The League Winners are getting defensive. In addition to our weekly fantasy football Start or Sit column found here, we are now offering a weekly IDP Sit or Start column for all you IDP fans out there. So without further delay, let’s take a look at Fantasy Football: IDP Sit or Start – Week 15.
Fantasy Football IDP Start or Sit Week 15 – Start
Linebackers
Ernest Jones- Los Angeles Rams vs WSH
Jones has been a beat this season. He has had double-digit tackles in three of his last four games and is a force to reckon with. This week, he will face a Commanders team that is a Godsend for opposing linebackers. Washington is allowing a performance boost of a whopping 21.6% to linebackers. They are the easiest matchup for opposing linebackers and will give Jones a clear path to another double-digit tackle game. This has the makings of a career game for Jones against an easy opponent.
Alex Anzalone- Detroit Lions vs DEN
Anzalone has been a bright spot on a suddenly struggling Lion’s defensive unit. This once-budding unit has since tailed off and has been the reason for the team’s recent losses. He has yet to put up a game with less than five tackles all season and has been the definition of consistency on an inconsistent Lions squad. This week Anzalone goes up against the Denver Broncos who are allowing a production boost of 19.6% to opposing linebackers. The Broncos are the 2nd easiest matchup for linebackers and will make Anzalone a great start in Week 15.
Azeez Al-Shaair- Tennessee Titans vs HOU
Al-Shaair is the third high-tackle monster in the start column. He has been a disruptive force all season in the Titans lineup and is as consistent as you can find at the position. He has had six double-digit tackle games this season and is always a threat for another. In Week 15 Al-Shaair will square off with the Houston Texans, who are allowing a boost of 13.4% to the position. Not only are the Texans the 3rd best matchup for linebackers, but they could be starting a backup quarterback if CJ Stroud is unable to clear concussion protocol. This is a prime spot for him to produce and could be a massive spot in the event he faces a backup quarterback.
Defensive Linemen
Chrisitan Wilkins- Miami Dolphins vs NYJ
Wilkins has been a solid producer of tackles all season long, but as of late, he has begun to add in consistent sacks. He has posted two multi-sack games on the season and will face off with the New York Jets this week who are the best matchup for opposing linemen. New York is giving a production boost of 36.0% to opposing linemen and has allowed for some of the biggest fantasy outputs this year for IDP managers.
Aaron Donald- Los Angeles Rams vs WSH
Donald has continued to be productive well into his 10th NFL season and is once again a consistent producer this season. Not only does he contribute tackles consistently but he has chipped in with 5.5 sacks on the season. This week he faces the Washington Commanders who have traded away the majority of their viable assets. The Commanders are the 2nd best matchup for opposing linemen. They are allowing a productivity bump of 34.7% to the position and will give Donald another chance to prove he’s still got it.
Carl Granderson- New Orleans Saints vs NYG
Granderson has contributed a consistent number of tackles each week like clockwork. In addition to his consistency, he has also thrown in some blowup games in which he amassed large tackle numbers and sacks. In Week 15 he faces the New York Giants who are the 3rd best matchup for opposing linemen. The Giants are allowing a boost of 34.7% to linemen and have the makings of another blowup week for the Saint’s star lineman.
Defensive Backs
Jordan Whitehead- New York Jets vs MIA
Whitehead has been as steady as they come at defensive back. Over the past month, he has ramped up his fantasy production even further and has become an elite asset. This week he faces the Miami Dolphins who are the best matchup for opposing defensive backs. Miami is allowing 17.9% more fantasy points than the league average to opposing defensive backs. This matchup presents a prime spot for Whitehead to blow up in your fantasy playoffs.
Richie Grant- Atlanta Falcons vs CAR
Grant has struggled with consistency as of late. After a strong start to the beginning of the season, he has failed to produce much over the last month. He has recorded only one game of more than five tackles over the last month. This week he faces the Carolina Panthers who are the 2nd easiest matchup for opposing defensive backs and should help to get the Falcons defender back on track. Atlanta is allowing a production boost of 17.4% above the league average and will be an easy matchup for Grant.
