It's semi-final time! Congratulations if you have made it this far, the finish line is now in sight, so let's win one more and get to that all-important final. We can't get all this way and fall at the final hurdle, so this week @FFShaneB gives you his weekly starts and @MattFFDynasty gives you his weekly sits in this crucial Week 15 game week.
Quarterback
Starts
Start Of The Week
Tom Brady (TB) @ ATL
I hate Tom Brady. Even after his move to Tampa, I still hate him. So, it hurts me to put him as the Start of the Week! BUT, this is a smash start. Atlanta defense sucks!! Ole Tom is gonna tear them to shreds. Expect a great day!
Daniel Jones (NYG) Vs CLE
Cleveland as a whole has been playing well! But, their secondary has been a little banged up and is where they have gotten beat. Jones is talented enough to expose that.
Drew Lock (DEN) Vs BUF
DREWVEMBER IS HERE!!!! Lock looked great last week and has a Buffalo secondary this week that has not been good. They are one of the worst against fantasy QBs. If Lock continues to play to this level he will be mentioned here again.
(Honorable Mention: Chase Daniel if Stafford is out)
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Matt Ryan (ATL) Vs TB
Despite being 3rd in pass attempts, Matt Ryan is only the QB15 in fantasy this year. He now has to face one of the tougher defenses in the NFL in the Buccaneers, most likely without one of his star WRs in Julio Jones. Ryan is an easy fade this week in your crucial fantasy matchup.
Kirk Cousins (MIN) Vs CHI
Cousins has found a bit of form lately and ranks as the QB5 since his bye week in Week 7. However, this week he is playing the Bears who are the 9th toughest defense against opposing QBs this season, allowing only 17.6 FPPG to the position. I expect this game to be more of a battle on the ground than through the air.
Baker Mayfield (CLE) @ NYG
Mayfield is coming off his best game of the season Vs a tough Ravens defense, and many owners may think he can lead their fantasy team to the final... however, I wouldn't be so confident. The Giants have been a sneaky good defense this season, and rank as the 4th best against opposing QBs. The Browns are likely going to lean on Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt again this week and Mayfield shouldn't need to throw the ball all that much with the Giants showing little on offense this season.
Running Back
Starts
Start Of The Week
*Because he would be a cop-out as the 'Start of the week' I am just going to mention Derrick Henry is playing Detroit. START HIM!!
David Montgomery (CHI) @ MIN
Montgomery is going to be a league winner. His fantasy playoff schedule is juicy. And that continues this week! He has also gotten better as the season has gone on and looked like the RB I (and FF_Flavortown) thought he could be. Minnesota has a below-average defense. Montgomery is gonna smash. Start him.
Mike Davis (CAR) @ GB
Christian McCaffrey is likely out. Meaning Mike Davis is a SMASH START. Green Bay’s run defense is a pile of hot garbage. Davis has been serviceable in McCaffrey’s place and against this defense he has the potential to be a top 10 fantasy back. Start him.
D'Andre Swift (DET) Vs DET
Swift has improved throughout the year and received more volume as he should. Tennessee has not been great against fantasy running backs especially later in the season. This should be a good week for Swift and you should feel comfortable starting him.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
James Robinson (JAX) @ BAL
Robinson has been brilliant this season and is currently the RB4, but Week 14 was a quiet week for him by his lofty standards. Now he faces the Ravens, who only allow an average of 18.5 FPPG to opposing RBs (8th best) and are the 2nd slowest NFL franchise in 'pace of play'. This could be a low-scoring affair, so I'd temper expectations on Robinson this week.
Chris Carson (SEA) @ WAS
Since returning from his injury, Carson has been a solid RB, ranking as the RB8. However, a trip to Washington is going to be one of his toughest tasks of the season. Washington have been a very strong run defense this season and I expect this to be a rough afternoon for Carson.
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) Vs SF
What a disappointing season for Zeke. He may still be the RB9 but he's been nothing like what you likely hoped for when you drafted him early in your drafts. Now facing the 49ers who are the 6th best defense in FPA to opposing RBs, Elliott will do well to bounce-back in this one. His snap share has dropped from 90% Week 1 to 60% last week, with fellow RB becoming more involved each week. It's tough to rely on Zeke anymore.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Start Of The Week
Terry McLaurin (WAS) Vs SEA
Scary Terry gets the worst secondary in the league when it comes to fantasy points. He’s probably in your lineup anyway, but just in case you were worried about QB play, you shouldn’t. He is elite and is going to remind us all of that this week.
Corey Davis (TEN) Vs DET
Davis has been one of the most underrated players this year in fantasy football. He has been fairly consistent at producing all year. Do you know who else has been consistent? Detroit. At sucking. This could be a very ugly game for Detroit because Tennessee is going to be able to what they want. Start Davis because he isn’t going to get the Lions #1 corner (not that it matters anyway) so he should be able to get open and EAT!
