What We Saw: Week 15

The What We Saw team recaps all of the action from Week 15

Ben Brown
What We Saw 5 Months Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Chargers @ Raiders
Vikings @ Bengals
Steelers @ Colts
Broncos @ Lions
Falcons @ Panthers
Bears @ Browns
Buccaneers @ Packers
Jets @ Dolphins
Giants @ Saints
Texans @ Titans
Chiefs @ Patriots
49ers @ Cardinals
Commanders @ Rams
Cowboys @ Bills
Ravens @ Jaguars

Broncos @ Lions

Final Score: Lions 42, Broncos 17

Writer: Christian Otteman (@COttemanPL on Twitter/X)

 

Capping off the action on Saturday night was a matchup between two teams on very different trajectories looking to improve their playoff hopes. The Broncos marched into Ford Field having won 6 of their last 7 games, bringing life back into a season that looked lost after a 1-5 start. Meanwhile, the Lions have struggled over the last month, dropping 2 of their last 3 largely thanks to turnover woes. As fate would have it, this ended up being a perfect “get right” game for the home team as the Lions took control during an explosive second quarter and never looked back. The Lions’ rookies were the stars of the show today, with Jahmyr Gibbs leading the rushing attack and scoring twice while Sam LaPorta had a hat trick. The Lions now lead the division by three games over the Vikings and have a chance to clinch their first NFC North title since 1993 in Minnesota next week. The Broncos head back to Denver for a Christmas Eve matchup against the reeling Patriots where they’ll look to build on their playoff chances.

Three Up

  • Sam LaPorta – The rookie TE added yet another impressive game to his resumé, finding the end zone for a trio of scores. There’s a good chance this will be LaPorta’s third TE1 overall week on the season. There’s a real case to be made that he is the Dynasty TE1 (if he wasn’t already).
  • Jahmyr Gibbs – Gibbs dominated the Broncos in this game and produced a big gain seemingly every time he touched the ball en route to a two-score day. He looked every bit like the dynamic playmaker the Lions drafted him to be and his hitting his stride at the perfect time.
  • Amon-Ra St. Brown – After two down weeks, fans of the “Sun God” can breathe a sigh of relief as Amon-Ra St. Brown got back on track with 112 yards and a score. With this game, ARSB set career highs in yards and touchdowns and showed why he’s one of the most valuable Dynasty assets in the league.

Two Down

  • Javonte Williams – It’s been a year of inefficiency for the Broncos’ leading rusher as Javonte Williams sits under 4.0 yards per carry on the season. A 12-for-27 line won’t do much to help his lost season. Hopefully, Williams can rest up in the offseason and regain the same explosiveness he had pre-injury.
  • Russell Wilson – It wasn’t a horrible day for Mr. Unlimited, but managers were hoping for more in a matchup against a Lions secondary that has been lit up by opposing QBs in recent weeks. Russ gets a tough Week 16 matchup against the Pats but could be a sneaky play in Week 17 when they face the lowly Chargers, who just allowed the Raiders to score 63 points.

 

Denver Broncos

 

Quarterback

 

Russell Wilson: 18/32, 223 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost | 7 carries, 6 yards, 1 TD

 

Russell Wilson started the day off with a 40-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy on a crossing route, setting the Broncos up nicely to score on their first drive. Unfortunately for the visiting QB, things went downhill from here, as he lost a fumble in the red zone that probably would have been returned for a touchdown had anybody but Isaiah Buggs picked up the ball. Instead of a TD, we were treated to something even better: a classic Big Man RunTM:

 

 

While the Broncos fell behind in the 2nd quarter and never truly got back into it, Russ was able to somewhat salvage his fantasy day by throwing a touchdown to Lil’Jordan Humphrey and later punching one in himself from the 1-yard line. Wilson simply couldn’t get much going in this one, largely because Lions defenders were pressuring him all night, giving him little time to throw. Russ gets a tough matchup against the Patriots D in Week 16 but faces the Chargers “defense” in Week 17, which is a fantastic matchup for the fantasy championships. For Week 16, he ranks as a QB2.

 

Running Back

 

Samaje Perine: 6 carries, 37 yards | 1/1 receiving, 11 yards

 

Functioning as the primary change-of-pace back as per usual, Samaje Perine led the team in rushing yards with 37. Perine very nearly found the end zone in the 4th quarter but was tackled at the 1, allowing Russell Wilson to vulture the score. To his credit, Perine did look like the more powerful and efficient back on his carries, but he doesn’t get enough touches to be a viable fantasy option. He should be left out of your lineup in a tough Week 16 matchup against the Patriots’ defense.

