By Andy Goddard @Godsy1985
Week 15 of the NFL season is upon us and this is a great week for football. Not only do we have some intriguing games with plenty of playoff connotations, we get to watch football Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday! But that means you need to set your fantasy line-ups early, especially with it being playoff season!
Regardless of whether you went unbeaten in the regular season or just scraped into the playoffs, your starting line-up this week could be the difference between battling it out for your league championship or ‘making up the numbers’ in the dreaded third place playoff. Should you trust the recent performances of your star receiver, or does the difficult matchup make you think that someone else may be a better option? It’s time for those all important starts/sits!
Don’t forget to keep your #EyesPeeled for tomorrow’s podcast where we dive into a full preview of the weekend games and make sure you head over to Twitter (@F10YFantasy) for “Start ‘em, sit ‘em, GIF ‘EM!”.
Thursday Night Football
LA Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders
Start of the Game
Justin Herbert (QB) – LA Chargers
After a bad performance against the Patriots in week 13, the Chargers were very conservative with Herbert last week against the Falcons, until they had to let him loose late on. The Raiders defence are struggling to stop anyone right now and Herbert should rediscover some of that form from earlier on in the season.
Other Notable Starts
LA Chargers – Justin Herbert (QB), Austin Ekeler (RB), Keenan Allen (WR), Hunter Henry (TE)
Las Vegas Raiders – Josh Jacobs (RB), Darren Waller (TE)
Sit of the Game
Derek Carr (QB) – Las Vegas Raiders
This pick isn’t because I don’t rate Derek Carr, its not even the matchup that concerns me, after all the Chargers defence isn’t exactly elite. This is purely because I think the Raiders will lean on the run this week and that could limit Carr’s production and fantasy value. There could be better options for you at QB.
Other Notable Sits
LA Chargers – N/A
Las Vegas Raiders -Nelson Agholor (WR)
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Saturday Games
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Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos
Start of the Game
Cole Beasley (WR) – Buffalo Bills
Beasley was held in check by Pittsburgh last week when he caught five passes for 41 yards. However, if you look a little deeper he still had 10 targets. Beasley has become a favourite option for quarterback Josh Allen and he should be looking to feed him often in a game that is a better matchup for the wide receiver.
Other Notable Starts
Buffalo Bills – Josh Allen (QB), Stefon Diggs (WR), D/ST
Denver Broncos – Melvin Gordon (RB), Noah Fant (TE)
Sit of the Game
Devin Singletary (RB) – Buffalo Bills
In week 14, Singletary saw his number of carries nearly halved in favour of Zack Moss. It would appear that Buffalo are now a two-back system and this only hurts Singletary’s fantasy value at a critical time.
Other Notable Sits
Buffalo Bills – Zack Moss (RB)
Denver Broncos – Jerry Jeudy (WR)
Carolina Panthers @ Green Bay Packers
Start of the Game
Aaron Rodgers (QB) – Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers is firmly back in the MVP conversation in part due to the 26 touchdowns he has tossed in the last eight games. He also has 10 games this season with at least 3 touchdown throws. He is a must start this week as the touchdowns should keep flowing.
Other Notable Starts
Carolina Panthers – Teddy Bridgewater (QB), Mike Davis (RB), Robby Anderson (WR), D.J. Moore (WR)
Green Bay Packers – Aaron Jones (RB), Davante Adams (WR), Robert Tonyan (TE)
Sit of the Game
Ian Thomas (TE) – Carolina Panthers
Thomas caught three of four targets for 20 yards in the week 14 loss to the Broncos which tied his season high for yards. With that sort of production you will want to be looking elsewhere at the tight end position.
Other Notable Sits
Carolina Panthers – N/A
Green Bay Packers – D/ST
Sunday Early Games
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
Start of the Game
Damien Harris (RB) – New England Patriots
Harris should be the lead back again in an offense that is struggling to get very much going through the air. The best way to beat the Dolphins is on the ground and the best way for the Pats to win is by the same method. We should see plenty of Harris this week in a must win game for New England.
Other Notable Starts
New England Patriots – D/ST
Miami Dolphins – DeVante Parker (WR)
Sit of the Game
Tua Tagovailoa (QB) – Miami Dolphins
The Patriots may well have a strong history of not playing well in Miami but someone else has a strong history of stopping and beating rookie quarterbacks, that man is of course, Bill Belichick. The Patriots defence can be great one week and then average the next but they held rookie QB Justin Herbert and the LA Chargers to zero points just two weeks ago! Far too risky!
Other Notable Sits
New England Patriots – Cam Newton (QB), All (WR)
Miami Dolphins – DeAndre Washington (RB)
Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Football Team
Start of the Game
J.D. McKissic (RB) – Washington Football Team
This pick is a little dependant on Antonio Gibson and his injury but McKissic still has appeal either way. The Seahawks have allowed the fifth most fantasy points to opposing running backs over the past month and have also allowed 22 receptions and a pair of receiving touchdowns during that time. McKissic could see a big involvement in the passing game as well as on the ground.
Other Notable Starts
Seattle Seahawks – Russell Wilson (QB), Chris Carson (RB), DK Metcalf (WR), Tyler Lockett (WR)
Washington Football Team – Terry McLaurin (WR)
Sit of the Game
Logan Thomas (TE) – Washington Football Team
In week 14, Thomas caught six passes for 43 yards, leading the team with seven targets. He has become a key part of the Washington offence but the Seahawks defence are actually pretty good at defending tight ends with healthy players at the safety and linebacker position.
