It’s officially the first week of the fantasy football playoffs, and the “survive and advance” mentality takes over. Here are the players to pay attention to for Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 15.
Last week’s Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em was about 50/50 on success rates. Starting Rico Dowdle and Isaac Guerendo were the best hits, but Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was a ghost while Matthew Stafford had an incredible performance.
Note: This article is for players who are considered flex options or for matchup-specific reasons. You won’t see players like Lamar Jackson and Tyreek Hill on here because they should be starting all the time.
Fantasy Football 2024: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 15
Quarterbacks
Start: Bo Nix
Bo Nix didn’t have his best performance in Week 13 on Monday Night Football, but expect him to bounce back against the Colts. Indianapolis has the fourth-worst defense in the league and concedes an average of 230 passing yards per game. This is an opportunity for Nix to redeem himself and reward fantasy managers for starting him.
Sit: Jared Goff
The Bills secondary was exposed by Stafford in Week 14, but they still have a top-10 passing defense on the year. Most of Goff’s big games this season have came against teams that Detroit easily beat. While this matchup has the potential to be high scoring, Dan Campell is going to stick to his formula of running the football.
Start: Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa has been one of the best fantasy quarterbacks since he returned in Week 8 after his concussion. He’s had four games in a row of 275+ passing yards with 2+ touchdown passes. The Texans have a strong passing defense, but it’s expected tha the Dolphins are trailing for most of the game. That script helps Tagovailoa in fantasy for Week 15.
Read More: Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings Week 15
Running Backs:
Start: Chuba Hubbard
Chuba Hubbard has been a top 10 running back in fantasy football four out of the last five weeks. His production has helped keep the Panthers relevant this season, and he gets another favorable matchup against the Cowboys. Dave Canales loves to run the football, so Hubbard should have another strong performance in Week 15.
Sit: Tyrone Tracy
Tyrone Tracy hasn’t been at his best the last three weeks as the Giants are apparently trying to justify Devin Singletary’s contract. As a result, Tracy hasn’t produced over 50 yards in a game since Week 10. Pair that with a matchup against the best run defense in the NFL, and it’s almost self explanatory why Tracy should sit this week.
Start: Sincere McCormick
Sincere McCormick is the new starting running back for the Raiders, and he has the ability to get involved in both the run and passing games. McCormick should get plenty of opportunities as Antonio Pierce will use the run to set up the pass. If you’re in a pinch and need a running back with a lot of upside, McCormick is the guy to play.
Read More: Injury Reports Ahead of Week 15
Wide Receivers:
Start: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The JSN train is going to continue rolling this week. Jaxon Smith-Njigba now has five straight games with 70+ receiving yards and has four touchdowns in that stretch. He faces a Packers defense that has conceded more than 275 yards in their last two games. Geno Smith loves to throw the ball which makes JSN a good play.
Sit: Jayden Reed
To say Jayden Reed has been disappointing the last few weeks is an understatement. Even when he scored two touchdowns against Miami, he only had three catches for 24 yards. Reed certainly has talent, but it’s anyone’s guess as to which Green Bay receiver is going to have the best performance out of the group. Avoiding Reed for the rest of the season is definitely something to consider.
Start: Jakobi Meyers
Jakobi Meyers has put together a string of games with 65+ yards. He’s totaled at least six catches in all of those games, so he has value in both standard and PPR leagues. His value will increase if Aidan O’Connell plays, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play him if Desmond Ridder starts. Meyers is good flex play in Week 15.
Read More: Fantasy Football Week 15 Wide Receiver Rankings
Tight Ends:
Start: Jonnu Smith
Jonnu Smith has emerged out of nowhere as one of Tagovailoa’s top targets over the last five to six weeks. Those targets are occurring all over the field, and he’s quickly adapted the “safety blanket” role in Miami’s offense. The matchup isn’t the best, but it won’t stop Smith from having an impact.
Read More: Week 15 Waiver Wire Adds
Sit: Cade Otton
This time last month, Cade Otton would’ve been the last tight end in the “sit” category. However, Mike Evans’ return has killed his production. While Otton’s numbers were better last week, a matchup with the Chargers is less than ideal. Los Angeles is one of the best defenses with containing tight ends. This makes Otton a tough play in Week 15.
Main Photo Courtesy of Bill Streicher – Imagn Images
