Fantasy sit-start: Lineup advice for every Week 15 game
Bears vs. Lions: Start Tarik Cohen, who played his second-most snaps (37) of the season last week, turning 14 touches into 85 yards. He had a couple of touchdowns taken away by a penalty and a review while also getting tackled at the two-yard line, so his day was almost much bigger. The game script (Chicago is 5.5-point underdogs) sets up for the passing-down back to get plenty of work, and Detroit has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to RBs this season.
Start Theo Riddick, who’s gone from underused all season to totaling 30 touches with three scores over the past two weeks. Ameer Abdullah is likely to return to a backup role.
Chargers vs. Chiefs: Start Tyrell Williams, who’s been boom-or-bust, but his 18.1 YPC mark ranks No. 3 in the NFL, and the Chiefs have allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Sit Alex Smith, who’s thrown for one TD or fewer in three of the last four games, including zero last week at home against arguably the league’s worst defense. Meanwhile, the Chargers have ceded just 6.4 YPA and the third-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Eagles vs. Giants: Start Jay Ajayi, who saw the most snaps (43) and carries (15) last week since joining Philly by a wide margin. He’s gotten 7.0 YPC in an Eagles uniform, and the team figures to rely heavier on the ground game with Carson Wentz out. The Giants are a perfect matchup for Ajayi to make a major impact in the heart of the fantasy playoffs.
Start Sterling Shepard, who was a no-show last week but is hopefully healthier now and remains New York’s clear No. 1 wideout. The Giants figure to be playing catch up and throwing frequently in the second half as 7.5-point underdogs.
[Week 15 rankings: Overall | PPR | QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | FLEX | DST | Ks]
Packers vs. Panthers: Start Jordy Nelson. He’s been worthless with Aaron Rodgers out, but the franchise QB is returning, and while it will take a bit of a leap of faith, Nelson is firmly back on the fantasy scene.
Pay up for Devin Funchess in DFS. He’s been highly productive since Kelvin Benjamin was traded, scoring four touchdowns over the past four games despite going up against some tough corners. The Packers have yielded the most fantasy points to wideouts over the past eight weeks (and are especially vulnerable on the outside), so Funchess should be treated as a borderline top-five WR in what should turn into a shootout.
Bengals vs. Vikings: Fade A.J. Green in DFS. He’s averaging his lowest ypg (73.1) since his rookie season and will be shadowed by Xavier Rhodes. Green owners won’t get a reprieve in Week 16 either, when he has a date set with Darius Slay.
Dolphins vs. Bills: Start Kenyan Drake in DFS. His price tag hasn’t caught up to his production yet, as Drake has racked up 334 yards from scrimmage and a score over the past two games. He’s averaged 4.8 YPC on the year and faces a Bills defense that’s allowed the most fantasy points to running backs. Even if Damien Williams returns, consider Drake a top-10 back this week (and top-five if Williams sits again).
Texans vs. Jaguars: Sit Lamar Miller. He’s averaged 3.1 YPC over the last four games and hasn’t topped 75 rushing yards in a game this season. Houston’s implied total (13.5 points) is easily the lowest of the week.
Start Dede Westbrook. The rookie has averaged 9.0 targets over the last three games and topped 80 yards with a score last week. The Texans have allowed 8.0 YPA, so Westbrook is a strong WR2.
Jets vs. Saints: Sit all Jets, although there’s some hope Robby Anderson will continue to show a strong connection with new starter Bryce Petty like he has in the past. Otherwise, avoid this team at all costs during a road game in which they are 16-point underdogs.
Start the Saints defense, as few DSTs have seen better setups all season. Also treat Mark Ingram as a top-three RB this week.
Cardinals vs. Washington: Start Ricky Seals-Jones. His snap count remains modest (two other Cardinals tight ends played more last week), but at least he runs a route most of the time he’s on the field, and RSJ has recorded a catch that’s gone for at least 20 yards in each of the past four games. Moreover, Washington has been burned for the third-most fantasy points against tight ends.
Sit Kirk Cousins, who’s dealing with shoddy offensive line play and badly misses Chris Thompson. Arizona’s defense ranks No. 5 in DVOA.
Ravens vs. Browns: Start Alex Collins, who has hit paydirt five times over the past four games despite Javorius Allen stealing three scores over that span. Collins ranks top-10 in Juke Rate, leads the NFL in carries for 15+ yards, and Cleveland’s once strong run defense has crumbled of late thanks to injuries. He’s a top-10 RB start in Week 15.
Start Josh Gordon, who overcame windy conditions to produce again last week, although he was quiet over the second half after a hot start. The Ravens secondary has proven beatable with Jimmy Smith out, and Gordon has fast become a must start.
Rams vs. Seahawks: Sit Sammy Watkins, who’s scored in five of his past six games but has averaged just 2.7 catches over that span and will see fewer targets with Robert Woods set to return.
Start Paul Richardson, who has an MVP candidate throwing to him in what could turn into a shootout against a Rams secondary missing their top two corners. Richardson has seen seven or more targets in three of his past four games.
Patriots vs. Steelers: Start Chris Hogan, who’s coming off a near goose egg during his return to action last week and will now be sharing looks with Rob Gronkowski, who’s back from his suspension. But Hogan had another week to get back to health (and get reacclimated with the offense), remains a preferred option in the red zone, and this game features an over/under of 54 points, which is by far the highest of the week.
Start JuJu Smith-Schuster, who will return from his own suspension and should immediately go back to being the team’s No. 2 receiver (Martavis Bryant saw 10 targets last week and accounted for 33 of Ben Roethlisberger’s 506 passing yards). No team has allowed more fantasy points to WRs in the slot this season than the Patriots, so fire up Smith-Schuster if he’s a go Sunday.
Titans vs. 49ers: Sit DeMarco Murray, who’s been playing banged up and has gotten a paltry 2.9 YPC on the road this season. Derrick Henry remains a threat for touches, and the once sieve-like SF run defense has turned it around (thank you Reuben Foster), as they’ve yielded the fewest fantasy points to running backs since Week 9.
I can only assume Jimmy Garoppolo is being started in every seasonal league to go along with 100% DFS ownership, so digging deeper, start San Francisco’s improving defense against a QB in Marcus Mariota who owns a 3:11 TD:INT on the road this season. Another sneaky start is Garrett Celek, who outsnapped George Kittle 61-20 last week and continues to show good chemistry with Jimmy G.
Cowboys vs. Raiders: Start Alfred Morris. Rod Smith blew up for 160 yards last week, but Morris continued to dominate the snaps and remains Dallas’ RB1 for one more week. Oakland ranks dead last in defense DVOA.
Start Michael Crabtree, who’s coming off a disappointing game but did see 13 targets and should continue to be heavily involved with Amari Cooper out. Crabtree is a good bet to score Sunday night.
Falcons vs. Buccaneers: Start Mohamed Sanu, whose career year should continue with the Bucs likely paying most of their attention to Julio Jones, who torched them for 253 yards and two TDs a few weeks back. Tampa Bay has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Start Peyton Barber. Doug Martin wasn’t given a single touch after fumbling last week, and he sports a 3.1 YPC mark on the year. Barber is five years younger and totaled 143 yards during his lone start, so TB should see what they have in him down the stretch and make him their lead back.
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