Five starters to sit and five sleepers to start in fantasy football Week 15.
It’s crunch time in fantasy football.
A little scouting and you can avoid a crucial late-season loss or do just enough to cross the finish line with a win this week in the playoffs. We’ve got you covered with a quick scouting report to help you out.
Here are five sleepers to start and five starters you’ve got to sit in fantasy football Week 15:
Starts
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is fresh off the best game of his career when his team edged out the Saints 48-46 on the road. Garoppolo had 349 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. The Saints defense over the years has been terrible, but this year they’ve been average. En route next for the 49ers is the Falcons, who’ve been a bottom-feeder defensive team all season. That, and the 49ers have home-field advantage this time around.
RB Kareem Hunt
In PPR leagues, Kareem Hunt is a solid starter as the Browns face the Cardinals this week. This meeting pins two poor defensive units up against each other and Hunt has shown production over the past few games, even with Nick Chubb, scoring a touchdown in three-straight. This game could even turn into a shootout.
RB James White
Like Hunt, James White will be more productive in PPR leagues but he still has value, regardless. The Patriots have the lowly Bengals en route. Cincy is bad all-around, but particularly bad against opposing running backs, who grab an average of 45 yards in receiving against the Bengals. While White does most of his damage in the air, the Bengals also sport the NFL’s worst run defense heading into this one as well.
It’s the question I’ve been asked and seen asked everywhere.
If you have Lamar Jackson on your fantasy football team, should you start the Baltimore Ravens QB and NFL MVP front-runner against the New York Jets on Thursday night?
It’s not as simple as it seems. Jackson has a quad injury that has him listed as questionable, not great when you consider how much he uses his legs to dominate. The Ravens are on the hunt for a first-round bye in the playoffs and the AFC No. 1 seed, but you would assume that if they go up big on the 5-8 Jets, they’ll tell Jackson to take the rest of the night off and let Robert Griffin III play, something they’ve done a handful of times this season.
For fantasy owners in the playoffs, it’s a nightmare scenario. The clear-cut fantasy MVP could end up with fairly pedestrian totals in a must-win. He could hurt himself more and miss the rest of the game. He could run less than usual.
But the answer is right there in front of you. In this situation, you have to play Jackson.
As I’ve written before, fantasy football is all about mitigating risk. Jackson carries more risk this week than he ever has before, which could cap his always-high ceiling.
But his floor is what to focus on here. You can count on two fingers the number of times he’s score under 20 fantasy points this season, and in one of those games, he still rushed for 70 yards against the Steelers and threw three interceptions, the only time he’s tossed more than two this year.
I need help from the great @heykayadams. Fantasy playoffs are starting, so I play Lamar Jackson and hope they don’t pull him or just out in Drew Brees?
You’re getting a good bet on a solid floor of production. To me, that means even if he gets in a first half of good work, it’s going to be a REALLY good half. Plus, the Jets are really good against the run, so what if Jackson is forced to do more of the rushing if Mark Ingram is ineffective? And if Jackson says he’s 100 percent, we have to believe him.
So don’t hesitate. The riskier thing would be to bench Jackson for a player you think might be a better streamer in a good matchup — Baker Mayfield (who has thrown more INTs than TDs and who fizzled last week against a very vulnerable Bengals defense) vs. the Cardinals? Ryan Fitzpatrick against the Giants?
NFL fantasy football PPR rankings for Week 15 of the NFL season.
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The fantasy football playoffs are underway, and if you were fortunate enough to have a bye last week, all systems are a go for Week 15. Fortunately, we have the fantasy football player rankings and cheat sheets to put you ahead of the pack.
