Week 15 Miami Dolphins vs Houston Texans prediction and fantasy outlook feat. Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill

The Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans will face off in Week 15 of the 2024 season, and this game will have major implications for both of these teams, even if they're from different divisions.

The Dolphins enter Week 15 with a 6-7 record. They're not in a positive situation, but playoffs are still attainable. They desperately need to win this game in order to continue in the fight for the AFC wild card, as they're two games behind the Denver Broncos.

The Houston Texans, on the other hand, have been considered a bit of a disappointment in the 2024 season by many analysts, but they still hold an 8-5 record and could lock the AFC South crown depending on other results.

Here's how we see action unfolding

Dolphins vs. Texans prediction

Houston is returning from a bye week and they know that a huge absence will be felt. Safety Jalen Pitre has a pectoral injury and will not play for the remainder of the year. Miami, on the other hand, defeated the New York Jets in Week 14 to keep their playoff push alive.

The line has moved throughout the week. At first, the Texans were considered favorites by 4 points, but they're now a 2.5-point favorite against the Dolphins. Even with Miami holding a losing record, context matters: with Tua Tagovailoa, they have a 5-4 record, and the quarterback is fully healthy.

Mike McDaniel's team has won four of their past five games. They're playing with a sense of urgency and things are clicking: against the Jets, Tyreek Hill had double-digit receptions and crossed the 100-yard mark for the first time since Week 1. Jaylen Waddle is also playing great, and the offensive line is holding its own.

The records between these two teams could be a bit misleading. This is not just because of Tagovailoa's absence, but the Texans, apart from their excellent division record, are 1-3 against teams with a winning record in 2024. Their last win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, one of the league's worst teams, had a 23-20 score.

The bye week could help, but the momentum built by Miami will continue.

Prediction: Dolphins 27, Texans 21

Dolphins vs. Texans fantasy outlook

Hill and Waddle played at a high level, and Miami's passing offense finally gave signs of life. With Jalen Pitre out, we expect this tendency to continue and for the visitors to be efficient in passing the ball.

For the Texans, Nico Collins could have a great day against Miami's secondary: since his return, he has not returned to his level from the start of the season, but remains Stroud's preferable option.

Where to watch Dolphins vs. Texans

Here is how you can follow the action from this Week 1 game:

• Day & Date: Sunday, Dec.15, 2024
• Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Venue: NRG Stadium
• TV: CBS