Other Notable Sits
Seattle Seahawks – Will Dissly (TE), D/ST
Washington Football Team – D/ST
San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys
Start of the Game
Jeff Wilson (RB) – San Francisco 49ers
Another pick that is dependant on injury. Raheem Mostert is injured yet again and his status for Sunday’s game is unclear at the time of writing. If Mostert cannot go then Wilson should be the lead back against a Cowboys defence that is ranked 32nd against the run. He has appeal even if Mostert is back as Wilson appears to be the back of choice in goal line situations.
Other Notable Starts
San Francisco 49ers – Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
Dallas Cowboys – Ezekiel Elliott (RB), Amari Cooper (WR)
Sit of the Game
Jordon Reed (TE) – San Francisco 49ers
Reed is sharing game time with Ross Dwelley and although Reed is the receiving threat, he has a major downside with Nick Mullens failing to get the ball to him consistently enough to trust.
Other Notable Sits
San Francisco 49ers – Nick Mullens (QB)
Dallas Cowboys – Dalton Schultz (TE), D/ST
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
Start of the Game
David Montgomery (RB) – Chicago Bears
Montgomery has posted 409 all purpose yards over the last three games, including 4 touchdowns. The Bears offensive line is playing much better and the production is showing as Montgomery has become the focal point of the offense. The Vikings are allowing the 13th fewest fantasy points to opposing backs but have allowed four touchdowns in the last four games.
Other Notable Starts
Chicago Bears – Cole Kmet (TE)
Minnesota Vikings – Dalvin Cook (RB), Adam Thielen (WR), Justin Jefferson (WR), Irv Smith Jr (TE)
Sit of the Game
Kirk Cousins (QB) – Minnesota Vikings
Cousins hot streak ended last week against the Bucs and it doesn’t look likely to improve this week against a talented Bears defence. The Vikings will probably be running the ball more often which will also hurt Cousins’ fantasy value.
Other Notable Sits
Chicago Bears – Mitchell Trubisky (QB)
Minnesota Vikings – D/ST
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Baltimore Ravens
Start of the Game
Lamar Jackson (QB) – Baltimore Ravens
Despite Lamar being a very unreliable thrower, over the past few weeks he has shown once again that is one of the best running backs in the league. Against the Browns he amassed 124 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground and added 163 yards through the air. Hopefully his ‘cramps’ have healed and you can run with Jackson in week 15!
Other Notable Starts
Jacksonville Jaguars – James Robinson (RB)
Baltimore Ravens – JK Dobbins (RB), Marquise Brown (WR), Mark Andrews (TE), D/ST
Sit of the Game
DJ Chark (WR) – Jacksonville Jaguars
Gardner Minshew returned at QB last week and is going to be the starter in week 15. Minshew and Chark struggled to get on the same page against the Titans and Chark finished with two receptions on nine targets for just 16 yards. Its a difficult matchup against a tough Ravens defence so it will be hard to produce any real fantasy value, regardless of the number of targets.
Other Notable Sits
Jacksonville Jaguars – Gardner Minshew (QB)
Baltimore Ravens – N/A
Detroit Lions @ Tennessee Titans
Start of the Game
D’Andre Swift (RB) – Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford is dealing with an injury and is unlikely to practice all week. This may leave Chase Daniel at QB and a heavy run game for Swift and the Lions. He is dangerous in both the run and passing game and commands a large majority of the work at running back.
Other Notable Starts
Detroit Lions – Marvin Jones Jr (WR), T.J. Hockenson (TE)
Tennessee Titans – Ryan Tannehill (QB), Derrick Henry (RB), A.J. Brown (WR), Corey Davis (WR)
Sit of the Game
Jonnu Smith (TE) – Tennessee Titans
Smith caught both of his targets for 20 yards in the week 14 game against the Jaguars but he was out targeted by Geoff Swaim, who also caught a touchdown pass. Smith has recorded more than 2 receptions just once since week 6 so is too unreliable to start.
Other Notable Sits
Detroit Lions – D/ST
Tennessee Titans – N/A
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons
Start of the Game
Tom Brady (QB) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In the week 14 win over the Vikings, Brady went 15 of 23 for 196 yards and two touchdowns. This week he has a very favourable matchup against a Falcons defence that will struggle to cover all of Brady’s weapons. He may not get 300 yards but he is a lock for multiple touchdown throws.
Other Notable Starts
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ronald Jones (RB), Mike Evans (WR), Chris Godwin (WR), Antonio Brown (WR), Rob Gronkowski (TE)
Atlanta Falcons – Calvin Ridley (WR), Russell Gage (WR)
Sit of the Game
Matt Ryan (QB) – Atlanta Falcons
Things have gone downhill fast for Ryan and its no coincidence that it has happened at the same time as Julio Jones missing through injury. He had three interceptions in week 14 and has been held to one of fewer passing touchdowns three times over the past four games. Sit him!
Other Notable Sits
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – N/A
Atlanta Falcons – Todd Gurley (RB), Hayden Hurst (TE)
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
Start of the Game
Jonathan Taylor (RB) – Indianapolis Colts
Taylor had a career game in week 14 when he carried the ball 20 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns, adding 15 receiving yards. The Texans defence ranks towards the bottom of every category against opposing running backs so he should have another very good day.
Other Notable Starts
Houston Texans – Brandin Cooks (WR)
Indianapolis Colts – Philip Rivers (QB), Nyheim Hines (RB), T.Y. Hilton (WR)
Sit of the Game
Deshaun Watson (QB) – Houston Texans
Despite the obvious talent the Watson possesses, the Texans receiving core is diminishing week on week. He could be spending a lot of the time on the bench in this one as the Colts will look to run the ball often leaving Watson with very few chances. It doesn’t look to be a good outing for the Texans QB.
Other Notable Sits
Houston Texans – D/ST
Indianapolis Colts – N/A
For the latest on each player’s start and sit status, make sure you checkout @F10YFantasy on Twitter. Remember, keep those #EyesPeeled.