We consulted with our friends at TheHuddle.com, who have been helping fantasy players just like you win their leagues for over two decades. Check out TheHuddle.com‘s top players in point-per-reception (PPR) fantasy scoring for the upcoming weekend:
Quarterback Rankings – Week 15
Photo Credit: Dale Zanine – USA TODAY Sports
Jameis Winston, TB vs. DET – 29.5 projected fantasy points
Baker Mayfield, CLE vs. ARI – 28.0
Deshaun Watson, HOU vs. TEN – 26.0
Lamar Jackson, BAL vs. NYJ – 26.0
Kyle Allen, CAR vs. SEA – 25.0
Josh Allen, BUF vs. PIT – 24.5
Kyler Murray, ARI vs. CLE – 24.0
Drew Brees, NO vs. IND – 23.0
Jimmy Garoppolo, SF vs. ATL – 22.5
Patrick Mahomes, KC vs. DEN – 22.5
Ryan Tannehill, TEN vs. HOU – 22.0
Eli Manning, NYG vs. MIA – 20.5
Jared Goff, LAR vs. DAL – 20.0
Mitchell Trubisky, CHI vs. GB – 19.5
Dak Prescott, DAL vs. LAR – 19.0
Running Backs Rankings – Week 15
Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Christian McCaffrey, CAR vs. SEA – 32.0 projected fantasy points
Leonard Fournette, JAC vs. OAK – 28.0
Chris Carson, SEA vs. CAR – 27.0
Ezekiel Elliott, DAL vs. LAR – 24.0
DeAndre Washington, OAK vs. JAC – 24.0
Dalvin Cook, MIN vs. LAC – 24.0
Derrick Henry, TEN vs. HOU – 23.0
Aaron Jones, GB vs. CHI – 22.0
Todd Gurley, LAR vs. DAL – 19.0
Alvin Kamara, NO vs. IND – 19.0
Saquon Barkley, NYG vs. MIA – 19.0
Mark Ingram, BAL vs. NYJ – 18.0
Melvin Gordon, LAC vs. MIN – 18.0
Kareem Hunt, CLE vs. ARI – 18.0
Austin Ekeler, LAC vs. MIN – 18.0
Adrian Peterson, WAS vs. PHI – 17.0
LeSean McCoy, KC vs. DEN – 17.0
Phillip Lindsay, DEN vs. KC – 17.0
David Montgomery, CHI vs. GB – 17.0
Raheem Mostert, SF vs. ATL – 16.0
James White, NE vs. CIN – 15.0
Sony Michel, NE vs. CIN – 15.0
Ronald Jones, TB vs. DET – 15.0
Royce Freeman, DEN vs. KC – 14.0
Benny Snell, PIT vs. BUF – 14.0
Duke Johnson, HOU vs. TEN – 13.0
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Wide Receivers Rankings – Week 15
Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Thomas, NO vs. IND – 27.0 projected fantasy points
Julian Edelman, NE vs. CIN – 24.0
Dede Westbrook, JAC vs. OAK – 24.0
DeAndre Hopkins, HOU vs. TEN – 23.0
Cooper Kupp, LAR vs. DAL – 22.0
Kenny Golladay, DET vs. TB – 21.0
Jarvis Landry, CLE vs. ARI – 20.0
Chris Godwin, TB vs. DET – 20.0
Darius Slayton, NYG vs. MIA – 20.0
DK Metcalf, SEA vs. CAR – 20.0
Emmaunel Sanders, SF vs. ATL – 19.0
Odell Beckham Jr., CLE vs. ARI – 19.0
Davante Adams, GB vs. CHI – 19.0
Allen Robinson, CHI vs. GB – 19.0
Breshad Perriman, TB vs. DET – 18.0
Michael Gallup, DAL vs. LAR – 18.0
A.J. Brown, TEN vs. HOU – 18.0
Cole Beasley, BUF vs. PIT – 17.0
Justin Watson, TB vs. DET – 17.0
Golden Tate, NYG vs. MIA – 16.0
Allen Hurns, MIA vs. NYG – 16.0
Julio Jones, ATL vs. SF – 14.0
Adam Humphries, TEN vs. HOU – 14.0
Zach Pascal, IND vs. NO – 14.0
DJ Moore, CAR vs. SEA – 14.0
Christian Kirk, ARI vs. CLE – 13.0
Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. PHI – 13.0
Diontae Johnson, PIT vs. BUF – 13.0
Danny Amendola, DET vs. TB – 12.0
Mecole Hardman, KC vs. DEN – 12.0
Tyreek Hill, KC vs. DEN – 11.0
Robert Woods, LAR vs. DAL – 10.0
Tight Ends Rankings – Week 15
Photo Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports
Zach Ertz, PHI vs. WAS – 23.0 projected fantasy points
Travis Kelce, KC vs. DEN – 21.0
Darren Waller, OAK vs. JAC – 21.0
George Kittle, SF vs. ATL – 20.0
Austin Hooper, ATL vs. SF – 18.0
Jared Cook, NO vs. IND – 15.0
Kyle Rudolph, MIN vs. LAC – 15.0
Mark Andrews, BAL vs. NYJ – 15.0
Darren Fells, HOU vs. TEN – 12.0
Hunter Henry, LAC vs. MIN – 12.0
Tyler Higbee, LAR vs. DAL – 12.0
Noah Fant, DEN vs. KC – 11.0
Jason Witten, DAL vs. LAR – 10.0
Greg Olsen, CAR vs. SEA – 10.0
Jack Doyle, IND vs. NO – 10.0
Place Kickers Rankings – Week 15
Nick Folk, NE vs. CIN – 14.0 projected fantasy points
Wil Lutz, NO vs. IND – 12.0
Mason Crosby, GB vs. CHI – 11.0
Stephen Hauschka, BUF vs. PIT – 11.0
Dan Bailey, MIN vs. LAC – 11.0
Ka’imi Fairbairn, HOU vs. TEN – 11.0
Robbie Gould, SF vs. ATL – 10.0
