Fantasy Football Start / Sit: Who should you start in Week 15?
Quarterback
Automatic Starts: Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson, Tom Brady, Justin Herbert
Start of the Week: Jalen Hurts @ Arizona Cardinals
I’m going to be bold on this one, outside the automatic starters in only his second NFL start Jalen Hurts is my start of the week. The Arizona Cardinals have not given up many points at all to the QB position lately but it doesn’t worry me, you could say the same thing about the Saints before last week’s game they’ve, been a dominant defense all season.
The Cardinals shut down Daniel Jones last week but it’s clear he’s not healthy. They didn’t give up much to Goff the week previous – instead they were gashed on the ground. Hurts has the tools to adapt to the weakness of the defense and I foresee him running up another big game and helping to steer you into the championship game, if you need a streaming QB Hurts should be at the top of your list.
Other notable starts:
Jared Goff v New York Jets
Goff is a hard QB to work out, he has some really big highs but some really bad lows so finding him on a good week isn’t easy. Luckily if you own Goff, this week you can start him with more confidence than you usually would. Welcome in the New York Football Jets who remain winless and locked on to the No.1 pick in the draft. Russell Wilson and his receivers had a field day last week scoring 40 points and tossing 4 TDs to 4 different receivers. Kupp & Woods will be licking their lips and Goff should move the ball with ease. He’s even had rushing TD upside lately scoring a rushing TD in both of his previous 2 contests.
Ben Roethlisberger @ Cincinnati Bengals
Roethlisberger has already thrashed the Bengals this season. Back in week 10 Big Ben tossed 4 TD passes in a 36-10 rout of their division opponents and make no mistake about it they will be playing pissed off this week. Losing their las 2 games having started the season 11-0 they have now lost the No.1 seed and a possible bye week to the Chiefs. They will look to bounce back in a big way this week and I see them getting up early and keep their foot on the Bengals throats. Big Ben and his receivers are all in play for this big contest.
Ryan Tannehill v Detroit Lions
So it’s been the Derrick Henry show lately in Tennessee but you’d be wrong if you thought that meant Tannehill isn’t a startable QB along side him. Tannehill continues to impress and put up decent fantasy points himself averaging over 25 points in the past 4 games as he ranks the QB5 over that span. This week’s opponents the Detroit Lions give up the 7th most points to fantasy QBs so it’s highly likely there’s more success for Henry & Tannehill as the titans fight for the AFC South title.
Sits – Cam Newton, Tua Tagovailoa, Daniel Jones
Running Back
Automatic Starts: Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, Chris Carson, Josh Jacobs, James Robinson, Austin Ekeler, Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt
Start of the Week: Cam Akers v New York Jets
Cam Akers up until week 12 was the RB66, labelled a bust by many and frustrated owners everywhere for not being able to secure a workload big enough to be in play for fantasy. Fast forward to the present day and in the last 3 games he’s the RB10. It’s been night and day his production as he’s exploded into the starting role for the Rams and if he’s on your roster and you’re still in the playoffs you have a potential league winner. A huge 81% of the snaps in week 14 and 29 rushes is a great sign going forward and this week the Rams should thrash the Jets meaning lots more opportunities for Akers to impress.
Other notable starts:
David Montgomery @ Minnesota Vikings
Only 1 RB has produced more PPR fantasy points than David Montgomery in the past 3 games and that’s Derrick (King) Henry. Having scored 76.9 points in that span he’s miles ahead of 3rd place Nick Chubb and he should be one of the first selections for your fantasy teams this week. Chicago got rolling early last week behind Montgomery’s rushes and they will look to imply this against the Vikings in a NFC North showdown with huge playoff implications. The Vikings give up the 13th fewest points to fantasy RBs but allowed Ronald Jones to have some big plays as he rushed for 80 yards and a score at 4.4 per carry. If I own him he’s starting in all my semi finals lineups.
JK Dobbins v Jacksonville Jaguars
Derrick (King) Henry absolutely destroyed the Jags last week to the tune of 215 yards at a huge 8.27 yards per carry and 2 scores. The Jags defense must be hurting by that display and will look to salvage some pride this week. Uh oh here comes the no.1 rushing team in the NFL the Baltimore Ravens. JK Dobbins lead the Ravens backfield on Monday night and the signs are all pointing to a blow up game here for Dobbins. It won’t be pretty but Lamar Jackson, Dobbins & Gus Edwards will run all over the Jags and I think they are all in play for fantasy this week with Dobbins my star selection.
Miles Sanders @ Arizona Cardinals
I may need to write this in my twitter bio ‘I must not drop Miles Sander again’. A huge error cost me my place in a few semi finals last week by dropping Sanders in a game I thought he would get nowhere against an awesome Saints defense. I couldn’t have been more run and the long TD run had me on my knees crying inside wondering what an earth I was thinking. Don’t make the same mistake I did, get Sanders in your lineups this week. With the mobile QB Hurts giving defenses something else to worry about Sanders will do the business against the Cardinals who rank dead in the middle of the pack against fantasy RBs.
