RADIO
Week 15 Fantasy Football Busts
Eli Manning (QB, NYG)
Manning draws a lot of fantasy appeal because of his name, and for the most part, his stats back it up. He has two Super Bowl rings and is fourth among active quarterbacks in career passing yards. Still, he has been known to have his fair share of disastrous games. Manning failed to reach 200 yards or throw a touchdown in either of his two games against a Dallas defense that, despite not creating many turnovers, have allowed the third-fewest passing touchdowns on the year (14). Additionally, he has 28 multi-interception games over the last six seasons.
The New York Giants' signal caller is in for a long afternoon against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers have only allowed two quarterbacks -- Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, the latter of whom did most of his work in garbage time -- to throw for at least two touchdowns and fewer than two interceptions. Otherwise, no QB has found a way to work through this tough defensive unit.
I'm not saying you should expect the embarrassing excuse for a performance that Matt Ryan put on against the Panthers in Week 14, but I would be surprised if Manning does enough to land himself in the top 12 this week. With the exception of owners in deep leagues, you can probably find a more reliable play this week. Derek Carr, Blake Bortles, Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Alex Smith are all safer options.
Tim Hightower (RB, NO)
Typically, I focus on poor match-ups, but this one is based on talent--or lack thereof. For the life of me, I cannot understand why Hightower is receiving the nod over C.J. Spiller, who averaged more than 70 yards per game over his two full seasons as a starter with the Buffalo Bills. Hightower has just 10 games with over 70 yards in his career, and his most recent one (in Week 14) required a whopping 28 carries. Plus, the 29-year-old was out of football entirely for three years before making his return this November. Regardless of what I think, the touches will be there for Hightower in Week 15, but there's a reason he didn't have a job in the NFL for so long.
This is about the matchup, too. Detroit's overall numbers against the run are skewed by two monster showings from Adrian Peterson and Todd Gurley. Only two other backs -- Chris Johnson and Charcandrick West -- have even had respectable performances against the Lions' rush defense.
Hightower lacks Spiller's big-play ability, and in a game that has a good chance of being a shootout between Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford, he is unlikely to rack up 25 carries. Pass-catchers like Giovani Bernard, Danny Woodhead, Theo Riddick and Darren Sproles are all higher-upside players, especially in PPR leagues.
Doug Baldwin (WR, SEA)
WAIT. Don't freak out. I know how this sounds. It's hard to imagine there is a fantasy owner in the playoffs who is benching Baldwin this week, and I'm not saying you necessarily should. What I am saying is to be careful. This touchdown streak is obviously unsustainable long-term-- he has to come down to earth eventually.
The Cleveland Browns have only allowed one receiver -- Antonio Brown -- to find the end zone twice in one game. Assuming the lowly Browns will shut down the hottest receiver in football is crazy, but I can confidently predict that we will not see the Russell-to-Baldwin touchdown connection multiple times this week.
Again, this is NOT me telling you not to play Doug Baldwin. This is me suggesting that you do not bench a star wide receiver in favor of him. I am in a league where an owner in the playoffs has Baldwin in his starting lineup and Calvin Johnson on his bench. THAT is what I am advising you not to do.
Travis Kelce (TE, KC)
In a season filled with injuries, disappointment, frustration and more injuries, the Baltimore Ravens can take solace in the fact that they have shut down opposing tight ends all season. Okay, so there is no solace to be taken in that. Their season is still garbage. But it does make it tough to start a tight end against them in the fantasy playoffs.
Outside of Gary Barnidge (15 receptions, 230 yards and one touchdown in two games), just one tight end has scored a touchdown and none have eclipsed 65 yards against the Ravens. Baltimore allows the most fantasy points to opposing wideouts and the third-most to opposing quarterbacks, but the second-fewest to tight ends. As a result, we are probably going to see the Jeremy Maclin show on Sunday.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has not quite lived up to expectations in his second season of action. He is on pace to surpass his totals from last year in just about every category, but fantasy owners expected more. Since a big Week 1 performance, Kelce has just two touchdowns and has failed to surpass 15 fantasy points in a given week in standard or 0.5 PPR leagues. Given the disparity in production between wideouts and tight ends against the Ravens, fantasy owners might want to stray away from Kelce this week. Benjamin Watson, Richard Rodgers, Zach Ertz and Heath Miller all have more upside in their respective match-ups.
