Welcome into Week 15 of the 2021 season, and the latest in our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. I hope you’ve had a great season, and made the playoffs where you expected to. This week, the league seems like it’s been really rocked by COVID, so you I’m going to be updating this article throughout the coming days, so come back to check it out.
As always, if you are struggling with a decision you can checkout our rankings for each Week. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server.
Start’Em
Kirk Cousins @CHI
Cousins is having a great season. Even with Adam Thielen missing due to injury he had a good game last time out. A matchup against Chicago isn’t one to avoid, so where I have him he is sliding straight into my starting lineup.
Jimmy Garoppolo v ATL
You might read this and think that it’s due to the matchup. I won’t lie, it is partly due to playing the Falcons, but Garoppolo is worth considering in his own right. The 49ers offense has been efficient and effective, and as a result Garoppolo has a string of multiple TD performances. If you are streaming the position, you could do worse than Garoppolo this week.
Tua Tagovailoa v NYJ
The Miami offense might be forced to go via the air, after being hit hard by COVID in the past week. That makes Tua a better start than he would have been before. Fresh off the bye, the Dolphins match up against a Jets defense that just can’t stop offenses.
Sit’Em
Jalen Hurts v WAS
More of a pump the brakes than anything. Hurts was hurt before the bye, and after a week of rest he isn’t 100% to play this week. He is trending in the right direction, but it’s going to need something significant for me to put him in my lineup. Hurts’ value comes from his legs, so having an ankle injury is more significant than it would be for a pocket-passer. Even in this great matchup, I’d look for better options.
Cam Newton @BUF
You probably don’t need me to tell you to sit Newton, but just incase don’t be in doubt. The QB position for Carolina has been a turnstile of players, and you can’t rely on him for your lineup this week.
Start ‘Em
James Robinson v HOU
Robinson really put up a dud for your lineup last week. But, the good news is that the Jaguars will have a different person calling the shots at the top this week. Against a poor Texans defense, the team are likely to go back to what they are good at. That might be tough on offense, but Robinson is likely to see alot of touches out of the backfield.
Devonta Freeman v GB
The Ravens could be without Lamar Jackson in this game. Or, if he is able to play, he is going to be a shadow of his former self. Freeman should therefore see more productive carries than he has previously. The key-word there being productive. The volume has been there, but Jackson has taken some of the better looks out of the backfield. Against the Packers run defense, Freeman should have an effective RB2 performance.
D’Onta Foreman @PIT
Foreman has been trying to fill the void left by Derrick Henry, with mixed success. Part of that is due to not managing to get out on the field as often as people would have liked, but at the moment he has broken the committee. With his heavy usage in the redzone too, he is a good RB2/ Flex start against the Steelers.
Myles Gaskin v NYJ
Gaskin might not play in this one, but he does have an opportunity after being vaccinated. If he does play in the game, then he is likely to be the lead back against a poor Jets defense, which puts him as a borderline RB2. If he doesn’t play, then you should consider the other guyts out of this backfield, including veteran Duke Johnson as flex options.
Sit ‘Em
Chuba Hubbard @BUF
I wish I could trust him. After all, he is the lead back for the team. And we have seen in previous weeks that Buffalo can be run on, but I just can’t put him in my lineup. The uncertainty over the QB just leaves me with too many questions in this matchup.
Royce Freeman @JAX
I get it. You need an RB, and after an injury, Freeman became a great pickup. But even against the Jaguars, I wouldn’t start him. The Texans have struggled to run the ball all season, and I can’t see that changing here. With the fact that the Jags could be revitalized too, after a change in coach look elsewhere.
Start ‘Em
Brandon Aiyuk v ATL
Aiyuk has been getting more involved in the offense over the past few weeks, and made great plays too. The Falcons defense has struggled to stop receivers doing what they want, and it’s hard to think that stops now.
DeVante Parker v NYJ
This feels weird because I’m putting a number of players in from Miami, but what do you expect given the matchup? There is no denying that Jaylen Waddle is the primary receiver in the offense, but there should be enough to see Parker put in a good performance too.
