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Who should I start for Week 15? Fantasy football outlooks for Adam Thielen, Brian Thomas Jr., Mike Evans. Our expert fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks.
It's Week 15, meaning the first game of the fantasy football playoffs for most leagues is about to begin. Some players are lineup locks and must-starts for this pivotal matchup, but most managers don't have the luxury of being loaded with some of the best players at each position this season.
Players can be inconsistent scorers for a variety of reasons, including poor quarterback play due to an injured starting QB, age, injury issues, load management, role in the offense, overall productivity of the team's passing attack, and vulnerability to volatile scoring depending on the strength of the opponent.
Let's break down three inconsistent WRs and whether they should be started in the first game of the fantasy playoffs.
Should I Start Adam Thielen for Fantasy Football?
Thielen caught eight of his 10 targets for 99 yards and a touchdown in Week 13 and followed that with nine catches on 11 looks for 102 yards. Those efforts were good for 23.9 and 19.2 PPR fantasy points. He's the clear favorite target for quarterback Bryce Young, who's now slung passes his way 21 times in the past two games.
Adam Thielen clearly getting a lot of the designed targets right now, and he looks fresh.
+ Out and up
+ Fake screen and release
+ Cover 1 first read target
+ 3rd-and-13 comeback (great ball)
+ Cover 1 first read target pic.twitter.com/dmqJVn5vzK— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) December 10, 2024
Somehow, at 34 years old and coming off a hamstring injury, the longtime vet continues to beat coverages, get open, and reliably catch plenty of passes for the Panthers. Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles was supposed to present a poor matchup for him, yet he logged his first 100-yard receiving effort of the season.
The return of rookie WR Jalen Coker (quad) is unlikely to cut into Thielen's targets heavily. He plays plenty of snaps in the slot. We'd recommend starting him in leagues with 12 or more teams. The overall productivity of the passing offense is still a bit suspect, and in shallower leagues, you'll likely have better options.
In PPR leagues, his target volume and catch rate combine to make him a great player to start, though.
Should I Start Brian Thomas Jr. for Fantasy Football?
Thomas already looks like one of the NFL's most talented wideouts on tape. His ridiculous combination of elite speed and acceleration (4.33-second 40-yard-dash, over 22 MPH top speed) and 6-foot-2 height and extremely long arms make him an absolute nightmare of a coverage assignment.
Press coverage vs. Brian Thomas Jr.?!
Bold strategy pic.twitter.com/wSpSY9y2eV
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) December 11, 2024
It's virtually impossible to cover him 1-on-1. We even saw him burning Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey on a deep route in Week 1. The problem has been essentially everything outside of Thomas. BTJr has had to deal with horrible offensive play-calling from Jags offensive coordinator Press Taylor, who hasn't deserved a job in the NFL for years.
In addition, his starting QB, Trevor Lawrence (concussion, shoulder), has now been shut down for the season. Backup signal-caller Mac Jones has not been stellar. Still, Thomas is the WR10 in PPR scoring on the year, and we recommend starting him from now on. He has a great matchup with a now-struggling New York Jets defense coming up.
Start him in all leagues.
Should I Start Mike Evans for Fantasy Football?
We would recommend that you start him. Evans (hamstring) was managing a hamstring issue and wasn't at practice on Wednesday, but this has been the case for several weeks now, so it's likely nothing to be concerned about. We expect him to suit up. He'll face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15.
30 Year old 6’5 225lb Mike Evans just hurdled a man! pic.twitter.com/mJGppPp6c7
— Ashlie (@EMT_Ashlie) December 8, 2024
Sometimes, you just have to start elite players. And with fellow WR Chris Godwin (ankle) no longer there to compete with him for targets, he's the clear WR1 and far more talented than the other wideouts on the team's roster. He's the favorite WR of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who's having the best season of his career so far.
Evans should be started. The upside is tremendous here. TB's defense hasn't been playing very well, either, which provides more opportunity for offensive scoring since they're unlikely to be able to build a lead and grind down the clock with a run-heavy game plan.
