Week 15 DFS Picks: Core Players and Best Plays

Every week, I will go through the players I am targeting to play in DFS for all games, tournaments, and game stacks.

The idea is that this will paint a clearer picture of framing lineups.

Our core players are the ones we will have the most exposure to at their respective positions.

They can be played in cash games and tournaments.

I will analyze the player selections and game writeups, but please refer to the Week 15 Worksheet for a detailed breakdown of the players and games.

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford ($8,300/$7,000)

With no byes, holiday games, or international games, this is our largest main slate since Week 3.

You can go in several directions this week when paying for a high-priced quarterback, but I am starting with the front-runner for MVP, who is also indoors and in the highest game total on the slate.

Brian Branch suffered an Achilles injury on Thursday that will cost him the remainder of the season.

Kerby Joseph has missed the past seven games with a knee injury, and Terrion Arnold is out for the season.

Detroit has allowed a league-high 1,274 passing yards and 10 touchdowns over the past five games.

They have allowed 8.3 yards per pass attempt over that stretch (30th).

Over those games, they have allowed Marcus Mariota (18.7 points), Jameis Winston (32.2 points), Jordan Love (25.8 points), and Dak Prescott (18.4 points) to turn in strong fantasy lines.

This is the wrong time to face the league’s best passer.

The Lions have been roughed up in the play-action game over the period, allowing 9.9 yards per pass attempt (27th), with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.

They have allowed a league-high 12.1 yards per pass attempt against passing from under center.

Stafford leads the league in under-center rate (59.5%) and play-action rate (37.3%).

Despite injuries on the back end, the Lions have played man coverage 34.8% of the time (2nd) and 35.4% over the past five weeks (4th).

Stafford has thrown 21 touchdowns and 0 interceptions against man coverage this season.

Brock Purdy ($7,500/$6,200)

This is an excellent spot for Purdy to turn in a spike week at home with a team total just under 30 points.

The Titans have allowed a QB1 scorer in seven straight games, coming off allowing 33.5 points to Shedeur Sanders on Sunday.

The Titans are 24th in pressure rate (33.1%), and when they haven't generated pressure, they have been brutal on the back end.

Without pressure, the Titans are allowing 8.8 yards per pass attempt (30th) and a 6.4% touchdown rate (28th).

The Titans are allowing a 57.8% completion rate (31st), a league-high 12.9 yards per pass attempt, and an 8.6% touchdown rate (29th) on throws 10-plus yards downfield.

Also, the Titans have become an under-the-radar pass funnel.

Tennessee is allowing a league-low 3.3 YPC to running backs since Week 9, allowing 63.2 rushing yards per game (2nd).

C.J. Stroud ($6,900/$5,200)

Stroud’s best games have come against a depleted Baltimore defense (28.8 points), the 49ers (21.7 points), and the Titans (18.4 points).

Stroud is a home favorite with Houston having their highest implied total of the year.

This Arizona defense has been banged up and is limping to the finish line this season.

Over the past five weeks, Arizona has allowed a 68.5% completion rate (30th), a league-high 8.7 yards per pass attempt, and a league-high 8.7% touchdown rate.

Running Back