Welcome to Week 15 of the NFL season! It’s my favorite time for football — the fantasy playoffs and games on Saturday. That’s right; we don’t have to wait until Sunday this week! Three games are set to kick off on Saturday in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Detroit before the busy Sunday slate, and I have found several touchdown scorer best bets from both Saturday AND Sunday.
Make sure to check out all of our NFL Week 15 picks, too.
Joe Mixon, RB, CIN (+100)
It’s easy to identify which player has benefited the most from Joe Burrow’s unfortunate injury. Joe Mixon has 40 carries in his last 2 games and has found the end zone 3 times in that 2-game span. He’s also recorded his 2 best-receiving games in the last 2 weeks, so he’s been a lot more active in every facet of Cincinnati’s offense. Once the Bengals get in the red zone, Browning will be looking for Ja’Marr Chase, but that’s exactly what Minnesota will plan for. Instead, the Bengals have been giving Mixon more opportunities in the red zone, and based on his several touchdowns in the last few weeks, it’s been a smart idea. That should continue on Saturday afternoon in Cincy.
Check out our Vikings-Bengals Same Game Parlay (+603!)
David Montgomery, RB, DET (-135)
Detroit’s touchdown machine lost his 4-game touchdown streak in Week 14. David Montgomery had scored 10 times in 9 games before last week’s game against the Bears. Although he is splitting time with the rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, his role in the red zone has not diminished in the slightest. The primary reason for Montgomery not finding the end zone in Week 14 was that the Lions allowed a few early scores and had to play from behind. That forced Jared Goff to throw more and limited Montgomery and Gibbs’ role in the game.
That shouldn’t be the case in Week 15 since the Lions welcome in the Broncos, who possess one of the worst run defenses in the league. Denver is allowing 144 rush yards per game – the worst mark in the NFL. Unlike last week, Montgomery and Gibbs will be heavily involved in the offense from start to finish, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see both backs score.
Deebo Samuel, WR, SF (+100)
The biggest mismatch of Sunday’s slate takes place in Phoenix, Arizona, as the Cardinals welcome in the 49ers. Arizona has its sight set on the Draft next summer while the Niners are looking to continue their run of dominance, and unless the unthinkable happens, the 49ers should win by several touchdowns on Sunday. Brock Purdy has surged to the forefront of the MVP voting, but being the humble guy he is, he says he’s been able to succeed because of the people around him. While it’s humble, it’s also very true. And one of the most dangerous weapons Purdy has at his disposal is Deebo Samuel.
The versatile weapon had a mid-season lull as George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk took over, but it’s Samuel’s turn now. In the last 2 games, Deebo has 265 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns and also 23 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. In total, Deebo has 6 touchdowns in San Francisco’s last 3 games. Whether it’s through the air or on the ground, Samuel should once again find the end zone.
Jake Ferguson, TE, DAL (+185)
Two elite offenses are clashing in Buffalo on Sunday, and oddsmakers are expecting a flurry of points. The game total is set north of 50 which indicates a lot of scoring – and I’m not talking about field goals. These teams rank 1st and 5th in points per game this season while neither defense has looked spectacular in the last few weeks, and that’s a perfect combination for a high-scoring game. And one player who I expect to find the end zone in Buffalo is Jake Ferguson. The tight end has played a crucial role in the Dallas offense this season and has had two of his best games in the last 2 weeks. Ferguson has 72 and 77 receiving yards in the Cowboys’ last 2 games.
Since Dak Prescott has a plethora of weapons to use, Ferguson can sometimes be forgotten by the defense. CeeDee Lamb attracts most of the attention in the secondary, Tony Pollard is a short-pass threat, and Brandin Cooks is dangerous as the big-play receiver. If Ferguson gets his normal share of targets, I like his chances for his 6th touchdown of the season.
Check out our Dallas Cowboys vs Buffalo Bills predictions
Puka Nacua, WR, LAR (+130)
My final Week 15 touchdown scorer best bet involves the rookie sensation Puka Nacua. The BYU alum has been fantastic for the Rams this season and has formed an elite tandem with Cooper Kupp. There was a theory that Nacua’s role in the offense would diminish once Kupp returned from injury, but Matthew Stafford has continued to share the targets between the two. On Sunday, both Nacua and Kupp should see their fair share of targets. That’s because they will be going up against a Commanders defense that has been shredded in the last few weeks. They have allowed 90 points in their last 2 games and at least 29 points in 5 of their last 6 games.
The only team that failed to continue the trend in the last 6 games was Mac Jones and the Patriots, but that’s not surprising. That means heading into Week 15, the Commanders are allowing the most passing yards per game in the NFL. That’s a weakness Matthew Stafford should exploit early and often, and I wouldn’t be surprised if both Nacua and Kupp find the end zone.
