We have reached the fantasy football playoffs this week. Congratulations to everyone who made the playoffs this year. It is not an easy task to win a fantasy championship and obviously one of the steps is you have to make it to the dance to have a chance. Now let’s get started on who to start and sit for Week 15
The season can be a grind at times, from doing waiver claims to looking at rankings and then finally deciding who to start. It can seem difficult, but that is where the staff at DrRoto.com comes in to help you. We have everything you need to make the tough decisions here in one place. I will be writing this start/sit article each week to help you make the tough lineup decisions. You can also join our members-only Discord channel and ask us personalized questions anytime you want on there.
Keep in mind before I get into my starts and sits this week that certain players should always be in your starting lineup. Please don’t try to get cute and sit the likes of Justin Jefferson, Christian McCaffrey or Patrick Mahomes. They are in your lineup regardless of matchups. The decisions I am here to help you with are for the players drafted in the middle to late rounds of your draft or added from waivers who you aren’t sure whether to trust.
Week 15 Quarterback Starts
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jordan Love has an excellent matchup this week against a struggling and banged-up Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary. Love has been playing well recently, and it seems like he is on the same page with his receivers now. Love currently ranks as the QB10 and I believe this will be another big week for Love and the Packers’ offense.
Matthew Stafford, L.A. Rams vs. Washington Commanders
Matthew Stafford is coming off an excellent game last week against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense where he threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns, and this week he gets to face one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL in the Washington Commanders. Stafford currently ranks as just the QB17 this season, but I expect Stafford and the Rams’ offense to have a huge Week 15.
Week 15 Quarterback Sits
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions
Russell Wilson has struggled the last two weeks now, and I believe he will struggle again this week on the road against the Detroit Lions defense. I believe Wilson will throw for under 225 yards and one touchdown this week, leaving him outside the top 12 QBs.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints vs. New York Giants
Derek Carr has been up and down all season, and he has been struggling even more recently. It does not help that he has been injured for most of the season. This week, he gets a good matchup against the New York Giants’ defense, but I just cannot trust him at this point. Carr currently ranks as just the QB21 on the season, and I would sit him this week if you have another option.
Week 15 Running Back Starts
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals
Ty Chandler is an extremely enticing start this week with Alexander Mattison missing this week with an injury. Chandler will get the majority of the carries for the Minnesota Vikings, and I always look for the running backs that will get the most volume each week. Chandler also has a favorable matchup against a struggling Cincinnati Bengals defense this week.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders at L.A. Rams
Antonio Gibson should get the start this week with Brian Robinson dealing with a hamstring injury. If Robinson is out, then Gibson will see the majority of the carries in a favorable matchup against the L.A. Rams defense. I believe he will get 100+ total yards with a touchdown this week.
Week 15 Running Back Sits
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
I have Dameon Pierce as a sit this week because it looks like the Houston Texans are going to have a timeshare in their backfield moving forward with Devin Singletary. He is also facing a tough Tennessee Titans run defense this week. I expect Pierce and the Texans’ offense to struggle this week, especially if C.J. Stroud is out, so just be prepared for less than 100 yards and hope for a touchdown.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
Gus Edwards is a player who needs to score touchdowns to come through for his fantasy managers each week. He is now sharing carries with Keaton Mitchell and quarterback Lamar Jackson, which will make for a messy backfield situation for the rest of the season. Edwards also faces a good Jacksonville Jaguars run defense in Week 15, so expect him to struggle if he does not get double-digit touches or score multiple touchdowns, both unlikely outcomes.
Week 15 Wide Receiver Starts
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jayden Reed is one of my favorite rookies this year. He is a dual threat with his rushing and receiving ability. He has built a nice rapport with quarterback Jordan Love this season. Last week, he did not rack up a lot of receiving yards with eight receptions on 10 targets for just 27 yards, but because of his rushing ability he was able to have a nice fantasy performance with four carries for 38 yards and a touchdown. He is currently ranked as the WR31 in PPR scoring and he gets to face a banged-up Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense. I expect Reed to see a lot of targets this week, and it is possible that he could go over 100 receiving yards and over 40 rushing yards with a touchdown in Week 15.
Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys at Buffalo Bills
Yes, Brandin Cooks is on my start list again this week. The Cowboys have one of the best offenses in the NFL, and I can easily see Cooks getting 10+ targets this week against a struggling Buffalo Bills secondary. I believe Cooks could have five receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown this week.
Week 15 Wide Receiver Sits
George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts
George Pickens has been up and down this season, and it does not help that quarterback Kenny Pickett is going to miss the game this week. Pickens also faces a tough matchup this week against the Indianapolis Colts’ secondary in Week 15. I expect the Steelers offense to continue to struggle this week, so I would sit Pickens if you have another option.
Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys
Gabe Davis gets a tough matchup this week against the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary. It also does not help that Davis got zero catches on two targets last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Davis is currently ranked as just the WR40 in PPR scoring, and he gets a Cowboys defense that is ranked in the top five in most defensive categories this year. I would leave Davis on the bench this week.
Week 15 Tight End Starts
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
Isaiah Likely had a nice game last week against the L.A. Rams with five receptions on seven targets for 83 yards and a touchdown. Likely is becoming one of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s favorite targets with starting tight end Mark Andrews still out with an injury. I expect Likely to get five receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown this week.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns
Cole Kmet is the Chicago Bears’ number two receiver right now, behind only D.J. Moore. Kmet had five receptions on six targets for 66 yards last week against a good Detroit Lions defense. I am expecting him to have seven receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown this week.
Week 15 Tight End Sits
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys
Rookie Dalton Kincaid has been great since he took over as the starting tight end in Week 8, but now that Dawson Knox is back from his injury, it seems like this will be a timeshare at tight end, and I am not a fan of a timeshare at any position. Kincaid will still have some nice fantasy performances down the stretch, but good luck picking those weeks. Kincaid ranks as the TE11 in PPR scoring, but he is facing a tough Dallas Cowboys defense this week, so I would sit him this week if you have a better option.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
Dalton Schultz has missed the last two weeks with an injury, but he appears set to return this week. I would normally be excited that he is coming back, but it looks like quarterback C.J. Stroud will miss this week’s game and backup quarterback Davis Mills will have to start this week. Despite missing two games Schultz is currently ranked as the TE12, but with Mills starting at quarterback this week, I just can’t trust him. I would sit Schultz if Stroud is out this week.
Week 15 Defense Starts
L.A. Rams Defense vs. Washington Commanders
The L.A. Rams defense gets an excellent matchup this week against a struggling Washington Commanders offense. I am expecting the Rams’ defense to get at least five sacks and two turnovers in this game. They will put pressure on Sam Howell all day long, so I would start the Rams’ defense in every league I can this week.
Miami Dolphins Defense, Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets
The Miami Dolphins’ defense has been getting better as we move toward the end of the season, and this will be a great matchup for them against the New York Jets. The Jets’ offense looked better last week, but they give up a ton of sacks and a couple of turnovers every game. The Dolphins’ defense will get four sacks and two turnovers, so I would pick them up this week and start them if they are available in your league.
Week 15 Defense Sits
New York Jets Defense, New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
The New York Jets get the tough task of trying to stop the vaunted Maimi Dolphins offense this week. The Jets shut down C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans offense last week, but this is a completely different offense they will be facing this week with the Dolphins. I believe this game will get out of hand early, as the Miami Dolphins first-ranked offense can score at any time. Find another defense to start this week if possible.
Buffalo Bills Defense, Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys
I know the Buffalo Bills’ defense was a popular defense to start the season and they have been a solid fantasy defense this season, but this week they get a tough matchup against Dak Prescott and the top-five-ranked Cowboys offense. This game is going to be a shootout, and I would sit the Bills’ defense if you have a better option this week.
Good luck in Week 15, everyone!
