This article is part of our FantasyAces Football series.
Daily fantasy football is in the final stretch for the regular season, and FantasyAces is ready to continue the momentum from a very successful football season. Not sure how to play at Fantasy Aces? We're here to help. Each week, RotoWire will offer advice on which cheap value players to target to give you that extra edge. These players are considered tournament plays unless otherwise noted, as all are listed as salary cap saving value plays.
QUARTERBACK
Brock Osweiler, $5,150 vs. PIT
Osweiler is among the cheapest options at quarterback on Aces for Week 15, making him a value play based on price. Add in a good matchup, and he's a solid cheap option with a three-touchdown upside. Osweiler and the Broncos face the Steelers on Sunday. Pittsburgh has allowed 13 touchdown passes in the last five games including five to Russell Wilson and four to Derek Carr. The Browns threw for 372 yards, and even Matt Hasselbeck threw for 220 yards and a touchdown. Considering Osweiler has at least one touchdown or 300 yards in each of his starts this season, his matchup makes him a safe bet at a low price on FantasyAces.
AJ McCarron, $5,400 vs. SF
McCarron will make his first NFL start in Week 15 against the Niners in San Francisco. In relief, McCarron threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers (along with two interceptions) for 18.8 fantasy points. San Francisco's defense has been much improved of late, allowing just one touchdown pass in the last three weeks. This makes McCarron a tournament-only play, but with the weapons around him in Cincinnati and the likelihood of him passing the football with the Bengals' struggles on the ground, he could be a high-upside play at a low cost.
RUNNING BACK
Bryce Brown, $3,000 vs. CLE
With Thomas Rawls (ankle) missing the remainder of the season, the Seattle two-down back role is up for grabs. Considering Pete Carroll announced that Fred Jackson would only be used in a third-down role and that the Seahawks cut DuJuan Harris, Brown is the de facto starting running back. At just $3,000 he is a bargain of a talent thrust into a good situation. The Browns have allowed nearly 1,700 total yards to running backs this season and are giving up just below five yards a carry. Cleveland has allowed one rushing touchdown to opposing backs since Week 7, but they have given up a ton of yards without facing a top rushing offense. At just $3,000, Brown is worth the risk, as he will allow you to fit a stud or two into your Aces lineup.
Tim Hightower, $4,550 vs. DET
The Saints' running back situation was up in the air for Week 14, but it seems settled now after Hightower's performance. He ran for 85 yards and touchdown and caught one pass while playing the overwhelming majority of the snaps at running back. Sixteen fantasy points against the Bucs' top 10 rush defense is impressive, and given his matchup in Week 15 he's worth using again. The Lions have allowed 14 rushing touchdowns this season, second most in the NFL. At just $4,550 Hightower doesn't need that much production to be worth his salary, and given his volume and matchup he's worth the risk.
WIDE RECEIVER
Kamar Aiken, $4,350 vs. KC
Aiken has become the top option in the Ravens' passing game with all the injuries to the weapons on Baltimore's offense. In the last six games, he has six or more targets in each contest. Aiken has caught at least five passes in each of the last six games, and he has at least 10.8 fantasy points in four of the last five. In Week 15, Aiken faces the Chiefs' secondary, which has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season, including 2,503 yards on 185 catches. At just $4,350, it will be tough to find another receiver with as many targets in a good matchup.
Stevie Johnson, $4,500 vs. MIA
Johnson is set to return to the Chargers' offense after missing Week 14 with a groin injury. With all the injuries to the Chargers' receiving corps, Johnson is likely to be the most targeted player once again. In his last three games, Johnson had 28 targets and caught 21 of them for 214 yards and a touchdown. He faces the Dolphins on Sunday, who were just torched by Eli Manning for 337 yards and four touchdowns. Miami has allowed the fourth most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season, including 2,364 yards and 20 touchdowns. With Johnson as the most targeted receiver in a good matchup, he makes for a solid play on FantasyAces.
TIGHT END
Richard Rodgers, $4,200 vs. OAK
Rodgers is the lucky tight end to win the "tight end against the Raiders" sweepstakes in Week 15. Oakland has given up the second most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and has allowed them to score 11 touchdowns. Rodgers has seen an uptick in targets (31 in the last six games) for the Packers with other pass-catchers struggling, and he could see a boost in targets again against Oakland, given the matchup.
DEFENSE
San Francisco 49ers, $2,500 vs. CIN
If you don't select McCarron, the defense playing against him is a solid option in tournaments at just $2,500 on FantasyAces. At just $100 more than the lowest-priced defense, the Niners are a solid value play for Week 15 in NFL DFS. Despite McCarron's output against the Steelers, he threw two picks (one returned for a touchdown) and was sacked a few times. The Niners' defense has been much better of late, notching 10 and seven fantasy points in the last two games. With the Bengals' backup quarterback in his first NFL start, the opposing defense in the Niners makes for a solid start on FantasyAces.
Don't forget to keep an eye on the NFL inactive list. With the injury report changing all the time, a lot could happen before Sunday.
