It’s officially fantasy football playoff time. Congratulations to all the League Winners out there still alive competing for championships!
Our staff is here to help you with any tough decisions you may be facing in Week 15.
Start
Jimmy Garopollo, QB – San Francisco 49’ers (Joe O’Leary)
Jimmy Garopollo and the 49ers passing offense seem to be hitting their stride. Garopollo has put up back-to-back fantasy football QB1 performances the last two weeks and now gets the Falcons who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. He’s one of the best streaming options out there for those in a pinch week 15. Fantasy managers should feel good about Jimmy G keeping it rolling this week versus Atlanta.
D’onta Foreman, RB – Tennessee Titans (Jeremy Shulman)
I’m going back to the well on this one because – well – Foreman’s been a great fantasy football find who continues to see volume on the ground despite a less than ideal 3-way timeshare last week. This week, he gets the Pittsburgh Steelers who just can’t seem to stop the run – ever. In Week 14, the Steel Wool Curtain let Dalvin Cook post over 200 yards rushing with two scores, all while nursing an injured shoulder. Though the script could favor the pass-catchers, Foreman is still a great bet to pound it between the tackles and once again find the end zone.
James Robinson, RB – Jacksonville Jaguars (Matthew Morris)
It doesn’t get much uglier for a running back than James Robinson’s Week 14 stat line: Six carries for four yards. However, with the firing of head coach Urban Meyer, there is a glimmer of hope for the Jaguars and their top fantasy assets. Robinson fantasy football managers should be licking their chops at a Week 15 matchup with the Houston Texans, who just surrendered 193 rushing yards to Rashaad Penny and the Seahawks.
While there is still a level of risk with this offense, Meyer’s firing should open things up for the offense, and bring us back towards the production we’ve previously seen from the Jaguars weapons. Fantasy managers should be able to trust Robinson, starting with this positive matchup.
Michael Carter, RB – New York Jets (Thomas Christopher)
Usually I’m a bit hesitant with starting players who are in their first week back from injury, but Michael Carter is different. Seeing how badly the Jets RB room performed without him, and it’s safe to say that the coaching staff will rely on the rookie heavily in Week 15. The Jets get the Dolphins who are going through a terror, facing multiple players who are testing positive for Covid-19 and will miss the game. Carter should be able to pick up where he left off in this matchup.
Sit
Chuba Hubbard, RB – Carolina Panthers (Joe O’Leary)
Chuba Hubbard was fortunate to have his day salvaged last week with a touchdown, because that was about the only positive takeaway. Hubbard saw only 39 percent of the snaps, and zero targets in Week 14. Now facing the likelihood of a negative game script at Buffalo in Week 15, Hubbard will be a volatile touchdown-dependent option this week for fantasy football managers.
All Jaguars (Jeremy Shulman)
I’ve had enough. We’ve been fading most Jags throughout the season, but now only Laquon Treadwell somehow has maintained consistent volume in this offense. James Robinson hasn’t eclipsed double-digit touches in the last two weeks, Trevor Lawrence has thrown just 2 touchdowns in the last two months, and now two-timing Urban Meyer will not see his second year as Jacksonville’s head coach.
The scheme may change down the stretch, and maybe Robinson finds relevance again, but you just cannot rely on a Jaguar in the playoffs. Sit them all… even in a great matchup against the Texans this week.
Julio Jones, WR – Tennessee Titans (Matthew Morris)
Remember when Julio Jones was a household name, set-and-forget fantasy football player? Between a lack of production and injuries, the Titans star receiving duo of AJ Brown and Julio Jones has been frustrating fantasy managers all season. In fact, Julio has not scored a touchdown in 2021.
In his Week 14 return from injury, with AJ Brown still sidelined, it seemed Julio was primed for a plethora of targets and potential production. However, he finished playing only 45% of snaps with a 4/33 stat line. Week 15’s matchup should be more competitive for the Titans, but it’s best not to trust Julio at this stage as anything more than a desperation flex.
Terry McLaurin, WR – Washington Football Team (Thomas Christopher)
To be honest, it doesn’t feel right putting Scary Terry here. After last week’s goose egg, one would think that McLaurin would bounce-back for fantasy football purposes. Unfortunately, Taylor Heinicke has come down with Covid-19, meaning a 4th string quarterback (Kyle Allen also has Covid and Ryan Fitzpatrick is still hurt) will be throwing the ball to McLaurin this week. On top of that, Terry will face a lot of Darius Slay, who is looking like the lockdown corner he used to be. It hurts to say, but I’m sitting McLaurin in my fantasy football matchups this week.
