week 15 2025 nfl season running after the falcons Defeated The Buccaneers pulled off a come-from-behind win on Thursday night. Now, let’s take a look at what you need to know for the remaining games on the slate. We’ve got last-minute information you need to know about the games on Sunday and Monday, and our NFL analysts have you covered down to the last minute.
First, analytics writer Seth Walder breaks down three statistical trends that could be important this weekend. Then, fantasy writer Eric Moody highlights five players who have been rostered at less than 50% espn league By Saturday and can be started in the jam. What follows are NFL analyst Ben Solak’s three potential surprises, NFL analyst Matt Bowen’s key matchups to watch and sports betting analyst Pamela Maldonado’s favorite bets for Week 15. We also asked our NFL Nation reporters to answer questions about interesting QB situations around the league.
Could the Ravens’ tough situation pay off against the Bengals? Which two Commanders players have the most imagination? Could the Bears upset the Browns? how can do drake may Separate the bills? Which Colts-Seahawks Bet Stands Out? And what is this recession like? jalen hurts Different from his previous one? We investigate it thoroughly.
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state trends , imaginary sleeper
potential surprise , key matching
bet of the week , QB question
Walder: Three key statistical trends that could determine the winners of Week 15
Could passing routes be the key to success for the Chargers against the chiefs,
Kansas City’s pass defense has been solid in 2025, ranking 14th in success rate (44%) and EPA on dropbacks allowed per game (0.15). But crossing paths against them increases these numbers to 63% (fourth worst) and 0.51 (second worst) respectively. Chiefs opponents gain an average of 2.9 yards per play on crossing routes, which ranks second.
So, who is likely to benefit most from this? wide receiver lad mcconkeyJoe leads the Chargers by running crossing routes 16% of the time. McConkey also caught six passes for 74 yards against the Chiefs week 1,
Do the Colts need to change their approach? against the seahawks,
Early in the season, the Colts had a lot of success by building an effective rushing game and then utilizing play-action within it. But that plan likely won’t work Sunday, which would have been true even if the quarterback Daniel Jones were not Injured,
For starters, Seattle’s defense is brutal against the run, ranking first in EPA in runs per design (minus-0.14), second in passing success rate (34%), third in run stop win rate (32.8%) and first in yards after contact per carry (1.6). And somehow, the Seahawks defense is better in terms of EPA allowed per game (minus-0.02, 11th best) while facing play-action (minus-0.18, best in the league). All of this makes the Seahawks an especially brutal matchup for Indianapolis.
Can the Ravens’ tight end have a big play? against the Bengalis,
The Ravens rely on their tight ends in the passing game more than most teams, with 31% of targets going to that group. So this makes the Bengals an ideal matchup, as no defense allows a higher percentage of targets to opposing tight ends (28%). And last time These two teams faced each other, the battle ended – mark andrews, Isaiah possibly And Charlie Kolar -Combined for 159 receiving yards. The Ravens lost that preliminary matchup, but their situation is very disappointing as they are fighting for a postseason berth. A big game from Andrews and Likely would go a long way toward victory.
Moody: Five fantasy sleepers you need to pick up – and start doing this week
trevor lawrencecubby, jacksonville jaguars (43.6% roasted)
Lawrence is trending up best time For fantasy managers and looks more comfortable in first-year coach Liam Coen’s offense. In three consecutive games, Lawrence has scored at least 17 fantasy points. The Jets’ defense has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, and it has also given up 20 passing touchdowns without recording an interception this season.
jayden higginswr, houston texans (38.9% roasted)
Higgins finished with only 6.4 fantasy points week 14 Against Chiefs, this is his lowest score ever week 9 Against the Broncos (1.4 points). However, he still finished second on the team in targets, receptions and receiving yards. Higgins has seen at least five goals in five consecutive games so far faces A Cardinals defense that has allowed 35.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers in their last five contests.
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Vince Wilfork excited for Pats, Texans this season
Vince Wilfork joins Pat McAfee to assess the performance of his former teams, the Patriots and Texans, this season.
