Fantasy Football Week 15: Start ’em, Sit ’em
Welcome to the first week of fantasy playoffs! (In ESPN leagues, playoffs in Sleeper leagues start week 16. I’m in the playoffs in both.)
Week 14 wasn’t nice in terms of injuries, the most notable being Justin Herbert ending his season short for surgery on his right index finger. Other injuries included CJ Stroud (concussion protocol, unlikely to clear for this week), Alexander Mattison (ankle sprain, short week, don’t count on it), and Justin Jefferson (chest, looking to play Saturday but keep an eye on it).
With playoffs either starting or on the horizon, it’s time to kick things into high gear if you think you have a real shot at either winning or getting in. With bye weeks done for the season, managers can now lean on all their best players to ride out the rest of the year.
Ian’s Record: 64-49
Start ’em
Matthew Stafford (QB, Rams) vs. Commanders
Stafford has been looking like his old self recently as LA continues to gun for that 6 or 7 seed in the NFC. He has 10 touchdowns in his last three contests, most recently shredding the Ravens (even though they lost) for 3 scores on 294 passing yards.
Washington fell apart to the Dolphins before the bye, so I’m expecting Stafford and co. to run them out of California with relative ease to get to 7 wins.
Derrick Henry (RB, Titans) vs. Texans
Henry has run for two touchdowns in each of Tennessee’s last three contests, and even though his yardage totals aren’t huge, those points add up quickly. The king is back.
Houston is a bit stingier than the defenses the Titans have faced in that span, but through HC Mike Vrabel’s use of the wildcat offense, Henry was able to score twice on a Miami defense that had held opposing RBs to the least amount of fantasy points for the previous 10 weeks. Cha-ching.
DK Metcalf (WR, Seahawks) vs. Eagles
He quieted down (probably because Geno didn’t play) after a skyrocketing performance in Dallas, but Metcalf has proven to this point that he’s Seattle’s go-to for big plays. The Seahawks are in trouble, so I’m expecting big plays to happen if they hope to remain alive in the playoff race.
Another team in trouble is the Eagles, as they’ve stumbled their last two games amid the race for the NFC. I think they’ll win this game, but their secondary has been getting absolutely torched. Expect a shootout.
David Njoku (TE, Browns) vs. Bears
Njoku caught six passes from Joe Flacco for 91 yards and two endzone trips during Cleveland’s stunning of the Jaguars, leading Browns receivers. Staying at home this week, I don’t see that connection breaking as they vie for a playoff spot in the AFC.
The Bears have also found their footing a bit, winning their last two games against Detroit and Minnesota. This could turn into a sneaky shootout as well.
Sit ’em
Kyler Murray (QB, Cardinals) vs. 49ers
He had a fun spark when he first returned this year, but I don’t trust Arizona’s offense as a whole against the juggernaut that is the 49ers.
Murray usually relies on a rushing touchdown on top of his passing performance to give him good fantasy numbers, and I don’t see San Francisco allowing him to do that seeing how they’ve only let up one all season. Pass.
Kenneth Walker III (RB, Seahawks) vs. Eagles
Seattle may rely on the run slightly if Drew Lock is back under center, but ever since their bye in week 5, Walker just isn’t the same. He’s surpassed 100 yards only once this season and has just one rushing touchdown (two total) after leaving week 4 with five.
His usage alongside rookie Zach Charbonnet is weird as well, and it’s no secret Philadelphia houses one of the best defensive fronts in the league.
George Pickens (WR, Steelers) at Colts
Not that he’s been playing great at all the past month and a half, but Kenny Pickett being out has hurt Pickens’ fantasy value tremendously.
He just doesn’t scheme well at all with Mitchell Trubisky at QB. He was targeted six times against the Patriots, catching five of them for 19 total yards. He also faces a tough Colts defense on the road, who’s surrendered the fifth least fantasy points to opposing WRs in the last eight weeks. Pass.
Hunter Henry (TE, Patriots) vs. Chiefs
Henry was granted two endzone trips for his birthday last Thursday night, but definitely don’t go chasing that into week 15 against the Chiefs. They’re coming off likely their most frustrating loss of the season and will leave no room for error as New England tries to play spoiler.
No one’s surrendered less fantasy points to opposing TEs in the past nine weeks than Kansas City, and the Pats’ offense will have a much tougher time keeping up with Patrick Mahomes than they did with Mitch Trubisky.
BYES: NONE
