Fantasy Football: Odell Beckham, Aaron Rodgers In Week 15 Studs, Duds

Did we mention that fantasy football can be extremely cruel and unpredictable?

Last Sunday, the likes of Peyton Manning and LeSean McCoy did their fantasy owners no favors by posting lackluster performances just as the fantasy playoffs kicked off for most leagues.

Yet the fantasy gods one-upped themselves this Sunday, as the red-hot Aaron Rodgers came crashing down to Earth in a stunning loss to the Buffalo Bills. Entering the game having thrown for 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last five games, the Green Bay Packers quarterback was held without a touchdown for the first time all season while throwing two interceptions.

But harping on the negatives would just be depressing, and there was plenty to feel good about Sunday. Odell Beckham Jr.’s star shone brighter than ever, as the rookie wide receiver somehow outdid himself again with 143 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Whether you had the right players on your team comes down to a little bit of decision-making and a whole lot of luck. But with a chance of advancing in the fantasy playoffs on the line, it’s better to be lucky than good, right?

STUDS
Matt Ryan, Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons: Ryan’s stock took a game-time dive after Julio Jones was ruled out, but he delivered regardless. The Falcons had to throw a ton in a late comeback attempt, which led to a solid 310-yard, two-touchdown effort from Matty Ice.

Jeremy Hill, Running Back, Cincinnati Bengals: After two quiet weeks, Hill came up huge for fantasy owners when it mattered most. The rookie rumbled for 148 yards and two scores, posting 27 fantasy points in standard leagues to lead all running backs through Sunday.

Le’Veon Bell, Running Back, Pittsburgh Steelers: Even when Bell gets “bottled up,” he dominates. The fantasy stud rushed for just 47 yards but scored two touchdowns and added 72 receiving yards to give him 20-plus fantasy points for the third straight week.

Odell Beckham Jr., Wide Receiver, New York Giants: Is there a limit to this kid’s talent? Beckham topped his 130-yard receiving mark from last weekend and was a holding call away from scoring four touchdowns. Aside from Bell, he’s the MVP of the fantasy playoffs so far.

Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys: Bryant had plenty to say before the game, but he backed it up. The beastly wideout torched the Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary for 114 yards and three touchdowns to produce his highest fantasy output of the season to date.

DUDS
Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers: Rodgers hadn’t scored fewer than 18 fantasy points in standard leagues since Week 3. He scored eight against the Bills on Sunday. That’s not going to win you any fantasy championships.

Justin Forsett, Running Back, Baltimore Ravens: Forsett came up dry in a juicy matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, managing just 48 rushing yards while failing to find the end zone. He’s been an unexpected surprise all season, but Sunday’s performance still was a letdown.

Jamaal Charles, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs: Speaking of letdowns … The fantasy juggernaut that is Jamaal Charles somehow was stymied by the Oakland Raiders, who surrendered just 53 total yards and zero touchdowns to the All-Pro back.

Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions: Four receptions for 53 yards isn’t the worst stat line, but this is Calvin Johnson we’re talking about. After back-to-back games with at least 140 yards and a touchdown, you expected more from Megatron.

Julius Thomas, Tight End, Denver Broncos: Remember when Thomas yelled “It’s so easy!” after scoring yet another touchdown? That seems like a lifetime ago. The tight end finally returned after a lengthy injury but caught just one pass for 30 yards in a disappointing outing.

Thumbnail photo via Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports Images