 

Javonte Williams: 12 carries, 27 yards | 2/2 receiving, -7 yards

 

It was a night to forget for Javonte Williams, who failed to find any room to run against the Lions’ front seven. The game script didn’t help his chances as the Broncos were forced to throw the ball for much of the second half. In the third quarter, Williams was given the ball on 3rd and goal from the 1 and appeared to get in, but the official ruled him just short and Sean Payton did not throw the challenge flag. In his first season back from a brutal ACL injury, Williams hasn’t quite looked like his same explosive self, and this game was no exception. The Patriots are a tough matchup for running backs, making Williams a shaky flex option for next week.

 

Jaleel McLaughlin: 2 carries, 2 yards | 2/3 receiving, 16 yards

 

Jaleel McLaughlin had his fantasy fifteen minutes of fame in the early weeks of the season when he posted RB1 numbers in Javonte Williams‘ absence, but he hasn’t had more than six touches in a week since Week 10. Like his fellow Broncos RBs, McLaughlin was tackled just short of a score in this game, but that still would have kept him under 10 fantasy points on the night.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Jerry Jeudy: 3/7 receiving, 74 yards

 

Jerry Jeudy started the Broncos off hot, ripping off a 40-yard catch and run on their first play from scrimmage. It was a great grab followed by a nice move that put a Lions defender on the ground to add a few extra yards to the end of the play:

 

 

Unfortunately, this was where the highlights ended for Jeudy’s night. In his defense, many of the targets sent his way were bad or uncatchable throws by Russell Wilson. Still, Jeudy has not displayed consistent enough production or chemistry with his quarterback to recommend him as more than a WR4 in Week 16. In what has been a largely lost season, Jeudy has more than 3 receptions in just 4 contests and has only found the end zone once.

 

Courtland Sutton: 5/6 receiving, 71 yards

 

On the other side of the coin, Courtland Sutton has enjoyed a career resurgence in 2023 thanks to his big play ability and red zone usage. Despite the game script, Sutton was not utilized in the red zone as much as usual, leading to a fairly pedestrian stat line. Many of Sutton’s targets in this game came on shorter throws from Russ, but Sutton was still efficient with his looks and did what he could to move the Broncos down the field. If you need to start a Broncos player in Week 16, Sutton is your best option.

 

Adam Trautman: 1/3 receiving, 24 yards

 

There was some optimism that Adam Trautman would see increased work this season with Sean Payton calling the shots given the latter’s propensity to use his tight ends in past schemes during his time in New Orleans. That optimism has all but withered away by Week 15, and Trautman can remain on waivers in your league.

 

Lucas Krull: 1/3 receiving, 18 yards

 

This was Krull’s second reception of the year, though the three targets were a season-high. Krull is still a less desirable option than Trautman for next week’s semifinals.

 

Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 3/4 receiving, 16 yards, 1 TD

 

The catches, targets, and yards were all season-highs for Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who is undoubtedly on the first-team all-NFL “best names” team. His touchdown catch was an impressive grab where he managed to maintain control despite coming down for a hard landing:

 

 

Brandon Johnson: 0/1 receiving, 0 yards

 

Between injuries and lack of involvement in the offense, Johnson hasn’t caught a pass since Week 5. He should remain on waivers.

 

Marvin Mims Jr.: 0/2 receiving, 0 yards | 1 carry, 11 yards

 

Early in the season, Marvin Mims Jr. put his skills on display by producing several big plays for the Broncos, an element this offense has sorely been missing. Broncos fans and fantasy managers alike have to be wondering why Mims hasn’t been more involved in this offense, as the speedy rookie hasn’t had more than 24 receiving yards in a game since Week 4. Mims is plenty talented and did draw a crucial DPI on the Broncos’ first touchdown drive of the day but is nothing more than a hold for 2024 in Dynasty leagues for right now. Hopefully, the Broncos can find some ways to get him more involved next season.

 

Detroit Lions

 

Quarterback

 

Jared Goff: 24/34, 278 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT

 

He didn’t make it into the “Three Up” section of this week’s article, but make no mistake: this was a phenomenal (and much-needed) game from Jared Goff. After producing multiple turnovers in three of his last four games, Goff took care of the ball today and tied his career high with five touchdown passes, three of which went to Sam LaPorta. Goff has the privilege of being the quarterback for one of the league’s best supporting casts, meaning weeks like this can come at any time, but his nonexistent rushing ability prevents him from being a top-tier fantasy QB. Heading to Minnesota with a chance to clinch the division next week, Goff likely sits on the QB1/2 borderline. With all the injuries to quarterbacks this year, you could certainly have worse options.

