Fantasy football starts and sits for Week 15

You are likely in the midst of your fantasy playoffs, or trying to win the losers bracket. Either way, we are here today to help you put together your best lineup this week to ensure you move forward.

The biggest thing to remember is to make sure you have your lineup set before Saturday, as there are three games being played before Thursday night. The Chiefs host the Chargers on Thursday, and on Saturday the Jets are hosting the Texans and the Browns will be going to face the Broncos on that day as well.

It is also important not to have any players from those games in your flex position. If they are and you suddenly find out your receiver or running back isn’t going to be playing on Sunday, then you have limited options to work with not having your flex spot.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get to the starts and sits.

Must starts

Kenneth Dixon (Ravens RB): As far as running backs with great matchups goes, Dixon may be the best. As you will see with the next few the other running backs have huge question marks despite their matchups. Dixon looks to be overtaking the surprising Gus Edwards as the most productive running back in Baltimore. He had nine touches for 80 yards and a touchdown last week. The Buccaneers also give up 23.6 points to opposing running backs, according to Fantasy Pros.

Brandin Cooks (Rams WR): Cooks is usually viewed as a boom-or-bust receiver who relies on big plays to put up his points. While he was bottled up last week against the Bears, he will be facing the exact opposite against the Eagles who have surrendered the second-most points to opposing receivers this season.

Favorable matchups

Justin Jackson (Chargers RB): It appears the both Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler won’t be able to play on Thursday night against the Chiefs. That is something very important for Jackson owners to monitor up until the game. Jackson also didn’t have a great outing against Cincinnati last week. He only had 35 yards on nine touches, but if he is the only back getting touches, then the volume alone should make him a pretty valuable play as the Chiefs are the second-worst team at stopping running backs.

Curtis Samuel (Panthers WR): Samuel has recorded at least 80 receiving yards or a touchdown in his last four games. He has quickly become a favorite target for Cam Newton without many better options around. Against the Saints who allow 29.6 points to opposing receivers per game, he should have no trouble finding his way into your lineup.

Good but not great

Doug Martin (Raiders RB): Martin has been far from impressive this season, and he may still be on your waiver wire. If you need a quick plug and play guy, you’re missing a starting running back or you’re in a deep league and really need a flex option, then Martin isn’t a bad call. He will be up against the Bengals defense that allows 26.8 points to opposing running backs, and you won’t find a better matchup than that.

Doug Baldwin or Tyler Lockett (Seahawks WRs): If Baldwin is healthy, he should be in your lineup. Otherwise, Lockett becomes a very nice play. Even if Baldwin is Healthy I’d only drop Lockett down from a WR2 to a flex option. The 49ers defense has been the fourth worst defense at slowing down opposing receivers in fantasy this season.

Temper expectations

Aaron Jones (Packers RB): Jones has been the best running back in Green Bay. The Packers really have yet to notice that as they keep benching him for long periods of time during games. This week he is matched up against a Bears defense that just shutdown Todd Gurley. Unless you feel really confident about whatever player you are replacing him with I wouldn’t recommend benching him though. The fact he has scored at least one touchdown in six of his last seven games makes him hard to keep on the bench.

Mike Evans (Bucs WR): Evans has been okay for most of the time when Jameis Winston has been the quarterback, but if you drafted Evans you probably expected way more. You may be safe to bench Evans, especially if you have a pretty reliable receiver on your bench. The Ravens defense is the toughest defense for opposing receivers to score fantasy points on.

Defensive stream

Falcons against the Cardinals: Atlanta will be hosting an Arizona team that just can’t seem to put up points and already seems to have come to terms with their season. You should take advantage of that by playing the Falcons defense.

Jaguars against Washington: I know the Jaguars defense has been very disappointing this year, but Mark Sanchez is playing quarterback for them in 2018, and the next option for the team is Josh Johnson. If you need a defense, then the Jaguars are a pretty easy choice this week.