In Week 15, the main DraftKings slate features 11 games, and in order to help navigate your roster options, I’ll provide some data points for two or three players at each position that have the potential to return value over their salary implied totals.
Before reviewing some of the possible roster options for this weekend, just a couple of quick notes beforehand.
All data and statistics included in this article are provided courtesy of FantasyData.com. All points allowed, points scored, and pricing is based on DraftKings (DK) data. In addition, all positional rankings and rankings for points allowed to each position is based on a points per game basis.
With that bit of housekeeping out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the fantasy relevant quarterbacks on Sunday.
Ben Roethlisberger, $6600 (QB3)
Pittsburgh vs New England – Game Total 52.5 (NE -2.5)
Although Roethlisberger missed most of the second half of last week’s contest against the Raiders with a rib injury, he was able to return at the tail end of the game and still managed to log 19.82 DK points. In addition, even though Roethlisberger’s home/road splits haven’t been significantly different this season, we get the chance to roster Roethlisberger at home this week in what could turn out to be a shootout against the Patriots.
Through the first thirteen games, Roethlisberger is averaging 28.2 completions, 42.0 attempts, 325.2 passing yards, 2.2 passing touchdowns, 1.0 interceptions, and 24.7 DK points per game. Surprisingly, Roethlisberger has also rushed for three touchdowns on the year. Whether it’s due to the play calling tendencies of new offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner or the absence of Le’Veon Bell, Roethlisberger has been on a tear this season and has scored 22.0 or more DK points in eight of thirteen games and hasn’t scored less than 15.0.
This week against New England, Roethlisberger will be squaring off against a Patriots defense which is allowing the 8th most DK points to opposing quarterbacks at 21.1 per game. Quarterbacks who have scored more than 20.0 DK points against the Patriots this season include Blake Bortles (36.54), Andrew Luck (27.6), Patrick Mahomes (31.98), Mitchell Trubisky (36.42), Marcus Mariota (22.32), and Ryan Tannehill (23.9).
Due to the success both Pittsburgh and New England have enjoyed in recent years, these two teams have met in the regular season six times since 2010. Roethlisberger played in five of these games and has averaged 28.4 completions, 43.0 attempts, 356.8 passing yards, 2.4 touchdowns, 1.2 interceptions, and 25.7 DraftKings points per game.
Tom Brady, $5900 (QB16)
New England @ Pittsburgh – Game Total 52.5 (NE -2.5)
If Roethlisberger’s rib injury from last week concerns you (although he was a full practice participant on Thursday) and you still want QB action in this game, you can always turn to the visitor’s sideline and Tom Brady.
Last week against the Dolphins, Brady and the Patriots suffered a 1-point loss on a miracle play as time ran out in the 4th quarter. Even though the Patriots took the L and have yet to clinch a playoff spot, they still have an outside shot to obtain the number one seed in the AFC by winning out so they will be pulling out all the stops to get a victory in this game (and no, I’m not suggesting anything funky here).
This season, Brady is averaging 24.1 completions, 36.7 attempts, 284.6 passing yards, 1.8 touchdown passes, 0.6 interceptions, and 20.2 DK points per game. While Brady hasn’t been the “Tommy Terrific” of fantasy seasons past, this important divisional matchup against the Steelers might be the type of game environment that could yield one of his better performances of the year. In the six regular season games the Patriots and Steelers have played since 2010, Brady has averaged 23.8 completions, 34 attempts, 298 passing yards, 2.7 touchdown passes, 0.2 interceptions, and 25.0 DK points per game.
While the Steelers have been stout against the run, they are allowing the 13th most points to opposing quarterbacks at 20.5 DK points per game. This season, there have been six quarterbacks that have scored 20.0 or more DraftKings points against the Steelers defense which includes Tyrod Taylor (24.58), Patrick Mahomes (41.84), Ryan Fitzpatrick (31.14), Joe Flacco (25.22), Philip Rivers (23.96), and Derek Carr (22.78).
Andrew Luck, $6400 (QB6)
Indianapolis vs Dallas – Game Total 47 (IND -3)
If not for the amazing season that Patrick Mahomes has put together, we might very well be talking about Andrew Luck as the favorite to win the NFL’s MVP Award.
After missing all of last season while recovering from a career threatening shoulder injury, Luck has returned form in 2018. Through the first thirteen games, Luck is averaging 27.6 completions, 40.8 attempts, 289.2 passing yards, 2.6 passing touchdowns, 1.0 interception, and 23.5 DK points per game. Luck has also thrown at least two touchdown passes in eleven of those contests and has eight games with three or more. He has also scored over 22.0 DK points in ten games.
Although Dallas’ defense has been stout and is currently allowing the 9th fewest DK points to opposing quarterbacks at 17.9 per game, Luck is averaging 26.8 DK points in games played in Lucas Oil Stadium and has scored 22.0 or more in all six of the Colts home games this season. The list of opponents in these contests includes Houston, Buffalo, Jacksonville, and Tennessee, so Luck is fully capable of putting up solid fantasy numbers against quality opponents. Other quarterbacks that have found success against the Cowboys defense this season include Matthew Stafford (23.78), Deshaun Watson (25.0), Marcus Mariota (24.8), and Carson Wentz (25.1 and 19.82).
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