Admin December 10, 2024
NFL Overreactions Week 14
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the biggest NFL storylines from Week 14.
Sports Seriously
The fantasy playoffs have arrived! Hopefully, you’re one of the few in your league with the opportunity to compete for a championship. Even if you’re not though, there is plenty of reason to be interested in who to start and who to sit in Week 15.
With the end of the season so close, this week could be the difference between a championship and just another forgotten playoff contender, or the difference between someone who fought in the consolation bracket or someone who has to sit in an IHOP for 24 hours.
Here are eight players to start and eight more to sit in Week 15 in order to help you win your matchup.
Players to start in Week 15
Quarterbacks
Barring any setbacks with his injury he suffered against Jacksonville, Levis could be in for a great matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who have given up the most points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Sure, Levis did not perform well against Jacksonville, but he did have to leave the game after a hit from Josh Hines-Allen, and it was clear he wasn’t at 100%. Don’t forget that Levis had scored more than 15 points in back-to-back games prior to Week 14. He’s hot, and he’s got a great matchup. That’s good enough for potential super FLEX consideration, or a streaming start if that’s how you roll.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have given up the third-most points per game to opposing quarterbacks. While it might be easy to assume that the Chargers will just lean on the run game as they have heavily in the past, their ground attack has looked abysmal without J.K. Dobbins. They’re fighting for a playoff spot, so they should start leaning on their superstar quarterback.
This will likely be a close game, and the Chargers may need to lean more heavily on their passing attack than they have in the past, especially if Ladd McConkey remains sidelined.
Running Backs
It does not matter who it is. The lead back in San Francisco needs to be rostered and started every week with zero regard to their opponent. That said, this week, their opponent actually isn’t that strong against halfbacks.
The Los Angeles Rams have surrendered at least double digit non-PPR points to opposing running backs in five of their last six contests. If we take receptions into account, then they’ve given up at least 15 points in ten of their last 11. So long as Guerendo is out and the 49ers do not sign anyone else off the street, Taylor is a must-start in fantasy moving forward.
While the Carolina Panthers have improved recently, they’re still surrendering 24 non-PPR points per game to opposing running backs. In fact, they’ve surrendered at least 10 non-PPR points to running backs in every game this season. While Dallas’ running game is abysmal, Dowdle is worth the shot this week.
Wide Receivers
Meyers has quietly been an incredible FLEX play as of late, scoring at least 13 PPR points in six of his last seven games. Now, facing an atrocious Falcons’ secondary, Meyers should be in for a big workload and great production.
The Baltimore Ravens are one of only seven teams to give up 13 or more receptions to wide receivers per game. Robinson is a reception machine and should get ample opportunity to rack up numerous five or six-yard receptions, which is what he lives on.
Tight Ends
With teammates Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Taysom Hill out, Johnson is one of the few proven targets left for quarterback Derek Carr. Of course, Derek Carr might miss next week’s game as well, leaving the quarterback duty to either Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler. Johnson would be a more than welcome safety blanket for either of those inexperienced quarterbacks.
Yes, Pitts has disappointed a lot, but facing a Raiders’ defense that has given up the third-most non-PPR points to tight ends, Pitts could be worth considering again. The Falcons are in desperation mode, and will likely not take any risks in a game that they should certainly win. If there was ever a game where the team would scheme Pitts into their game plan, this is the game for it to happen.
Players to sit in Week 15
Quarterbacks
While Darnold balled out in Week 14, he still has only scored more than 20 points five times all season. Going against a Chicago Bears defense that has surrendered the second-fewest points per game to quarterbacks, Darnold could be in for a rough performance.
Of course, the counterargument would be that Darnold scored 21 points against the same Chicago defense three weeks ago, but the Bears will adjust. They know what Darnold brings to the table and should be more prepared this time around.
In a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have given up the fourth-fewest points per game to opposing quarterbacks, Wilson will desperately miss his top receiver, George Pickens. Pickens is expected to miss Week 15, making Wilson’s job that much harder. Avoid Wilson at all costs this weekend.
Running Backs
Facing the Kansas City Chiefs this week, the Cleveland Browns will likely find themselves playing from behind early on. That was the situation last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers as well, and Jerome Ford earned nearly 50% of the carries out of the backfield.
The Chiefs have allowed the fewest points per game to opposing halfbacks all season, and given Ford’s usage in Week 14, Chubb will be an abysmal play in Week 15.
Depending on Bucky Irving’s status as we progress this week, White could be in line for the lead role in Tampa Bay’s backfield in Week 15. That said, no matter what Irving’s status is, White will disappoint this weekend.
For starters, the Los Angeles Chargers have allowed the sixth-fewest points per game to opposing halfbacks all year. While they have allowed five receptions per game, which is where White makes his money, Irving’s presence will almost certainly eat into that role. If Irving is out, Sean Tucker will earn a good chunk of the snaps, and might take most of the workload as a ball-carrier. In essence, while White could still make an impact through the air if Irving is out, his ceiling is limited with Tucker likely to take a sizable chunk of the rushing workload.
Wide Receivers
Standout rookie Brian Thomas has been living on the edge in terms of fantasy relevance. In Week 14, he put up zero points in the first half against Tennessee, then turned around and put up eight catches for 86 yards in 30 minutes to close out the contest. He’s been inconsistent and hard to trust, and now, facing the New York Jets’ secondary, Thomas could be in for a rough outing.
Yes, while the Jets’ secondary is banged up and did just give up over 200 yards and a touchdown to wideouts a week ago, that was Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle with Tua Tagovailoa throwing them the ball. Thomas is great, but he’s no Hill or Waddle yet. Oh, and Mac Jones isn’t at Tagovailoa’s level.
Although Addison has put up over 30 PPR points in two of his last three, he has also put up less than 10 in two of his last five. While Addison put up over 30 in his last game against Chicago, the Bears are going to adjust. They won’t let Addison beat them twice. Look for a tough Chicago secondary to lock him down in Week 15, preventing him from having that enormous performance that won fantasy managers their matchups three weeks ago.
Tight Ends
Not only has LaPorta been as inconsistent as a poorly blended smoothie, but he draws a Buffalo Bills defense that has given up the third-fewest non-PPR points per game to tight ends.
LaPorta has picked up his play as of late, scoring double-digit PPR points in three of his last four, but he did need two touchdowns to reach that figure in one of those games. You may not have a choice but to start LaPorta given how thin the tight end position is this year, but if you have the opportunity, definitely avoid him.
The New York Giants defense is not good, but it has still surrendered the sixth-fewest non-PPR points to tight ends this year. This seems like a game where the Ravens will just run down the Giants’ throats. They likely won’t pass much at all, which really limits Andrews’ ceiling. It would not be shocking to see him put up a goose egg this weekend.