Welcome to Week 15 of the 2023 season, and our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. This is where all the hard work is done as we prepare for another week of hard-hitting action and paper championships.
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. All stats refer to 1/2 PPR, 6 point per passing touchdown leagues. The number in brackets next to an opponent is that teams rank against the position. Rank 1 is the best possible matchup, Rank 32 is the worst. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Start’Em
Geno Smith, Seahawks v PHI (1)
Smith is a mystery. One boom week, one bust week and one injured week. No one really knows what to expect with Smith who currently sits as QB18. This week he goes up against the Eagles who are the best matchup for quarterbacks. Philadelphia is allowing 22.3 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and should allow Smith to get back on track just in time for the playoffs.
Matthew Stafford, Rams v WSH (2)
Stafford has been awesome in three consecutive matchups and is blessed with yet another great matchup. In Week 15 he gets to go up against the Washington Commanders who are the 2nd beast matchup for quarterbacks. The Commanders are allowing 20.4 fantasy points per game to the position and should put Stafford in the mix for QB1 overall on the week.
Russell Wilson, Broncos v DET (4)
Wilson has been consistently average. He has been a locked and loaded high-end QB2 every week this season. While he may lack ceiling, he gets a prime matchup this week with the struggling Detroit Lions who are the 2nd best matchup for quarterbacks. The Lions are giving up 19.3 fantasy points per game and will allow Wilson to use his arm and legs to amass a solid outing.
Sit ‘Em
Desmond Ridder, Falcons v CAR (32)
Ridder was excellent in Week 15 in a prime matchup but has put up three bad games for every one good game. This week his matchup is terrible as he faces the Carolina Panthers who are the worst matchup for quarterbacks. The Panthers are allowing 13.0 fantasy points per game, making Ridder a desperation option only.
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers v GB (30)
Mayfield has been a consistent mid-range QB2 this season but has not shown much of a ceiling for fantasy. In Week 15 he goes up against the Green Bay packers who are the 3rd worst matchup for quarterbacks. The Packers are allowing only 13.5 fantasy points per game to the position and will limit Mayfield’s upside.
Justin Fields, Bears v CLE (28)
Fields has been awesome rushing the ball since returning from injury, but he’s been terrible throwing the ball. This week he faces one of the league’s best defenses. The Cleveland Browns are the 5th worst matchup for quarterbacks. Cleveland is allowing 14.0 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and Fields will have to survive off of insane rushing totals making him a risky start.
Start ‘Em
Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions v DEN (1)
Gibbs got off to a slow start but since David Montgomery missed time with injury he has been elite. He is currently producing amongst the best at the position. This week he faces the Denver Broncos who are the best matchup for opposing running backs. The Broncos are allowing 26.0 fantasy points per game. Gibbs could be a league winner for managers in the first week of the fantasy playoffs.
Najee Harris, Steelers v IND (2)
Harris has been inconsistent this season and has lost significant work to backup Jaylen Warren. This week he faces the Indianapolis Colts who are the 2nd best matchup for running backs. Indianapolis is allowing 24.4 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs and if Harris can maintain his workload he will be set for a big game.
D’Andre Swift, Lions v SEA (5)
Swift has struggled mightily since his early season hot streak. He has lost many goal line touchdowns to Jalen Hurts and it has seriously hurt his fantasy value. In Week 15 he faces the Seattle Seahawks who rank as the 5th best matchup for running backs. The Seahawks are allowing 23.0 fantasy points per game to the position and should help Swift find his game just in time for the fantasy playoffs. He is matchup dependent at this point, but this is a good matchup.
Sit ‘Em
Ken Walker, Seahawks v PHI (32)
Walker has been hampered significantly by injuries over the past month and that has made him unplayable. This week he faces a pass-funnel Eagles squad that ranks as the worst matchup for running backs. The Eagles are allowing only 14.4 fantasy points per game to the position and with his injury concerns, Walker is a must-avoid in Week 15.
James Conner, Cardinals v SF (31)
Conner exploded in his final game before the team’s bye, but with his receiving role diminishing his is becoming a risky start. Add in a matchup with the 49ers who rank as the 2nd worst matchup for running backs and it could be a rough game. San Francisco is allowing only 14.6 fantasy points per game to the position. The 49ers are a defense to be avoided at all costs.
James Cook, Bills, v DAL (30)
Cook has been one of the most underrated running backs in the league this season. He is consistently a high-end RB2 and it goes mostly unnoticed. In Week 15 he faces the Dallas Cowboys who rank as the 3rd worst matchup for running backs. Dallas is allowing only 14.7 fantasy points per game to the position and could prove a tall task for Cook this week.
