almost weekly over the last few games. Over his last five contests, he has three QB1 finishes (QB11, QB12, QB11). Wilson has been playing good football since Week 10. Across his last five games, among 30 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranks ninth in passer rating, sixth in CPOE, second in highly accurate throw rate, and 11th in fantasy points per dropback. Wilson looks poised for a strong outing this week against a team that should force Denver’s hand into more passing. Since Week 9, Detroit has allowed the sixth-highest yards per attempt, the fifth-most passing touchdowns, and the third-highest passer rating. Over the last five weeks, Detroit has been crushed by deep passing allowing the second-highest passer rating and the eighth-highest adjusted completion rate to passes 20 yards or more downfield. Week 15 Positional Value: QB1

Cole Kmet: Kmet is the TE7 in fantasy points per game, ranking seventh in red zone targets, sixth in raw target volume, fifth in receptions, and 10th in receiving yards. Since Week 9, the Browns have utilized single-high at the eighth-highest rate (59.6%). Among 60 qualifying tight ends against single-high, Kmet ranks 13th in target share (16.6%), 14th in YPRR and first-read share, and sixth in fantasy points per route run. Against single-high, he has run about 49% of his routes from the slot. Since Week 9, the Browns have allowed the fifth-most PPR points per target and second-most receiving touchdowns to slot receivers. If Mooney doesn’t produce from the slot this week, Kmet will. Week 15 Positional Value: TE1

Raheem Mostert: Last week Mostert led the way playing 64% of the snaps with 22 touches and 100 total yards. I’ll freshen up his projection on Friday once we know more about Achane. Overall this season, Mostert has averaged 15.8 touches and 84.2 total yards. Among 59 qualifying backs, Mostert ranks seventh in explosive run rate and yards after contact per attempt. Since Week 9, New York has allowed the 11th-lowest explosive run rate and yards after contact per attempt and the 10th-lowest rushing touchdown rate. Week 15 Positional Value: RB2

Brandin Cooks: Since Week 8, Cooks has had a 12.4% target share, an 18.7% air-yard share, 1.86 YPRR, and a 12.2% first-read share as the WR24 in fantasy points per game. Since Week 9, Buffalo has the fourth-highest rate of two-high (59%). Since Week 8, against two high, Cooks has disappeared with only a 7.4% target share and 0.75 YPRR. If you’re playing Cooks this week, you’re praying that he breaks a long play or scores a touchdown to save his day. Week 15 Positional Value: WR4