Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Fantasy football Week 15: Commanders QB Marcus Mariota, Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell headline sleepers

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Dec 11, 2025 12:54 PM ET

Fantasy football playoffs have arrived, so you can't afford to make any more mistakes with your lineup. The good news is we're here to help with four under-the-radar players who could be worth a start in NFL Week 15.

Washington Commanders QB Marcus Mariota vs. New York Giants

Many fantasy managers need a fill-in quarterback after Indianapolis' Daniel Jones and Washington Jayden Daniels went down with injuries in Week 14. Look no further than Mariota, who's scored 23.26, 15.42 and 18.72 points in his past three starts.

Mariota couldn't ask for a better matchup, as the Giants rank 31st in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to QBs, 30th in points allowed per game (28.2) and 26th in dropback EPA per play (0.137). Fire him up as a top-12 option this week.

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell vs. Miami Dolphins

We're going to keep pounding the table for Gainwell until he gets the respect he deserves. The Steelers running back has scored 72.2 PPR points in his past four weeks, the fourth-best mark in the NFL. Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs, Atlanta's Bijan Robinson and San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey are the only RBs with more points than Gainwell over that span.

Kenny Gainwell had one of the oddest collection of receptions in a game I can remember.

Do you think Aaron Rodgers likes him?!?? pic.twitter.com/66txyGdtU6
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) December 10, 2025

Fantasy managers are still worried about the timeshare with Jaylen Warren, but both running backs suited up in all four of those games. Even while playing only 50 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps, Gainwell should be a starter in all formats.

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers vs. New York Jets

Meyers is still building chemistry with QB Trevor Lawrence, but head coach Liam Coen wants him to be the focal point of the passing game. The former Las Vegas Raider caught four passes for 39 yards and a touchdown on a team-high 10 targets in Week 14. No other Jaguar saw more than six targets in the game.

Meyers has scored double-digit PPR points in four straight games, and he's caught a touchdown in three straight. Consider Meyers a WR2 for his matchup against the lowly Jets in Week 15.

Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Andrews is a frustrating tight end to own because of his bust potential, but it's nearly impossible to bust against this Bengals defense. Cincinnati has given up a league-worst 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns to tight ends this season. No other team has given up more than 933 yards or nine touchdowns.

Two weeks ago, Andrews recorded six targets, four catches and 47 receiving yards — his second-best mark of the season — against the Bengals. He might not even need to find the end zone to produce a solid fantasy day.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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