Welcome back Fantasy friends and foes to your weekly Fantasy Six Pack 2019 Fantasy Football Week 15 Start-Sit.
This week is Fantasy Football Semifinals for most so the pressure is on to make the right call. The popular saying "start your studs" should no longer be followed in all cases. You have to be able to identify when a "stud" is no longer that and be able to sit him for a player who picked up off waivers and is performing better. This is especially true if the matchups dictate the swap too.
Now I'm not saying get cute and sit Julio Jones just because he is facing San Francisco, but there are other less producing players I would think about it with.
2019 Fantasy Football Week 15 Start-Sit
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Start
Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Tom Brady was scootin' on this scramble ?♂️
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/hJLJ6SIcTK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 9, 2019
Tom Brady has been mediocre at bests since about Week 9 this season. Go figure that is when the Patriots schedule got significantly harder, although he still had some soft matchups that he didn't take advantage of, such as the Eagles.
Well, a get right game against the Bengals is up next for the Patriots. Cincy ranks 9th worst against quarterbacks this season so Brady and the passing offense should be able to get back on track, at least for one week.
Raheem Mostert, RB, San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons
https://twitter.com/OSf49ers/status/1204491045783785472
It appears there is no more guessing who is going to be getting the bulk of work in the 49ers backfield. It is clearly Mostert who has 74% and 60% of the offensive snap the last two weeks.
He has also turned those into 23.4 and 24.9 points in those two weeks.
The Falcons are an average run defense, but the second-best rushing team in the NFL can do damage against an average run defense. Start Mostert with confidence.
DeAndre Washington, RB, Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
DeAndre Washington doing his best Josh Jacobs impression pic.twitter.com/jbTSMNRElg
— Evan Groat (@Egroat5) December 8, 2019
I am basing this selection on the thought that the Raiders will shut down starting RB Josh Jacobs with a shoulder injury.
Jacobs was inactive in Week 14, and with the Raiders out of the playoff hunt, it makes little sense to risk their star player in a meaningless game. Washington should get the opportunity to be the first and second-down running back against a Jaguars defense which has obviously quit on its coach.
Washington will split work with Jalen Richard, but if there is a touchdown to be scored, Washington will have the best chance to get it. He should also get a bulk of the work as we saw last week he got 14 carries to Richard's seven and caught six passes compared to just two.
A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans
Ryan Tannehill finds rookie AJ Brown for a 91-yard TD
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/wC1WvVJErv
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 8, 2019
The Ryan Tannehill-AJ Brown connection is starting to look really special.
The former Ole Miss Rebel has now scored 23.50+ fantasy points in two of his last three games. He’s also totaled 333 receiving yards over the past three weeks.
The matchup is not as appealing as one may think though. The Texans have held all but one WR to 46 yards or fewer since their Week 10 bye. Regardless, it’s hard to bet against an offense that has scored an average of 37.5 points over their last four games.
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins
Darius Slayton's sensational rookie year continues as he turns a short gain into a 35-yard TD. Eli Manning's first TD pass since Week 2.
(via @Giants)https://t.co/154T8sUgvA
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 10, 2019
Slayton another good matchup on deck this week vs. Miami as they allow the second-most fantasy points to wideout this season.
It’s difficult to label someone coming off of a 150+ yard, two-touchdown showing a sleeper. However, many people are still likely wary about the Giants passing attack, along with the fact that Slayton is pegged as the team’s WR3. However, since Sterling Shepard has returned from injury, Golden Tate has become an afterthought while Slayton has continued to be featured.
he was the ultimate Showdown Captain against the Eagles on MNF, stepping into a matchup Robby Anderson rocked last week.
Ian Thomas, TE, Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Ian Thomas! pic.twitter.com/uPdl7i98zd
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) December 8, 2019
In Half-PPR scoring formats, who has allowed the second-most points to tight ends? Bet you would not have guessed the Seahawks. Well, you should have.
Ian Thomas had a very productive game last week when Greg Olsen was out. Well, Olsen is out again so this is a good spot for Thomas to excel again against a defense as I mentioned has been kind to tight ends.
Sit
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
Dak finished Week 14 with a bunch of garbage time points to salvage his day and an injured index finger. Perhaps that explains why some of his throws were off that game. The Cowboys are saying he is fine, but with their season on the line, they will deal with 80% of Dak than Cooper Rush, don't worry I haven't heard of him either.
Not only is the finger a concern, he if facing the Rams, who are rated fourth in coverage according to Pro Football Focus. Oh and don't forget about the second-best pass rush in the league either. This could be a long day for Dak and the Cowboys who are a sinking ship right now.
Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints
Mack is a fine running back, but this game is a negative one for him. Not only are the Saints a tough team to run on, 26th fewest points allowed, but this is also a potential blowout game early which takes Mack out of the equation.
Also in his return last week, Mack salvaged his day with a touchdown, but it was an otherwise forgettable day. I'm passing on Mack if I can this week.
LeSean McCoy, RB, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
#Chiefs Week 14 RB usage:
Spencer Ware - 40% snaps, 5 carries, 2 targets
LeSean McCoy - 31% snaps, 11 carries, 3 targets
Darwin Thompson - 27% snaps, 4 carries, 5 targets— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) December 9, 2019
The Fantasy situation with the Chiefs has been a dumpster fire all season. Spencer Ware was unemployed for the majority of the season and earned more carriers than any Chiefs running back in Week 14. How does that happen?
The Chiefs seem to believe that McCoy needs to be rested and not able to handle a full workload. Do not trust him or really any Chiefs running back at this point.
Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots
Over the last five weeks, the #Steelers have faced Larry Fitzgerald, Odell Beckham (2x), Tyler Boyd & Cooper Kupp.
Those four receivers combined for:
- 15 catches
- 210 yards
- 1 TD
- 1 Fumble
- 41.7 Catch %This secondary has been phenomenal.https://t.co/BOKyvdTdmo
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) December 9, 2019
Boyd has scored in two of his last three games but Fantasy owners can't trust him this week in the matchup against the New England Patriots. Their secondary is only allowing 26.5 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, which is best in the league.
With Andy Dalton back under center, it would suggest that the Bengals offense would be more Fantasy friendly. Unfortunately, Dalton is Dalton and there was a reason that he was benched for rookie Ryan Finley. The only Bengal worth considering in this matchup is running back Joe Mixon.
Also, the Patriots have allowed a league-low nine touchdowns through the air. I don't see that number increasing in Week 15.
Can't decide who to start at Defense? Take a look at Tyler Thompson's terrific Week 15 Defense Stream-O-Matic to assist you in selecting your Week 15 defense in your pursuit of the 2019 Fantasy Football Championship.
