Fantasy Football Week 15 Busts? Players Who May Disappoint: Jared Goff, Evan Engram, David Montgomery, Zonovan Knight

December 18, 2022

Who should I start or sit for fantasy football Week 15 of the 2022 season? Tommy Adamopoulos identifies potential fantasy football busts and duds to avoid.

Welcome to Week 15 RotoBallers! The season has been flying by, and it is now crucial to make the optimal lineup decisions on a weekly basis. As we are now into the most important part of the season, the playoffs, it is essential to put yourself in the best situation to get a win as we enter elimination weeks en route to the Fantasy Football Super Bowl.

Heading into this week of action, this is what we have waited all year for, as fantasy managers will look to keep their dreams of winning a fantasy championship alive.

Here are some players I think will be in for a challenging game in Week 15 and could disappoint their fantasy managers. However, there could be some managers out there who aren't in any position to bench these players given that we must deal with injuries to notable players. Here are some players that fantasy managers need to temper their expectations for.

Should I Bench Jared Goff In Week 15?

Goff is coming off back-to-back impressive performances against the Jaguars and Vikings, as he posted 340 passing yards and two touchdowns followed up by 330 passing yards and three touchdowns. Not to mention, the former No. 1 overall pick hasn't turned the ball over since Week 9.

The Lions will now be faced with a very tough test, as they will take on the Jets’ stout defense on the road. The Jets have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards this season, as the addition of rookie Sauce Gardner has made them one of the best defenses in the league against the pass.

Goff’s splits on the road are very concerning, as he has thrown just two passing touchdowns away from Ford Field this season. When we consider the matchup, it looks like the veteran is set up for another dud, which we have seen on three different occasions this season.

On the road against the Patriots, Cowboys, and Giants, Goff has posted 5.86, 1.52, and 6.50 fantasy points. Fantasy managers should likely temper their expectations in this one despite his recent stretch of solid play. He is at best a low-end QB1 but should be valued as more of a solid QB2 option.

Jared Goff hype has reached its peak, he’s playing a great defense outdoors in December, a disasterclass nears

— Theo Ash (@TheoAshNFL) December 14, 2022

Should I Bench David Montgomery In Week 15?

Montgomery will face an Eagles defense that hasn't by any means been a scary matchup for running backs this season, but the potential game script does him no favors in this one. The Eagles have allowed 4.7 yards per carry, so a heavy workload could mean Montgomery will produce some solid fantasy numbers.

However, Montgomery has been held to 15 carries or less in 10 games this season, so it is hard to believe he will get an astronomical workload, especially considering the Bears figure to be playing from behind in this one. Not to mention, Justin Fields has had double-digit carries in five of his last seven games and has scored a rushing touchdown in six straight games.

He’s scored just four touchdowns this season, so it seems a bit hard to rely on a touchdown to salvage a poor output of yardage in this one, especially considering playing from behind will call for some more shots to the end zone by Fields. He isn't a must bench, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect much in this matchup.

Should I Bench Zonovan Knight In Week 15?

Knight has seen 39 touches turn into 195 yards and a touchdown in his last two games as the starting running back, so this may come as a surprise to see him on a bust list. The matchup with the Lions used to once be a good thing for running backs, however, that has changed over the last number of weeks.

The Lions have allowed 15 carries for 23 yards to Dalvin Cook and 15 carries for 22 yards to Saquon Barkley, showing they have made significant improvements against the run since the start of the season. Knight could get another significant workload that could offset any inefficiency, but Michael Carter figures to still be in the mix for touches as he is another week removed from his injury. Knight can be started as a low-end RB2/high-end FLEX, but fantasy managers shouldn't get overly excited about his outlook in Week 15 just because he is facing the Lions.

Should I Bench Jaylen Waddle In Week 15?

Waddle has slowed down as the Dolphins' offense looks to have hit a wall, as he has 40 receiving yards in his last two games combined. The speedy wideout hasn't found the end zone since Week 9 and has seen over five targets just one time since Week 10.

Jaylen Waddle's Fantasy Finishes over the past four games:

WR38
WR29
WR98
WR68

— Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) December 14, 2022

It won’t get any easier for Waddle in Week 15, as the weather forecast calls for cold and snowy conditions in Buffalo. Now, the same can be said about the outlook for Tyreek Hill in this one, but Waddle’s recent stretch of play makes his outlook way murkier than that of Hill’s.

If the Dolphins are forced to take a run-heavy approach, fantasy managers could be left wanting to rip their hair out, especially considering how high the stakes are this week with the fantasy playoffs kicking off. However, there could be some reasons for optimism even if the weather limits the Dolphins’ passing attack.

Mike McDaniel has been notorious for putting his receivers in situations to get yards after the catch, as Waddle is ninth in the league in that category with 350. Short, quick passes could be the key to success here, which would heighten the floor of the former Alabama star. Fantasy managers can treat him as a mid-to-low-end WR2 in this one.

Should I Bench Amari Cooper In Week 15?

Cooper will go up against Marlon Humphrey and the Ravens who have been playing some good football as of late, as he will look to get back on track in this one. Cooper has produced just 82 receiving yards in two games since Deshaun Watson took over as the signal-caller, catching just six passes in this span.

This is another game that could be affected by the weather, as high winds are expected to play a factor in this one. Should the Browns take a run-heavy approach, this would be detrimental to the value of Cooper, especially considering he and Watson have not exactly been all that impressive together. Not to mention, Donovan Peoples-Jones saw a season-high 12 targets last week, which he turned into 114 receiving yards.

Humphrey has given up his fair share of big plays this season, but he still remains a tough matchup for wide receivers nonetheless. Cooper caught just three passes on four targets in the first meeting with Baltimore this season, albeit for 74 receiving yards.

He isn't a must-bench, but fantasy managers should consider their options given the situation surrounding Cooper this week. He is at best a WR2 option with an extremely low floor.

Should I Bench Evan Engram In Week 15?

Engram just went from being the TE15 to the TE4 on the season after he erupted for 11 catches, 162 yards, and two touchdowns against the Titans. Now, he’ll face a tough test against a very good Cowboys defense, who have allowed the second-fewest passing yards this season.

Not to mention, they have allowed the second-fewest PPR points to the tight end position, which even further reduces any optimism surrounding Engram after his career-best game last week. At such a thin position he is not a must-sit by any means, but fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting anywhere close to the production he was able to string together in Week 14.

We have seen his fair share of duds this season, as he has put up stat lines of one catch for four yards, three catches for 14 yards, and one catch for eight yards from Weeks 9-12. He can be valued as a mid-range TE1 at best.

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