The Baltimore Ravens can clinch the AFC North in Week 15 with either a win or a Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Buffalo Bills.
It’s a quick turnaround this week as the Baltimore Ravens host the New York Jets on Thursday night. Though the rest of the AFC North plays on Sunday in Week 15, Baltimore’s early game will help set the tone for the division.
The Ravens can lock up the AFC North this week, guaranteeing them a top-4 seed in the AFC playoff picture. But it’s some other key division games that can pay even bigger dividends for Baltimore in Week 15.
Let’s take a look at how Week 15 shapes up for the AFC North.
New York Jets (5-8) at Baltimore Ravens (11-2)
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
The Jets travel to take on the Ravens in a game that features a bunch of former faces. But that’s about where the intrigue ends in this game.
New York is in the beginning stages of a rebuild and it shows both on the field and on the stat sheet. With an ever piling number of injuries to key players, the Jets have gotten kicked while already down, losing to the then lowly 1-11 Bengals in Week 13 before bouncing back to barely edge out the Miami Dolphins last week.
For their part, Baltimore hasn’t exactly looked the same either and some small cracks are starting to appear. While much of that can be attributed to poor weather, the Ravens have shown a few defensive holes that are a little concerning. But few things cure what ails a team like beating up on a bad opponent.
Oddsmakers rightfully view this game as a blowout in waiting and it makes plenty of sense. This is a chance for Baltimore to finetune any issues they’ve seen in the last two weeks and walk into the final two games against division rivals with their confidence surging.
The Baltimore Ravens hold the biggest NFL odds spread in Week 15 when they take on the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.
The Baltimore Ravens sit at 11-2 while the New York Jets are 5-8. Given the disparity in talent and how they’ve looked this season, it should be no surprise that oddsmakers are expecting the Ravens to win and by big. But as we enter Week 15 and Baltimore is set to host New York on Thursday night, it’s still a little shocking just how big of an odds favorite the Ravens are.
According to BetMGM, Baltimore is currently listed as 14.5-point favorites over the Jets. It’s the largest spread of the week by a whopping three points and one that’s sure to see plenty of betting action.
While it might seem like a lofty spread, oddsmakers didn’t get there with no evidence. Even counting in these last two close games, the Ravens have blown opponents out of the water since Week 7, outscoring them 246-96 over seven games (35.1-13.7 average).
Meanwhile, the Jets have won just five games this season and recently choked against the 1-11 Cincinnati Bengals and barely split their two games against the Miami Dolphins. New York has the second-worst offense and the 18th-ranked defense in points allowed.
By all history and current stats, this should be yet another blowout win for Baltimore. But as we’ve seen before, nothing in the NFL is guaranteed until it happens and overlooking an opponent before two games against division rivals would be on-brand for the Ravens. So take caution if you’re the betting type and looking at the huge spread.
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The Houston Texans run-defense will try to “build a wall” to stop Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry on Sunday in NFL Week 15.
In the span of seven days, the Houston Texans will go from facing the 5-8, 185-pound Phillip Lindsay to the 6-3, 247-pound Derrick Henry, of the Tennessee Titans.
Lindsay and the Denver Broncos beat the Texans. He rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown in a 38-24 route that isn’t entirely depicted in the score. Despite the Broncos winning, Houston did a good job against Lindsay, as he rushed for 3.2 yards per attempt.
On Sunday, the Texans will look to limit Henry, just as they did to Lindsay. That’s easier said than done.
“He’s hard to stop. He is a big back, physical back. He’s a good player. He’s big, he’s physical, he’s got good vision,” said coach Bill O’Brien on Monday. “They throw him the ball out of the backfield, he’s hard to tackle.”
If the Texans were to, theoretically, limit Henry’s production, they would be the first since the Broncos in Week 6. Since Denver limited him to 28 rush yards on 15 attempts, Henry has tallied 827 ground yards and nine touchdowns on 137 attempts (6.0 yards per carry).
Henry has 1,243 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season while running for 5.0 yards per attempt. He also has 18 receptions for 206 yards and two touchdowns. A Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama, the Titans’ bell-cow back is a nightmare to defend.
How will the Texans do so? By building a wall.
“You’ve got to set the edge and build a wall. That’s what we’re going to try to do,” said O’Brien.
With the thriving quarterback Ryan Tannehill under center and Henry running angrily, the Titans have won their last four and five of their previous six. If the Texans want to end their winning ways, stopping the run-game, via building a wall, will be one of their top priorities.