Start ’em
DK Metcalf, Seahawks v PHI (1)
Metcalf has mixed in average outings with massive blowup games as the Seahawks offence has gone up and down. This week he faces the Philadelphia Eagles who are the best matchup for wide receivers. Philadelphia is allowing 39.1 fantasy points per game to the position and will once again make for a monster outing for Metcalf. He has WR1 overall potential this week.
Cooper Kupp, Rams v WSH (2)
Kupp has battled injuries for much of the season and has struggled but over the past two weeks he has started to look like his old self again. In Week 15 he faces the Washington Commanders who are the 2nd best matchup for wide receivers. Los Angeles is allowing 33.3 fantasy points per game to the position and will make for an easy opponent for Kupp to exploit.
Davante Adams, Raiders v LAC (3)
Adams has managed to produce even in the face of terrible quarterback play. He has been more matchup dependent this season and luckily he faces the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 who rank as the 4rd best matchup for receivers. The Chargers are allowing 31.9 fantasy points per game tot he position and should be a matchup that even Aidan O’Connell can ruin.
Sit ’em
DJ Moore, Bears v CLE (31)
Moore is one of the lone bright spots on a terrible team. The Bears struggle to move the ball with any consistency and this week they face the Cleveland Browns who rank as the 2nd worst matchup for wide receivers. Cleveland is allowing 22.5 fantasy points per game to the position and will make it a tough go for Moore and this Bears offence.
Calvin Ridley, Jaguars v BAL (25)
Ridley was terrible all season before erupting for two blowup games that sucked fantasy managers back in only for him to disappoint again. This week he faces the Baltimore Ravens who are the 6th worst matchup for opposing wide receivers. The Ravens are allowing only 24.3 fantasy points per game to the position and are a horrible matchup for an inconsistent asset.
Adam Thielen, Panthers v ATL (28)
Thielen’s production has fallen off a cliff after the team’s bye and he has been best left on fantasy benches over the past month. This week he faces the Atlanta Falcons who rank as the 4th worst matchup for wide receivers. Atlanta is allowing 23.1 fantasy points per game to the position and will be a tough spot for Thielen to produce.
Start ‘Em
Sam LaPorta, Lions v DEN (2)
LaPorta has been one of the pleasant surprises at tight end this season as he is currently TE4 on the season. Hopefully last week was his last dud game and he will be onto better outings for the playoffs. This week he faces the Denver Broncos who are the 2nd best matchup for tight ends. Denver is allowing 12.7 fantasy points per game to the position and will be a prime get-right spot for the rookie.
Logan Thomas, Commanders v LAR (3)
Thomas has seen his production tail off as the season has progressed making him a risky streamer. In week 15 he faces the Los Angeles rams who are the 3rd best matchup for opposing tight ends. The Rams are allowing 12.0 fantasy points per game to the position which should allow Thomas to be a viable streamer for managers this week.
Isaiah Likely, Ravens v JAC (4)
Likely finally came to life for the Ravens after the loss of Mark Andrews. He disappointed for several weeks before taking advantage of an excellent matchup in Week 14. This week he faces the Jacksonville Jaguars who are the 4th best matchup for opposing tight ends. The Jaguars are allowing 11.7 fantasy points per game tot the position and are a prime blowup spot for the young Likely.
Sit ’em
Dalton Schultz, Texans v TEN (32)
Schultz is one of the many Texans offensive weapons that is currently banged up. In Week 15 he faces a Titans squad that is the worst matchup for opposing tight ends. The Titans are allowing 5.9 fantasy points per game to the position. Between injuries and matchups, Schultz is a must-avoid in Week 15.
Taysom Hill, Saints v NYG (31)
Hill is perhaps the most volatile player in fantasy. If you need a solid floor, he is not your guy. Hill has 40-point upside, but also has 0-point downside. This week he faces the Giants who are the 2nd worst matchup for tight ends. New York is allowing 6.1 fantasy points per game to the position, making Hill an even bigger risk than usual.
Cole Kmet, Bears v CLE (30)
Kmet has been a consistent producer in a struggling Bears offence this season but in Week 15 he faces a Cleveland Browns team that is the 3rd worst matchup for tight ends. Baltimore is limiting the position to 6.5 fantasy points per game and always prove to be a tough opponent.
Well, that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 15 of the 2023 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. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Image Credit: Ed Mulholland – USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
