Game Info
Kickoff: Monday, December 16th, 2024, 8:30 PM ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Network: ESPN
Writer: Christian Otteman (@COttemanPL on Twitter)
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: Sit, QB2
If only Kirk Cousins could play the Buccaneers every week. Finishing as the weekly QB1 and QB3 against his divisional opponent, Cousins has finished as a top-12 QB just once outside of those two matchups. Even in a good matchup against the Raiders, there is no reason to risk starting Captain Kirk in the fantasy playoffs. He has zero touchdowns to eight interceptions in his last four games. The Falcons are fighting for a playoff spot themselves, and if Cousins continues to struggle, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some snaps from Michael Penix Jr. Tread very carefully here, even in Superflex formats.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson: Start, RB1
Tyler Allgeier: Sit
You’ll have plenty of difficult decisions to make in the fantasy playoffs, but this one’s easy: fire up Bijan Robinson with the utmost confidence. The second-year RB has finished as a top-9 RB in eight of his last nine games and now gets a beatable matchup against the Raiders, who allow the 12th-most points to RBs. These are the weeks you draft these studs for. In other news, you can leave Tyler Allgeier on your benches as an emergency handcuff stash.
Wide Receiver
Drake London: Start, WR2
Darnell Mooney: FLEX Option, WR3
Ray-Ray McCloud III: Sit
While the scoring hasn’t been there (largely thanks to the play of his quarterback), the targets have at least been there for Drake London. He’s seen a whopping 46 targets across his past four games, though none of those targets have translated to a touchdown. The volume provides London with a safe floor, but the quality of that volume limits his upside, leaving London as a mid-range WR2 for Week 15.
The latest chapter in the tale of Darnell Mooney gave us a career-high 142 yards in Week 14. The volume isn’t as prolific as London’s, but the big-play ability is stronger, making Mooney a semi-boom-or-bust FLEX option in Week 15. I’d trust him over names like Deebo Samuel, Amari Cooper, and Tank Dell. Finally, while Ray-Ray McCloud III is riding a two-game hot streak, he shouldn’t be trusted in the playoffs as the Falcons’ third (or possibly fourth) option in the passing game.
Tight End
Kyle Pitts: Sit, TE2
Unfortunately, there’s no way you can trust Kyle Pitts to come through in the playoffs after registering just two receptions across his past three games. Maybe this time around, we’ve finally learned our lesson. *sets reminder for 2025 draft season*
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Desmond Ridder: Sit
No.
(There’s a chance we’ll see Aidan O’Connell instead, as he was merely diagnosed with a bone bruise. I wouldn’t wait around to see.)
Running Back
Sincere McCormick: FLEX Option, RB3
Alexander Mattison: Sit
Ameer Abdullah: Sit
The Raiders’ backfield has been a rollercoaster in the 2024 season, but it seems we finally have a true lead back in the form of Sincere McCormick for the fantasy playoffs. Alexander Mattison seems likely to return this week, but head coach Antonio Pierce maintained that McCormick would remain the lead back. There are some questions as to just how much of Mattison and Ameer Abdullah we’ll see, and the Falcons allow the fourth-fewest points to RBs, so McCormick is a FLEX option this week, though he could ascend in next week’s rankings if he continues to impress and maintain a strong share of the backfield work.
Wide Receiver
Jakobi Meyers: Start, WR2/FLEX
The good news: Jakobi Meyers is facing the Falcons defense, who allow the most points to receivers in the league. The bad news: it’s likely Desmond Ridder at QB for Las Vegas. Meyers has functioned as a target hog for the past several weeks and is a high-floor option in this week’s matchup against Atlanta. If, by some chance, AOC can suit up, Meyers’ upside would increase. As things stand, he’s a great FLEX option with WR2 upside.
Tight End
Brock Bowers: Start, TE1
Everything said for Jakobi Meyers applies to Brock Bowers in Week 15. It’s a great matchup, and he’ll almost certainly see a high target volume against the Falcons. The only difference is the position Bowers plays, which makes him a high-end TE1 for this week, the rest of the playoffs, and likely the next several seasons.