Which under-the-radar players might be able to give your fantasy team a lift? Which chalky players might not be as safe as they seem? Our featured analysts name some potential sleepers and underachievers, along with start/sit advice for Week 15.
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Fantasy Football Week 15 Start/Sit Advice
Q. Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is a good sleeper start, and why do you think he has upside this week?
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG)
“Wan’Dale Robinson has asserted himself as Tommy DeVito‘s clear-cut No. 1 weapon in the passing game. Last week, he had 79 receiving yards and 14.5 half-point PPR fantasy points, both season-highs. The second-year receiver has averaged 4.8 targets and 7.5 fantasy points per game over the past five contests, scoring 11.5 or more twice. More importantly, Robinson has run 83.2% of his snaps from the slot this season. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints have the highest target rate toward slot receivers in 2023 (per Fantasy Points Data). If Darren Waller is out again in Week 15, Robinson has top-30 upside.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Demario Douglas (WR – NE)
“As of this writing, Demario Douglas sits as the 111th-ranked player. I expect that number to rise as he’ll likely play. Douglas has missed the last two weeks with a concussion but was playing very well before that. He had seen at least six targets in five straight games. Douglas had a total of 38 targets over those five games. He caught 26 of those for 267 yards and chipped in another 24 rushing yards. He didn’t score any touchdowns, but that is a great volume for someone ranked this low. The New England Patriots should be trailing and throwing plenty in this one. Douglas is a good sleeper, especially in full PPR formats.”
– Robert Norton (Last Word On Sports)
“Demario Douglas – Injuries have made the Patriots receivers difficult to handicap. But the rookie Douglas has trended up from an 8% snap share in Week 2 to 24%, 33%, 62%, 77%, 83%, and 73% snap shares in his last six healthy games. He missed the last two weeks with a concussion. But if Douglas can return in Week 15, I see him as the No. 1 Patriots receiver and top 90 flex option.”
– Scott Spratt (FTN)
Zamir White (RB – LV)
“If Josh Jacobs sits on a short week as he tries to recover from a knee injury, this leaves a massive gap for fantasy managers. However, Zamir White would be an intriguing starting option if Jacobs is down. The Chargers concede the 5th most points to the running back position and have allowed 90 or more rushing yards in four of their last five games. White would probably split carries with Ameer Abdullah, with Abdullah getting most of the passing work, but on short-yardage and goal-line situations, it will be White, and he is no doubt intriguing. Monitor the status of Jacobs as we get closer to Thursday night. ”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE – TEN)
“Chig Okonkwo isn’t having quite the breakout season most hoped, but he is producing a solid weekly floor. Okonkwo has at least three receptions in three straight games and six of his last seven games. He tied a season-high with five receptions last week. It would not surprise to see him have his best game of the season this week against the Texans. Houston has been a disaster against the tight end, allowing the third most fantasy points to tight ends. ”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)
“The fantasy playoffs are no time to get cute, so you start the guys who got you there. If injuries are plaguing you or the last guy on your roster is underperforming, then you have to look for the next man up. That man could be Chigoziem Okokwo, who is starting to gain rapport with Will Levis. In the last 3 weeks, Chig has 5+ targets and was a key piece in the Titans’ comeback against the Dolphins. Tight ends are a challenge and usually touchdown-dependent, which comes with target increases, meaning Chig is due to reach the endzone soon!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Parker Washington (WR – JAC)
“Well, the phrase, “good sleeper” is relative, especially when you’re picking outside the Top 100. I’ll go with the rookie WR who replaced Christian Kirk, Parker Washington. Washington isn’t the tallest or the fastest WR, but he has good hands. Both of Parker’s TDs were impressive catches because they were difficult ones to haul in. And while the Ravens’ defense is not the greatest matchup in the world, the Jaguars might be forced to pass if they want to keep up with an explosive Baltimore offense. My Spidey sense is telling me, “Ringo, let’s go with Parker and hope he can be the main benefactor in week 15, with Christian Kirk out for the season”.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)
“The Seahawks have used Zach Charbonnet significantly more when chasing games, and it’s fair to say they’ll likely be chasing the Eagles through most of the game. The rushing efficiency might not be overly impressive, but the check-downs and receiving yardage should more than make up for that. This makes Charbonnet a viable PPR sleeper start.”
– Ben Wasley (The Fantasy First Down)
Aaron Jones (RB – GB)
“Aaron Jones should not be outside the top 100, let alone the top 150 ECR flex players. Although this is largely due to the uncertainty around his health, I want to provide the confidence to play Jones in all formats. Green Bay is known to be very cautious with injured players, so if Jones is on the field, he’ll be good to go. Plus, A.J. Dillon is dealing with a thumb injury. If Jones is active, he will be in line for all the work against a Buccaneers team that just allowed Bijan Robinson to have 90 yards and a score on 15 touches. As long as he plays, he should immediately be in the RB2 mix, with added RB1 upside if Dillon misses.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)
Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC)
“Quentin Johnston is a sleeper outside the top 100 that I’d love to fire up in Week 15. The Chargers are now without both Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, and with little depth available at receiver, it should finally be time for Johnston’s breakout game. Week 14 was the closest he has come to cracking the 100-receiving-yard mark in his career; look for him to finally get there this week. ”
– Aaron St Denis (The League Winners)
Q: Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WAS)
“Brian Robinson Jr. is a guy who does much better in favorable game scripts. It’s certainly possible the Washington Commanders can jump to an early lead against the Los Angeles Rams this weekend, but it seems like less than a 50/50 shot. On top of that, the Rams are tough against the run. They’ve allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Robinson is coming off a bye but left the previous game with a hamstring injury, so that’s something to monitor as well since hamstring injuries can be tricky. All things are lining up for Robinson to disappoint fantasy managers this week.”