K.J. Osborn @CHI
Osborn had a good game last week, after catching a long pass for a TD. This offense has been humming effectively this season. With Adam Thielen out of the lineup due to injury, Osborn has really made a push to be on the field.
Sit ’em
DeVonta Smith v WAS
Smith has been struggling he past few weeks in your lineup. Against Washington as well you’d think that you can slot him straight back in. The thing is, I don’t feel like I can rely on a long recption in order to put him in my lineup. Especially give the doubts at QB for the team.
Julio Jones @PIT
The decision to play Jones or not was one that I was asked a few times last week. The thing is I didn’t feel I needed to say to sit him. There was no way I was going to stake my playoff hopes on Jones returning from injury in a run-heavy offense. That hasn’t changed this week after his 33-yard performance. Just don’t do it- oh and you don’t need to ask. There are a lot of names ahead of him, even against this Steelers defense.
Start ‘Em
Mike Gesicki v NYJ
Gesicki has fallen into that middle group of TEs this season. Not bad enough to drop, but you aren’t always confident in starting him. This week though, he should be a fine start. The Dolphins are likely going to need to pass the ball in this game, and Gesicki has been able to make plays when given the opportunity.
Dalton Schultz @NYG
Schultz hasn’t been playing at the level he was at the start of the season. But, he has a good chance to get right in this game. The Cowboys offense has a few pieces they are trying to get into the playoffs, and the Giants defense gave up a good performance to him last time out against Dallas.
Sit ’em
Tyler Higbee v SEA
Higbee has really been marginalized in the offense recently. The Rams have a number of passing options they can turn to, as well as the performances of Sony Michel on the ground. With this matchup, I’d look elsewhere for my TE.
Tyler Conklin @CHI
Conklin had a great opportunity in the absence of Adam Theilen to push forward his season, but didn’t grasp the opportunity. Against Chicago, who have performed well defensively, I’m not confident that there are going to be the right opportunties to be effective.
Start ‘Em
Philadelphia Eagles v WAS
The Eagles defense has been great. Infact, at times a big play they made has boosted the fanbase and the offense. There isn’t too much reason to look elsewhere against a Washington offense that has only put up 20 points once in the past 3 weeks.
Los Angeles Rams v SEA
The Rams defense has performed well at times this season. After a good performance on the road, they welcome in the Seahawks this week. That offense hasn’t been the effective unit it has in previous seasons. Combining that with the signs that Von Miller is looking more comfortable in the lineup now, the Rams are a sneaky start.
Sit ‘Em
Houston Texans @JAX
I get it, you want to play the Texans as they play against the Jaguars. But really, I’m not feeling massively confident about it. You are fully reliant on the Jaguars continuing to struggle on offense, as the team doesn’t have many effective defensive playmakers.
Cincinnati Bengals @DEN
The Bengals defense has been good this season, with a number of additions made during the offseason. Denver’s offense though doesn’t turn the ball over all that much though and has done a solid job of protecting him in the pocket too.
Start ‘Em
Jason Sanders v NYJ
Sanders hasn’t been the player that he was in previous seasons, but that’s come down alot to opportunity. Against the Jets, the Dolphins should be able to move the ball. That should mean plenty of kicking chances for Sanders, be they PATs or FGs.
Jake Elliott v WAS
This season hasn’t been one for the Eagles fans to look back at and be happy. But, this game could give them something to cheer about. As a result of being able to move the ball, Elliott is likely to be able to have a few shots at goal. Putting aside the Week 12 implosion of the offense, Elliott had at least 3 FG attempts in each game from Week 10.
Sit ‘Em
Daniel Carlson @CLE
The Raiders offense has stuttered recently, after being an effective unit earlier in the season. As a result, Carlson hasn’t been the fantasy force he had been previously. The Browns defense has been great recently and should be able to hold the Raiders out of FG range more often than you’d want.
Ryan Succop v NO
Succop falls into the bucket of kicker that is really good in real life, but not great for fantasy. He has only attempted 20 FGs this season, such is the strength of the Tampa Bay offense. Look elsewhere.
Well that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 15 of the 2021 season. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server.
Image Credit: Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
