The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 15
It’s playoff time, baby! If you didn’t make your league’s playoffs, don’t worry; this is still an important time of year for you. Don’t be the loser of all losers; keep trying to win, especially if your league has a losers bracket or a toilet bowl competition. The last four weeks of the NFL season bring with them the most crucial time for fantasy teams. One little mistake with your lineup can mean disaster for your dreams. Luckily, Andy, Mike, and Jason are here for everyone to help guide them through the playoffs. The Fantasy Footballers laid out their cases for their Starts of the Week on Thursday’s episode. To check out the full episode, click the YouTube link below.
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Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB – Russell Wilson @ DET
Russ isn’t the flashiest play, but he gets the job done as a spot starter for your team. In six-point touchdown passing leagues, he has been over 16 points in all but one game this season. Now, he faces a defense that has been reeling since Week 10. Detroit ranks 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points given up to the QB and 30th in points allowed in that time. He throws the ball downfield and creates big plays. You could have a worse option for your team this week.
RB – Kyren Williams vs. WAS
Kyren Williams might have the most secure RB role outside of Christian McCaffrey right now. He sees 90% of the team’s snaps, which has led to 22, 26, and 29 opportunities since he returned from IR. Williams ranks second in points per game and fifth in red zone touches this season despite missing four games with injury. He is going up against the 31st-ranked schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running back defense in Washington. The Rams should get up fast on Washington, and Kyren has shown he can grind a game away for the team once they have a lead.
WR – DK Metcalf vs. PHI
Two weeks ago against Dallas, Metcalf had a three-TD game. Then he returned to Earth with Drew Lock as his QB, but he was facing the Niners. Now he faces a defense that has been must start all year. Philly ranks dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points to WRs this year. The Eagles are on pace to allow 267 receptions to WRs and 30 receiving touchdowns to WRs; both would be the most of all time. DK is a monster and can go nuclear any given week. This week is one where we should see it coming and get him in our lineups.
TE – Trey McBride vs. SF
T McB is elite. Mike and Jason have been on the hype train for a while, and Andy joins the party. Even Arizona’s Offensive Coordinator Drew Petzing said, “The sky’s the limit” when discussing McBride. Since becoming the full-time TE in Week 8, McBride has been the team’s WR1. He averages nine targets per game, gets targets on 29% of his routes run, and has 73 receiving yards per game. He faces a 49ers defense that seems scary but uses zone coverage on 75% of their defensive snaps. McBride leads Arizona in yards per route run against zone coverage. McBride has been a great fantasy asset for your team. Don’t be afraid this week; keep him in your lineup.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
QB – Jordan Love vs. TB
His Monday Night Football performance was a masterful Poo Poo Picasso. Love was a train wreck in New York last week outside his last touchdown. However, when he was at Lambeau Field, Love averaged 19 fantasy points and 37 pass attempts per game. He is still the QB9 on the season and now faces Tampa Bay this week. Tampa has been a pass funnel all year long. Tampa allows 7.7 yards per attempt, the third-highest in the NFL. Since Week 8, Tampa is 29th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Last week, we watched Desmond Ridder put up a good game against the Bucs, and Love is much better than Ridder. Don’t let the stink of last week scare you away from putting Love in your lineup.
RB – Najee Harris @ IND
Najee has seen a consistent workload since Week 6 at 16.5 opportunities per game. He isn’t always creating big, flashy plays, but there could be upside this week against Indianapolis, which teams are running against at the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. Najee has averaged 11 fantasy points per game, so he isn’t killing you when you play him, but going up against the 31st-ranked schedule-adjusted fantasy points to the RB defense gives you confidence in a player. Add in that the Colts’ defense allows the second-most rushing touchdowns in the NFL this year, and you could see Najee help you win your week.
WR – DeAndre Hopkins vs. HOU
Hopkins went off in the second half of last week’s Monday Night Football game. He proved he still has juice as a WR1 for a team, and Will Levis loves Hopkins. Since Week 8, Hopkins has received 28% targets per route run and 2.47 yards per route run. He is truly the apple of Bananarama’s eye, as one might say. Hopkins has more receptions at 107 than all other Titan WRs combined at 106. Over the last five weeks, the Texans’ defense has morphed into a clear pass funnel defense. Houston ranks 28th in scheduled-adjusted fantasy points to WRs. Last week, Garrett Wilson tore Tennessee apart. Expect Hopkins to do something similar this week.
TE – Sam LaPorta vs. DEN
LaPorta is arguably having the best fantasy season of all time for a rookie TE. In PPR leagues, he averages 13.6 points per game, second only to Mike Ditka’s 1961 season, which few of us were playing fantasy football at the time to enjoy. His 66 receptions are fourth all-time for a rookie, and he still has four games remaining on the season. He faces a much improved Denver defense, which still doesn’t guard TEs. The Broncos’ defensive coordinator, Vance Joseph, has never been able to stop the TE position, and that is still true today. Look for LaPorta to continue his outstanding season at home against Denver this week.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB – Matthew Stafford vs. WAS
Stafford is officially on a heater. His last three starts have seen him finish as the QB7, QB8, and QB5. Washington now comes to L.A. with their defense that allows the highest yards per attempt at 8.1 and the most passing touchdowns. The defense Stafford is facing is terrible, and he has been cooking. You have to get him in your lineup if possible. Jason chimed in and wanted to provide Mike with some backup by adding that he believes Stafford could be the most crucial player for fantasy playoffs this year.
RB – Zack Moss vs. PIT
Moss has seen his workload at the beginning of the season in the last two weeks but hasn’t put up the level of fantasy production he had back then. However, a 90% snap rate and 21.5 opportunities are not things that you bench. Also, he had a touchdown called back last week on a penalty. Recently, the Steelers have been bleeding points to running backs. They rank 21st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs, but over the last two weeks, James Conner was the RB5, and Zeke was the RB1. Look for Moss to return to who he was at the beginning of the year.
WR – Odell Beckham Jr. @ JAX
Last week, OBJ had 10 targets, which turned into four receptions, 97 yards, and a touchdown. He has a clear split in usage when he is not on the injury report. If he is injured, he sees targets on 19% of his routes run, versus when Beckham isn’t on the injury report, he has 29% TPRR and 3.16 yards per reception. So far, he has not appeared on the injury report this week, which has proven successful for his fantasy output. Jacksonville ranks 27th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs on the season. Beckham and the passing offense for Baltimore should have a good game in Jacksonville.
TE – Logan Thomas @ LAR
If you need a streaming option, Logan Thomas, who we have turned to all year, has an excellent matchup to exploit. This game has a 49-point over/under, and Washington is averaging 43.6 pass attempts per game, which is first in the NFL this year. The Rams rank 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs. Last week, Isaiah Likely torched the Rams for big fantasy numbers. Mike isn’t saying Thomas will do the same, but he can give you solid production if needed.