Explore the details on these seven athletes and confidently create your playoff roster

It’s often said that “diversity adds flavor to life,” yet many individuals prefer a more mundane existence. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that; they likely have fewer worries about discomfort (and disappointment). However, I find myself drawn to intensity… even if it occasionally leads to hardship.

I’m not merely alluding to spicy foods (though if Sean Evans ever wants to profile a fantasy football analyst, I’m open for a chat). I aim to underscore the broader interpretation of the phrase, tying it back to a life filled with curiosity and the quest to balance objective data with personal sentiment.

This past weekend, I attended a gathering at a distillery. The venue was enchanting; dimly lit and expansive, adorned with strategically placed candles on each table and luminous globes suspended from a towering ceiling. Although I don’t usually pay attention to aesthetics, the intricate design, featuring mossy walls and treasure map-themed graphics, created an unmistakable aura of magic. The owner explained that this was intentional—and he certainly succeeded. His passion and expertise about the art of crafting spirits captivated me.

Nevertheless, when it came to sampling the cocktails… I was left wanting. They simply didn’t appeal to me. Perhaps my taste buds aren’t refined enough for certain liquors, or maybe the rum just wasn’t impressive. Ultimately, that’s not the crux of the story. Regardless of the outcome… I had a memorable experience.

The same should apply to our cherished pastime.

It’s entirely possible that sticking with Patrick Mahomes in a challenging matchup cost you dearly last Sunday night. You may have been let down by starting Breece Hall against Miami. Perhaps following the allure of Terry McLaurin’s Week 13 performance led to disappointment in Week 14.

However, there’s an equally strong chance that bypassing an already injured Daniel Jones in favor of streaming Trevor Lawrence turned out to be a savvy move. Or maybe selecting Michael Wilson over Emeka Egbuka contributed to securing your playoff spot. Perhaps relying on the evidence related to Kyle Pitts Sr. helped you resist allowing past feelings to keep him off your roster.

Taking risks doesn’t always lead to unfavorable outcomes. Sometimes, boldness is rewarded. Occasionally, it can also lead to an early end to our season. Regardless, emotions are valid evidence. They may not guarantee success, but they certainly enhance the journey. Courage is essential in fantasy play. I hope you approach it with bravery. And whether you finish first or last, remember that settling for mediocrity is even worse.

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots: Maye appears to have entered his second professional year without hesitation, amassing 3,412 passing yards (QB2) and 23 touchdowns (QB4). His accuracy has been impressive too, as he leads the league with a 72% completion rate. Averaging 20 fantasy points per game (QB3), Maye’s figures are further augmented by his rushing ability, as he’s recorded the third-most attempts (81) and eighth-most rushing yards (319) among QBs this season. After a week of rest and with OG Jared Wilson potentially returning to the lineup, the North Carolina product is projected as a top 5 fantasy QB for Week 15.

You might feel uneasy about Maye given that he struggled against the Bills in their previous matchup, registering his lowest fantasy total (12.12) of the season back in Week 5, where he did not throw a touchdown. However, his combined passing and rushing numbers were surprisingly substantial; in fact, Maye’s 285 total yards in that game were the second-highest by any QB against Buffalo throughout 2025. While the Bills’ defense can be tough on opposing quarterbacks, Bobby Babich’s crew recently allowed over 280 passing yards and four touchdowns to Joe Burrow at Orchard Park last Sunday. With the division title at stake and an over/under of 50.5 points, Maye is expected to perform well for the Patriots at home, and he’s currently the consensus-ranked QB2 heading into this weekend’s contests.

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts: As a manager with Taylor on multiple fantasy teams, I am concerned about the drop in his output alongside the current challenges he faces for the remainder of the season. Since the Colts’ Week 11 bye, Taylor has averaged merely 11.7 fantasy points per game. This decline corresponds with the team’s recent string of losses. Notably, Taylor has produced over 31 fantasy points per game in the Colts’ wins this season but only 11.5 points during defeats.

The Colts are 11.5-point underdogs on the road at Seattle this Sunday, and the Seahawks’ defense has been formidable, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points and just one touchdown to running backs in the last month. With Philip Rivers potentially taking snaps, it’s likely that Indy will continue to be underdogs when facing the 49ers and Jaguars as well. I have Taylor ranked outside my top 10 running backs this week, and those who own him should consider looking for lesser-known alternatives, explore the waiver wire for backup options, and aim for ceiling plays in their lineup wherever feasible.

Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Washington Commanders: Rodriguez may lack finesse, yet he compensates with sheer brute strength. A relentless downhill runner with solid vision, Rodriguez has effectively taken over the role of short-yardage back since Brian Robinson Jr. departed, finding the end zone in three of his previous five games. His emergence seems proportional to his growing speed, but he has established his place. Rodriguez has logged a snap rate exceeding 40% in each of his last three appearances, while Jacory Croskey-Merritt has seen less than 20% of snaps over the past couple of games.

