Sit Em, Start Em – Week 15
Start
Jonathan Stewart – The Panthers will look to lean on the run game more than usual with production siphon Cam Newton on the sidelines nursing injuries he suffered in a car accident this week. Stewart popped off against the Saints and the Bucs who are giving up the seventh most fantasy points to opposing running backs and 102 yards per game may find themselves in for a long afternoon is they let the Daily Show get going. Start Stewart where possible.
Johnny Manziel – Johnny Manziel looks primed to have a solid fantasy day one way or another in week 15. Manziel has one of the best wide receiver talents in the league at his disposal, two very talented young running backs to lean on and a solid top ten pass catching tight end to work with. Add to that that Johnny is bound to churn up some yards on the ground and we are looking at potential QB1 value for week 15. Owners who have Colin Kaepernick or Cam Newton as their starters may want to employ the services of one Johnny Football as he is among the top streaming options this week versus the Bengals.
Isaiah Crowell – Isaiah Crowell continues to outplay Terrance West and should continue to do so based on overall talent. Crowell has averaged 4.4 yards per carry on the year while West has only managed a replacement level 3.8; Crowell also dwarfs West in rushing touchdowns with the current count at 8-3 for the undrafted rookie. The Bengals have been getting shredded on the ground this year giving up 112 yards per game with a rushing touchdown to boot, add to that Crowell managed to find the end zone against them in their previous contest this year and we like Crowell as a solid RB2 option this week with a juicy matchup.
Marqise Lee – Always the most talented receiver not named Justin Blackmon in Jacksonville Lee is quietly showing some signs of life. Lee has the looks of a solid WR4/flex play in deeper leagues and should be employed this week with Denard Robinson out leaving the Jags to theoretically lean more heavily on the pass. Lee has seen eight targets his past two contests and is averaging over 70 yards per in those games while finding the end zone once. Lee may never be the prototypical alpha number one wideout but he can and will excel as a option 1b which is the role he is currently finding success in.
Pierre Garcon – The horrifically disappointing Garcon finally put together a solid week hauling nine of 11 targets. A lot of people have been blaming Garcon for his failures this season but it is more of a scheme issue and a Desean Jackson issue as Garcon saw double digit targets for only the second time this season and this effort came with D-Jax sidelined. To put this in perspective Garcon had double digit targets in all but two games last year so his usage and featured role along with shoddy QB play have been the main culprits in Garcons decline. He still has ‘it’ and can go off when fed. Garcon is a high upside flex option.
Sit
Colin Kaepernick – Colin Kaepernick has been an absolute mess as of late and with the Seahawks on the schedule this week I do not have to tell you that you need to find other options this week such as our suggested start Johnny Manziel.
Trent Richardson – It almost feels like cheating suggesting to sit T-Rich but the fact is he still has weekly TD upside which has caused some owners to continue to trot him out there to no avail. All indications are that Herron’s role is growing and it is time for owners to start higher upside options even if they may have lower floors that the disappointing Richardson.
Stepfan Taylor – Taylor is the starter in name in Arizona but being mired in a RBBC with Marion Grice and Kerwynn Williams, Taylor is not a fantasy option. Unless you are in a ocean deep league Taylor should not even be on your roster. Sit Taylor in all formats.
Mike Wallace – Wallace looks like a good play this week against the Patriots after going off for seven receptions, 81 yards and a touchdown in week one. The Patriots have tightened things up significantly since their early season woes and also have Brandon Browner back in the lineup after serving a suspension the first four games of the season and now allow the second fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. Wallace’s fantasy contributions have been limited to the games he actually finds the end zone in and though he has found paydirt seven times on the season betting your fantasy season on him may not be the most prudent course of action. Sit Wallace where possible.
Michael Crabtree – Crabtree has been a major fantasy disappointment this year and there is no evidence to suggest that he will be able to turn things around this week against the number one pass defense in the league who held him to three receptions for 10 yards two weeks ago in San Francisco. Crabtree is enough of a risk by himself on a regular week, add the Seahawks, a Richard Sherman beef and Colin Kaepernick’s recent struggles and it is impossible to trust him this week.
Coby Fleener – Fleener saw a healthy ten targets last week as Donte Moncrief was relegated to an afterthought in Andrew Luck’s pecking order. Despite a healthy amount of targets with Dwayne Allen back as a limited snap player it is just too risky to trot out Fleener in any but deeper two tight end leagues in semi finals week.