chris rodriguez jr., RB, Washington Commanders (31% roasted)
Rodriguez continues to lead a crowded Commanders backfield. He has had at least 10 rushing attempts and is averaging 57.3 rushing yards over the last three games. he should succeed against A Giants defense that ranks 29th in run stop win rate and allows the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
marcus mariotacubby, Washington Commanders (10.6% roasted)
quarterback jayden daniels injured again He already dislocated his left elbow against the Vikings week 14 And won’t play against the Giants. Mariota has averaged 18.3 fantasy points per game in six starts this season. with Terry McLaurin And deebo samuel As his top receiver and with some solid running ability, Mariota has the tools to deliver solid production. The Giants’ defense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Isaiah possiblytee, Baltimore Ravens (8.1% roasted)
The Bengals’ defense has allowed the most receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and fantasy points per game to tight ends. Even though Likely is sharing photos and goals mark andrewsHe’s seen at least six goals and 12.5 fantasy points in consecutive games — and one of those performances came against Cincinnati week 13Streaming is probably firmly on the radar sunday,
Solak: Don’t be surprised if…
Eagles offense looks all set
outcome Los Angeles was very bad, but Philly tried a lot of good things – things Eagles fans have been asking for all season. wide receiver aj brown Running backs saw more targets in the middle of the field Saquon Barkley Scored some explosive runs. With a very soft defensive opponent raidersI could see a big, blowout day for the Eagles’ beleaguered unit.
packers wide receiver Christian Watson Leads the day in receiving yards
It took a few weeks for Watson to regain speed InjuryBut he totaled 169 yards and three touchdowns in his last two contests. He has been dramatically more effective against man coverage (3.7 yards per route run) than in zone (1.7) this season. Although that may not help the Broncos cornerback on his snaps Pat Surtain II it sundayGreen Bay also hides it in the slot. With two big catches, Watson easily surpassed 100 receiving yards.
the Browns beat the bear
The Browns’ run defense leads the league in success rate, and has the potential to force the Bears into a game script they haven’t seen in months: with lots of third-and-longs. With the cold weather in Chicago and the wide receivers Rome Odunze With practice limited this week, the Bears’ passing attack won’t be able to sustain a big day if the running game disappears. This could be a 10-6 type of win for the Browns.
Bowen: Key matchups to watch
patriot quarterback drake may vs bill area coverage
in new england week 5 win Over the Bills, Maye was dialed in against zone coverage, completing 15 of 18 passes for 174 yards. Patriots open vacancy for tight end hunter henry In the middle of the field against Cover 2, and Mays worked down low in the quick game with receivers looking for the open field.
The Bills run a basic zone defense, so expect Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to set Mays up at a level that will put defenders in contention. this can happen one more Big performance for the second-year quarterback.
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Stefon Diggs is the key to Stefon A’s not favoring the Bills over the Pats?
Stephen A. Smith sees Stefon Diggs playing a role in his decision not to take on the Bills this weekend.
Maldonado: My favorite bet for Week 15
less than 14.5 points for indianapolis colts team total (-125)
the colts offense walking in seattle Together Injured newbie (riley leonard) or a 44-year-old who hasn’t taken an NFL snap since 2020 (philip riversAdditionally, according to NFL Next Gen stats, the Colts are facing the best EPA pass defense over the past two months. Seattle has been hot, giving up just nine total points over the past two games, including zero touchdowns against the Falcons. week 14,
Watching Rivers will bring back a lot of old memories, but reaching 15 points will mean breaking the script. And if you want more value, less than 13.5 points (-105) is also reasonable.
NFL Nation: QB Question
what kind of recession is this jalen hurts Is it different from experiences he’s had in the past?
A huge number of turnovers occur. On Monday he got the top five gifts of his career. against the chargers And now he has seven turnovers in his last two games. The winning formula for the Eagles this season has been to support a defense capable of protecting the ball and taking over play. It’s no surprise he’s dropped three in a row, considering he’s had nine giveaways in that span.
The second difference relates to perception. Hurts is a defending Super Bowl champion and he arrives with heightened expectations. But in reality, he has not shown the ability to carry a team for most of his career. ,Tim McManus, Eagles reporter
What did you do? shadure sanders pretend to be Name Starter for the rest of the season?
With practice reps as the QB1, Sanders has shown steady growth each week. He has also brought big plays to Cleveland’s offense. But it’s the progression in his footwork and pocket presence that has really drawn praise from coaches. Sanders still has a tendency to hold the ball too long – his 3.39-second throw would be the highest among all quarterbacks – but he has been avoiding sacks and throwing the ball farther. -Daniel Oyefusi, Browns reporter
what and how are you listening bryce young Can the Panthers keep their momentum going in the stretch run?
From coach Dave Canales to multiple sources around the league, Young needs to show the consistency in these final four games that he hasn’t shown all season to be a playoff factor for the Panthers. For every game as he did before the bye – career-best 147.1 total QBR in an upset win against ram – He has suffered a lot saints (14.5 QBR) and 49ers (13.9). –David Newton, Panthers reporter
