Is The Trendy Add Actually A Trap?

The Vanicream TRUST-O-METER: Justin Jefferson

OK, look … the Justin Jefferson experience in 2025 has been a far cry from what we all expected. The QB woes in Minnesota have derailed the season for your first-round pick, but you still snuck into the playoffs. That’s impressive, but can you trust him in a do-or-die Week in Round 1? At best, that’s a 4 or 5 on The Vanicream TRUST-O-METER.

And if this were the Vanicream UPSIDE-O-METER? We know what Jettas is capable of, so that puts him around an 8 or 9, but still, a risky proposition in a win-or-go-home position.

And hey, if you don’t know who Vanicream is—besides being fantasy fans, they’re the #1 Dermatologist Recommended Brand for Sensitive Skin. Celebrating their 50th year, their products were developed with one goal—to create something for people with sensitive skin. The ingredients make all the difference, and Vanicream’s most important ingredient—that’s trust! (thus the TRUST-O-METER!). If you want to give them a try, your skin will thank you.

Week 15 Rankings: Risers For Round 1 Of The Playoffs

Lamar Jackson rejoins the top-six QBs for Week 15.

Jackson rejoined the land of the fantasy living with 22.1 points in Week 14 against the Steelers. He notched seven rushing attempts, tying his second-highest mark of the season, totaling 46 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Ravens are in must-win mode to keep their playoff hopes alive, which could push the veteran quarterback to leave everything on the field against the Bengals in Week 15.

The Bengals have provided the No. 2 fantasy boost to QBs this year at 5.2 points per game. Opposing signal callers have thrown for an additional 46 yards and 0.7 TDs per contest. It will be cold in Cincinnati this weekend, but we have already accounted for that in the game and projection models. The Ravens offer the fourth-highest team total in Matthew Freedman's NFL Betting Game Model as 2.3-point favorites in what could be a shootout against Joe Burrow.

Projection Model (using my PPR projections):

• Xfinity Best (ceiling): 25.8

• Median: 19.3

• Floor: 15.0

Jackson carries more risk than we are used to, but on a slate with multiple other high-end quarterbacks drawing tough matchups, he is a strong option. Jackson is my QB6. Freedman agrees, while Ian Hartitz and Rob Waziak have him QB7.

Travis Etienne Jr. is a borderline RB1 against the Jets.

The Jaguars changed their identity during their Week 8 bye. Since then, they have leaned into their run game with a -3% DBOE. In six games since then, Etienne has averaged 16.1 points and has operated as the RB11. He has had only one dud performance, securing top-13 finishes in every other week.

Etienne has averaged 17.2 rushing attempts and 2.7 targets with a 74 Utilization Score over that span.

The Jaguars are 11.5-point favorites with a 26.6-point team total in Freedman's model this weekend. That is an excellent combination for RB1s. The Jets have boosted opposing rushing attacks by a mouth-watering 9.4 points over the last four games. The impact of losing Quinnen Williams has taken hold. 

Additionally, Bhayshul Tuten fumbled twice last weekend, which could have a lingering impact on his playing time. I don't have that projected in the model, but additional upside is on the table.

Projection Model:

• Xfinity Best (ceiling): 22.7

• Median: 14.4

• Floor: 10.7

Etienne is my RB12. He would project as a mid-range RB1 with one of the best ceilings on the slate if we assumed a diminished role for Tuten.

Dwain breaks down all of his Week 15 Rankings below. ⬇️

7 Things To Know For Round 1 Of The Fantasy Playoffs

Reminder: Friends and family come and go, but fantasy football championship banners hang forever.

This brings us to today's goal: 7 mostly fantasy-relevant things to know ahead of Week 15 that ideally will help make you both a better fantasy manager and overall person.

1. One thought on every WR3 in the Fantasy Life rankings

2. Ollie's weather report: 8 potential games to worry about

3. WARNING: Reserved only for cool fantasy managers with first-round byes

4. History Lesson: Weird shit happens in the fantasy playoffs

5. What man-coverage splits can we take advantage of for Week 15?

6. Week 14 RB Usage Report: Workhorse Woody Marks!

7. The DST corner: 49ers and Chiefs headline the best Week 15-16 options

We’re going cherrypicking … starting with No. 4 …

History Lesson: Weird shit happens in the fantasy playoffs

Last season we saw the following players post legit great numbers during Weeks 15-17:

• Tyjae Spears (RB7 in PPR points per game)

• Ameer Abdullah (RB8)

• Jalen McMillan (WR15)

• Keenan Allen (WR16)

• Olamide Zaccheaus (WR18)

• Tyler Conklin (TE4)

• Chiggy Okonkwo (TE8)

You can find similar abnormalities in 2023 when old man Joe Flacco turned David Njoku and Amari Cooper into league winners. That was also the same year that Zamir White had 54 rushing yards in Weeks 1-14 … before being thrust into the starting role due to injury and working as the RB8 during the most important three-week stretch of the year.

It's already quite difficult to predict the future of a sport that consists of constant 11-on-11 car crashes between finely tuned athletic machines while using a ball that isn't even a round—and NOW we have to do so in a three-week sample between teams of varying degrees of health and motivation. This should sound scary and hard, but remember: Your leaguemates are facing the same puzzle you are, so don't be afraid to embrace the chaos and accept that some wonky decisions can and will need to be made down the stretch to earn sweet victory.

Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.

📺 Breaking down every Week 15 matchup for Round 1 of the fantasy playoffs.

📆 Rest of season rankings. Would you rather have Gibbs or CMC?

🚑️ Zach Ertz to IR. Ben Sinnott is a sneaky add if you need TE help.

😎 Should you worry about Pickens? Here’s the latest.

🍺 The NFL meets Oktoberfest? A growing partnership.

🔑 RJ Harvey could be a key piece of your fantasy playoffs run.

💪 Shedeur Sanders is my ______ this week.

🤩 Mike Evans is back, just in time.

🗣️ Speaking of veterans being back, Uncle Phil at the podium still hits.