Popular Week 15 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 15 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for Adam Thielen, Brian Thomas Jr., Mike Evans compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Dk Metcalf or Adam Thielen
Jerry Jeudy or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Adam Thielen
Marvin Harrisonjr or Adam Thielen
Aj Brown or Adam Thielen
Dj Moore or Brian Thomasjr
Drake London or Mike Evans
Garrett Wilson or Adam Thielen
Devonta Smith or Adam Thielen
Aj Brown or Mike Evans
Adam Thielen or Brian Thomasjr
Khalil Shakir or Mike Evans
Mike Evans or Adam Thielen
Garrett Wilson or Mike Evans
Khalil Shakir or Adam Thielen
Calvin Ridley or Brian Thomasjr
Deandre Hopkins or Adam Thielen
Keenan Allen or Adam Thielen
Tee Higgins or Mike Evans
Jayden Reed or Brian Thomasjr
Rico Dowdle or Adam Thielen
Ceedee Lamb or Mike Evans
Jakobi Meyers or Adam Thielen
Jayden Reed or Adam Thielen
Tank Dell or Adam Thielen
Tyrone Tracyjr or Adam Thielen
Aj Brown or Brian Thomasjr
Cooper Kupp or Adam Thielen
Drake London or Brian Thomasjr
Jaylen Waddle or Adam Thielen
Tee Higgins or Brian Thomasjr
Adam Thielen or Mike Evans
Brian Thomasjr or Adam Thielen
Dj Moore or Adam Thielen
Isaac Guerendo or Brian Thomasjr
Jaylen Waddle or Brian Thomasjr
Malik Nabers or Brian Thomasjr
Rico Dowdle or Brian Thomasjr
Tony Pollard or Adam Thielen
Tony Pollard or Brian Thomasjr
Chuba Hubbard or Adam Thielen
Darnell Mooney or Adam Thielen
Deebo Samuelsr or Adam Thielen
James Cook or Adam Thielen
Jauan Jennings or Mike Evans
Malik Nabers or Adam Thielen
Marvin Harrisonjr or Brian Thomasjr
Rhamondre Stevenson or Adam Thielen
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Khalil Shakir or Brian Thomasjr
Tyreek Hill or Mike Evans
Amari Cooper or Adam Thielen
Calvin Ridley or Adam Thielen
Courtland Sutton or Brian Thomasjr
Davante Adams or Adam Thielen
David Njoku or Adam Thielen
Dj Moore or Mike Evans
Dk Metcalf or Brian Thomasjr
James Cook or Brian Thomasjr
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Brian Thomasjr
Jaylen Waddle or Adam Thielen
Jerry Jeudy or Adam Thielen
Jordan Addison or Brian Thomasjr
Josh Downs or Adam Thielen
Mike Evans or Brian Thomasjr
Tee Higgins or Adam Thielen
Tyrone Tracyjr or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Brian Thomasjr
Adam Thielen or Mike Evans
Amonra Stbrown or Mike Evans
Breece Hall or Adam Thielen
Chris Godwin or Mike Evans
Christian Watson or Adam Thielen
Chuba Hubbard or Brian Thomasjr
Cooper Kupp or Adam Thielen
Cooper Kupp or Brian Thomasjr
Courtland Sutton or Adam Thielen
Courtland Sutton or Brian Thomasjr
Dandre Swift or Adam Thielen
David Njoku or Brian Thomasjr
Deebo Samuelsr or Brian Thomasjr
Devonta Smith or Brian Thomasjr
Drake London or Adam Thielen
Garrett Wilson or Brian Thomasjr
Jakobi Meyers or Adam Thielen
Jakobi Meyers or Mike Evans
Jameson Williams or Brian Thomasjr
Jonathan Taylor or Mike Evans
Justin Jefferson or Mike Evans
Ladd Mcconkey or Adam Thielen
Ladd Mcconkey or Mike Evans
Najee Harris or Brian Thomasjr
Nick Westbrookikhine or Adam Thielen
Tyreek Hill or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Brian Thomasjr
Adam Thielen or Brian Thomasjr
Aj Brown or Adam Thielen
Aj Brown or Adam Thielen
Alvin Kamara or Adam Thielen
