2023 NFL DFS Week 15 Contrarian Plays: Top DraftKings & FanDuel Picks
Week 15 of the NFL season is here and with it comes an 10-game main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. This slate is loaded with top tier talent and teams such as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry and Travis Kelce. While its certainly OK to roster players figure that figure to be popular this week, the point of this article is to find some contrarian plays with similar upside that can help differentiate you in your GPP contests this week. So, with that said, let's look at some players projected to be less than 10% rostered this week.
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Top FanDuel & DraftKings NFL DFS Week 15 Contrarian Plays
Joe Flacco, QB Cleveland Browns
Flacco has thrown over 40 pass attempts in each of his first two starts this season for the Browns and now here in Week 15 he has a home matchup against a Bears defense that certainly struggles on the defensive side of the football. Flacco may have to contend with some rain in this game and the total is only set at 37.5 but the volume of passing and matchup should set him up for another shot at a multi-touchdown performance at less than five-percent rostership.
Derrick Henry, RB Tennessee Titans
In his last five games against the Houston Texans Derrick Henry is averaging over 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns. No, that isn't a typo, Henry is averaging over 200 yards rushing per game over his last five games against the Texans. Yes, I understand that year-to-year things change but Henry is on a roll right now, totaling six rushing touchdowns over the past three weeks and now has the Texans matchup while his rostership sits at less than 10-percent? Sign me up!
Rashid Shaheed, WR New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave is not expected to play this week which means the returning Shaheed should be the WR1 for the Saints this week in their home matchup against the New York Giants. Yes, the Giants have been playing slightly better defense over the past few weeks, they are still not very good and we should figure to see Carr target Sheheed downfield on Sunday.
Logan Thomas, TE Washington Commanders
I don't really understand this one as Thomas has one of the best DvP matchups on the board in a game with one of the highest game totals. The Rams give up big performances to pass catching tight ends week-after-week which included Isaiah Likely last week against Baltimore and if this game is going to live up to the 50.5 game total expectations than you have to think Thomas will factor in somewhere.
Player News
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports that the Vikings used virtual reality and traditional mentorship methods to prepare J.J. McCarthy for the starting role in 2025.
Seifert writes, “McCarthy had access to traditional game film as well as a dedicated camera the Vikings attached to Darnold’s helmet.” Darnold’s helmet film “was viewable on the wide screen the Vikings have installed in their draft room and with virtual-reality gear,” allowing McCarthy to see Darnold’s pre-snap and post-snap looks, while also hearing what Darnold was “saying in conjunction with the offensive line and even the defensive signals.” Old school methods were employed as well. McCarthy scootered to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s office for hour-long meetings once per week, and McCarthy was sometimes tasked with writing down “every third-down play the Vikings had in their weekly game plan, so that the rest of the quarterbacks could refer to it while going through a film session.” Vikings QB coach Josh McCown also popped quizzes and imparted wisdom from his years serving as a backup. These methods helped McCarthy familiarize himself with the team’s weekly cadence, giving him a leg up of sorts on typical first-time starters.
The Broncos are discussing a contract extension with EDGE Nik Bonitto.
The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider shares the news via an interview with Bonitto, who earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors last year. PFF credits Bonitto with 57 quarterback pressures, 15 sacks, 20 tackles and one forced fumble. Bonitto is scheduled to enter free agency. Expect the Broncos to prevent that by securing his services for three or more seasons.
Broncos placed WR A.T. Perry on the active/physically unable to perform list
Perry’s injury was not disclosed. The 25-year-old wide receiver spent time on the Broncos’ practice squad last season and last took regular season snaps in 2023.
Chargers activated DB Elijah Molden (leg) from the active/physically unable to perform list.
Molden had a meniscus fully repaired this offseason while also rehabbing a fibula fracture suffered in Week 17. The meniscus injury occurred in Week 15, and he missed just one game. Molden is expected to play a multi-faceted role in the Chargers’ secondary after signing a three-year, $18.75 million contract in February. The talented coverage defender can be used as a free safety, strong safety and slot cornerback. The Chargers also activated WR Jaylen Johnson from the active/physically unable to perform list.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Lions CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. “is believed” to have suffered a chest contusion.
The second-year cornerback left practice earlier today, being supported by trainers. Rapoport reasonably describes the diagnosis as “a positive outcome.” Rakestraw appeared in just eight games as a rookie, plagued by a recurring hamstring strain suffered during Week 2 warmups. He ultimately landed on injured reserve in November.
Andy Reid said OT Jawaan Taylor and CB Kristian Fulton will open training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list.
Shortly after the Chiefs drafted OT Josh Simmons in the first round on April 24th, GM Brett Veach Taylor “is doing a good job now with rehab from his knee, but he has to stay healthy.” He continues to rehab the injury. Fulton is also dealing with a knee injury, though no specifics on it have been shared.