The stretch drive of the 2025 fantasy football season is here. In shallow and home leagues, the waiver wire remains a lifeline to some potential lineup gaps. The randomness of game action and challenging decisions are the other two obstacles to success in the fantasy postseason.
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers come off their best passing day (285/1), thanks to a breakout game by DK Metcalf (7/148 on 12 targets). The addition of Adam Thielen gives Rodgers a proven chain mover who was on the field for 48% of Pittsburgh’s snaps in his first game.
Miami comes into this week’s game with the 21st-ranked quarterback defense (2,823/20 with 59 rushes for 296 yards and four scores). Both teams need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Rodgers brings matchup value in Week 15, suggesting a 250/2 type outcome.
UPDATE: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Reveals Major DK Metcalf Injury Update
Running Backs
Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints
The sign is shining for Neal over his next two matchups at home (CAR and NYJ). The Saints had him on the field for 74%, 82%, and 71% of their plays over the past three weeks. He comes off his best NFL game (19/70/1 with one catch for 14 yards). Over his previous three matchups, Neal had a reasonable floor in catches (3/9, 5/43, and 3/22).
Carolina comes into this week ranked 23rd vs. running backs (296/1,411/13 – 4.8 yards per carry with 62 catches for 380 yards and two touchdowns on eighty targets). The Jets have the fourth-worst defense against running backs (354/1,569/16 with 44 catches for 356 yards and four touchdowns).
Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins
Wright falls more into the insurance card for De’Von Achane, who left last week’s game with a rib injury. Miami gave him 24 carries vs. the Jets, resulting in 107 yards and one touchdown. His success was more than his first five games combined (18/65 with one catch for no yards). The Dolphins expect Achane to play this week, but he could be limited vs. the Steelers.
Wide Receivers
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
After missing 10 games, Reed had six touches and four targets in Week 14 vs. the Bears. He gained 53 combined yards with four touchdowns. Green Bay had him on the field for 47% of their plays as their WR3. His matchup isn’t ideal this week against the Broncos, but he can work the short areas of the field, and the Packers will give him some chances in the run game. Denver’s top CB Patrick Surtain will try to shut down the rising Christian Watson, providing more targets to another Green Bay wide receiver. Over his 36 career games in the NFL, Reed had 18 touchdowns.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield is another quarterback who has lost his passing mojo over his last four matchups (173/1, 103/1, 194/1, and 122/1), which includes an injury exit in Week 13. His wide receivers have lacked a pulse five times (9/86, 10/100, 11/74/1, 9/130, and 8/75) over their last six contests, highlighted by their low catch rate (51.6%) in those games.
Godwin brings possession value, and Tampa had him on the field for 69% of their plays last week. He caught five of his eight targets for 55 yards, giving him double-digits fantasy points in back-to-back games (10.80 and 10.50). A Thursday night game may restrict his chances in his home match against the Falcons. Atlanta sits 20th in wide receiver defense (145/1,842/16 on 230 targets).
When at his best, Godwin has a top-18 wide receiver profile, inviting more growth in his production in Week 15.
Luther Burden, Chicago Bears
With Rome Odunze on the shelf with a foot injury, Burden was on the field for a season-high 71% of the Bears’ snaps in Week, but he jumped to a WR2 role by Olamide Zaccheaus. Chicago looked his way six times for the second consecutive game, leading to four catches for 67 yards with one rush for three yards. His only playable fantasy day came in Week 3 (3/108/1).
On the downside, the Browns have the fifth-best defense against wide receivers (114/1,412/13 on 190 targets). Burden has a winning combination of big-play ability and talent. In deeper formats, Zaccheaus could be a viable bridge player. Chicago gave him an uptick of targets (7 and 8) in Week 8 (7/33) and Week 9 (6/58/1).
Tight End
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
There hasn’t been a Ravens’ team offensive sighting in weeks, leaving a glaring hole in fantasy lineups in multiple positions. Lamar Jackson has only two passing touchdowns over their last five matchups, with both scores coming from the tight end position.
Likely has been the better Baltimore tight end over the past two weeks (5/95 and 4/25/1), and he had another near touchdown in both contests. Ravens looked his way 12 times over this span while having Likely in the field for 52% and 60% of their snaps. His playing time aligns with his previous seven games.
Likely brings the “hot hand” to this week’s matchup against the Bengals, who have the worst tight end defense (97/1,258/15 on 137 targets) by a wide margin (97.10 fantasy points in PPR formats).
The fallout from Likely’s success is a decline in stats by Mark Andrews over his last three home starts (1/9, 4/47, and 1/9), during which he received 14 targets. He’s had three catches or fewer in nine of his 13 contests, with his best days coming when he scores (six touchdowns this season).
For a fantasy team with weakness at tight end, both tight ends are viable this week, while Andrews will be the more challenging start in the fantasy market.
More Fantasy Football News: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Reveals Major DK Metcalf Injury Update
