Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 15
SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 15 rankings.
Start
Blake Bortles, QB, Jaguars
vs. Texans
Bortles has a long way to go to earn fantasy owners' trust, but he's quietly turned in back-to-back strong performances, and is perhaps the best available option for owners scrambling to find a replacement for the injured Carson Wentz.
Fearless prediction: 292 yards passing, 2 TDs
Other QBs to start
- Matthew Stafford vs. Bears
- Matt Ryan at Buccaneers
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Raiders
vs. Cowboys
With Derek Carr and the Raiders' passing game struggling lately, Lynch has picked up some of the slack. Beast Mode topped 100 yards for the first time this season in Week 13 and has produced his two longest runs of the year in consecutive games. Expect the Raiders to lean on Lynch again this week - and expect him to do everything he can to put on a prime-time show in what could be his final game in his hometown.
Fearless prediction: 88 yards rushing, 17 yards receiving, TD
Other RBs to start
- Alfred Morris at Raiders
- Kenyan Drake at Bills
- Mike Davis vs. Rams
Josh Gordon, WR, Browns
vs. Ravens
This is it - what fantasy owners waited years for. Gordon is back and looks like his old, dominant self. In two games since returning from suspension, he's caught seven passes for 154 yards and a touchdown - and shed any rust that may have accumulated. Against a Ravens secondary lacking top cornerback Jimmy Smith, Gordon is primed for a big afternoon. The Browns, seeking a win to avoid the embarrassment of 0-16, should pepper their best wideout with targets.
Fearless prediction: 101 yards receiving, TD
Other WRs to start
- Devin Funchess vs. Packers
- Marquise Goodwin vs. Titans
- Dede Westbrook vs. Texans
Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers
at Chiefs
Henry hasn't had the breakout 2017 that many predicted before the season, but perhaps that's simply because the Chargers weren't throwing him the ball enough. They've corrected that recently, and Henry's caught 16 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns over his past three games. Expect another heavy workload for the sophomore this week.
Fearless prediction: 89 yards receiving, TD
Other TEs to start
- Austin Hooper at Buccaneers
Sit
Derek Carr, QB, Raiders
vs. Cowboys
Carr's regression was on display last week during a putrid 24-of-44 performance that included two interceptions. Amari Cooper is hurt, sure, but Carr looks like he doesn't trust his blockers or his pass-catchers. He's not a starting option for the fantasy semifinals.
Other QBs to sit
- Marcus Mariota at 49ers
- Jared Goff at Seahawks
DeMarco Murray, RB, Titans
at 49ers
Though the Titans inexplicably continue to give him touches, Murray has clearly been the second-best tailback on the team behind Derrick Henry for weeks. Neither is an appealing fantasy option this week with Marcus Mariota hobbled and the shockingly stout 49ers run defense on the schedule.
Other RBs to sit
- Doug Martin vs. Falcons
- Isaiah Crowell vs. Ravens
- Matt Forte at Saints
Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers
vs. Falcons
Evans caught just two passes for a paltry 25 yards last week and hasn't scored a touchdown since mid-October. He'll draw Desmond Trufant this week and should remain on your bench if you have another reasonable option.
Other WRs to sit
- Robby Anderson at Saints
- Kelvin Benjamin vs. Dolphins
- DeVante Parker at Bills
Jared Cook, TE, Raiders
vs. Cowboys
Cook managed a touchdown in Week 14, but hasn't looked good on film in a while, and he's a poor bet to salvage his day with another touchdown while facing a Cowboys defense that's stingy to opposing tight ends.
Other TEs to sit
- Cameron Brate vs. Falcons
Stash
James Conner, RB, Steelers
There's little point stashing a player at this stage of the fantasy season, but it can be a sharp move to look ahead to who you might play in championship week and add the handcuff for that owner's best running back. If Le'Veon Bell were to get hurt this week, Conner would be an immediate RB1.
Malcolm Brown, RB, Rams
The same rationale for adding Conner applies here. If Todd Gurley misses Week 16, you don't want Gurley's owner to be able to add Gurley's handcuff.
Quit
Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins
Cousins isn't a starting option in redraft leagues with the Cardinals and Broncos' high-end passing defenses on the schedule for the fantasy semifinals and championship week.
Robby Anderson, WR, Jets
It was a great season for Anderson, but there's no reason to hold him with Josh McCown on IR and Bryce Petty in as starter for the rest of the year.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)