Javonte Williams has seen his fantasy football positional finish improve in back-to-back-to-back weeks, and now he gets to face a Detroit Lions defense that is struggling as much as they have at any point this season.
Should Williams be locked into starting lineups in Week 15 as fantasy managers look to extend their season?
Should You Start Javonte Williams in Week 15?
Fresh off of his first rushing score of the season, Williams has been a stable source of usable production for almost two months now, and I see no reason to think that’ll change this week in Detroit. The Lions own the fourth-worst red-zone defense in the NFL, and given Williams’ strong role, he’s the most likely Denver player to benefit from that flaw.
The perfect play call gets Javonte Williams into the endzone as Russ gets the pass off in time!#Broncos retake the lead with just over 5 minutes to play. pic.twitter.com/rJ75dwPnLs
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 14, 2023
My lone concern with starting Williams with full confidence is the projected possession count for Denver. The Broncos rank 22nd in average time of possession while the Lions rank fifth, putting this run game at risk, especially if Detroit can score with the consistency that I believe they will.
You take the good with the bad. At the end of the day, we’re looking at a talented back in a lead role against a defense that has regressed recently.
Williams is a fine RB2, and it wouldn’t shock me if he gave us a stat line this week similar to what he produced in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers — 91 yards and a touchdown.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Russell Wilson has been the fifth most oft-pressured quarterback this season — minimum 200 attempts — and if Denver’s goal is to keep their veteran comfortable in what figures to be a high-scoring game, they are likely to dial up not only a fair share of run plays but also more than a few screens that get the ball out of his hands quickly.
Either of those play calls will work for Williams’ fantasy managers, and I think you can feel good about playing him in your playoffs.
Trending Start/Sit Searches For Williams
Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use, and it allows you to enter up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!
It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, and we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity!
Should You Start Williams or James Cook?
Give me Williams over James Cook this week. Both are playing in potentially high-scoring games and carry the level of versatility that it takes to succeed at a high level, but Williams has the benefit of playing on an offense that needs balance more than Cook does.
The matchup edge for Williams, along with a higher touch count, has me reasonably comfortable in plugging him in over Cook in all formats this week.
Should You Start Williams or Ezekiel Elliott?
As good as Ezekiel Elliott was last week, the upside of this offense is still capped by their limitations under center. That’s not to say that I’m supremely confident in Russell Wilson, but he does carry a more appealing floor/ceiling combination than Bailey Zappe.
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I understand that the Kansas City Chiefs haven’t been the dynamic offense we’ve grown accustomed to seeing here in recent weeks, but we are still talking about an offense that can still move the chains consistently. The Patriots rank 30th in average time of possession this season and that puts me in a spot to doubt their possession count in this game.
If that’s the case, starting Elliott over Williams would mean playing a less explosive back in a lesser offense that projects fewer carries. I’ll pass. In my opinion, Williams carries a significant floor/ceiling edge over Elliott this week and moving forward.
PFN Consensus’ Week 15 RB Rankings
1) Christian McCaffrey | SF (at ARI)
2) Alvin Kamara | NO (vs. NYG)
3) Bijan Robinson | ATL (at CAR)
4) Kyren Williams | LAR (vs. WAS)
5) Tony Pollard | DAL (at BUF)
6) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (vs. DEN)
7) Rachaad White | TB (at GB)
8) Austin Ekeler | LAC (at LV)
9) Zack Moss | IND (vs. PIT)
10) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (vs. BAL)
11) Saquon Barkley | NYG (at NO)
12) Breece Hall | NYJ (at MIA)
13) Joe Mixon | CIN (vs. MIN)
14) Derrick Henry | TEN (vs. HOU)
15) David Montgomery | DET (vs. DEN)
16) Raheem Mostert | MIA (vs. NYJ)
17) Javonte Williams | DEN (at DET)
18) De’Von Achane | MIA (vs. NYJ)
19) James Cook | BUF (vs. DAL)
20) D’Andre Swift | PHI (at SEA)
21) Ezekiel Elliott | NE (vs. KC)
22) Jerome Ford | CLE (vs. CHI)
23) James Conner | ARI (vs. SF)
24) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (vs. ATL)
25) Najee Harris | PIT (at IND)
26) Jaylen Warren | PIT (at IND)
27) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (vs. PHI)
28) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC (at NE)
29) Keaton Mitchell | BAL (at JAX)
30) Antonio Gibson | WAS (at LAR)
31) Ty Chandler | MIN (at CIN)
32) AJ Dillon | GB (vs. TB)
33) Devin Singletary | HOU (at TEN)
34) Chase Brown | CIN (vs. MIN)
35) Gus Edwards | BAL (at JAX)
36) Jerick McKinnon | KC (at NE)
37) Tyjae Spears | TEN (vs. HOU)
38) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (vs. PHI)
39) D’Onta Foreman | CHI (at CLE)
40) Aaron Jones | GB (vs. TB)
41) Jamaal Williams | NO (vs. NYG)
42) Roschon Johnson | CHI (at CLE)
43) Zamir White | LV (vs. LAC)
44) Dameon Pierce | HOU (at TEN)
45) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (at SEA)
46) Kareem Hunt | CLE (vs. CHI)
47) Rico Dowdle | DAL (at BUF)
48) Joshua Kelley | LAC (at LV)
49) D’Ernest Johnson | JAX (vs. BAL)
50) Miles Sanders | CAR (vs. ATL)
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