Sits – Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Zeke Elliott, Todd Gurley
Wide Receiver
Automatic Starts: Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, Terry McLaurin, Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones (If healthy), Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Allen Robinson, Michael Thomas, AJ Brown, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen
Start of the Week: Marquise Brown v Jacksonville Jaguars
I’ve hated owning Marquise ‘so-called Hollywood’ Brown this season. I really thought he could kick on and end as a low end WR1/high end WR2. I was wrong and him along with the Ravens passing game has been bitterly disappointing. He’s now back in the starting conversation with a TD catch in each of the last 3 weeks, he’s the QB14 over that stretch of games (where I hoped he might be all season). The Jags are getting torched on the ground but they don’t fair much better through the air where they rank 8th worst in points allowed to fantasy WRs. He’s in play for at least a flex spot this week with big upside.
Other notable starts:
TY Hilton v Houston Texans
Talking of another WR I was excited to take in a lot of redrafts this season, we move onto TY Hilton. Oh TY you’ve decided to show up a little bit too late for me! If you are still rostering TY and are in the semi finals then TY Hilton is a smash play this week, he LOVES playing the Texans. He always torches the Texans and this was no different 2 weeks ago where he caught 8 passes off 11 targets for his first 100+ yard game of the season. He’ll do it again this week, make sure you’re starting him.
Diontae Johnson @ Cincinnati Bengals
There’s been a lot of hate for Dontae Johnson on twitter already this week. He’s cost a lot of people their playoff matchups oops. If you managed to get through to the semi finals this week get him back in for a bounce back against the friendly Bengals. Johnson had a monster game in week 10 where he caught 12 passes for 111 yards and a score. He’s too good to not get over the drops issue and big Ben needs him going forward into the playoffs.
KeKe Coutee @ Indianapolis Colts
This one is pretty simple and I’m excited to feature Keke Coutee back in my starts of the week for this important playoff week. Coutee dominated the Colts in week 13 going for 141 yards on 8 catches and if the Texans are to put up points this week it will be mainly thanks to Watson & Coutee once again. He was disappointing last week only rescuing his week with a TD pass on just 3 catches but with Cooks looking iffy again this week Keke is in a great position to have a big game and help push you towards that all important championship game.
Sits – NY Jets Receivers, Devante Parker, DJ Chark
Tight End
Automatic Starts: Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, TJ Hockenson
Start of the Week: Jared Cook v New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans TE has been a disappointment this season. Only registering 28 catches for 350 yards he isn’t coming close to hitting the same highs as last year. Still he should be rostered and he’s on a little hot streak with back to back games with TD grabs, he’s my pick to make it 3 with a huge showdown with the Chiefs. Kansas City are giving up the 7th most points to fantasy TEs and allowed Mike Gesicki to have 2 TD grabs last week before going off injured late on. Cook is a great play for this contest which could end up high scoring.
Other notable starts:
Irv Smith v Chicago Bears
Irv Smith out of nowhere having himself a nice fantasy day. Smith leading the Vikings receivers with 63 yards a score against Tampa Bay he’s firmly back in the starting conversation this week. Kyle Rudolph starts the week with a DNP which is a good sign for Smith owners who can start him again this week against the Bears who give up the 4th most points to fantasy TEs.
Cole Kmet @ Minnesota Vikings
I had Kmet as one of my starts of the week last week and although he didn’t end up producing a big fantasy day there are some really good signs for owners. Firstly he was up to a season high of 86% of snaps, then he saw a season high tying 7 targets which shows the confidence that Mitch Trubisky is showing in him. Chicago take a visit to the Vikings this week who are in the middle of the pack (16th) against fantasy TEs so there’s more opportunities on the horizon for Kmet, he’s due a breakout game sooner rather than later.
Hayden Hurst v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I started with a bold pick of Jalen Hurts and now I’m finishing with perhaps a bolder one in selecting Hayden Hurst. He’s virtually gone missing the last 4 games averaging just 1.5 catches per game for only 3.1 fantasy points. This has been pretty unacceptable for a guy who many had big hopes for in this high powered offense. This week though I see a path where Hurst has a top 10 finish against the Buccaneers who are 10th v opposing TEs and got easily beaten by Minnesota’s Conklin & Hurst throughout the contest. The Bucs are real bad at covering tight ends and the Falcons who are likely without Julio Jones can attack the middle of the field to find success. Hurst can be a real weapon this week if the Falcons organisation are smart enough to utilise him.
Sits – Rob Gronkowski, Chris Herndon, Jordan Reed
Alastair Cook
Fantasy Football Analyst
ALASTAIR, A DIE-HARD BUCCANEERS FAN FROM NORWICH AND UP AND COMING FANTASY CONTRIBUTOR CAN BE FOUND ON HIS TWITTER PAGE The Dynasty Grill (@FFDynastyGrill)