Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Week 15

Scott Engel breaks down his Week 15 fantasy football lineup rankings, 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 plays and tough lineup decisions for the upcoming week of the fantasy football playoffs.

These player selections are based on 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 rest of the 2019 season and in DFS. The Premium Pass is already at a slashed price for your fantasy playoffs!

Note that all skill position picks and analyses here are based on my PPR ranks.

Spotlight RB Starters for Week 15

Kareem Hunt vs. ARI: He is playing at a RB2 level recently and making the most of his touches. Hunt is catching passes and also getting goal-line looks. The Cardinals have allowed the fifth-most Fantasy Points Per Game in the NFC to running backs over the past month.

Devin Singletary vs. PIT: This appears to be a challenging matchup, but it’s also an important game for the Bills and Singletary has clearly taken over as the lead RB. His versatility should mean he posts at least respectable overall totals.

Patrick Laird vs. NYG: He is worth plugging in as a flex in this matchup. Last week Laird had 19 touches for 86 yards from scrimmage. Dual purpose RBs can certainly give the Giants some problems.

Spotlight WR Starters for Week 15

Emmanuel Sanders vs. ATL: He showed that he was healthy again last week in the thrilling victory over the Saints. Sanders should be a locked-in WR1 in fantasy football this week in a great matchup.

Golden Tate vs. MIA: He has been the Giants’ best WR for most of the season, and Eli Manning will get him more involved this week in his home finale. The Dolphins will be very concerned about trying to contain Darius Slayton after seeing the film of how he torched the Eagles last week. So Manning will get the ball to Tate often as his other playmaker in a very good matchup.

Curtis Samuel vs. SEA: The Seahawks will be mainly focused on trying to contain Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore. They will also likely be without their best cornerback, Shaquille Griffin. Expect some big gainers and a TD from Samuel.

Spotlight TE Starters for Week 15

Ian Thomas vs. SEA: He has capably stepped in for Greg Olsen and shown he can be an instant contributor in the Carolina passing game. The Seahawks have been the most generous team to TEs in terms of FFPG allowed to the position over the past month.

David Njoku vs. ARI: If you do not have another top option at the position, Njoku is certainly worth starting consideration. He falls just outside the Top 12 for those looking to stream a starter. This will now be Njoku’s second game since returning from a long injury layoff and he gets the obvious great draw against the team that is notoriously friendly to opposing TEs.

Spotlight QB Starters for Week 15

Jameis Winston vs. DET: Published reports indicated that he was throwing effectively in practices late in the week. Winston has lost Mike Evans, but he has already displayed a new affinity for Breshad Perriman and will take advantage of an obviously good matchup.

Russell Wilson vs. CAR: You may see the Seahawks-Panthers game turn into a shootout. Wilson has not thrown more than one TD pass in a game over the past month. But the Seahawks must start rediscovering the big plays downfield, and Wilson should display his better fantasy form.

Tough Lineup Decisions for Week 15

Joe Mixon over Kenyan Drake: The Cincinnati RB obviously has the more challenging matchup against the Patriots, but Drake’s numbers have been steadily declining every week since he came over from Miami and he simply looks like a riskier fantasy option at a very important time of year.

Patrick Laird over Josh Jacobs: This is a safety-first decision. Jon Gruden has yet to fully confirm if and how much Jacobs will play. If I have to use a guy like Laird in an earlier game and not have to worry about Jacobs’ availability or workload, I will opt for the healthier alternative.

DK Metcalf over Breshad Perriman: The Tampa Bay passing game certainly looks more potent than Seattle’s recently. But as previously indicated, the Seahawks should get back on track in the air this week and Metcalf will be a significant part of the attack.

John Brown over Tyler Boyd: Both wideouts have very tough matchups (Steelers and Patriots, respectively). Give me the guy on the team with more to play for. Brown’s QB must get him the ball in a game of higher importance.

Ian Thomas over Tyler Higbee: It’s hard to be sold on Higbee just yet. He is coming off two of the best matchups for a TE to take advantage of, and doesn’t have any previous record of fantasy success prior to those games. That makes him a risky and scary play, and no guarantee to sustain his newfound momentum.

Ryan Tannehill over Jameis Winston: The Titans’ surging QB gets the nod here because you can expect less turnovers and he also gives you the better shot of a rushing TD. Plus, he is playing in a much more meaningful game.

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