Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 14, 2025, 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Network: CBS
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Riley Leonard: SIT
Brett Rypien: SIT
Philip Rivers: MUST–SEE TV
In one of the most preposterous yet enchanting story lines of the 2025 NFL season, it appears that recent grandfather Philip Rivers may be returning from retirement to start for the Colts in Week 15. Rivers, now 44 years old, last played professionally in 2020. Somehow, neither of the previous two sentences is a typo. If Rivers is indeed the starter, there is simply no way you are starting him against one of the most smothering defenses in the league. But as a fan of Sickos football, you better believe I will be watching every snap.
Oh yeah, Riley Leonard and Brett Rypien are the other options to start. Leonard is dealing with a knee injury, and Brett Rypien is Brett Rypien. Neither is startable. Both are significantly less entertaining.
Running Back
Jonathan Taylor: START, RB1
Ameer Abdullah: SIT
Tyler Goodson: SIT
Once appearing unstoppable, there’s a smidge of worry surrounding Jonathan Taylor heading into the fantasy playoffs. Since the Week 11 bye, Taylor has just one touchdown and is averaging under 4 yards per carry. The loss of Daniel Jones also suppresses the Colts’ offense as a whole, which limits scoring opportunities. Finally, you have a tough matchup with the Seahawks, who allow just 91.2 rushing yards per game. But are you really going to bench a player who has scored three touchdowns in FOUR separate games this season? The quarterback situation may force Indianapolis to rely on Taylor’s explosiveness, and while that may allow defenses to focus only on stopping him, Taylor needs to be started in every league.
Wide Receiver
Michael Pittman Jr.: FLEX, WR3
Alec Pierce: FLEX, WR4
Josh Downs: SIT
A massive cloud of uncertainty hovers over this group as we await the starting quarterback decision for Sunday. Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce produced modest fantasy output with Leonard after Jones’ departure, but may struggle to replicate those performances in Seattle, depending on who is under center. If forced, I would prefer to start Pittman over Pierce due to the former being used in shorter and intermediate areas of the field and the latter also dealing with a minor injury. The Seahawks also allow the fewest yards per game to receivers at 108, making both players risky flex plays at best. Josh Downs has been a fantasy afterthought with Jones at the helm, and things won’t change for the better with Leonard-Rypien-Rivers at quarterback.
Tight End
Tyler Warren: START, TE1
The bad news: Tyler Warren has scored double-digit fantasy points in just two of his last six games and now has to deal with the quarterback debacle in Indianapolis. The good news: Seattle allows the fourth-most points and second-most receiving yards to opposing TEs, so if there’s a matchup to get back on track for Warren, it’s this one. Warren is also the team’s emergency quarterback and takes a few Taysom Hill-style runs from time to time, so there’s always that X factor that increases his upside, even if it’s marginal.
Defense/Special Teams
Indianapolis Colts: SIT
This is a strange case of the Colts being a decent defense that may be harmed by their offense. If the Colts struggle to move the ball, they could be stuck with poor defensive field position for much of the game. I’d prefer to avoid this defense after they just allowed 36 points to the Jaguars.
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
Sam Darnold: STARTABLE IN SUPERFLEX, QB2
Sam Darnold has been the definition of boom or bust. In his six games since the Seahawks’ Week 8 bye, Darnold has three top-12 finishes, including two inside the top five, and three performances as QB25 or worse. That alone makes him difficult to trust in single-QB formats, and the matchup against a Jonesless Colts team doesn’t help the chances for a high-volume passing day. Darnold is still a solid QB2 in Superflex leagues, but I’d look elsewhere in other formats.
Running Back
Kenneth Walker III: START, RB2
Zach Charbonnet: FLEX, RB3
Velus Jones Jr.: SIT
The Seahawks are massive 14-point favorites in this one, meaning we’re likely to see a run-heavy game script from Seattle if it is able to get up big early. This could be frustrating for Kenneth Walker III owners, as it was Zach Charbonnet who benefited from this game script and was the better back in last week’s blowout win against the Falcons. Walker is still the better back overall and was trending towards a more dominant workload in the weeks prior, but if this game plays out like last week for Seattle, it could be another Charb week. Tread carefully with both options, but both have very tangible upside.
Wide Receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: START, WR1
Rashid Shaheed: SIT
Cooper Kupp: SIT
Yeah, you’re starting Jaxon Smith-Njigba, even if Bane himself shows up to interrupt the party in Seattle. JSN should continue his spectacular season against a Colts defense that allows the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Even though Rashid Shaheed just had his best game as a Seahawk (including a kickoff return for a touchdown), his usage up to that point has been so underwhelming that I can’t in good faith recommend starting him in the fantasy playoffs. The same goes for Cooper Kupp.
Tight End
AJ Barner: tHe gLoB
A handful of targets. Probably a few receptions. Perhaps 40ish receiving yards. God willing, a touchdown. You know what time it is. It’s Globberin’ Time.
Defense/Special Teams
Seattle Seahawks: START
The talent and upside for this defense this week are immense.