Amari Cooper or Brian Thomasjr
Brandon Aiyuk or Mike Evans
Breece Hall or Mike Evans
Bucky Irving or Brian Thomasjr
Cedric Tillman or Brian Thomasjr
Ceedee Lamb or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Courtland Sutton or Brian Thomasjr
Darnell Mooney or Adam Thielen
Darnell Mooney or Brian Thomasjr
Darnell Mooney or Mike Evans
Davante Adams or Adam Thielen
Davante Adams or Brian Thomasjr
Davante Adams or Mike Evans
Davante Adams or Mike Evans
Deandre Hopkins or Mike Evans
Deebo Samuelsr or Adam Thielen
Devonta Smith or Adam Thielen
Dj Moore or Adam Thielen
Dk Metcalf or Adam Thielen
Dk Metcalf or Brian Thomasjr
Dk Metcalf or Mike Evans
Garrett Wilson or Brian Thomasjr
Isiah Pacheco or Brian Thomasjr
Jakobi Meyers or Adam Thielen
Jakobi Meyers or Brian Thomasjr
Jalen Mcmillan or Adam Thielen
James Conner or Adam Thielen
James Conner or Brian Thomasjr
James Cook or Mike Evans
Jameson Williams or Adam Thielen
Jameson Williams or Mike Evans
Jauan Jennings or Adam Thielen
Jauan Jennings or Mike Evans
Jaylen Warren or Adam Thielen
Jerry Jeudy or Adam Thielen
Jerry Jeudy or Mike Evans
Jonnu Smith or Adam Thielen
Jordan Addison or Adam Thielen
Keenan Allen or Adam Thielen
Keenan Allen or Brian Thomasjr
Khalil Shakir or Brian Thomasjr
Malik Nabers or Mike Evans
Marquez Valdesscantling or Adam Thielen
Marvin Harrisonjr or Brian Thomasjr
Michael Pittmanjr or Adam Thielen
Najee Harris or Adam Thielen
Nick Chubb or Adam Thielen
Nico Collins or Brian Thomasjr
Patrick Taylorjr or Adam Thielen
Puka Nacua or Adam Thielen
Quentin Johnston or Adam Thielen
Rachaad White or Brian Thomasjr
Rhamondre Stevenson or Adam Thielen
Rico Dowdle or Mike Evans
Rome Odunze or Adam Thielen
Saquon Barkley or Brian Thomasjr
Sincere Mccormick or Adam Thielen
Tank Dell or Adam Thielen
Terry Mclaurin or Mike Evans
Tj Hockenson or Adam Thielen
Tony Pollard or Adam Thielen
Travis Etiennejr or Adam Thielen
Xavier Worthy or Adam Thielen
Aaron Jones or Brian Thomasjr
Adam Thielen or Brian Thomasjr
Adam Thielen or Brian Thomasjr
Adam Thielen or Brian Thomasjr
Adam Thielen or Brian Thomasjr
Adam Thielen or Mike Evans
Aj Brown or Adam Thielen
Aj Brown or Brian Thomasjr
Aj Brown or Brian Thomasjr
Aj Brown or Mike Evans
Aj Brown or Mike Evans
Aj Brown or Mike Evans
Aj Brown or Mike Evans
Aj Brown or Mike Evans
Alvin Kamara or Mike Evans
Alvin Kamara or Mike Evans
Amari Cooper or Adam Thielen
Amari Cooper or Adam Thielen
Amari Cooper or Adam Thielen
Amari Cooper or Adam Thielen
Bijan Robinson or Mike Evans
Braelon Allen or Brian Thomasjr
Breece Hall or Adam Thielen
Breece Hall or Brian Thomasjr
Brian Robinsonjr or Adam Thielen
Brian Robinsonjr or Brian Thomasjr
Brian Thomasjr or Adam Thielen
Brian Thomasjr or Mike Evans
Brian Thomasjr or Mike Evans
Brock Bowers or Brian Thomasjr
Brock Bowers or Mike Evans
Bucky Irving or Adam Thielen
Calvin Ridley or Adam Thielen
Calvin Ridley or Adam Thielen
Calvin Ridley or Adam Thielen
Calvin Ridley or Adam Thielen
Calvin Ridley or Brian Thomasjr
Calvin Ridley or Brian Thomasjr
Calvin Ridley or Brian Thomasjr
Calvin Ridley or Mike Evans
Ceedee Lamb or Adam Thielen
Ceedee Lamb or Adam Thielen
Ceedee Lamb or Mike Evans
Christian Watson or Adam Thielen
Christian Watson or Adam Thielen
Chuba Hubbard or Adam Thielen