Matt Prater, DET vs. TB – 10.0
Ryan Succop, TEN vs. HOU – 9.0
Greg Zuerlein, LAR vs. DAL – 9.0
Austin Seibert, CLE vs. ARI – 9.0
Kai Forbath, DAL vs. LAR – 8.0
Chris Boswell, PIT vs. BUF – 8.0
Jake Elliott, PHI vs. WAS – 8.0
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Defensive Team Rankings – Week 15
Ravens, BAL vs. NYJ – 15.0 projected fantasy points
49ers, SF vs. ATL – 15.0
Packers, GB vs. CHI – 10.0
Seahawks, SEA vs. CAR – 10.0
Patriots, NE vs. CIN – 10.0
Saints, NO vs. IND – 9.0
Lions, DET vs. TB – 9.0
Redskins, WAS vs. PHI – 9.0
Bills, BUF vs. PIT – 8.0
Buccaneers, TB vs. DET – 7.0
Vikings, MIN vs. LAC – 7.0
Giants, NYG vs. MIA – 7.0
Raiders, OAK vs. JAC – 7.0
Chiefs, KC vs. DEN – 7.0
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Our starts and sits for your fantasy playoff games.
Week 15 of the 2019 NFL season is here, and that means we’re deep into the playoffs. A win this week and you’re likely in your in finals (that is, unless you play in Week 17).
As always, we’re here to help with your weekly decisions with our fantasy lineup advice. Each week, we give you the studs (players with plus matchups due to the defense they’re facing or their team situation), duds (players with tougher matchups or who are in muddled roster situations at the moment) and sleepers (a player you might consider starting who could be in for a big week).
Here are the names we’ve got for Week 15, and as we always say, good luck!!
Studs
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
QB Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
A stud for a second-straight week that seems obvious. But how do you not put him in this spot with his hot streak against a terrible passing defense in the Texans?
RB Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos
The yardage isn’t always there, but I think that and some more catches will be against the Chiefs.
WR Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns
He’s been the model of consistency while his friend and teammate Odell Beckham Jr. hasn’t: four or more catches in seven straight and 76 yards or more in four of his last five. Start him with confidence against the Cardinals.
TEs Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
You might be you’re looking at the WR1 and WR2 for the Eagles at the moment. Start them both against a Redskins team that gives up 8.2 fantasy points per game to opposing TEs.
Duds
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
The Steelers are tough and Allen didn’t have the best week against a similarly tough defense in the Ravens. I’d be nervous about starting him in a must-win.
RB Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins
Yes, he’ll get the bulk of the running work with Derrius Guice out … but the Eagles are so good against the run (89.6 yards allowed per game). No thanks.
WR Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns
I don’t know. I really don’t. On one hand, facing the Cardinals — even if Patrick Peterson shadows him — is enticing. On the other, he’s had a total of three really good games this year. He might not be 100 percent healthy and who knows how he feels about being a Brown right now? This is the fantasy playoffs, so I’d lean toward benching him. The risk is too high.
TE Jacob Hollister, Seattle Seahawks
After the bye, he’s fallen to Earth with 44 yards or fewer in his last three games. Plus, the Panthers are sixth-best against opposing tight ends in fantasy points allowed.
Sleepers
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins
The Giants continue to be a sieve against the pass and the ageless Fitzpatrick has thrown three touchdowns three times this year. If you’re desperate at QB, he could be a high-ceiling flier.
RB Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers
It seems like he’s ahead of the pack with Matt Breida second and Tevin Coleman taking a backseat. So while I almost made him a stud this week, you have to treat him as a sleeper who could pay huge dividends.