Tim Patrick (DEN) Vs BUF
Patrick has had chemistry with Lock. Making us forget about Jerry Jeudy. This supporting cast has really started to click as a whole! They are facing Buffalo who has struggled to cover anybody. If Lock plays like he did last week, Patrick is a must-start. Even if he doesn’t, Patrick is a start because he has been so consistent.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Michael Thomas (NO) Vs KC
Thomas has been stand-in QB Taysom Hill's favorite target, averaging 7.5 receptions per game, but this is going to be Hill's toughest task since stepping in. The Cheifs are a strong pass defense, and while I think Thomas will get his fair share of targets, I'd temper expectations on him this week in a game where Hill could struggle under center.
Adam Thielen (MIN) Vs CHI
Thielen had been on a good run of form before his poor showing in Week 14 Vs TB, and now he has to go up against the Bears who, as I mentioned with Cousins, are a top pass defense. They are the 5th strongest defense in points allowed to opposing WRs (26.2 FPPG) and with rookie WR Justin Jefferson emerging this season, Thielen will do well to bounce-back this week.
Robby Anderson (CAR) @ GB
Anderson has had a great 2020 and is currently the WR14. In week 14 he had 12 targets which he turned into 8 receptions and 84 yards. Now though, he faces the Packers who we know have been brilliant against opposing WRs. Anderson could face a tough matchup against star CB Jaire Alexandre, so I expect a quiet week from him this week.
Tight End
Starts
Start Of The Week
Irv Smith Jr. (MIN) Vs CHI
If Kyle Rudolph is out, then Irv Smith is a MUST start in whatever lineup or format you have him. Chicago has been TERRIBLE against the tight end, especially when it comes to giving up TDs. Irv is a lock for a good game IF Rudolph is out. IF Rudolph plays I am still comfortable starting Smith as a flex play. Minnesota just needs to nut up and transition to Smith permanently.
Evan Engram (NYG) Vs CLE
Cleveland has not been very good in the secondary, especially against the tight end. Engram’s athleticism should give him even more of an advantage to succeed against this team. If Kyle Rudolph plays Engram is actually my start of the week, so take that how you will. I think Engram has the game most of us have been wanting or waiting for.
Eric Ebron (PIT) @ CIN
Cincinnati is bad. And they do not stop the tight end well. Ebron should have a good day with good TD upside. Start him this week with confidence against a lackluster defense.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Logan Thomas (WAS) @ SEA
Thomas has had a career season with the Football Team, and when you see he's facing the pass funnel that is the Seahawks this week, you would think he's a smash play. However, the Seahawks have been surprisingly tough against opposing TEs. I feel this will be more of a McLaurin game, as Shane highlighted above, rather than a Thomas game. However, with the mess the TE position is, you may have to start Thomas anyway.
Dalton Schultz (DAL) Vs SF
The 49ers are the best defense against opposing TEs this season, and Dallas QB Andy Dalton has been spreading the ball around since stepping in for Dak Prescott. This will be a tough matchup for Schultz and there are likely more appealing options available for you this week, rather than Schultz
Hunter Henry (LAC) @ LV
Similarly to Thomas, you would think this is a solid matchup, but the Raiders have been surprisingly solid against opposing TEs and rank as the 10th best against the position. Henry has been hit and miss this season with Herbert looking WR Keenan Allen's way more than anybody else. Henry is tough to trust, but again, you likely don't have many better options at the position without having one of the top guys.
(Edit: Mike Williams is out, Keenan Allen is likely limited at best, Hunter Henry could be in line for an increased workload on TNF. This makes him less of a 'sit' for me this week)
Defense
Starts
Start Of The Week
Cleveland Browns @ NYG
This is a bit of a homer pick. While Cleveland has struggled against the pass they are decent against the run and I don’t know if I trust Jones to not turn the ball over multiple times. Especially because Fat Freddie Kitchens is calling the plays for NYG this week because Jason Garrett got the Rona.
Green Bay Packers Vs CAR
Pittsburgh Steelers @ CIN
L.A Rams Vs NYJ
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Philadelphia Eagles @ ARI
The Eagles have been a fairly solid fantasy defense this season, but this matchup sees two teams who rank in the Top 5 in 'pace of play' faceoff against each other, with 2 QBs in Hurts and Murray who can use their legs to extend plays. I expect this to turn into a shootout so I'd fade both defenses in this one.
Arizona Cardinals Vs ARI
New Orleans Vs KC
Denver Broncos Vs BUF
Thanks for reading. Be sure to keep an eye out every Thursday for our weekly start/sit article with the @FF_Astronauts. Follow @FFShaneB and @MattFFDynasty on Twitter for more Fantasy Football content throughout the season and hit us up with your Start/Sit questions.
