Commanders vs. Saints Predictions, Picks & Odds: NFL Week 15, Sunday 12/15
It was a huge bye week last weekend with six teams off the schedule, one of which being the Washington Commanders. Coming off that extra rest, they’ll be heading down to the Bayou to take on the New Orleans Saints. This is quite an interesting NFC showdown, and we’ve got our best Commanders vs. Saints predictions for your below.
Better yet, we’ve got a best bet from our Commanders vs. Saints picks along with how to use it to claim a multi-gifted FanDuel Sportsbook welcome promotion valuing over $150!
Commanders vs. Saints Predictions For NFL Week 15, Sunday 12/15
We’re so interested in this matchup given how we’ve seen both ends of the spectrum from both teams. Washington has looked like world-beaters with a rookie QB while also having a three-game losing skid. Similarly, New Orleans has pulled off some of the biggest blowouts of the season while also suffering a massive seven-game losing streak.
Clearly, one of those streaks is vastly worse than the other, so to virtually no one’s surprise, the Commanders vs. Saints odds have Washington as significant favorites. We’d certainly support that, but with the point spread sitting just over the key number of seven, we’re going to take a slightly altered approach for our Commanders vs. Saints predictions.
We’re still going to trust rookie QB Jayden Daniels and company to win, but before we fully dive into our favorite approach, more from each team.
Washington Commanders: Taking Command Down The Stretch
As mentioned, the Commanders have looked extremely impressive this season, despite expectations for Daniels being lower than other rookies. Perhaps the best illustration of that is the fact that Washington has scored 34+ points five times this season, including three straight games doing so.
They were also able to end their three-game losing streak prior to the bye week with a massive 42-19 victory, but with the Philadelphia Eagles having taken rather firm control of the NFC East at this point, the Commanders need to build off that big win for their playoff push. This may have been a case of having preferred to not have their bye when they did.
New Orleans Saints: A Loss In A Win
Immediately following the Saints snapping their huge seven-game losing streak was yet another loss, which came at home to the Los Angeles Rams. However, they bounced back once again with a win against the New York Giants this past Sunday.
While that may be a feel-good moment, New York certainly did their part in helping New Orleans win in an ugly 14-11 matchup, and the victory isn’t even the biggest takeaway for the Saints. Starting QB Derek Carr has once again gotten banged up and may end up being ruled out for this NFC showdown.
Commanders vs. Saints Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
You can see what we mentioned earlier in terms of Washington being huge favorites this Sunday with the latest Commanders vs. Saints odds at FanDuel Sportsbook below:
- Point Spread: Washington Commanders -7.5 (-105) vs. New Orleans Saints +7.5 (-115)
- Money Line: Washington Commanders (-325) vs. New Orleans Saints (+260)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 43 (-110) vs. Under 43 (-110)
Commanders vs. Saints Teaser: Washington -1.5 & Over 37 Points (-120 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
What we also mentioned alongside Washington being significant favorites was the fact that while we predict a victory for them, the focus of our Commanders vs. Saints predictions would be a slightly altered approach. Specifically, we’re going to alter the lines with a teaser.
In doing so, we’re moving the point spread through the two most important numbers - seven and three. So, we now only need Washington to win by two or more points, and we’re lowering the total to take the over, as our projections have this game set at 44.5 points. Therefore, you could just use the standard over as part of your Commanders vs. Saints picks, but we’re sticking with the teaser approach.
The status of Carr certainly plays a role in things, but even if he is able to suit up, we expect a fully rested Washington squad to take care of business. After all, we already noted their explosive offense, and New Orleans was able to muster up just 14 points against the 2-11 Giants this past Sunday with Carr under center.
The Saints got a spark when they made their head-coaching change, but outside of that, they have done little to prove that they are the team we saw in the first two weeks of the season. Although the Commanders suffered their rough patch, two of those three games came against teams with records of 19-3 and 11-2.
Not only has Washington beat the teams they’re expected to beat, but they’re doing so in convincing fashion, even by oddsmakers’ standards. Washington’s 8-4-1 record against the spread is currently tied for the fifth-best in the entire NFL. On top of that, road favorites are covering the spread at a better than 56% rate this season!
