‘Tis the season to start stressing over every single lineup decision for your fantasy football team. That’s right! The fantasy playoffs are upon us!
Every single player going into your starting lineup can either make or break your fantasy season, so let’s take a closer look at some of my favorite early fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em picks for Week 15.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Picks for Week 15
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions (vs. DEN)
The Detroit Lions are coming off of a head-scratching loss against the Chicago Bears. In particular, QB Jared Goff had arguably his worst game of the season, throwing two interceptions and failing to throw for more than 200 yards in a game for the first time this year.
The Lions return home in Week 15 to take on the Denver Broncos, which isn’t a cupcake matchup on paper, but Goff has been great at home over his last four games with eight touchdown passes to just one interception.
Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. MIN)
Oddly enough, Cincinnati Bengals RB Joe Mixon has looked more like the fantasy back many expected when they drafted him in the second or third round earlier this year with Jake Browning under center than with Joe Burrow at quarterback.
Joe Mixon will not be denied!
Mixon’s second effort ties it up. pic.twitter.com/rl4jSzCCZE
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 5, 2023
He has produced 68+ rushing yards and a rushing score in two straight games.
Mixon continues to be heavily involved in the passing game, which is consistently landing him in the top 10 in terms of fantasy points scored at the RB position.
If this offense continues to produce with Browning under center, then Mixon should be a comfortable high-end RB2 option for your fantasy lineup as you contend for a fantasy football championship.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at GB)
After failing to rush for 80 yards through the first 10 games of the season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Rachaad White has hit that threshold in three straight games, which included a pair of 100-yard rushing performances.
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White also registered his second receiving touchdown of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, which gives the Bucs bell-cow back a ton of momentum heading into their matchup against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15.
Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers (at ARI)
This one might seem a bit obvious, but one simply cannot afford to send San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel to the fantasy bench right now. Samuel is coming off of two straight 30+ point fantasy outings, which include consecutive 100+ yard receiving performances.
The Arizona Cardinals don’t have a ton of talent in the secondary, as evidenced by the fact that they’re allowing the 17th most fantasy points to opposing WRs this year. This puts Samuel in line for another big performance against a division rival.
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens (at JAX)
The playing conditions for the Baltimore Ravens passing game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday were far from ideal. Yet, rookie WR Zay Flowers managed to score a touchdown for a second straight week, while also recording 10 or more targets in a game for the first time since Week 5.
Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. appear to have emerged as the top pass-catching options for QB Lamar Jackson, which makes him a high-end WR2 option in my rankings for Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions (vs. DEN)
Rookie TE Sam LaPorta had one of the worst — if not the worst — games of his young career with just two receptions for 23 yards against the Chicago Bears’ underrated defense on Sunday.
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If you are worried, allow me to put your mind at ease by telling you that you can still trust the young TE in your fantasy lineup heading into your fantasy playoffs.
In his six games at Ford Field, LaPorta has averaged five receptions for 52 yards and has scored five times when the Lions play at home this season.
Fantasy Football Sit ‘Em Picks for Week 15
Sam Howell, QB, Washington Commanders (at LAR)
After a solid stretch of six straight games with 40+ passing attempts and 240+ passing yards, Washington Commanders QB Sam Howell finally had a disappointing outing through the air against the Miami Dolphins back in Week 13.
Howell managed to save his fantasy day by rushing for two scores, but the writing may be on the wall for some tough outings in the fantasy playoffs as they face the Los Angeles Rams, the New York Jets, and the San Francisco 49ers over the next three weeks.
Howell’s 127 passing yards and a pick against Miami — plus five interceptions over the last three games — have the young QB trending in the wrong direction heading into Week 15.
D’Andre Swift, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (at SEA)
Just one week after seeing just 42% of the offensive snaps against the San Francisco 49ers, Eagles RB D’Andre Swift posted a second straight fantasy dud against the Dallas Cowboys with just 39 rushing yards on 11 carries with no touchdowns and zero receptions.
Swift is still a very talented RB in an explosive offense, but his recent usage makes him a risky play against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, despite an enticing matchup.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks (vs. PHI)
Speaking of the Seahawks, RB Kenneth Walker III returned to the lineup after a two-game hiatus due to an oblique injury. And the results were… underwhelming to put it very gently.
His 21 yards rushing on eight attempts mark the third time in the last four games that Walker has failed to top 25 yards rushing. Making matters worse is that rookie RB Zach Charbonnet saw one more carry than Walker in this game, making this backfield feel like a complete timeshare.
The Seahawks RB duo doesn’t have a great fantasy outlook in Week 15 heading into a matchup against the stout Eagles rushing defense, which means Walker is a risky RB2 play at best this week.
Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers (vs. ATL)
Carolina Panthers WR Adam Thielen may have had a bounce-back performance against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday with five receptions for 74 yards, but I’m still not 100% sure he has done enough to jump back into the WR2 conversation.
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Thielen has failed to see 10+ targets in three straight games, which was the main thing making him a reliable fantasy starter earlier this season. In a game that is highly unlikely to be a high-scoring affair against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15, I would consider going in a different direction with your advancement in the fantasy playoffs at stake.
Gabe Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills (vs. DAL)
There hasn’t been a bigger rollercoaster player in fantasy football this season than Buffalo Bills WR Gabe Davis. For the third time in the last six games, Davis was held without a single catch. Over that same six-game stretch, Davis has two 20+ point fantasy outings, which makes him a huge headache for fantasy managers in the playoffs.
Looking ahead to Week 15, the Dallas Cowboys defense plays man coverage at one of the highest rates in the NFL, which could give Davis a handful of opportunities to make big plays and produce a monster fantasy outing.
However, unless I am completely desperate for a starting option, or you need to hit a home run in your fantasy matchup where your opponent is significantly favored to win, then Davis is simply too boom or bust to start in Week 15.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Tennessee Titans (vs. HOU)
It hasn’t been all that exciting, but Tennessee Titans TE Chigoziem Okonkwo has quietly put together his two best fantasy performances of the 2023 season heading into their matchup with the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
His seven receptions for 107 yards over that time frame are certainly encouraging for his dynasty outlook, but his fantasy ceiling doesn’t feel high enough to justify the risk of his fantasy floor in this Titans’ passing game. Start him at your own risk.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