– Robert Norton (Last Word On Sports)
Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC)
“I had been bullish for an Austin Ekeler rebound in the final month of the season because of his expected touchdown shortfall. But the Justin Herbert injury changes that. Easton Stick will have a more obvious impact on his wide receivers Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer, and Quentin Johnston. But I am projecting the Chargers to lose 4.4 pass attempts and 1.0 run attempts from Week 14 to Week 15 with the quarterback change. Passing efficiency creates new first downs and more work for all skill players, and I expect Ekeler to suffer for the Herbert loss just like his receiver teammates.”
– Scott Spratt (FTN)
“Full disclosure- the last two years I’ve faded Austin Ekeler, and the last two years I’ve been burned. Now I know how Dr. Evil feels. Austin Ekeler is the snake to my mongoose, or the mongoose or my snake? Either way, it’s bad. Good luck without star QB, Justin Herbert, who is out for the year. Rot in hell Powers, I mean Ekeler- muah!!! Dr. Evil Ringo”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
D’Andre Swift (RB – PHI)
“It has all just gone a but meh for D’Andre Swift this year. Swift has gone three straight games without 100 all-purpose yards and finished the game against Dallas with no catches period. Swift has now been held to under 10 fantasy points in 4 of his last 5 games and faces the looming threat of Kenny Gainwell taking some of his snaps away. Swift is comfortably in the TD or bust category of starts now, and with Philly resorting to the “tush-push” on the one-yard line, TD may just not come.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Zack Moss (RB – IND)
“Zack Moss was outstanding earlier this year, replacing an injured Jonathan Taylor. However, he has been awful the past two weeks, averaging only 2.5 yards per rushing attempt and 7.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite averaging 19 opportunities per contest. Furthermore, Moss has averaged only 0.41 yards before contact and a 3% missed tackle forced per attempt rate over the past two weeks (per Fantasy Points Data). Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers gave up 23.5 fantasy points to Ezekiel Elliott last week. Yet, 71.1% of his production came in the passing game on his 28.6% target share. Moss has only a 9.3% target share in the five games without Taylor this year. He will struggle again in Week 15.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Stefon Diggs (WR – BUF)
“You can’t really bench Stefon Diggs, but you might want to temper your expectations for him. He has less than 40 yards in three of four games and failed to reach seven fantasy points in three of those games. He is just not doing much right now, struggling in some tough matchups. He gets another tough matchup this week against the Cowboys. Dallas allows the seventh-fewest fantasy points to receivers and ranks fifth against the pass. ”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)
“Stefon Diggs is having one of the quietest stretches of week-losing fantasy performances of any star receiver in recent memory. In three of his last four games, he has finished outside of the top 55 WRs. He now faces Stephon Gilmore, who has shadowed and controlled both D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown in consecutive weeks. Assuming Dan Quinn has learned his lesson, Diggs will be wearing Gilmore like a backpack all game. Add this to his recent struggles, and I’ll be pushing him outside my top 24 this week.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)
Tony Pollard (RB – DAL)
“Tony Pollard only has 2 top 10 weekly finished this year (Week 1 & 12), which has been disappointing seeing as he was handing the Dallas backfield. This week, he is playing a Buffalo team that is playing for their playoff lives. Dallas’ identity is in the passing game, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb having the seasons of their lives! Add in that Rico Dowdle gets carries sprinkled in and goal line touches, and the RB9 (0.5 ppr) ranking is risky in week 1 of the fantasy playoffs!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
James Cook (RB – BUF)
“Don’t start James Cook this week against the Cowboys. The Cowboys are a top-five rushing defense, and Cook has regularly lost snaps to Latavius Murray and Ty Johnson. There’s a very real risk of a dud Week 15 for Cook, so he’s worth sitting if you have a viable alternative.”
– Ben Wasley (The Fantasy First Down)
Kenneth Walker III (RB – SEA)
“Ken Walker will be a bust in Week 15. Not only has he been dealing with injuries lately, but he has also been giving up touches to rookie Zach Charbonnet. Add in a matchup with a pass-funnel Eagles defense and the Seahawks may choose to throw the ball 50 times and not run at all. The possibility of Drew Lock starting at quarterback again will also limit his potential as that would lead to an inept Seahawks offense to avoid.”
– Aaron St Denis (The League Winners)
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