 

Running Back

 

Jahmyr Gibbs: 11 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD | 2/2 receiving, 8 yards, 1 TD

 

One of the biggest stories surrounding the Lions offense this year has been the tug-of-war between RBs for the coveted position of “better fantasy asset.” While early returns suggested David Montgomery was the back to own, Jahmyr Gibbs’ managers have to be feeling good about the recent developments in this backfield. Gibbs gashed the league-worst Broncos run defense this week, ripping off chunk play after chunk play while looking explosive and agile. He also showed that size doesn’t always matter on his second touchdown of the day, where he met a Broncos defender head-on and spun into the end zone:

 

 

For the rest of the fantasy playoffs, Gibbs has earned no-doubt starting status and will look to continue his hot streak in Week 16 against the Vikings, who are a much stingier run defense.

 

David Montgomery: 17 carries, 85 yards | 2/3 receiving, -3 yards

 

Operating as the thunder to Jahmyr Gibbs‘ lightning, David Montgomery had a solid game in his own right, though his fantasy point total won’t be near as pretty. Montgomery operated as the “starter” and took much of the early down work in this matchup, producing an efficient 5.0 yards per carry en route to 85  yards. While Gibbs is undoubtedly the more explosive back, Montgomery’s style of play as a bruising physical runner fits perfectly behind Detroit’s offensive line. This backfield has shades of the 2017 New Orleans Saints in which both Mark Ingram II and Alvin Kamara were great fantasy options despite having completely different styles of play. At this point of the season, Gibbs is the higher-upside play, but Montgomery is still a worthwhile RB2 option and can score at any time in this offense.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Amon-Ra St. Brown: 7/9 receiving, 112 yards, 1 TD

 

It was a return to form in Week 15 for Amon-Ra St. Brown, who posted a textbook Sun God line with 7/112/1. The Winged Dragon of (Amon) Ra went airborne for his score this week when he found the end zone to put the Lions up 21 heading into the half:

 

 

Especially in PPR leagues, St. Brown should remain locked in as a top-10 option for the rest of the fantasy playoffs as he functions as the Lions’ top pass-catching option.

 

Sam LaPorta: 5/6 receiving, 56 yards, 3 TD

 

Hats off to Sam LaPorta, who continues to do nothing but impress during his rookie campaign. His three-score night brought his season total to 9, which is something he didn’t exactly get to enjoy during his time at Iowa:

 

 

LaPorta is the Lions’ second leading receiver on the season and has blossomed as a TE with rare after-the-catch abilities. His skills were fully on display on his first score of the day, where he made a nice catch, juked a Broncos defender, and then plowed through a few more on his way to the end zone:

 

 

LaPorta has special playmaking ability and is consistently targeted at all parts of the field for one of the league’s best offenses. He’s more than earned a TE1 recommendation for the rest of the season.

 

Jameson Williams: 4/7 receiving, 47 yards

 

While he’s been the subject of a lot of criticism as of late, Jameson Williams has shown signs of growth this year, earned a season-high target share in this matchup, and looks dynamic every time the ball is in his hands. Williams could have had a much more impressive night if he wasn’t missed by Jared Goff on a couple of deep balls. He’s certainly not a player you’re starting this season in the fantasy playoffs, but he remains an intriguing asset in Dynasty or Keeper leagues for 2024 and beyond should he continue to improve chemistry with his QB.

 

Josh Reynolds: 2/3 receiving, 41 yards

 

Reynolds has some chemistry with longtime teammate Jared Goff but is fourth or fifth in the pecking order for targets on this offense, making him tough to recommend as a fantasy asset for the last few weeks of the season.

 

Kalif Raymond: 1/1 receiving, 12 yards

 

Playing behind several superior options, Kalif Raymond is an afterthought in this Lions offense and can be left on waivers.

 

Donovan Peoples-Jones: 1/1 receiving, 5 yards

 

The Michigan native hauled in his second catch in a Lions uniform this week. He’s not a viable fantasy option right now, but it will be interesting to see how (or if) he factors into the Lions’ plans for 2024.

Series Navigation
Introduction
Chargers @ Raiders
Vikings @ Bengals
Steelers @ Colts
Broncos @ Lions
Falcons @ Panthers
Bears @ Browns
Buccaneers @ Packers
Jets @ Dolphins
Giants @ Saints
Texans @ Titans
Chiefs @ Patriots
49ers @ Cardinals
Commanders @ Rams
Cowboys @ Bills
Ravens @ Jaguars

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