It’s really Week 15, truly hard to believe the season is coming to an end. Lots of things have happened since the draft. You could of drafted Jonathan Taylor and be sitting pretty for the playoffs. Or you could of taken Allen Robinson and Calvin Ridley early in the draft and now be contemplating whether to ever play Fantasy again. Regardless, where you are now, it has probably been an up-and-down season and whether you have a chance at the championship or just hoping not to come in last place I’m here to help you decide who to start and who to sit.
Starts
QB - Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (@ TB)
Taysom Hill is not your average QB. So much so, that if you looked up his stats, the first thing that pops up are his rushing and receiving numbers. Hill has only thrown 204 passes in his entire career. Yet somehow he’s accumulated 46 fantasy points the past 2 weeks. You can thank the system he is in. He ran 22 times for 174 yards and 2 TDs this past week. Now, he’s matched up against a good Tampa defense, but it's still a defense giving up the 27th most points to opposing QBs this season. I’m not a fan of him throwing the ball at all but I am a fan of playing him this week. With his running ability and also the possibility of a high scoring matchup, Hill could be in for a top 5 QB week. Start him.
RB - Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team (@ PHI)
So you might be thinking to put Gibson on the bench after his poor performance against the Cowboys last week. Well stop right there. The Football Team was dominated last week by the Cowboys and Gibson didn’t get much of a chance with only 10 carries for 36 yards. Dallas has a much better run defense than the Eagles. In the previous 4 games before Dallas, Gibson had a combined 109 touches, which were all wins. With Terry McLaurin and Taylor Heinicke banged up, Gibson should be fed accordingly. With the playoffs on the line, Ron Rivera will get back to his game plan and try to control the game from the first snap. Gibson should see no less than 20 touches. Start him.
WR - CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (@ NYG)
The last two weeks, Ceedee Lamb is getting more opportunities than the running back they just paid 90 million dollars. Lamb has had 23 targets over the last 2 games along with 3 carries for 48 yards. Even with Dak having another poor showing, with just 211 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, Lamb is still getting WR1 numbers. The Cowboys offense is loaded “on paper” but Cooper has only 7 catches on 9 targets the last 2 weeks and Ezekiel Elliott hasn’t had 20 touches in a game since Week 8. With a matchup against a bad secondary, it should be happy hunting for Ceedee this week as he’s the only must start on this offense.
TE - James O’Shaughnessy, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. HOU)
Gerald Everett was the right pick up at tight end last week against the poor-ish Texans defense. So it’s only right to pick up O’Shaughnessy against the Texans at home this week. Since being back from his ankle injury earlier in the year, the big tight end has had at least 5 targets in the last 3 games. That might not sound like a lot but due to the extreme inconsistency at tight end this year, that is solid production. He looks to have a nice connection with Trevor Lawrence and against that bad Houston defense, he’s due for a solid game and that’s all you can ask for at tight end this season. Play him with cautious optimism.
D/ST - Minnesota Vikings (@ CHI)
Outside of fantasy football, the Vikings defense is garbage. They have given up 28 or more points in 6 of their last 8 games. Good thing points given up isn’t entirely too important in fantasy. What is important is that they have had 10 sacks, 4 forced turnovers and a TD in their last 3 games. What’s even more important is the matchup. They are going up against a Bears team expected to have Justin Fields back at QB. A QB who has been sacked almost 4 times a game and only has 6 passing TDs to pair with his 10 interceptions. With the playoffs in sight, expect The Vikings defense to finally have Kirk Cousins back and step it up. They will finish as a top 10 defense this week.
Sits
QB - Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS)
A matchup on paper that makes you want to start Hurts, but beware. The Football Team gives up the most fantasy points to QBs all season. Yet over the last 5 weeks against QBs Tom Brady, Cam, Wilson, Carr and Dak Prescott they have given up just 214 passing yards a game during that span. Then you look at Hurts who has passed over 200 yards just once over his last 8 games and all signs are pointing towards keeping him on the bench. Also add the fact that the football team is giving up under 20 rushing yards to QBs over the last 10 games. Take all these factors and then add coming off an ankle injury. Hurts is a tempting play but he should be on the bench this week.
RB - Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers (@ BUF)
Once again, when Christian McCaffrey went down everyone was racing to get Hubbard. I was skeptical because he hasn't exactly played well this year and only is a good play if he touches the ball 25 times. Since his 100 yard rushing day against Philadelphia Week 5, he’s had a total of only 76 carries for 280 yards. That’s only 3.7 yards per tote. He’s a running back that depends on TDs for fantasy relevance and he’s going up against a Buffalo Bills team that hasn’t been great against the run recently, but if the Atlanta Falcons can shut down Hubbard I have no doubt the Bills will be able to as well.
WR - Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (vs NE)
Pittman has been solid all year and his target share makes you just want to keep him in your lineup. He’s averaging over 8 targets a game over his last 6 games and his usage tempts you to start him this week. Then you see he’s going up against Bill Belichick‘s Patriots, who have given up just 252 catches this season. In comparison, the Buccaneers have given up 362 catches. Pittman can't get any points if he doesn’t catch the ball. The Colts bell cow Jonathan Taylor is fresh off the bye week and they will feed him early and often. Keep Pittman on the bench.
TE - Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (@ TEN)
The back half of the season, Pat Freiermuth has been a TE1 lock thanks to having 6 TDs in the last 7 games. Well he’s not lined up to be a TE1 this week. He’s been a TD Machine but he’s also only had 11 targets In the last 3 games and he's also had less than 40 yards receiving in 9 games this year. He’s also up against the Tennessee defense who has given up only 1 TD to TEs this season and who are also giving up the fifth fewest points to TEs this year. Big Pat was a TE1 but he’s a bench TE this week.
D/ST - Kansas City Chiefs (@ LAC)
Yes, the Chiefs have allowed only nine points in three straight games. That’s impressive but you shouldn’t let that trick you into playing them this week. They are going on the road to play a hot Chargers offense with QB Justin Herbert, who is simply on fire. He also has had the Chiefs number so far in his career. In 3 games against them, he's thrown for 894 yards, 8 TDs and only 1 pick, add 2 rushing TDs on top of that. Herbert might actually be looking forward to this game. The Chiefs defense has been hot of late but don’t let them burn you this week by keeping them in your lineup. Take them out.