Chuba Hubbard or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Adam Thielen
Cooper Kupp or Brian Thomasjr
Cooper Kupp or Brian Thomasjr
Cooper Kupp or Brian Thomasjr
Cooper Kupp or Brian Thomasjr
Cooper Kupp or Brian Thomasjr
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Cooper Kupp or Mike Evans
Courtland Sutton or Adam Thielen
Courtland Sutton or Brian Thomasjr
Courtland Sutton or Mike Evans
Dandre Swift or Adam Thielen
Dandre Swift or Adam Thielen
Dandre Swift or Brian Thomasjr
Dandre Swift or Mike Evans
Darnell Mooney or Adam Thielen
Darnell Mooney or Adam Thielen
Davante Adams or Brian Thomasjr
Davante Adams or Brian Thomasjr
Davante Adams or Mike Evans
David Montgomery or Mike Evans
Deandre Hopkins or Adam Thielen
Deandre Hopkins or Adam Thielen
Deebo Samuelsr or Adam Thielen
Deebo Samuelsr or Brian Thomasjr
Demario Douglas or Brian Thomasjr
Devon Achane or Mike Evans
Devonta Smith or Adam Thielen
Devonta Smith or Adam Thielen
Devonta Smith or Adam Thielen
Devonta Smith or Adam Thielen
Devonta Smith or Adam Thielen
Devonta Smith or Brian Thomasjr
Dj Moore or Adam Thielen
Dj Moore or Adam Thielen
Dj Moore or Adam Thielen
Dj Moore or Adam Thielen
Dj Moore or Brian Thomasjr
Dj Moore or Mike Evans
Dk Metcalf or Adam Thielen
Dk Metcalf or Adam Thielen
Dk Metcalf or Brian Thomasjr
Dk Metcalf or Brian Thomasjr
Dk Metcalf or Brian Thomasjr
Dk Metcalf or Brian Thomasjr
Drake London or Mike Evans
Drake London or Mike Evans
Elijah Moore or Adam Thielen
Garrett Wilson or Adam Thielen
Garrett Wilson or Adam Thielen
Garrett Wilson or Brian Thomasjr
Isaac Guerendo or Adam Thielen
Isaac Guerendo or Mike Evans
Isiah Pacheco or Brian Thomasjr
Isiah Pacheco or Brian Thomasjr
Isiah Pacheco or Brian Thomasjr
Jakobi Meyers or Adam Thielen
Jakobi Meyers or Adam Thielen
Jakobi Meyers or Brian Thomasjr
Jakobi Meyers or Brian Thomasjr
Jalen Mcmillan or Mike Evans
James Conner or Adam Thielen
James Conner or Mike Evans
James Cook or Adam Thielen
James Cook or Adam Thielen
James Cook or Adam Thielen
James Cook or Adam Thielen
James Cook or Brian Thomasjr
James Cook or Brian Thomasjr
Jauan Jennings or Brian Thomasjr
Jauan Jennings or Brian Thomasjr
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Adam Thielen
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Adam Thielen
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Mike Evans
Jayden Daniels or Brian Thomasjr
Jayden Reed or Adam Thielen
Jayden Reed or Adam Thielen
Jayden Reed or Adam Thielen
Jayden Reed or Adam Thielen
Jayden Reed or Adam Thielen
Jayden Reed or Brian Thomasjr
Jayden Reed or Brian Thomasjr
Jaylen Waddle or Adam Thielen
Jaylen Waddle or Adam Thielen
Jaylen Waddle or Adam Thielen
Jaylen Waddle or Adam Thielen
Jaylen Waddle or Brian Thomasjr
Jerry Jeudy or Brian Thomasjr
Jerry Jeudy or Brian Thomasjr
Jerry Jeudy or Brian Thomasjr
Jerry Jeudy or Mike Evans
Joe Mixon or Adam Thielen
Joe Mixon or Brian Thomasjr
Jonathan Taylor or Adam Thielen
Jonathan Taylor or Adam Thielen
Jonnu Smith or Adam Thielen
Jonnu Smith or Brian Thomasjr
Jordan Addison or Adam Thielen
Jordan Addison or Brian Thomasjr
Jordan Addison or Brian Thomasjr
Jordan Addison or Brian Thomasjr
Jordan Addison or Mike Evans
Jordan Addison or Mike Evans
Jordan Addison or Mike Evans
Jordan Addison or Mike Evans
