Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Week 15

December 20, 2020

Scott Engel provides Week 15 fantasy football lineups analysis, spotlighting key NFL players to start and tougher lineup start/sit decisions to make.

Welcome to Week 15, RotoBallers! Below you will find some of my spotlight choices and players to go with or consider avoiding when faced with tough lineup decisions in Week 15 of the fantasy football season.

These choices are based off my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller's NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a 10% discount and get access to all of my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the remainder of the 2020 season. Weekly subscription options are available.

Skill position picks here are based on my PPR rankings.

Week 15 Running Back Spotlights

James Robinson had 83 scrimmage yards (67 rush, 16 rec.) last week. He has 100+ scrimmage yards and a rushing TD in 2 of his past 3 games. Robinson has 360 scrimmage yards (120 per game) in 3 games vs. the AFC North. He has 100+ scrimmage yards in 5 of 6 road games this season. Robinson leads all rookies with 1,361 scrimmage yards and 1,035 rushing yards, the most scrimmage yards by undrafted rookie in the common-draft era. Robinson has clearly become matchup proof and should not be benched in such an important fantasy football playoff week. The Ravens are 17^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs  for those of you thinking this is a challenging matchup. Robinson is involved in the game flow no matter the score.

Miles Sanders had a season-high 136 scrimmage yards (115 rush, 21 rec.) and 2 rush TDs, including an 82-yard TD run in Week 13. He is the only player in the NFL with 3 rushes of 60+ yards this season, and two of them have come vs. New Orleans and Pittsburgh. Sanders has 75+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 on the road. The switch to an RPO offense under Jalen Hurts certainly boosts Sanders’ outlook. But he is still not getting enough volume (14 carries last week) and is not much of a goal-line runner (three rushing TDs inside the 10-yard line). Sanders is an upside play more than he is dependent on volume. He has a high statistical ceiling and a shaky floor. But with Hurts at QB you should confidently start him as a fantasy RB2 again. His production was sagging with Carson Wentz at the helm but now the arrow is officially pointing in the right direction again.

While other rookie running backs appear to be blossoming late in the season, Clyde-Edwards Helaire is regularly not producing as hoped. He has not scored more than 14.1 Fantasy Points in four of his past five games.  He has not rushed for 70 yards or caught more than three passes in a game during that span. The Saints were torn up by Miles Sanders last week, but should show the form that makes them the second-best defense in terms of FFPG allowed to RBs when they face Kansas City. If you have a close decision involving Edwards-Helaire this week, you should strongly consider using your alternative option.

Some Fantasy players don’t quite grasp how reliable Kenyan Drake has been recently. He has rushed for a TD in four consecutive games and five of his past six. He has scored in the range of 14 Fantasy Points or better in his last four. Drake had 90 scrimmage yards (80 rush, 10 rec.) last week. He has 17 rush TDs in 20 games with Arizona over the past two seasons. Drake needs 49 scrimmage yards for his 3rd-consecutive season with 1,000+ scrimmage yards. The Eagles are ninth in FFPG allowed to RBs and Drake is not a big upside performer, but he looks like a safer play as you try to win in your playoff semi-finals.

Week 15 Wide Receiver Spotlights

The allure of Antonio Brown has worn off to the point where he should not be started, and you can actually consider cutting him to make some last-minute roster room if needed this week. In his past two games and three of five since he has returned, Brown has not reached the 10-point mark in fantasy scoring. He did not score over 14 in his two double figure performances. The Vikings are 28^th in FFPG allowed to WRs, but Tom Brady is not getting Brown the ball downfield and there have been no indications the two can hook up to take advantage of the matchup.

Lynn Bowden Jr. was a prime waiver pickup this past week. He set career highs in catches (7) and rec. yards (82) last week. The rookie is aiming for his 3rd game in a row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Of course, he also has unique appeal because you can use him at RB on many league platforms. But you may want to hold him out of action until your Fantasy Super Bowl week if you can. New England is sixth-best vs. WRs and we all know how Bill Belichick can shut down young QBs, further limiting Bowden’s possible output. Tua Tagovailoa may deliver a big stinker in a low-scoring game after throwing for 300 yards for the first time last week.

Tyler Lockett has 5+ receptions in 4 of his past 5 games. But he has not been nearly the same player he was in the first half of the fantasy season. In Week 7, Lockett had a historic performance in real and fantasy football, catching 15 passes for 200 yards. He was the No. 2 overall WR in fantasy football at that point. But he has one TD catch and no 70-yard outings since then. Lockett has dropped to WR10 overall. Teams are taking the deep ball away from Russell Wilson and Lockett has not been making plays downfield. This week against Washington, Wilson has to get rid of the ball quickly against a terrific Washington defensive line. That should mean he will locate Lockett for some high percentage, rapid strikes. Lockett seems to lack upside right now, but can give you a respectable fantasy outing because of volume this week.

If you are looking for a WR streamer this week, Rashard Higgins can fit the bill. He is aiming for his 3rd game in a row with 6+ catches, 65+ rec. yards and a rec. TD. Higgins appeared to be ticketed for a matchup with the Giants’ top CB this week, James Bradberry. But he will miss the game vs. Cleveland after being placed on the COVID-19 list. The Giants are scrambling for answers in a thinned secondary and suddenly Higgins has a very friendly matchup and should be considered a good fantasy WR3 play.

WATCH: The King and Frank Stampfl of CBSSports.com provide their Week 15 Sleeper and Value Plays.

Week 15 Quarterback Spotlight

Don’t overthink it or overanalyze it. Jared Goff is a slam dunk start against the Jets. New York has allowed an NFL-high 28 TD passes and is 31^st in FFPG allowed to QBs, It is much too easy for Goff to attack the Jets awful secondary with his formidable crew of pass-catchers. New York is actually more respectable up front than on the back end. If the Rams roll to a big lead as expected, Goff should throw at least two TD passes.

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Week 15 Tight End Spotlight

With Michael Thomas out. Jared Cook gets a push back inside the Top 10. The Chiefs ate 25^th vs. TEs and Drew Brees knows he can rely on a familiar target in Cook, especially in scoring situations near the goal line.

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