Fantasy Football Week 15 Starts, Sits: Advice For Toughest Lineup Decisions
Fantasy football championships are at stake in a lot of leagues this week, making start/sit decisions more important than ever.
Here’s our start/sit advice for Week 15.
Quarterbacks
Start: Alex Smith, Carson Palmer, Russell Wilson, Blake Bortles, Ben Roethlisberger, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matthew Stafford, Tyrod Taylor, Kirk Cousins
Sit: Marcus Mariota, Johnny Manziel, Eli Manning, Sam Bradford, Matt Ryan
Wilson has 16 touchdown passes in his last four games with another excellent matchup against a terrible Cleveland Browns defense. Bortles has been a fantasy stud all season and will take on a struggling Atlanta Falcons defense Sunday. Roethlisberger has a difficult matchup against the Broncos’ No. 1-ranked pass defense, but he’s matchup-proof given the elite weapons he has at receiver and his recent performances.
Mariota is playing on the road against a good Patriots pass defense that allows 19.6 points per game, while Manning should have a tough time against a fantastic Panthers pass defense that ranks first in interceptions and third in sacks.
Running Backs
Start: Lamar Miller, DeAngelo Williams, Denard Robinson, David Johnson, James White, Jeremy Hill, Doug Martin, Charcandrick West, Tim Hightower, Melvin Gordon
Sit: Darren McFadden, C.J. Anderson, Ronnie Hillman, Frank Gore, DeMarco Murray
Miller, Johnson, Martin and Hill have favorable matchups and all should be started, particularly in PPR fantasy leagues. Hightower will get the start for the New Orleans Saints and is playing against a Detroit Lions defense allowing the most rushing touchdowns. Gordon, who’s struggled throughout his rookie campaign, could finally breakout versus a Miami Dolphins defense giving up the third-most rushing yards per game.
Broncos running backs Hillman and Anderson are splitting carries and not being productive when they do get the ball. Denver’s offense has struggled as a whole of late, too, and it has a less-than-favorable matchup against the Steelers. DeMarco Murray also isn’t worth starting versus a stingy Arizona Cardinals defense.
Wide Receivers
Start: Doug Baldwin, Sammy Watkins, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amedola, Jeremy Maclin, DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr., Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead, John Brown, Golden Tate, Robert Woods
Sit: Dez Bryant, Jordan Matthews, Stefon Diggs, Kamar Aiken, Anquan Boldin
Beckham has a tough matchup against elite Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, but he’s been too dominant of late — six 100-yard performances and eight touchdowns in the last six games — to sit in any type of fantasy league.
Patriots receivers also are a good play this week against a Tennessee Titans defense giving up the second-most yards per pass play.
Bryant and Bolden have tough matchups against good pass defenses in the Jets and Bengals, respectively.
Tight End
Start: Richard Rodgers, Julius Thomas, Eric Ebron, Benjamin Watson, Jordan Reed
Sit: Jason Witten, Coby Fleener, Charles Clay, Kyle Rudolph
Rodgers has a good matchup against an Oakland Raiders defense giving up the most points to opposing tight ends in standard scoring leagues. Ebron is playing a Saints defense allowing the second-most passing yards per game.
Witten has been pretty reliable all season, but he’s a risky start versus a New York Jets defense that ranks fifth in both yards and points allowed per game.
Thumbnail photo via Stew Milne/USA TODAY Sports Images