The Texans, before Monday Night Football, rank as the NFL’s 18th-best run defense, allowing 109.5 yards per game.
The Houston Texans are about to embark on an important three-week stretch that cornerback Bradley Roby knows the importance of.
At 8-5, the Houston Texans remain to be a playoff team. But, there is no comfort in that record. The rival Tennessee Titans sit at the 8-5, tied for the top of the AFC South — however, if the playoffs started today, Houston would be in it based on tiebreakers.
The Texans have the opportunity to turn that tie into a lead on Sunday. They will travel to Nashville to face the surging Titans for their Week 14 matchup.
Though not a playoff matchup officially, the atmosphere at Nissan Stadium should resemble one.
“It’s a must-win situation,” as Texans cornerback Bradley Roby put it on Monday.
Roby, a Super Bowl champion, is a fan of a must-win game. If the Texans are serious about winning, it will show in their three-game stretch — which includes two spars with the Titans with a Saturday bout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sandwiched in.
“I like situations like that,” said Roby. “You see what you’re really made of. You see what the heart is of the team. You get into the playoffs, it’s the same situation. It’s win or go home. Might as we get used to it now.”
In recent weeks, the Texans had defeated their demons of the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, then lost in blowout fashion to the Denver Broncos. Consistency — or a lack thereof — is a concern for Houston.
The Texans have owned up to a trend of losing one game then winning back-to-back ones. The problem: they are 8-5, having not won more than two consecutive game all season.
At that rate, their season will end in the AFC Championship.
December football is where the Texans see what they are made of. They passed the first and failed the second. If winning is their forté, it will show when they need it most.
The Houston Texans did play wide receiver Will Fuller vs. Broncos due to a hamstring injury. Bill O’Brien says it was in their best interest.
Surprisingly, Will Fuller did not suit-up for the Houston Texans in the 38-24 loss to the Denver Broncos. The speed merchant was inactive after practiced in limited fashion throughout the week with a hamstring.
Fuller previously returned to the lineup in a Week 12 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He initially suffered his hamstring injury in Week 7, a loss to the Colts.
The wide receiver played two games before watching from the sideline again on Sunday. Texans coach Bill O’Brien says they ruled him out, despite him practicing, because it was in the team’s best interest.
“I think it’s all about — just in my opinion, you’re always trying to make decisions in the best interest of the team and we felt like for our team, and for him, that was the decision that was going to be the best decision for the team for that day,” said O’Brien on Monday.
Fuller has 42 receptions for 598 yards and three touchdowns in nine games of 2019 play. The Texans are 6-2 in games that he starts and finishes. His speed and improved route-running add an extra dynamic to Houston’s offense that most defenses have trouble stopping.
The Texans could use his talents on Sunday when they face the 8-5 Tennessee Titans. Two teams tied for the division, Sunday’s tilt at Nissan Stadium will give one of the two teams sole possession of first place.
Will he be available?
“I don’t know. We’ll have to see,” said O’Brien.
In four career games against Tennessee, Fuller has tallied 22 receptions for 253 yards and four touchdowns. The last time he faced the Titans, he had eight catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in a Week 2 loss.
Houston is in must-win territory. Fuller makes them a substantially better offensive team. It seems as if the Texans are resting him to make sure he is 100% for a vitally important three-week stretch.
At this stage of the fantasy football season, most waiver wire recommendations are one-week plays.
Free-agent recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. FAAB $ amounts are based on a $100 budget.
Since we are so late in the season, most recommendations will be one-week plays from this point forward.
Bye weeks: none
(Harrison Barden, USA TODAY Sports)
Quarterbacks
1-Week Plug & Play
David Blough, Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Entering Week 14, Tampa was the weakest opponent at limiting quarterbacks in the five weeks prior. The position had averaged 299.2 yards (3rd most) and a touchdown every 10.4 completions (4th-highest frequency), all while picking off only one of every 54.5 passes (14th). Indy QB Jacoby Brissett was good for a line of 251-2-0 in Week 14. Blough has flashed but also has looked the part of an undrafted rookie through two starts. The ceiling here is not particularly high, although so much lines up for a quality showing: Detroit is at home, and Tampa is pathetic at covering receivers (Detroit’s strength). Blough has another weapon in Jesse James, since tight ends have owned Tampa Bay in 2019. The Bucs have stifled the ground game all year, which should force Detroit into the sky. How brave are you feeling? The wise advise is to keep him out of single-year playoff lineups but utilize him in DFS and two-QB settings.
