Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 15 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Jayden Reed, Kenneth Walker, Matthew Stafford

December 17, 2023

Scott breaks down his fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 15 (2023). He spotlights key NFL players to start, and tougher lineup start/sit decisions.

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to my Week 15 Lineup Spotlights - Key Starters and Tough Calls for Fantasy Football. Every week, I zoom in on some of my favored players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions. These picks are based on my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the remainder of the 2023 fantasy football playoffs.

We feature players that you should lean to in tough calls and guys who may exceed expectations this week are also highlighted, so you can feel even more confident about starting or adding them. Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings.

When considering each player for your lineup, also consult our fantasy football rankings to see exactly where they are positioned when compared to your other possible lineup choices.

Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 15

Kenneth Walker III

Many fantasy players who roster Walker seem to be unsure of his outlook after he did not make much of a statistical impact in his first game back from an oblique injury last week. He finished with 54 scrimmage yards against the 49ers. The matchup against the usually stout Philadelphia run defense might also make fantasy leaguers think twice about starting him in Week 15. I do see a path to at least respectable production for Walker, though, and he always has the upside to score from anywhere on the field against any opponent.

Philadelphia actually ranks 27^th in rushing yards allowed to RBs over the past four weeks. Seattle can attack the Eagles’ 28^th-ranked pass defense with a potent WR trio, setting up drive-finishing short-yardage TD opportunities for Walker. A strong passing flow might also open up more running room for Walker. I would start him with some confidence as a fantasy RB2, and not bench the Seahawks’ potent ball carrier based on last week’s output.

Travis Etienne

It is hard to sit Etienne in the first round of your fantasy playoffs, but you will have to lower expectations for him as an RB2 and consider surrounding the Jaguars RB with some upside options to compensate for a potential dip in statistical performance. Success for Etienne can sometimes be heavily reliant on TDs from a fantasy perspective, and he has a matchup that points to him possibly being held out of the end zone this week.

Etienne has rushed for TDs in his last two games and finished with over 17 PPR points in those outings. In the previous two games, he did not get in the end zone and scored less than 10 PPR points. The Ravens have allowed only three rushing TDs to RBs, second-best in the NFL. You can hope for Etienne to pad his numbers with some receptions, but Baltimore has allowed just 68 receiving yards to RBs in its past three games. In Week 15, adequate production from Etienne may have to be satisfactory and don’t anticipate much of a ceiling.

Antonio Gibson

Brian Robinson Jr. is out in Week 15 with a hamstring injury, pushing Gibson into a primary role as a dual threat. His receiving abilities are well-established and positions him for good production when working with Sam Howell, who leads the NFL in passing attempts. Gibson has four-plus receptions in four of his past five games and recently had five receptions in three consecutive games. He has totaled nine-plus PPR points in three of his past four games.

Over the last two years, when Antonio Gibson gets at least 10 touches, he averages 12.7 PPG. As a road underdog by almost a touchdown, Gibson should be busy on Sunday vs the Rams. https://t.co/wAVGo6In3s

— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) December 15, 2023

I am expecting a higher-scoring game between the Commanders and Rams, as the Washington defense is the worst in the league and forces Howell to sling the ball frequently. Gibson did not rush for 60 yards in six starts in six starts last season, and Washington ranks 25^th in run-blocking grade on Pro Football Focus for Week 15. I don’t expect upside from Gibson as a runner, yet he should get enough receptions and some TD chances as both a runner and receiver to consider him as a quality back-end RB2.

D’Andre Swift

Most of those who roster Swift are feeling uneasy about putting him into lineups for the first round of the fantasy football playoffs. He totaled 7.9 PPR points in his past two games and hasn't finished in double figures in his last three. The Eagles’ coaching staff, however, will likely want to get him untracked in a good matchup.

The Eagles have the fourth-best run-blocking grade on PFF for Week 15. Seattle has allowed the second-most rushing yards allowed to RBs over the past four weeks and ranks 24^th in receiving yards allowed to the position this season. The Seahawks LBs can be exposed in coverage, so Smith may add to his totals with a few catches. I am forecasting a bounce-back week for Swift.

Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 15

Rashee Rice

I believe we have come to the point where Rice is a must-start as a fantasy WR3, and he is deserving of WR2 status. He has seven-plus receptions on nine-plus targets with 70-plus receiving yards in each of his past three games. He caught TD passes in three of his last five games. Rice has the sixth-best WR/CB matchup grade of any WR vs, an opposing CB group as he faces the Patriots in Week 15. New England ranks 21^st in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs. Rice should get the nod in many tight lineup calls involving him this week.

Jayden Reed

I continue to get many questions about whether to start Reed or not, as he makes fantasy lineup decisions tough. He was either drafted late or not at all in many leagues and has risen to the point where he has to be considered as a starter over players who were projected to be clearly better options than the Green Bay rookie. Reed has a great Week 15 draw against the weak Tampa Bay pass defense.

LOCK: Jayden Reed Over 46.5 Rec Yards

This is a PERFECT spot for Reed against the Giants who run a Top 5 Rate of Man Coverage and Reed sees an INSANE 26% Target Rate and 30% Air Yards Share be Man and NO OTHER PLAYER with 50+ Routes vs Man on the Packers has higher than a 16%… pic.twitter.com/DrjF0TLGFp

— Alex Caruso (@AlexCaruso) December 11, 2023

The Buccaneers rank 27^th in FFPG allowed to WRs. Some WRs who are behind Reed in my WR rankings for this week include DeAndre Hopkins, Zay Flowers, Jaylen Waddle, and Calvin Ridley. Tampa Bay has allowed the second-most receiving yards to WRs this season, so Reed should have a good chance of surpassing his current high mark of 84 receiving yards.

Drake London

The Atlanta WR sparkled last week in a career performance, catching 10 of 11 targets for 172 yards. But London caught one pass in his previous game, and he can easily follow up a great outing with a quiet performance. The Panthers shut out London in the season opener, and they rank sixth in FFPG allowed to WRs.

London’s WR/CB matchup grade against the Carolina CBs for Week 15 is 50.6, which is considered “average”, and the Falcons may look to regularly attack the Panthers’ vulnerable run defense. London is a low-end fantasy WR3 option for the first round of the fantasy playoffs.

Rashid Shaheed

Shaheed has been climbing on and off of fantasy rosters. He is a boom-or-bust risk when available, and a thigh injury kept him out for the last two games. The New Orleans splash play artist is off the injury report for Week 15 and has a good matchup against the Giants, who rank 29^th in FFPG allowed to WRs. Chris Olave’s outlook is uncertain because of an ankle injury, and Shaheed might have to play a significant role in the Saints’ passing game, as Derek Carr has no other reliable targets. Shaheed can be a useful starter with some upside if you need a WR fill-in this week.

Quarterback And Tight End – Fantasy Football Week 15

Matthew Stafford

The Rams’ QB, who has three-plus TD passes in each of his past three games, obviously gets a great matchup against the Commanders, who allow the second-most FPPG to QBs and have the lowest-ranked pass defense in the NFL in terms of yardage allowed per game. The big question is, who do you start Stafford over this week? I would certainly not consider using him over a dual-threat top-level QB such as Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, or Lamar Jackson. I do have Brock Purdy (vs. Arizona) ranked ahead of Stafford, too.

Would you consider starting Matthew Stafford over the #1 QB in #FantasyFootball this week in the playoffs?@JoshHayesFS & @AAnianoFantasy debate a tough lineup decision on @RotoBaller Radio!#RamsHouse #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/s1bDt4VWxu

— Fantasy Sports Radio (@SiriusXMFantasy) December 14, 2023

But you can make a strong case for starting Stafford over Patrick Mahomes, and any other QB besides Dak Prescott. The Rams also have the best pass-blocking advantage grade on PFF for Week 15, so those who want to go with him over anyone other than Allen, Hurts, Prescott, and Jackson won’t get a major debate from me, although I do slightly prefer Purdy. Cooper Kupp is looking healthy again, so Stafford certainly falls within the top 6 to 8 range at QB for Week 15.

Dallas Goedert

This may also be a week when Goedert recaptures some of his better form. He has the fifth-best TE matchup grade on PFF for Week 15 against Seattle LB Jordyn Brooks. The Seahawks rank 23^rd in receiving yards allowed to TEs. I have Goedert ranked in the back-end fantasy TE1 range for Week 15, just outside of the top 10.

Scott Engel's fantasy and betting analysis is also featured at The Game Day.

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