Play/Stay Away - Week 15

If you advanced through a one-week playoff matchup after last week, congratulations! If you're in the midst of a two-week playoff matchup, then we wish you the best of luck holding onto your lead or making your comeback.

During the fantasy playoffs, these decisions on who to start and who to bench are more important than they have been all year. Check out the week 15 starts and sits below!

QB’s

Play:

Russell Wilson (@ San Francisco)

If you are currently behind in a two-week playoff matchup or if you barely squeaked by with a win in a one-week matchup, you are likely hesitant to stick with Wilson. On MNF against the Vikings, Wilson threw for just 72 yards and 0 TD’s, but luckily was able to salvage some fantasy value with his feet, rushing for 61 yards. What has to be kept in mind is that Wilson was riding an eight-game streak of multiple TD passes and only 4 turnovers during that stretch. Don’t let one bad game steer you away from this consistent fantasy producer, especially against a defense that has given up an average of 18.8 fantasy PPG to opposing QB’s this year.

Jared Goff (vs. Philadelphia)

Goff, like Wilson, has been one of 2018’s best fantasy QB’s despite combining for just 7 points in the last 2 weeks. Sean McVay and the Rams offense are still one of the most explosive groups in the league, and you can believe they’re going to look to prove that after being stymied by the Bears and held to just 6 points. The Philly secondary is dealing with a lot of injuries and just conceded 24 points to Dak Prescott. Lock Goff in as a high-end QB1 in week 15.

Stay Away:

Aaron Rodgers (@ Chicago)

Despite being fantasy’s QB9 through 14 weeks this year, Aaron Rodgers actually has more games of 15 or fewer points (5) than games of 20+ points (4). Over the last 3 weeks, Matthew Stafford, Eli Manning, and Jared Goff have combined for just 12 total fantasy points and only 1 TD pass. Rodgers and the Green Bay offense don’t look the same this year, and he should be left on the bench against the elite Chicago defense.

Kirk Cousins (vs. Miami)

Over the last two weeks, Cousins has just 18 total fantasy points. He has thrown just 2 TD passes and has turned the ball over 3 times. Over that stretch, Thielen is averaging 5 catches for 49 yards and Diggs is averaging 4.5 catches for 62.5 yards. The Minnesota passing attack isn’t what it was expected to be as of late, and Cousins’ fantasy owners are paying the price. Find another option in week 15.

RB’s

Play:

David Johnson (@ Atlanta)

Johnson has had a pretty disappointing year in comparison to the standard he set for himself in 2016. However, he’s still RB12 after 14 weeks. The last few weeks have been particularly bad, as he has a combined 18 fantasy points and 0 TD’s. However, the key to fantasy success is volume and the volume is there for David Johnson. Over the last 3 weeks, he has 63 touches. DJ’s playmaking ability combined with that volume is a recipe for success against an Atlanta defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing RB’s this year.

Elijah McGuire (vs. Houston)

Due to an injury to Isaiah Crowell, McGuire got an RB1 workload in week 14 is on track to see the same in week 15. He looked like a true starter last week, taking 17 carries for 60 yards and a TD while adding 3 catches for 23 yards, doubling his season high in touches. Houston has allowed 6 TD’s in their last 6 games to opposing RB’s, setting McGuire up nicely for RB2/strong Flex consideration.

Stay Away:

Derrick Henry (@ N.Y. Giants)

If you didn’t hear about Derrick Henry’s week 10 performance, you might be living under a rock. Henry took 17 carries for 238 yards and 4 TD’s against a defense that hadn’t allowed a rushing TD in 5 consecutive games before that. However, if we exclude what was clearly an outlier, Henry is averaging just 6.2 standard fantasy PPG. As impressive as he was last week, don’t put all your eggs in the Derrick Henry basket just yet.

