We’ve reached Week 15, which means the fantasy football playoffs are here. Congratulations on making it this far! To give you the best shot at advanced to Week 16, here are some start/sit options to consider this week.
Start
Tua Tagovialoa (QB) Miami Dolphins
Tua has quietly been getting better and better as he gets more experience under his belt. He’s been efficient, limited mistakes and he’s making plays. While he’s not putting up monster numbers he’s putting up solid numbers and has a monster matchup this week against the lowly Jets. A team even the most lackluster of offenses can run circles around.
When these teams faced off Week 11, Tua threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Since then the Jets have gotten worse and more beat up, while the Dolphins have gotten DeVante Parker back and he’s already making an impact. He should have a strong outing and if the Jets can actually be competitive, which is far from a lock, he has the upside of a monster game.
Myles Gaskin (RB) Miami Dolphins
As embarrassingly bad as the Jets are against the pass they are even worse against the run. They are the worst team against fantasy running backs by a large margin. New York is allowing 34.1 fantasy points per game to running backs, more than four points per game more than any other team, which is a huge gap. They are an absolute dumpster fire on defense.
Gaskin also has a chance to be the only legitimate back in the backfield. While he tested positive Covid last week, he is vaccinated and likely to play this week. Phillip Lindsay however tested positive this week and is unlikely to play while Salvon Ahmed didn’t test positive until the weekend. Gaskin is a no-brainer for Week 15 and may help a lot of teams win titles.
Darrell Henderson (RB) Las Angeles Rams
Another running back we are banking coming off the reserve/Covid list is Henderson. His absence last week may have been a blessing in disguise for owners who survived it as the extra week of rest likely gave him time to get fully healthy. He has an elite matchup this week against that team who is second to the Jets in fantasy points allowed to running backs, the Seahawks. Many are afraid of Sony Michel but shouldn’t be. That’s not to say Sony won’t get his touches, but Henderson is the RB1, goal-line guy, and pass catcher. Plus, in this one, both backs are worth a start in what should be a dominant performance on the ground.
Brandon Aiyuk (WR) San Francisco 49ers
Aiyuk is coming on strong once again this season much like he did late last year. After being a callosal disappointment for the first two months of the season, he has turned it up since the calendar flipped to November and is coming off an 11 target game in which he caught a TD. This week he draws the Falcons’ defense who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. There is no reason his upward tick in production shouldn’t continue this week and even accelerate. Roll with him as a strong flex option Week 15.
DeVonta Smith (WR) Philadelphia Eagles
Smith has been a bit inconsistent this year, but things are lined up nice for him this week. The Football Team is giving up the fourth-most points to fantasy wideouts this season and has been particularly vulnerable to big plays. Something Smith is built for. The Eagles are also likely without Quez Watkins and could be short-handed at running back as well leaving more potential touches for Smith. This includes more red-zone looks and perhaps screens and end-arounds. Relying on Jalen Hurts can be a little scary, nonetheless, I expect both he and Smith to be able to get it done this week in this matchup.
Harrison Bryant (TE) Cleveland Browns
Bryant comes with the caveat that he has to be able to play coming off a sprained ankle, but is trending in the right direction this week so far. Cleveland will be without Austin Hooper and David Njoku leaving plenty of opportunities for Bryant to see plenty of volume. The Browns also play the Raiders who have been destroyed by tight ends, especially in the second half of the season allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position this year. They could also be without their best linebacker making matters even worse for them. As if you needed more good news for Bryant, the Raiders are also very good at slowing down wideouts. With QB Baker Mayfield also on the reserve/COVID list, Bryant has the potential to be heavily targeted by Case Keenum.
Sit
Taysom Hill (QB) New Orleans Saints
Despite what you may have heard lately from a certain talking head who has been roasted on Twitter for his cold takes, Hill is not a particularly good thrower of the football. He is also taking on the Bucs this week who have some of the fastest linebackers in the game who will be able to spy the one-dimensional play-caller. This could be laugher forcing Hill into his worst-case scenario where he for the most part has to limit his running and throw to play catchup in the second half. I don’t want him anywhere near my starting lineup this week. If you are searching your wire for a starter, Tua is a much better option and a much better quarterback.
Damien Harris (RB) New England Patriots
I’m having a tough time putting Harris in my lineup this week. There is too much working against him. Injury is still a concern and he’s not a lock to be fully healthy this week but will likely suit up. Snaps have been erratic and could easily trend towards Stevenson or even Bolden depending on game script and the matchup against the Colts is the fourth-toughest in the league. I’m thinking long and hard about starting him in an important fantasy matchup. You may have to play him, but I’d seriously consider other options. Even guys like Devonta Freeman and D’Onta Foreman are serious options to play over him for me in a real-life decision I have to make.
Devin Singletary (RB) Buffalo Bills
Singletary looks like the clear lead back in Buffalo, but that’s not enough to get him in your lineup this week. Especially against the Panthers who are third in the league when it comes to slowing down fantasy rushers. Beyond the matchup, he also isn’t very good at football. If you think Josh Allen’s injured ankle could lead to him being forced to run less and hand it off more, maybe your right. It doesn’t warrant starting a bad back against a great defense though. Leave him on your bench or even cast him to waivers.
Michael Pittman (WR) Indianapolis Colts
I’m a huge Pittman advocate, however, he’s been less than stellar during the second half of the season and has a nightmare matchup against the Pats this week. Not only has their defense been smothering people, but Bill Belichick will also align the secondary to take away Pittman. I firmly believe he will develop into one of the best wideouts in the league, nevertheless, I would like to find a better option this week in a must-win matchup.
Terry McClaurin (WR) Washington Football Team
I understand you may have to start Scary Terry, but it is a scary proposition indeed. Coming off a zero-point game he now faces the Eagles who are allowing the third-fewest points to fantasy wideouts this season. Odds are you won’t be pulling him out of your lineups in what’s likely a playoff game. Still, temper expectations and consider that sitting him isn’t the craziest thing in the world.
Kyle Pitts (TE) Atlanta Falcons
Pitts has easily been one of the most disappointing fantasy tight ends of 2021. You could see him not living up to his draft stock from a mile away. It’s not even his fault. The fantasy community put unreasonable expectations on him. He hasn’t been awful, he just hasn’t been close to what many expected and has had plenty of bust games. This week against the Niners will be one of those bust games. They are allowing the fourth-fewest points against tight ends and this defense has been getting better in the front seven as the season has progressed. Pitts is far from a must-start this week. His name and where you drafted him don’t matter right now, it’s playoff time and winning is what matters.