Availability: 89%
FAAB: $1-2
Eli Manning, New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins
This writeup comes before Manning faces Philadelphia in Week 14’s Monday Night Football action. Daniel Jones (ankle) is expected to miss the rest of the way, or at least Week 15 without a miraculous recovery. Manning, unless he is completely inept vs. the beatable Eagles, is a reasonable fantasy option in two-QB setups for Week 15. The Dolphins have allowed quarterbacks to average 28.7 points over the past four games, and the worst showing was Sam Darnold’s 270-2-1 line.
Availability: 83%
FAAB: $1-2
Grab & stash
Drew Lock, Denver Broncos
The rookie was dropping bombs on Houston’s secondary in Week 14, and he now has five touchdown strikes vs. just two interceptions in his two starts. While it may have seemed shocking since the Texans had just come off of a manhandling of the New England Patriots, but Lock’s opponent has been a favorable matchup most of the way. The Week 15 opponent is KC, and there’s really no upside in playing Lock, but if you make it through to Week 16 and play in a two-QB setup, he has starting appeal against the Detroit Lions.
Availability: 78%
FAAB: $1-2
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(Stan Szeto, USA TODAY Sports)
Running Backs
priority free agents
DeAndre Washington, Oakland Raiders
Running back Josh Jacobs has been playing through a fractured shoulder and was forced to sit last week. The Raiders are a long shot to make the postseason, and there seems to be little incentive to chance it with their promising workhorse. Washington showed up vs. the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, going for 53 yards and a touchdown on the ground in addition to six catches for 43 yards out of the backfield. The Jacksonville Jaguars come to Oakland in Week 15, and the Raiders head to the LA Chargers in the fantasy finale. Both are quality matchups for PPR backs, and Washington is a must-add in all formats.
Availability: 86%
FAAB: $15-18
C.J. Prosise, Seattle Seahawks
Running back Rashaad Penny’s season is over with a sprained ACL, and the Seahawks sprinkled in Prosise to help Chris Carson. He is not going to solve any fantasy woes, although there is a hint of utility in Week 15 for PPR gamers. The Seahawks travel to Carolina to face a defense that has been laughably weak vs. the position in 2019. In the past six weeks, this unit has yielded two touchdowns per contest (11 rushing) and four catches a game out of the backfield.
Availability: 89%
FAAB: $2-3
(Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)
Wide Receivers
priority free agents
Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons
A core injury has WR Calvin Ridley on the shelf for the rest of the year, and Julio Jones is playing through a partially separated shoulder. The Falcons pass with a greater volume than all other teams (42.2 attempts/game), and Gage has flashed enough since the trade of WR Mohamed Sanu to earn the benefit of the doubt. Gamers should consider him as a playable option, depending upon what else is available, vs. the Richard Sherman-less Niners in Week 15.
Availability: 70%
FAAB: $5-6
1-Week Plug & Play
Marcus Johnson, Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
We recommended Johnson as a one-week play last week, and we’re dipping into the well once again. He has an absolutely awesome matchup to exploit, and it’s still a huge question mark whether T.Y. Hilton (calf) will be ready to go (or even capable if he does). Johnson has posted a pair of scores in his last three outings in which Hilton didn’t dress. The lone game without a TD resulted in 9.5 PPR points. Tampa has yielded two wide receiver scores a game in the last six contests.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $2-3
Breshad Perriman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
Mike Evans’ hamstring injury is expected to cost him a few games, and the veteran deep threat Perriman will be asked to step up his game. He caught three of his five targets for 70 yards and a score in Week 14. Expect a limited target share, since Chris Godwin and the tight ends, possibly along with second-year WR Justin Watson, will eat into his action. Perriman is the preferred addition over Watson mostly based on familiarity — we have no clue what to expect from the completely untested Watson. Perriman has his limitations, but he has shown chemistry with Jameis Winston and stepped up of late. Winston has a slight fracture in his throwing thumb, which isn’t currently expected to sideline him.