Expect Daniels to light up a New Orleans pass defense that has allowed the fifth-most yards per game to help the best bet from our Commanders vs. Saints predictions of a teaser Washington -1.5 and over 37 points (-120 at FanDuel Sportsbook) hit.
Commanders vs. Saints Injury Report & Latest News
You’ve already seen the biggest injury news for this matchup, which is the status of Carr. Not only is he unlikely to be able to play this Sunday, but signs are pointing to him missing the remainder of the season. Keep tabs on that status and all injury news with the Fantasy Alarm NFL injury report for Week 15!
How To Bet On Commanders vs. Saints at FanDuel Sportsbook & Claim Your $150+ Bonus
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Player News
The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen believes Cowboys WR George Pickens could see a “huge uptick” in single coverage this season.
Pickens, who was traded from the Steelers to the Cowboys last week in exchange for draft pick compensation, won’t function as the primary wideout in Dallas. Pickens’ ability to challenge secondaries deep is something the Cowboys have “sorely missed” in recent seasons, Nguyen said. “In Pittsburgh, opposing defenses often doubled Pickens or shaded a safety to his side,” he said. “With the Cowboys, if defenses choose to put a safety over the top of Pickens, Lamb will have more space to work with in the middle of the field. You would expect teams to continue doubling Lamb, which means Pickens could see a huge uptick in one-on-one coverage.” Pickens, according to Nguyen, will only improve the Dallas passing attack if he gives consistent effort. The moody Pickens became widely known for taking plays off — and sometimes giving little effort for an entire game — during his three years with the Steelers. More single coverage, however, could mean more explosive plays for the new Cowboys WR2. In the Steelers’ run-first scheme last season, Pickens was third in targets of more than 20 yards downfield and second in receiving yards on downfield receptions. Pickens had just one drop on 30 downfield looks in 2024.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Saints hosted free agent CB Asante Samuel for a visit Monday.
Samuel, fresh off offseason neck surgery, visited with the Saints Monday as he pursues his next playing opportunity. He has clear connection to the franchise after they hired Brandon Staley to fill their defensive coordinator position, for whom Samuel played under with the Chargers. Fowler adds that Samuel has another doctor visit scheduled for early July, during which time he hopes to gain clearance to resume football activities.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Packers met with WR Jayden Reed’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to clarify his status with the team.
The meeting comes after the Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round for the first time since 2002 in this year’s draft. Schefter added that the team emphasized Reed’s status as the top option at wide receiver after the selection of Matthew Golden and Savion Williams. “Green Bay’s top receiver” means far less for fantasy than it does in other places around the league considering Reed led the team with just 62.6% of the team’s offensive snaps played in 2024. Reed in 2024 accounted for 16 percent of the Packers’ targets and 16 percent of the team’s air yards. He was targeted on just 19 percent of his pass routes after seeing a target on 23.4 percent of his routes in 2023.
Saints signed QB Hunter Dekkers.
Dekkers spent three seasons with the Cyclones of Iowa State before stepping away from football following an indictment surrounding charges related to sports gambling. He then played his final collegiate season at Iowa Western before being invited to Saints camp. Dekkers spent his redshirt season backing up Brock Purdy at Iowa State.
Seahawks signed No. 18 overall pick OG Grey Zabel to a four-year contract.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Zabel’s deal is worth a guaranteed $18.471 million. The former North Dakota State guard will be tasked with bolstering a Seahawks line that ranked 26th in PFF pass blocking grades and 24th in run blocking grades. The Seahawks didn’t do much to address their offensive line this offseason, with Zabel being the biggest addition to date. The FCS stud showed out at this year’s senior bowl, and brings high expectations into his rookie season after dominating at the college ranks.
Free agent WR Gabe Davis is visiting the 49ers on Monday.
It’s the first known interest we’ve seen of Davis, who was released by the Jaguars last week with a failed physical designation. The 49ers will likely be without Brandon Aiyuk to start the season, and the idea of adding another veteran to the room is appealing. Kyle Shanahan can turn a lot of football players into something fantasy-interesting, but Davis might be a step beyond even his schemes.