Following last Sunday’s collapse, Rodriguez should excel in a more favorable matchup against New York this week. The Giants have surrendered an average of 159 rushing yards and seven total rushing touchdowns to running backs over their last six games. It’s possible that coming off a bye and with Charlie Bullen guiding the defense, the Giants’ run defense could tighten, but a complete turnaround seems improbable. After all, they’ve allowed the highest yards per carry (6.1) this season—higher than the Bengals’ lenient unit at 5.2 YPC allowed. Rodriguez could be a solid flex option, projected as RB25-RB28.

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Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions: You’re starting St. Brown; that’s a given. However, the «Sun God» deserves additional recognition for not only his 18 fantasy points per game but also his unyielding determination. The injuries he sustained in Week 13 didn’t seem to overshadow his impressive return in Week 14. While St. Brown didn’t reach the end zone last Thursday night, he still managed to exceed 90 receiving yards while scoring 15 fantasy points just a week after spraining his ankle.

St. Brown has become a target magnet, receiving the third-highest volume at the position (57) since Week 9, including the previous Game in which he left early in the first quarter against Green Bay. Although Detroit’s offense doesn’t appear as explosive as it was under Ben Johnson, the Lions are currently leading the league in offensive points per game (29.6) for the 2025 season. With an over/under of 55.5—tied for the highest in the NFL this year—those totals are likely to remain strong in Los Angeles for Week 15.

The Rams’ defense has allowed five receiving touchdowns to wide receivers over their last three games. Moreover, L.A.’s defense has seen 14 pass-catchers (WR/TE) achieve over 15 fantasy points throughout the season. Chris Shula’s unit struggled to contain Michael Wilson (11-142-2 last week). St. Brown’s managers should feel extremely confident as he guides their fantasy teams into the playoffs.

Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers: Jennings may not bring the same star quality as Christian McCaffrey or George Kittle, but as my respected colleague Matt Bowen points out, “Someone has to catch the ball on the outside for that team.” This is true.

Jennings has caught four or more passes in seven consecutive games and has established himself as a sneaky scoring option. Impressively, he recorded four receiving touchdowns during Weeks 9 through 13 (he had a bye in Week 14). Surprisingly, only Davante Adams has registered more touchdowns among wide receivers during this timeframe. It’s also encouraging to note that Jennings has received seven red zone opportunities over his last five games—ranking him behind only Adams, Rashee Rice, CeeDee Lamb, Nico Collins, and St. Brown.

Jennings could likely find the end zone again versus Tennessee, given that the Titans’ secondary has allowed nine touchdowns to wide receivers in their last seven contests. Furthermore, Tennessee’s overall defense has yielded the 10th-most fantasy points per game to wideouts. Managers can expect Jennings to deliver a satisfying WR2 performance at Levi Stadium this Sunday.

Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings: Managers who gambled on Addison in the later rounds of their drafts are starting to see rewards, albeit not in the expected way.

Addison has racked up double-digit fantasy points in every game with Carson Wentz as the starter. While that success has waned with the recent transition to J.J. McCarthy, Addison has outperformed Justin Jefferson. Over the season, Addison has received 13 red zone targets compared to Jefferson’s 10. Moreover, he has been targeted seven more times than Jefferson over the last two weeks (with Jefferson catching only two passes in his prior two outings).

A leading target for the Vikings recently, Addison is coming off a game in which he was recognized as the top receiver for the team. He’s poised to make a significant impact against Dallas in Week 15. The Cowboys have permitted the second-most fantasy points to receivers, allowing an average of 197 yards per game to the position over the last three weeks, and 10 receiving touchdowns to wideouts over the past six. Given that Minnesota will likely be playing from behind as 6-point underdogs, Addison warrants flex consideration as he could prove to be the offense’s most reliable fantasy contributor.

Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets: The Jets have faced challenges, but Taylor has demonstrated flashes of promise, scoring double-digit fantasy points in four games this year. The rookie tight end developed strong chemistry with Brady Cook, converting five of eight targets for a team-high 51 yards in Week 14. Those figures are not groundbreaking, yet they give Taylor streaming potential as he heads into Week 15.

Since Garrett Wilson’s injury back in Week 7, Taylor has remarkably led the offense in targets and receptions. He has averaged a snap share of 81% (ranking TE7). Admittedly, his opportunities in the end zone have diminished (yet none) since the emergence of Adonai Mitchell (6) and John Metchie III (4), but the matchup against Jacksonville is favorable enough to counterbalance his touchdown dependency. The Jaguars’ defense has allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends, including 10 or more catches to the position in three of their past six games. It will take some bravery to trust Mason, but he’s less of a gamble this week than fantasy enthusiasts might think.