I truly can’t believe it’s Week 15. Like most seasons, this year felt like a blur. Seems like just yesterday we were setting up our draft boards, and now some of us are in the last week of the regular season while others are already starting their playoff bracket. For many, this is a must-win week.
If you’re already clinched, congratulations. If you need a win this week to make the playoffs or because you’re in the playoffs, that’s where the true fun is. Coming down to the wire is what fantasy is all about. If you’ve been reading these articles all season, I thank you for your time.
Let’s jump into setting that playoff-clinching lineup.
Starts
QB – Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (@ NYJ)
What an under-the-radar great season it has been for Lawrence. What have I been saying for weeks now about QBs? Take the high floor, and that’s exactly what Lawrence has at the moment. In three straight games he’s thrown for over 225 yards and at least 2 TDs. In his last nine games, he’s had under 14 fantasy points just once.
Some big names have had off weeks, and Lawrence has just been coasting under the radar. With a road game this week against a middle-of-the-pack Jets defense, Lawrence no doubt has another 220-and-2 TD game in him. He’s available in about 60% of leagues, so if you need a streamer to get you into the playoffs, he’s your guy.
RB – Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs (@ LAC)
What a weird season it’s been for the Chiefs. The offense just hasn’t seemed to be the same as it once was. Everyone has been pretty inconsistent… everyone except Hunt.
Even with him back to splitting carries, he’s one of the few running backs you can almost guarantee gets a TD. He’s got 8 touchdowns on the season and a score in 5 of his last 6 games. The passing attack, especially in the red zone, has not worked this year, so the Chiefs simply give it to the vet.
He’s been getting the ball consistently as well, with at least 10 touches in 6 straight games. The Chiefs now play the best passing defense in the league, the Chargers. That can only mean they rely on Hunt even a little more. I expect another 10–15 touches and a TD. He’s a solid start and available in about 40% of leagues.
WR – Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (vs WSH)
Another offense that has been inconsistent—mostly due to injuries—has been the Giants. Yet one player who has shown up and been solid nearly every game is Wan’Dale Robinson.
In PPR leagues he’s basically a no-brainer starter, yet I’m still not seeing him consistently in lineups. Having only 3 TDs on the year caps his ceiling, but on the other hand, he’s had at least 6 catches in 8 of his 13 games this season. He’s hauled in 35 balls on a whopping 53 targets over his last 5 games. If he wasn’t on the Giants, he would be talked about a lot more.
He’s an absolute must-start this week against the Commanders, who are in contention for one of the worst defenses in the league. They’re coming off a game where they lost 31–0 against J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings. Start Robinson with confidence.
TE – Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (@ CLE)
You’re always looking for a steady hand at this up-and-down position. Since his big performance in Week 9, Colston Loveland seems to have become a legit piece of this offense. The highs aren’t near what he did in Week 9 (6 catches for 118 yards and 2 TDs), but the targets are still there.
He’s had 4-plus targets in 8 straight games now, with a slight uptick of late: 16 balls thrown his way over his last 3 games. He’s not blowing up the stat sheet by any means, but the consistency has been there—averaging 40 yards per game over his last 5.
In today’s tight end market, you’ll gladly take 4 catches for 40 yards with the possibility of a TD. Loveland will flirt with top-10 status this week. Make sure he’s in your lineups. At first glance it’s a tough matchup against Cleveland, yet the Titans wouldn’t agree after just putting up 31 points on them in Week 14. A possible shootout means more targets for Loveland.
Defense – Miami Dolphins (@ PIT)
Over the last month of football, the Dolphins have been a top-5 fantasy defense. No one really saw that coming after they allowed 97 points through their first 3 games of the season. They’re playing like a completely different unit now.
In their last 4 games, they’ve put up some eye-popping numbers: allowing just 13 points per game over that stretch and adding 13 sacks and a monster 10 takeaways. The guys in Miami are truly playing out of their minds at this point.
They’re still available in over 70% of leagues. Make sure you go get them for this matchup against the Steelers, who currently rank 22nd in passing offense and 29th in rushing offense. The Dolphins will have another week inside the top 10.
Sits
QB – Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (@ LAC)
It turns out the number-two QB on the season isn’t matchup-proof. In a truly crucial Week 14, Mahomes threw for just 160 yards, 0 TDs and 3 INTs, single-handedly kicking some of his own fantasy teams out of the playoffs.
He goes from playing one great defense to another equally great defense. The Chargers have been shutting down quarterbacks all season. They’ve allowed just 173 passing yards a game and only 12 passing TDs on the year, which is the fewest in the league. They just embarrassed Jalen Hurts on Monday night, forcing him to throw 4 interceptions.
Mahomes proved he’s not matchup-proof, and this matchup is equally as tough as last week. Don’t force him into your lineup—stream a QB this week.
RB – Breece Hall, New York Jets (@ JAX)
Hall has been one of the few bright spots on the Jets this season, coming close to what could be his first 1K season. Yet his lack of touchdowns takes away from his ceiling, with just 4 on the year.
We can’t afford a dud in this crucial week, and that’s why Hall makes the sit list. He’s up against a stifling run defense. The Jaguars have the best run defense in the league this season, allowing a league-low 83 rushing yards per game. They’re also 8th in yards per attempt at 3.9 and 5th in rushing TDs allowed.
Hall has been boom-or-bust this year, and after a bust last week against the Dolphins, it looks like he’ll follow it up with another sub-par performance.
WR – Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (@ HOU)
Jacoby Brissett is a wide receiver’s dream—just a true old-school gunslinger. The Cardinals don’t have much of a run game and have been relying on the pass. Wilson has taken full advantage of that, piling up 481 yards on 39 catches in just a four-game stretch. Just absolutely incredible numbers.
But here come the Texans to rain on his parade. Not many defenses this season have been good enough to bench talent against, but the Texans are one of those units. They emphasized that against the Chiefs on Sunday night when they held Patrick Mahomes to 160 passing yards and 3 INTs. They are simply a lockdown group against the pass.
Wilson has been on a hot streak, but this will no doubt be a dud game. Don’t let last week’s big performance ruin this week for you. Look at other options.
TE – Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (@ CIN)
Usually, the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” league. You don’t get paid from previous great years; you get paid for playing well now. Which is why it was a bit of a head-scratcher that Mark Andrews got a big payday this week prior to their Week 14 matchup.
He followed up that payday with 1 catch for 9 yards. Which isn’t that surprising looking at his body of work this season. Outside of his Week 3 performance where he went for 91 yards and 2 TDs, it has been a mediocre year at best. He’s had less than 40 receiving yards in 11 of his 13 games this year. In 8 of those games, Andrews has failed to surpass even 25 yards. In 4 of those, he’s failed to get even 10 receiving yards.
This week is too vital to have a tight end get you 1 catch for 9 yards. More reliable options are out there.
Defense – Cleveland Browns (@ CHI)
This list has been a lot of talk about great performers who shouldn’t be must-starts on a week-to-week basis. The Browns have been dominant all season, but the last two weeks have shown they have holes.
Against the Titans last week, it looked like a sure-fire lock for the number-one defense of the week. Instead they allowed 31 points with only 1 sack and 1 takeaway. The week prior they played a middle-of-the-pack 49ers team and gave up 26 points with no takeaways.
Now they’re going to the Windy City to face a Bears team trying to lock up the 1-seed for the playoffs. The Bears have everything to lose, and the Browns’ season is all but over. Expect another mediocre performance and find a better option.