Tyrann Mathieu- New Orleans Saints vs NYG
Mathieu has always contributed strong tackle numbers, but of late he has also thrown in a few interceptions for good measure. This week he faces the New York Giants who are the 3rd best matchup for opposing defensive backs. New York is allowing a boost of 11.0% to the position and Tommy DeVito at quarterback should allow Mathieu to secure another interception and possibly a defensive touchdown.
IDP Start or Sit Week 15 – Sit
Linebackers
Devin White- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs GB
White has been a contributor of high tackle numbers for the entire season. He is an elite fantasy asset and produces at a level that very few can match. However, over the past month his tackle numbers have been down due to bad matchups and Week 15 is once again a poor matchup. This week he goes up against the Green Bay Packers who are the worst matchup for opposing linebackers. The Packers have held opposing linebackers to 18.8% below the league average and will once again make for a poor fantasy outing.
Devine Deablo- Las Vegas Raiders vs LAC
Deablo started off the season on fire about tackles, but has seen his numbers decrease significantly lately. This week he squares off with the Los Angeles Chargers who have been the 2nd worst matchup for opposing linebackers. The Chargers have limited opposing linebackers to 18.3% below the league average and have made life difficult for their opponents. Deablo is a player to avoid in Week 15 if you can afford to do so. At the very least you should lower your expectations.
Cody Barton- Washington Commanders vs LAR
Barton had a great game in Week 14 but has been hampered by injuries during the second half of the season. These injury concerns make him an always risky start. This week he goes up against the Rams who are the 3rd worst matchup for opposing linebackers. The Rams are holding opposing linebackers to 17.6% below the league average and will be a tough matchup for the oft-injured Commanders defender.
Defensive Linemen
Carl Lawson- New York Jets vs MIA
Lawson has fallen off the fantasy map this season. Not only is he not producing but now he is in a dispute with the Jets over his lack of playing time. The Jet’s defense is elite and doesn’t need Lawson which has killed his fantasy value. In Week 15 he faces the Miami Dolphins who are the worst matchup for opposing linemen. The Jets are limiting the position to an insane 30.8% below the league average. Sit Lawson at all costs. He is droppable at this point.
Dexter Lawrence- Dallas Cowboys vs BUF
Lawrence has been average all season but not much better than that. In Week 15 he faces the Buffalo Bills who have been the 2nd worst matchup for opposing linemen this season. Buffalo is holding the position to 25.2% below the league average and has been a tough team to produce on for fantasy. Lawrence has a solid floor but with this matchup, he offers no ceiling whatsoever. If you have more potent options on your bench, you should play them.
Jonathan Allen- Washington Commanders vs LAR
Allen has been terrible over the past six weeks. During that time, he has had only one tackle in four games. His fantasy floor has completely fallen out and rendered him useless. In Week 15 he faces the Los Angeles Rams who are the 3rd worst matchup for opposing linemen. The Rams are holding opposing linemen to 20.8% below the league average and are not a good matchup for the struggling lineman.
Defensive Backs
Budda Baker- Arizona Cardinals vs SF
Baker has been good as of late after battling injury for a significant portion of the season. This week he goes up against the San Francisco 49ers who are must-avoid for fantasy. They are the worst matchup for opposing defensive backs and are limiting the position to 16.8% below the league average. Baker may be a consistent fantasy producer, but I’m avoiding all players who aren’t the best of the best against the 49ers.
Jalen Pitre- Houston Texans vs TEN
Pitre has been rock solid during the second half of the season and this sit is based solely on the matchup and the concerns regarding the team’s injuries on offence. The worry here is that the offensive injuries could leave the defence on the field for long periods. In Week 15 they face the Tennessee Titans who are the 2nd worst matchup for opposing defensive backs. The Titans are limiting the position to 14.1% below the position and this one has me worried. Avoid Pitre if you can.
Jerry Jacobs- Detroit Lions vs DEN
Jacobs is the perfect representation of the Lions defence in 2023. One week he is excellent and the next he is terrible. The Jekyll and Hyde nature of the Lion’s defence leaves them incredibly matchup-dependent. This week they face the Denver Broncos who are the 3rd worst matchup for opposing defensive backs. The Broncos are allowing 12.2% below the league average to defensive backs making Jacobs a risky start in Week 15.
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