Week 15: Start Em, Sit Em - Matthew Stafford, Lamar Miller, and others

Quarterbacks

Start Em

Matthew Stafford, DET at NO- Stafford has been mediocre all season, but in the last three games he has picked it up a bit. He's averaging 267.3 passing yards and 24.36 fantasy points per game in his last three. In that span, he has thrown nine touchdowns. This week he faces the Saints defense who has surrendered the most passing touchdowns of any team (36). Opposing quarterbacks are averaging 292.2 passing yards and 23.3 fantasy points against the Saints. Stafford has topped 20 fantasy points in each favorable matchup this season. This game has the highest over/under of the week at 51 points which indicates a potential shootout. If you take everything into account, Stafford offers a relatively high floor this week and is in a great spot.

Other Starts

Blake Bortles, JAC vs. ATL

Tyrod Taylor, BUF at WAS

Alex Smith, KC at BAL

Russell Wilson, SEA vs. CLE

Sleeper Alert: Philip Rivers, SD vs. MIA

Sit Em

Derek Carr, OAK vs. GB- Carr has struggled as of late and doesn't have an appealing matchup this week. He is averaging 16.1 fantasy points and 229.3 passing yards per game in the last four games. He has turned the ball over four times in that span. The Packers have been solid against the pass this season. They're allowing 248.8 passing yards per game and have allowed 16 touchdowns while intercepting the ball 12 times. They have held quarterbacks under 20 fantasy points in five straight games. In fact, only three quarterbacks have topped 20 fantasy points against the Packers. While Sam Shields is likely not playing, Carr has been too inconsistent as of late to trust during the fantasy playoffs.

Other Sits

Sam Bradford, PHI vs. ARI

Marcus Mariota, TEN at NE

Jameis Winston, TB at STL

Ryan Tannehill, MIA at SD

Bust Alert: Eli Manning, NYG vs. CAR

Running Backs

Start Em

Lamar Miller, MIA at SD - Miller ran wild against the Giants in the first half of last week's game, but for some reason the Dolphins decided to not give him many carries in the second half. He finished the night with 12 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns. He heads to San Diego to face one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. The Chargers are allowing 112 rushing yards per game and 4.95 YPC, while yielding 13 total touchdowns. Running backs are also averaging 4.7 receptions and 50.3 receiving yards per game against them. They've allowed 100+ rushing yards in all but three games this season. Since they fired head Coach Joe Philbin, Miller has scored double-digit Fantasy points in any game with 10 or more touches and has topped 20 Fantasy points in all but one game where he received more than 10 carries (in PPR formats). He's been limited in practice with an ankle injury, but he's fully expected to play. Keep an eye on his status.

Other Starts

Doug Martin, TB at STL

Denard Robinson, JAC vs. ATL

Jeremy Hill, CIN at SF

David Johnson, ARI at PHI

Sleeper alert: Danny Woodhead, SD vs. MIA

Sit Em

Darren McFadden, DAL vs. NYJ - After averaging 24.4 carries per game from Week 7 through Week 11, McFadden has averaged just 11 carries per game in his last three. He has one of the toughest matchups a running back can have. The Jets have allowed just one rushing touchdown to opposing backs this season. They're allowing 62 rushing yards and 11.5 fantasy points per game. Running backs are averaging just 3.5 rushing yards per carry against the Jets. McFadden isn't getting a ton of volume as of late and has a tough matchup. This game will likely be low scoring and slow paced. If you can, it's best to leave McFadden on your bench as there are plenty of better options.

Other Sits

DeMarco Murray, PHI vs. ARI

Isaiah Crowell, CLE at SEA

Ronnie Hillman, DEN vs. PIT

Rashad Jennings, NYG vs. CAR

Bust Alert: Javorius Allen, BAL vs. KC

Wide Receivers

Start Em

Jeremy Maclin, KC at BAL - Maclin has seen a consistent amount of targets in the last three games. In that span, he is averaging 10 targets per game. For the season, he is averaging 8.6 targets per game. The Chiefs head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens secondary who are arguably the worst pass defense in the league. They are surrendering 181.7 receiving yards and 27.9 fantasy points per game to receivers, while allowing the most receiving touchdowns (24).In the last three games, Maclin is averaging eight receptions and 107.7 receiving yards per game. In that span he has topped 20 fantasy points twice and has scored three touchdowns. He's reemerged himself as a No. 1 WR and has a great matchup to look forward to.

Other Starts

Doug Baldwin, SEA vs. CLE

Brandin Cooks, NO vs. DET

Golden Tate, DET at NO

Allen Hurns, JAC vs. ATL

Sleeper Alert: Ted Ginn CAR at NYG

Sit Em

Dez Bryant, DAL vs. NYJ - Never in a million years did I think I'd be recommending fantasy owners to bench Dez Bryant during the fantasy playoffs, but that's what is has come down to. He has caught just six passes in his last three games and has not eclipsed 65 yards in any of those games. In standard formats, he has scored fewer than seven fantasy points in three straight weeks. While the targets have been there for Bryant, he hasn't been able to get on the same page as his quarterback. This week he will visit Revis Island which makes the task the much more difficult. If you can afford to, it might be better off to keep Bryant on your bench this week as he hasn't been producing and has a tough matchup.

Other Sits

Jordan Matthews, PHI vs. ARI

T.Y. Hilton, IND vs. HOU

Stefon Diggs, MIN vs. CHI

Mike Evans, TB at STL

Bust Alert: Martavis Bryant, PIT at DEN

Tight Ends

Start Em

Julius Thomas, JAC vs. ATL

Eric Ebron, DET at NO

Richard Rodgers, GB at OAK

Sit Em

Jason Witten, DAL vs. NYJ

Kyle Rudolph, MIN vs. CHI

Travis Kelce, KC at BAL

Defense

Start Em

Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens

New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys

Sit Em

Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers