Fantasy Football Week 15 Starts, Sits: Settling Toughest Lineup Decisions
All right, the fun and games officially are over. It’s winning time.
If you’re reading this, it likely means you’re in the championship or semifinal round of your fantasy football playoffs. As such, it’s extra important you make the right roster decisions to put yourself in the best position to win some hardware.
That’s a lot of pressure, but we’re here to help. Here are our starts and sits for the remaining Week 15 slate, which, as a reminder, begins Saturday night with the Miami Dolphins playing the New York Jets.
STARTS
Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins
Cousins has underperformed a bit in the last two weeks, but Monday night has all the makings of a bounce-back, as the Carolina Panthers own the NFL’s 30th-ranked pass defense and have allowed 75 points over their last two road games. Carolina also has a decent run defense, so expect Cousins to air it out in primetime.
Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons
A good rule of thumb: Always start whatever running back is playing the San Francisco 49ers. This week, it’s Freeman who gets to feast on a run defense that’s allowed an incredible 171 yards per game and a league-high 19 rushing touchdowns. Freeman is a lock despite his poor Week 14.
LeGarrette Blount, RB, New England Patriots
Sunday has the makings of a big day for Blount, as the Denver Broncos have the NFL’s best pass defense but are allowing 127 rushing yards per game, 29th in the NFL. The Patriots’ ever-changing game plans are dictated by opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, so we should see a run-heavy approach in Denver.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Hill has become a major weapon in Kansas City’s offense, and no defense has allowed more fantasy points to opposing wideouts than the Tennessee Titans. There’s also this: The Titans are the only NFL team to allow multiple punt return touchdowns (two) this season. Just saying.
Ladarius Green, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Green laid a dud last weekend after a monster Week 13, but we like his odds this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, who allowed two touchdowns to Pittsburgh tight ends when the teams met in Week 2.
SITS
Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
Sure, Stafford is a dark horse MVP candidate. He also has an injured finger on his throwing hand that will force him to wear a special glove and faces a New York Giants defense that’s allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs this season. You can do better this week.
Spencer Ware, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Tennessee is weak against the pass, but it boasts an excellent run defense, allowing just 86.6 yards per game on the ground. Ware hasn’t exactly inspired confidence lately, either, rushing for just 56 yards on 20 carries in Week 14 against the Oakland Raiders’ mediocre run D.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
Hopkins isn’t getting it done right now, and you shouldn’t start him just because he’s facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Only one opposing wideout (Adam Thielen) has tallied 10 or more fantasy points (standard leagues) against the Jags in the last five weeks.
Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets
Marshall has seen his targets decrease in three consecutive weeks, as Robby Anderson has emerged as the new favorite target of second-year QB Bryce Petty. Marshall officially is touchdown-dependent, and with only three scores in 13 games, we’re not rolling the dice.
Coby Fleener, TE, New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees hasn’t thrown a passing touchdown since Week 12, and the Saints are on the road against an Arizona Cardinals defense that’s surrendered the fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. No, thanks.
Click for our DraftKings picks for Week 15 >>
Thumbnail photo via Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
