This Thursday on the DraftKings Dream Stream, Week 15 of the Madden simulated season continues as playoff races heat up coming down the stretch. The three-game classic slate kicks off at 6:00 p.m. ET, when the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles host the Washington Football Team. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the Cleveland Browns can move into a tie for first in the AFC North with a win over the visiting Las Vegas Raiders, and we wrap up the slate a matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills.
As you build your lineups, be sure to consider the depth charts for each team. If you’re looking for gameplay details for these sims, along with the upcoming schedule, head over to the Madden Streams Information Page.
Quarterback
Stud
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns vs. Las Vegas Raiders, $6,800 — Mayfield doesn’t typically bring as much rushing upside as Josh Allen ($7,100), but I love this matchup for him since the Raiders have given up huge games throughout Madden 21. Baker has been boom or bust but posted over 21 DKFP with multiple touchdowns in five of his past eight sims. He also had 17.4 and 24.42 DKFP in his earlier contests against the Raiders, so he should be set up for another strong showing.
Other Options — Josh Allen ($7,100)
Value
Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills, $5,900 — With the Bills’ elite secondary, I expect even more check-downs for Bridgewater, but he usually excels in that situation and has some solid weapons underneath. Recently, he had a solid 24.18-DKFP performance against Washington, and he also finished with 18.44 DKFP in his only Madden 21 meeting with the Bills. He hasn’t been as consistent as Mayfield or Allen, but he is the best of the less expensive QB options and can be a solid option if you go cheap under center to spend up elsewhere.
Other Option — Dwayne Haskins Jr. ($5,600)
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Running Back
Stud
Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills, $7,800 — When Bridgewater is checking down, CMC is a frequent target and can turn into a PPR monster. He has at least three catches in seven straight sims and has been very productive during this sim season despite some earlier volatility. He has over 12 DKFP in 12 of his past 13 sims and had 21.4 DKFP against the Bills in their first meeting. The upside brought by his dual-threat potential makes him my favorite RB play on this slate.
Other Options — Miles Sanders ($7,300), J.D. McKissic ($6,400)
Value
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns, $4,700 — Jacobs has scored 40 touchdowns in 91 sims and brings a nice touchdown-dependent ceiling against the Browns, who he had two scores and 21.3 DKFP against in his most recent meeting. Losing work to Jalen Richard ($4,500) makes him volatile, but Jacobs has scored three touchdowns in his past two sims with over 14 DKFP in each of those contests.
Other Options — Nick Chubb ($5,500), Jalen Richard ($4,500)
Wide Receiver
Stud
DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Football Team, $5,800 — Jackson has scored a touchdown in each of his three most recent sims against the Football Team and finished with over 10 DKFP. He is the Eagles’ WR2 but brings plenty of big-play potential with his breakaway speed. He has at least three catches in 18 straight sims with double-digit DKFP in 14 of those contests.
Other Options — Odell Beckham Jr. ($6,500), Henry Ruggs III ($5,500)
Value
Steven Sims Jr., Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles, $4,700 — Sims has at least three catches in seven straight sims as Washington’s WR2 with over 8.5 DKFP in five of those contests. He doesn’t have game-breaking speed but gets a regular enough workload to be a solid mid-range play on this slate.
Rashard Higgins, Cleveland Browns vs. Las Vegas Raiders, $4,100 — Higgins is a solid cheap play since he’s usually involved in the Browns’ passing attack as the WR3. He had four catches for 15.5 DKFP with a touchdown in his most recent meeting with Vegas and three catches for 8.2 DKFP in their first Madden 21 meeting. Higgins had 20.8 DKFP two sims ago against the Ravens and brings that kind of ceiling to this favorable matchup despite his salary just over $4K.
Other Options — Curtis Samuel ($4,900), Marquise Goodwin ($4,400), Cole Beasley ($3,600)
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Tight End
Stud
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Football Team, $5,700 — Ertz has been one of the best TE plays in Madden 21, averaging 5.4 catches for 57.3 yards per sim and scoring 39 touchdowns in 90 sims. He has over 13 DKFP in three straight and four of his past five games and also posted over that number in each of his five earlier meetings with Washington while averaging 17.0 DKFP per sim.
Other Option — Darren Waller ($4,600)
Value
Ian Thomas, Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills, $3,900 — If the Bills do force Carolina to go away from their top WRs, Thomas could get a lot of work over the middle. He is a solid PPR option with an average of 3.9 catches for 42.5 yards per sim. He’s also coming off back-to-back games with double-digit DKFP and will try to keep being a great value play in this matchup.
Other Options — Lee Smith ($3,700)
DST
Stud
Washington Football Team DST at Philadelphia Eagles, $3,000 — Washington’s defense gives up plenty of points and yards in Madden 21, but they do also come up with big plays often enough to make them a solid fantasy option. In 93 sims, the defense has forced 68 turnovers while piling up 189 sacks (2.0 per game). Washington has 5.0 DKFP or more in three of five Madden 21 meetings with the Eagles and is averaging a slate-high 5.9 DKFP per sim.
Value
Browns DST vs. Las Vegas Raiders, $2,700 — The Browns have a decent pass rush and a great matchup against the Raiders, so they’re the best cheap DST to consider on this slate. They had double-digit DKFP only one time this sim season against the Steelers but also had a strong showing with 5.0 DKFP in a recent matchup with the Ravens. They have enough playmakers to put together a solid performance in this matchup.
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