10 DFS Knowledge Nuggets for Week 15

The only thing I look forward to more than writing the weekly edition of Knowledge Nuggets, is the Sunday slate of games that come along shortly afterwards. This weekend, I’m even more giddy as there are two games coming on Saturday like a Christmas come early! There is plenty DFS excitement this week with NFL teams vying for playoff spots and new faces suiting up due to the onslaught of injuries this season continuing last week. The pickaxes are sharpened, the hard hats are on, and now it’s time to go mining for our Week 15 Knowledge Nuggets.

Feel free to reach out to me via Twitter @robbyjeffries with any questions or feedback! Let’s get mining.

The Green Bay Packers have been digging deep for cornerback depth all season. Starters Quiten Rollings and Kevin King have already landed on IR this season and now replacement starter Davon House is out this week as well. The Packers have let up nine passing touchdowns in the past three weeks and Cam Newton has quietly been a top tier starting option in DFS this season, scoring at least 20 points in seven of his last eleven starts. Fire him up this weekend against a terrible secondary.
Oh Nick Foles it seems only yesterday we saw your boyish face starting for the Eagles. Let’s be clear, Nick Foles is an adequate backup capable of filling in the past few weeks for Carson Wentz, but Nick Foles is no Carson Wentz. I expect Foles to take advantage of a dream matchup against the, all but dead and buried, New York Giants. You won’t find a cheaper play that has the situation to get 20 fantasy points.
Coach John Fox finally has seen the light that giving his best offensive player the ball yields good results. Get this, the Bears are 4-1 when Howard gets 20+ carries, but are a dreadful 0-8 when he receives anything less. Hint, hint…feed Jordan Howard, wins games, keep your job. I expect another 20-carry day for Howard against the Lions who have given up the 2^nd most rushing touchdowns to RBs.
Speaking of Jordan Howard, what happens when an NFL defense loses six of its eleven starting defensive players? 147 yards and two touchdowns was par for the course last week. With five of those players projected to still be out for this week, I’m all in on Latavius Murray for the Vikings. After only getting nine carries last week, Murray should rebound in a good matchup and potential clock kill mode in the 4^th
Jordy Nelson is starting to stir from his seven-week slumber without Aaron Rodgers. Nelson scored an incredible six touchdowns in four full games with Rodgers and he hasn’t found pay dirt since. I expect the two to be back to their old antics as Rodgers has been cleared to play for Sunday.
No one is closer to a breakout game in terms of touchdowns than Marquise Goodwin. He has over 75 receiving yards in each of his past four games but only one touchdown on the season. What better game to have that breakdown than against the Titans who are tied for giving up the 2^nd most touchdowns to wide receivers this season.
Marquise Lee has scored double digit fantasy points in six of his past eight games. Blake Bortles has looked somewhat competent in getting Lee the ball often with Lee grabbing 41 passes over that span. The Jags get a shaky Texans secondary who give up the 7^th most passing yards to opposing teams.
Seals-Jones? How about Mr. Steal-Yo-Job-Jones?!? Ricky Seals-Jones is slated to be the starting tight end with Jermaine Gresham very questionable after not practicing this week. RSJ has shown past success with Blaine Gabbert under center and gets a great matchup against Washington who has given up the second most yards to the TE position.
Bryce Petty will be under center for the Jets this weekend taking on a New Orleans defense that will have potential Defensive Rookie of the Year Marshawn Lattimore back. Bryce Petty has yet to prove he is capable of playing in the NFL and a matchup against a much improved Saints defense is not an ideal start.
The Buffalo Bills have only given up 40 points total in their past three games and that includes a game against Touchdown Tom Brady. The Bills defense (and poor weather) has helped keep opposing offenses in check. The Bills get Jay Cutler and the Miami Dolphins who give the 5^th most points to opposing defenses this season. The Bills are a sneaky good play this weekend at a great price.