Adrian Peterson (@ Jacksonville)

In a blowout loss to the Giants last week, AP saw his third-lowest carry total of the season. With the downgrade over these last few weeks at QB from Alex Smith to Mark Sanchez to Josh Johnson, the Redskins will likely continue to find themselves playing from behind. This week they face Jacksonville who, prior to last week, had allowed just 4 rushing TD’s all year and an average of just 11.6 fantasy PPG to opposing RB’s. AP’s uncertain workload makes it to hard to trust him in the playoffs.

WR’s

Play:

DaeSean Hamilton (vs. Cleveland)

Hamilton was tasked with filling in for Emmanuel Sanders in the slot after his move to the IR, and he delivered. Hamilton caught 7 of his 9 targets for 47 yards and a TD, while leading the team in routes and tying for the team lead in receptions. The Browns have given up the tenth-most fantasy points to opposing WR’s this year, setting Hamilton up nicely to continue to succeed out of the slot.

Julian Edelman (@ Pittsburgh)

Edelman has been very consistent this year since returning from his suspension. He has at least 8 targets in all but 2 games this year and just tied his season high in catches last week with 9. He also has at least 70 receiving yards in 5 of his last 6 games. This kind of volume will continue to pay dividends for Edelman’s fantasy owners, and you can absolutely trust him to produce in the playoffs.

Stay Away:

Mike Evans (@ Baltimore)

Despite a fluke game or two, the pattern seems to be that Mike Evans looks like a star WR with Ryan Fitzpatrick and a borderline WR2 with Jameis Winston. Over the last 2 weeks, Evans has a combined 8 catches for 134 yards and 0 TD’s – a combined 12 standard fantasy points. This week, the Bucs travel to Baltimore to face the defense allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing WR’s, including a 3-game streak without allowing a TD to a WR.

T.Y. Hilton (vs. Dallas)

T.Y. has been on a roll lately, with 5 straight games of 75+ receiving yards, including games of 125, 155, and 199. Despite the recent success, Hilton makes the Stay Away list in week 15 because of the matchup. The Dallas defense has come into their own this year and emerged as one of the league’s best. They’ve allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing WR’s this year, and have allowed an average of just 91.3 yards per game to the position over the last 3 weeks. In what could very easily be the toughest matchup T.Y. has seen all year, let him ride the bench.

TE’s

Play:

David Njoku (@ Denver)

Last week against the Broncos, George Kittle had a historic performance, catching 7 passes for 210 yards and a TD. This week, it’s Njoku’s turn. I’m not saying he’ll put up those kind of numbers, but the Broncos are clearly vulnerable to the position, as they’ve given up the fifth-most fantasy points to the position this year. Njoku led the Browns in routes last week, so the opportunity for production is there and should pay dividends this week.

Jared Cook (@ Cincinnati)

Earlier this season, Cook’s fantasy performances were very up and down. Recently, he’s been solid week in and week out. Over the last 4 weeks, Cook is averaging 11.25 standard fantasy PPG per game including 3 TD’s in that span. The Raiders don’t have a lot going for them offensively, so expect Cook to stay heavily involved against a Bengals defense that has given up 7 TD’s to TE’s this year, and an average of 8.1 standard fantasy PPG.

Stay Away:

Trey Burton (vs. Green Bay)

Burton had a lot of hype coming into this year, and through 7 weeks, it looked like he was going to live up to it. He was averaging 9 standard fantasy PPG. Since then, he has averaged 2.4 standard fantasy PPG. Green bay has allowed the second-fewest fantasy PPG to TE’s this year, and until Burton gets more involved in the offense, he should be left out of all starting lineups.

Jimmy Graham (@ Chicago)

The TE opposite Burton in this divisional matchup, Jimmy Graham has also failed to live up to the hype this year, especially over the last 5 weeks. In that stretch, Graham has averaged just 2.2 standard fantasy PPG. Rodgers and the Packers offense have underperformed this year and until that turns around, Graham is another TE that should be left out of all starting lineups.