WR A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans
I think he goes off again thanks to that Houston matchup, and is a candidate for the C.J. Anderson Award for a fantasy player who comes off the waiver wire and wins lots of titles.
TE Ian Thomas, Carolina Panthers
Without Greg Olsen, he found paydirt against the Falcons and was targeted 10 times. He might repeat that again while facing the Seahawks … if Olsen is out. Keep an eye on Olsen’s status.
Fantasy Football: Adds, waivers, wavier wire for Week 15.
Need a fresh face for your fantasy football roster this week even if it’s the postseason?
It’s never too late for a few extra points to continue to add to your win column. Don’t stop searching for pieces now.
Here are eight waiver wire claims to make in fantasy football ahead of Week 15:
Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
QB Ryan Tannehill
Folks still aren’t picking up Ryan Tannehill, but that’s fine, we’ll keep adding him here. The Titans’ new starter, and probably going forward to next season too, had another multi-touchdown outing last week against the Raiders with three. That’s four games in a row with multiple sores. He did have an interception, but it was his first one since Week 9. This week he has the Texans, who were upset and lit up by Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock last week.
Some players you can either keep or cut in the playoffs.
You’re waking up on Tuesday reading all that you can about the players that you should be picking up off the waiver wire as you prepare for Week 15 of fantasy football in 2019.
But it’s likely there aren’t as many things written about who you should be dropping to grab those players. That’s what this weekly column — keep ’em or dump ’em! — will hopefully answer for you: Some help in the debate over who you should keep or drop in order to improve your team.
The playoffs are either continuing or beginning for you, so this list might be more important than ever.
1. RB Bo Scarbrough, Detroit Lions
He suffered a rib injury and said he’s fine, but that’s not the reason I’m telling you to cut him. It’s because he’s been a low ceiling player and has faced some tough defenses … and in the final two weeks, he’ll face the Bucs and Broncos. And although the latter has been just middle-of-the-road against the run, you might need the roster spot after so many players were injured this week.
VERDICT: Drop him
2. RB David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
I’ve been hoping he’d grab more of the rushing pie when he returned, but he had just three carries to Kenyan Drake’s 11 … but he did score a receiving touchdown. That probably means you keep him just in case Drake goes down or gets more playing time, but it’s borderline for me.
VERDICT: Keep him
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
3. RB Tevin Coleman, San Francisco 49ers
It’s the dreaded three-headed monster in San Francisco! Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida and Coleman split a bunch of work against the Saints, and it looks like Mostert will keep grabbing carries the way he’s playing. Unfortunately, you may have to keep Coleman in case Kyle Shanahan gives him more work.
VERDICT: Keep him
4. RB Duke Johnson, Houston Texans
There are some weeks when he’s a PPR monster and others when he’s quiet. I think in non-PPR leagues he’s a cut candidate for sure after he’s had just three double-digit-point games. Plus, he faces the Titans and Bucs in the next two weeks.
VERDICT: Drop him
5. WR Tyrell Williams, Oakland Raiders
If he wasn’t cut already, you can let him go. Since he last scored in Week 8, he’s been quiet save for one 82-yard game against the Bengals.
Waiver wire targets for the fantasy football playoffs.
It’s Week 15 and that means you’re either in the thick of the playoffs, just started the playoffs or trying not to come in last place. For the lucky postseason contenders, congratulations! In a year of injuries and roller coaster superstars, it has not been easy to develop a consistent roster week to week.
As any fantasy football veteran knows though the tinkering does not end at the end of the regular season. Adding and dropping players continues right up until the championship game and if you aren’t on top of things, it might just cost you a trophy and maybe a good amount of cash.
Some players are just late bloomers and while that might not be the best for fantasy football, its spots like these that you need a guy who is on a hot streak.
With the season winding down, here are six players to add to really put your team over the top:
(Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)
WR A.J. Brown: 31.3% rostered (ESPN)
The Titans have been a new team in the second half of the season winning six of their last seven games. A large part of their success has been the impressive quarterback play of Ryan Tannehill, but Brown has been the leading receiver on this roster.
Last week against Oakland, the rookie receiver totaled five catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns. The combination of Brown and Corey Davis has really helped this Titans team, although Brown is separating himself in terms of production.
Brown will not be available for long after his big week so make sure if he is available in your league you claim him while you can.