Availability: 90%
FAAB: $2-3
Willie Snead, Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Jets
The Jets entered Week 14 as the second-softest defense at limiting wide receiver touchdowns in the five weeks leading up to facing Miami. The Dolphins failed to put one into the end zone in the hands of a receiver, but two players posted double-digit PPR results on the day. Snead entering a lineup is solely for a gamble of finding the end zone, and the Ravens clearly are more capable of racking up points than Miami, so consider that performance an anomaly working in NYJ’s favor on paper. Snead has scored three times in the last trio of contests and has a career-best five on the year.
Availability: 70%
FAAB: $1-2
Isaiah Ford, Miami Dolphins at New York Giants
Entering Week 15, no team had allowed wideouts to score a higher frequency than the Giants. Ford, standing 6-foot-2, offers another lanky weapon for Ryan Fitzpatrick. We saw the slightly larger Preston Williams perform well opposite DeVante Parker, and there’s enough reason to give Ford the benefit of the doubt with such a fine matchup. He landed six of his nine targets in Week 14 for 92 yards. Parker suffering a concussion should make Ford a viable option, presuming the resurgent veteran doesn’t clear the league’s protocol. New York has allowed a touchdown every 6.9 catches entering their Monday Night Football tilt with Philly.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $1-2
Grab & stash
John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals
We recommended Ross as a pickup last week with his return to action, and he saw three targets, catching two for 28 yards vs. the Cleveland Browns — a strong pass defense. The speedy receiver used that game to help get his football legs back under him, and the Week 15 matchup brings the New England Patriots to town (on to Cincinnati indeed). The matchup is unkind, despite New England’s recent struggles, but the idea here is to stash Ross for Week 16 vs. the Miami Dolphins. That will give him consecutive weeks to get the motor tuned up.
Availability: 66% FAAB: $1-2
(Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports)
Tight Ends
priority free agents
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
As long as Gerald Everett (knee) is out of commission, Higbee belongs in the fantasy lineup conversation. The Rams face Dallas in Week 15, which makes him a fringe starting option. The Cowboys have given up just two scores to the position in the last six games, and nine of the weeks have resulted in no trips to the end zone. Evan Engram is the only TE in 2019 to post double-digit fantasy points in PPR vs. the ‘Boys without going in for six. Add Higbee and consider him a flex option or a desperation play as a starting TE if there isn’t a clearer choice.
Availability: 66%
FAAB: $3-4
1-Week Plug & Play
Cameron Brate/O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
Brate is the preferred addition here due to a stronger rapport with his quarterback and being a better fit for the offense. The expected loss of WR Mike Evans (hamstring) opens the door for more looks, and the matchup is among the best for touchdown efficiency. The Lions gave up the second-fewest catches over the most recent five-game span entering Week 14, yet this unit surrendered the highest frequency of touchdowns in that time. One in 4.3 grabs went for six. The Minnesota Vikings didn’t put one into the end zone last week, but the overall body of work illustrates the Lions are awful at preventing the position from exploiting this defense.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals
Njoku returned last week after missing the majority of the year, and now he draws the Arizona Cardinals after getting a week to find his football bearings. There is one mission here: Scoring a touchdown. He isn’t going to rack up enough work to matter without a trip into the end zone, and Njoku’s athleticism easily can exploit the weakest defense of the position in 2019. Recommending just about any tight end vs. the Cardinals is in play. It didn’t work out with Vance McDonald last week, but the offense passed 19 times. With a defense that has yielded 13 TDs in 2019, the reasoning still holds water.
Availability: 69%
FAAB: $2-3
Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots
New England happily allows defenses to operate underneath, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Eifert come alive with Andy Dalton in Week 15. The Patriots granted three receiving scores in the four games leading up to Week 14, and a rushing TD to Travis Kelce added to the fun. This is a risk-reward decision.
Availability: 54%
FAAB: $1-2
Jesse James, Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay has been feeble at limiting touchdowns by tight ends in 2019, especially of late. Despite giving up just the third-fewest catches per game in the five weeks leading up to Week 14, the Bucs had permitted the second-highest frequency of touchdowns scored. Indianapolis chose to attack on the ground and via the wide receiver position in Week 14, but make no mistake, this defense struggles vs. James’ positional mates. T.J. Hockenson being out for the year makes the well-paid James a viable flier for six points.
Availability: 90%
FAAB: $0-1
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Kickers
1-Week Plug & Play
Aldrick Rosas, New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins
Every kicker vs. Miami in the last month has attempted at least three field goals, and 13 total PATs were attempted in that window. Extending the view back to Week 7, this defense has faced three-plus FGAs in all but one of the eight games.
