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Fantasy football start em, sit em and lineups advice for the Seahawks vs Rams Tuesday game in Week 15 (2021). Frank Ammirante analyzes the matchups with a detailed breakdown.
Welcome to Week 15 and Tuesday Night Football! In addition to our matchups analysis for the main slate of games on Sunday, below you will find our matchups analysis for the Tuesday Night Football game between the Seahawks and the Rams. You can also check out the matchups analysis for:
- Vikings vs Bears Start Em, Sit Em - Monday Night
- Raiders vs Browns Start Em, Sit Em - Monday Night
- Washington vs Eagles Start Em, Sit Em - Tuesday Night
This game was originally scheduled to be played on Sunday, but is now part of a Tuesday double-header. It was announced on Friday afternoon that the Seahawks-Rams game has been postponed until Tuesday due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
So where does that leave us? Below you’ll find our take -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 15 matchup. Stay tuned for any changes with players being active and passing COVID-19 protocols in time for Tuesday. Good luck RotoBallers!
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Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams
Spread: Rams -4
Implied Total: Seahawks (20.5) vs. Rams (24.5)
Pace: Seahawks (14th) vs. Rams (11th)
Scheme: Seahawks (56% Pass, 44% Rush) vs. Rams (62% Pass, 38% Rush)
Seahawks Off. DVOA: 21.0% Pass (12th), -6.3% Rush (15th)
Rams Def. DVOA: -0.4% Pass (7th), -21.8% Rush (2nd)
Seahawks Def. DVOA: 20.8% Pass (28th), -14.3% Rush (9th)
Rams Off. DVOA: 32.4% Pass (4th), -4.6% Rush (12th)
Matchups We Love
Rashaad Penny (RB, SEA)
Rashaad Penny delivered in his huge opportunity last week, rushing 16 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating the ability to break long runs. We can expect the Seahawks to continue to lean on him as their lead back, especially with Alex Collins on the COVID-19 list. Seattle loves to establish the run, so you'll likely see a lot of work from Penny here. He takes on a Rams defense that ranks 4th in Rush EPA, so this is a tough matchup, but I love the projected volume with Collins likely out for this game.
D.K. Metcalf (WR, SEA)
D.K. Metcalf continues to put up underwhelming production, but Tyler Lockett will miss this game since he was placed on the COVID-19 list. Metcalf should dominate targets in a game where the Seahawks will likely be forced to play catch-up against a prolific Rams offense. The Rams rank 19th in PPR per game allowed to wideouts, so there's a chance that we can see Metcalf get loose downfield in this spot.
UPDATE: Tyler Lockett has officially been ruled out for Week 15.
Matthew Stafford (QB, LAR)
Matthew Stafford is back to balling out, finishing as QB5, QB3, and QB6 in his last three games. He gets to take on a Seahawks defense that ranks 24th in Dropback EPA, so we could see him approach his ceiling in this game as well. The one risk is that the Rams are dealing with COVID-19 cases, which could limit the Rams offense overall, although Odell Beckham Jr. was activated from the COVID-19 list over the weekend and is expected to play. I'll still fire him up as an elite QB1 though.
Cooper Kupp (WR, LAR)
Cooper Kupp is having a historic season, putting up 113 receptions for 1,489 yards and 12 touchdowns. When it's all said and done, we'll look back on this year as one of the best seasons for a wideout of all-time. Kupp is a Top-2 wide receiver every week with Davante Adams as the only player capable of challenging him for the throne. He takes on a Seahawks defense allowing the ninth-fewest PPR per game to wideouts, but Kupp is too good to worry about a matchup.
Matchups We Hate
There aren't any matchups to hate in this game.
Other Matchups
Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)
After being placed on the COVID-19 list, there was some optimism that Lockett would be cleared in time to play on Tuesday with the game being pushed back. On Tuesday afternoon it was officially confirmed that Lockett was not cleared, and he is out.
Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)
Russell Wilson will have to deal with this Rams defense without his favorite pass-catcher in Tyler Lockett, which keeps the veteran quarterback in the lukewarm section. The Rams rank 13th in Dropback EPA, allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, making this is a tough matchup. Having said that, Wilson will likely have to air it out to keep pace in this game, which keeps him in the lukewarm section.
Gerald Everett (TE, SEA)
Gerald Everett has some sneaky streamer appeal against his former team with Lockett out of the lineup. Everett has put up fewer than 40 yards in six of his last seven games, so this is a risky play, but he's worth the look if you're desperate at tight end. The Rams rank 14th in PPR per game allowed to tight ends, making this a tough matchup, but I like the potential uptick in volume for Everett here.
Rams RBs
Darrell Henderson Jr. was originally on the COVID list, but over the weekend he was activated. Since Henderson missed time with an injury and COVID, this could propel Sony Michel into the lead role once again even with Henderson off the COVID list. If that's the case, Michel would move to the 'Love' list as a high-end RB2. The Seahawks rank 12th in Rush EPA, but they're allowing the second-most PPR per game to running backs this season. If Henderson does play, which is currently the expectation, this situation becomes more difficult to project because they might split carries.
This is the more realistic option, with both running backs getting involved, and Henderson the preferred pass-catching option while Michel still gets a good amount of carries. Keep an eye out here for more updates heading up to the game kickoff.
Van Jefferson (WR, LAR)
Van Jefferson was originally in line for a nice uptick in volume with Odell Beckham Jr. on the COVID-19 list, but Beckham was activated off the COVID list over the weekend and is now expected to play. I'm keeping Jefferson in the lukewarm section since we now know OBJ should be active for this game. Jefferson has found the end zone in three consecutive games, putting up 11 catches for 192 yards during that span. He has the ability to get loose downfield, which fits nicely with Stafford's skill set, making him an upside WR3 every week.
Tyler Higbee (TE, LAR)
Tyler Higbee was placed on the COVID-19 list as well, and it's not yet clear whether he will have a chance to be activated for this game. Higbee had a big game by his standards last week, catching 5-of-6 targets for 48 yards. There's a chance that he gets to play this week, but fantasy managers shouldn't be counting on it. Either way, we have to keep him in the lukewarm section because of his underwhelming production this season. The Seahawks rank 29th in PPR per game allowed to tight ends, making this a nice matchup for Higbee. He's a sneaky streamer in this spot, if active. Be sure to check back for further updates.
UPDATE: Tyler Higbee has officially been ruled out for Week 15.
Injuries and COVID
SEA WR Tyler Lockett (COVID-19)
LAR TE Tyler Higbee (COVID-19)
LAR RB Darrell Henderson Jr. (COVID-19)
LAR WR Odell Beckham Jr. (COVID-19)
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