Joshua Palmer or Adam Thielen
Justin Jefferson or Mike Evans
Justin Jefferson or Mike Evans
Kareem Hunt or Adam Thielen
Keenan Allen or Adam Thielen
Keenan Allen or Adam Thielen
Keenan Allen or Adam Thielen
Keenan Allen or Mike Evans
Kenneth Walkeriii or Adam Thielen
Keon Coleman or Adam Thielen
Khalil Shakir or Adam Thielen
Khalil Shakir or Adam Thielen
Khalil Shakir or Adam Thielen
Khalil Shakir or Adam Thielen
Khalil Shakir or Adam Thielen
Khalil Shakir or Adam Thielen
Khalil Shakir or Brian Thomasjr
Khalil Shakir or Brian Thomasjr
Khalil Shakir or Mike Evans
Kyren Williams or Mike Evans
Ladd Mcconkey or Brian Thomasjr
Malik Nabers or Adam Thielen
Malik Nabers or Adam Thielen
Malik Nabers or Adam Thielen
Malik Nabers or Adam Thielen
Malik Nabers or Adam Thielen
Malik Nabers or Brian Thomasjr
Malik Nabers or Mike Evans
Marquez Valdesscantling or Adam Thielen
Marquez Valdesscantling or Adam Thielen
Michael Pittmanjr or Adam Thielen
Michael Wilson or Adam Thielen
Mike Evans or Brian Thomasjr
Najee Harris or Adam Thielen
Najee Harris or Adam Thielen
Najee Harris or Brian Thomasjr
Najee Harris or Mike Evans
Nico Collins or Brian Thomasjr
Nico Collins or Mike Evans
Nico Collins or Mike Evans
Parker Washington or Adam Thielen
Parker Washington or Brian Thomasjr
Patrick Taylorjr or Adam Thielen
Puka Nacua or Mike Evans
Quentin Johnston or Brian Thomasjr
Rachaad White or Adam Thielen
Rhamondre Stevenson or Adam Thielen
Rico Dowdle or Adam Thielen
Rico Dowdle or Adam Thielen
Rico Dowdle or Brian Thomasjr
Rico Dowdle or Brian Thomasjr
Rome Odunze or Adam Thielen
Romeo Doubs or Adam Thielen
Sincere Mccormick or Adam Thielen
Tank Bigsby or Adam Thielen
Tank Dell or Brian Thomasjr
Tee Higgins or Adam Thielen
Tee Higgins or Adam Thielen
Tee Higgins or Adam Thielen
Tee Higgins or Brian Thomasjr
Tee Higgins or Mike Evans
Terry Mclaurin or Adam Thielen
Terry Mclaurin or Adam Thielen
Terry Mclaurin or Adam Thielen
Terry Mclaurin or Adam Thielen
Terry Mclaurin or Brian Thomasjr
Terry Mclaurin or Brian Thomasjr
Tim Patrick or Adam Thielen
Tj Hockenson or Mike Evans
Tony Pollard or Adam Thielen
Tony Pollard or Brian Thomasjr
Trey Mcbride or Adam Thielen
Tyreek Hill or Mike Evans
Tyrone Tracyjr or Adam Thielen
Xavier Worthy or Adam Thielen
Zach Charbonnet or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Adam Thielen
Zay Flowers or Adam Thielen
Zay Flowers or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Brian Thomasjr
Zay Flowers or Mike Evans
Zay Flowers or Mike Evans
Aj Brown or Brian Thomasjr
Aj Brown or Mike Evans
Amonra Stbrown or Mike Evans
Breece Hall or Adam Thielen
Brian Robinsonjr or Mike Evans
Davante Adams or Mike Evans
David Montgomery or Adam Thielen
Deandre Hopkins or Adam Thielen
Dk Metcalf or Brian Thomasjr
Drake London or Adam Thielen
Garrett Wilson or Adam Thielen
Isaac Guerendo or Adam Thielen
Isaac Guerendo or Brian Thomasjr
Jayden Reed or Adam Thielen
Jonathan Taylor or Brian Thomasjr
Justin Jefferson or Mike Evans
Keenan Allen or Adam Thielen
Khalil Shakir or Brian Thomasjr
Ladd Mcconkey or Adam Thielen
Ladd Mcconkey or Brian Thomasjr
Ladd Mcconkey or Brian Thomasjr
Marquez Valdesscantling or Brian Thomasjr
Nick Westbrookikhine or Adam Thielen
Nico Collins or Adam Thielen
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