Availability: 89%
FAAB: $0-1
Josh Lambo, Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders
Oakland has allowed at least six fantasy points in five of the past six contests, affording an average of only 1.5 field goal tries. The meat of the matchup comes via extra points after permitting 3.67, on average, since Week 8. The idea here is Jacksonville is struggling on offense to punch it in to the end zone and may have to settle for field goals on the road. This is even more likely if wideout D.J. Chark (ankle) is unable to go.
Availability: 47%
FAAB: $0-1
Defense/Specials Teams
1-Week Plug & Play
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
In the past four weeks, Kyle Allen has taken no fewer than four sacks in each game and as many as seven. The young passer has tossed seven INTs in that time frame, and the offense has coughed it up four times. Seattle has its own issues, but there should be little trouble in exploiting Carolina this week.
Availability: 62%
FAAB: $1-2
Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders
This is a risky streaming option given Jacksonville’s inconsistencies and Oakland’s similarly erratic play. Over the course of 2019, this has been one of the better offenses at limiting turnovers. The last five weeks has been a a different tale with turnovers in four of those games, and multiple mistakes in three of the contests. More importantly, Oakland has given up a defensive touchdown in three straight outings.
Availability: 55%
FAAB: $1-2
Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kind of like the “play any tight end vs. Arizona” mantra, this one is in the same vein. The Lions offer little to nothing on their own, but having Jameis Winston (thumb) turning it over like no other, and an offense likely without Mike Evans (hamstring), makes Detroit a viable fantasy gamble. Winston has thrown 11 picks in the last five games, and the offense has turned it over three other times in that span. A pair of those errors went the other direction, and Winston has been sacked two or more times in three of the past five games.
The Baltimore Ravens can guarantee themselves no worse than a top-4 seed with a win in Week 15 but can clinch the No. 1 seed with some help
The Baltimore Ravens are almost at the end of the race. After beating the Buffalo Bills in Week 14, the regular season end is so close you can nearly taste it. The Ravens are already locked in a playoff spot but are close to getting themselves so much more.
In Week 15, Baltimore has a chance to guarantee themselves anywhere from a top-4 seed all the way to the No. 1 seed. It all depends on whether they can beat the New York Jets and if they get a little help from around the rest of the AFC.
Let’s take a look at what AFC playoff seeds the Ravens can clinch in Week 15.
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh doesn’t believe tight end Mark Andrews’ injury is serious. Andrews said he’ll play Thursday.
The Baltimore Ravens escaped Buffalo with a win over the Bills and might have escaped with much more. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews left in the first half with what was later called a knee injury and didn’t return to the lineup.
After the game, coach John Harbaugh noted Andrews’ injury wasn’t very serious, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. With a quick turnaround in Week 15 to play the New York Jets in just four days, there could still be some concern about Andrews being able to suit up for next week. However, Harbaugh said Andrews told him he’d play on Thursday night.
Harbaugh said neither Levine and Andrews have serious injuries. Said both players told him they will play Thursday.
Though Andrews missed much of the game due to the injury, he was still targeted three times (tied for second most on the team) and caught one pass for 14 yards. His two other targets were just off his fingertips, including one in the end zone that would have been a touchdown. The weather clearly affected Baltimore’s passing attack in Week 14 with high wind gusts blowing the ball around but Andrews’ absence was also felt, especially on third downs (27% conversion rate) and down the stretch when they usually pull out to an insurmountable lead.
Andrews has been the driving force of Baltimore’s passing attack. Andrews leads the team in receptions (54), receiving yards (707) and receiving touchdowns (7). While missing a game or two wouldn’t be the end of the world with the 5-8 Jets and 6-7 Cleveland Browns up next, and a playoff spot already clinched; missing much more than that could put a damper on the Ravens’ offensive juggernaut.
We’ll see where Andrews places on this week’s injury report as a better indication of his status for Week 15.
The NFL has decided a matchup between two teams battling for playoff position in the AFC needed to be the nationally televised prime time game. So when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills square off on Week 15 they will have the night game as opposed to an early kickoff.
The Steelers currently sit in the No. 6 spot in the AFC thanks to going 6-2 over the last eight games. The Bill are currently 9-3 but because they have to play in the same division as the New England Patriots can do no better than the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
