The fantasy football playoffs commenced Thursday night in the majority of leagues. Hopefully, you didn’t have to play against the Las Vegas Raiders defense.
The Week 15 slate offers some intriguing matchups with a handful of games bringing some worry as the playoffs begin. Finding the sweet spot between trusting the process and avoiding overreaction is the key over the next three weeks.
Now, it’s time to take a look at how we can help you get the fantasy playoffs started on the right foot.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11), or check out our start/bench list for Week 15:
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions: Russ has been serviceable for the majority of the season, and he’s a solid streaming option for those in need this week. The Lions have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position, including an average of two passing touchdowns per game, over the last five weeks.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Washington Commanders: Everyone’s favorite start at quarterback this week is Stafford, and it’s for good reason. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes and has averaged 23.3 fantasy points per game during that span. Washington has been a fantastic matchup for gunslingers, having allowed the second-most fantasy points per game and most touchdown passes to the position over the last five weeks.
Sit ‘Em
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets: Tua has struggled against top defenses this season, and all we have to do is look back to Week 12 when he finished with just 7.8 fantasy points against the Jets. Though he gets them at home here, he could be working with a hobbled Tyreek Hill (ankle), and the Jets have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the position over the last five weeks.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: Murray isn’t a must-sit if the options aren’t up to par, but he could be in for a rough outing against a 49ers defense that is thriving. Murray has yet to throw multiple touchdown passes in a game since making his debut in Week 10, and the 49ers have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the last five weeks. His rushing ability gives him a better floor than most, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned.
Running Back
Start ‘Em
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears: The only thing Ford knows how to do is finish a week inside the top 24. He’s done so in eight of his last nine games and each of his last six. The explosive games might not be there, but he’s a perfect RB2 option against a Bears defense that has allowed the seventh-most receptions to the position over the last five weeks.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts: Harris is still holding onto the lead in the backfield even after the offensive coordinator change. He now gets to take on a Colts defense that has allowed the third-most PPR points per game to the position over the last five weeks and the second-most rushing touchdowns to running backs on the season as a whole.
D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks: Swift has failed to reach double-digit PPR points in four out of his last five games, and he’s averaged just 5.8 PPR points per game over his last three. Though it will be a difficult move to trust, Swift is in line for a bounce-back game against a Seattle defense that has surrendered the second-most PPR points per game to the position over the last five weeks.
Sit ‘Em
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots: It seems unlikely Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) will be playing again this week, which means there will be another true split in the backfield between CEH and Jerick McKinnon. Though he saw a decent workload in Week 14, the Patriots have been stellar against running backs, allowing the fewest PPR points per game and rushing yards to the position over the last five weeks.
Seattle Seahawks RBs vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Though the Eagles are a top-10 matchup for running backs over the last five weeks, Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III have essentially neutralized each other’s fantasy value. The split is so true that neither can have an explosive game with the other in the lineup. Walker always has a chance to pop off a big play, and he has the slight edge, but neither should be viewed as more than an RB3 right now.
Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Baltimore Ravens: You’re not sitting Etienne. This is more to say it will be best to temper expectations. All is good when Etienne finds the end zone. In those games, he’s averaged 23.5 PPR points per game. When he’s not, though, his average plummets to 9.9 PPR points per game. Baltimore has allowed the sixth-fewest PPR points per game to the position over the last five weeks and just two total touchdowns during that span. On the season, the Ravens have allowed just three rushing touchdowns.
Wide Receiver
Start ‘Em
DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks vs. Philadelphia Eagles: The matchup against the Eagles could not be better. They’ve allowed the second-most PPR points per game to the position over the last five weeks, while Metcalf has averaged 18.8 PPR points, 82 receiving yards and a 24% target share per game since Week 10.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars: Averaging 21.6 PPR points and nine targets per game over his last two, Flowers is in for a potentially big game. The Jaguars have allowed the fifth-most PPR points per game and third-most receiving yards to wideouts over the last five weeks, making the rookie a strong WR2 option this week.
DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans: Over his last seven games, Hopkins has averaged 17.0 PPR points, 74.6 receiving yards, and a 28% target share per game. Meanwhile, the Texans have been a top-10 matchup for wideouts over the last five weeks while also allowing the fifth-most receiving yards to the position during that span.
Sit ‘Em
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings: The volatile nature of his game means Higgins could pop off during any given week. But the process tells us he’s a difficult player to trust right now. Higgins has just seven targets and five receptions combined over his last two games. He’s still a flex option for those who have no choice, but he’s a risky start.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers: Since Week 9, Godwin has averaged just 8.1 PPR points and 34.5 receiving yards per game. He’s now dealing with an ankle injury that could limit him if Godwin is active.
New York Giants WRs at New Orleans Saints: It’s been fun watching the Tommy DeVito storyline unfold, but the likes of Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt and Isaiah Hodgins should be avoided against a Saints defense allowing the second-fewest PPR points per game and fewest receiving yards to wideouts over the last five weeks.
Tight End
Start ‘Em
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: The matchup against San Francisco isn’t a fun one, but volume drives fantasy production. Since becoming the starter in Week 6, McBride is averaging 14.1 PPR points and a 25% target share per game. He’s too hot to keep on the bench right now.
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: In the three weeks since Luke Musgrave‘s injury, Kraft has stepped right into the starting role. He has a 13.3% target share over the last two games, and the Bucs have allowed the eighth-most PPR points per game to the position over the last five weeks. Kraft is a streaming option for those in need.
Sit ‘Em
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers: Pitts has shown some life over the last two weeks, reaching at least 50 yards in consecutive games for the first time since his rookie season. However, the Panthers are a bottom-10 matchup for tight ends over the last five weeks, so unless Pitts is the best option of what’s available, he probably should be on the bench this week.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans: It’s looking more likely that C.J. Stroud (concussion) won’t be available for this game. Schultz (hamstring) is coming off his own injury. The combination of that with Davis Mills under center isn’t enticing. Then consider the Titans defense has allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to the position over the last five weeks, and it’s easy to see why Schultz is a sit this week.
