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Start/Sit (Week 15)

December 13, 2025

Quarterbacks

START

Matthew Stafford vs Detroit

The Lions are starting to get a bit more snake bitten with injuries, losing Brian Branch during the win last week against Dallas. Their backs are against the wall and they need to start stacking some wins to keep up with Green Bay and Chicago, but Stafford has been on an MVP trajectory all season long. It’s a top 5 passing offense against the 21st ranked passing defense, and a game with revenge on the mind of the Lions’ former quarterback.

Jaxson Dart vs Commanders

Hopefully, we can get a longer look at Dart here and he keeps himself protected. There’s a growing concern each week that he could leave with some sort of an injury and leave you with less than 10 points. This matchup against a 30th ranked pass defense is one I’m willing to take the chance on. He may only have 11 touchdowns passing on the year but he’s added 7 on the ground. He’ll get his, just.. please, slide.

Sam Darnold vs Colts

Darnold and the Hawks were hot for a minute but his numbers have cooled off a bit as of late. He lit up Atlanta last week which indicates that he may be on the upswing once again. I think the key here is to just find JSN. Good things happen when you find JSN, do that. Indy is losing some serious steam and will be without Sauce Gardner. I think my one concern would be that the Seahawks defense shuts down the Colts and whoever they start at QB so quickly that they won’t need the passing game as much.

SIT

Jordan Love at Denver

Jordan Love has been hot, but the Denver defense has been hotter. If you’re starting Love, you should do so with tempered expectations and pivot if you have a better option. The only thing worse than playing against the Broncos defense is playing against them on the road. They’re not an easy matchup and have shutdown quarterbacks dating back to October against Dallas. The lone exception was the Sunday Night thriller against Marcus Mariota in Washington. This may not be a high scoring affair and could lean more on the run game as I anticipate Green Bay being able to slow down the Denver offense.

Bryce Young at New Orleans

BY has seemingly turned the corner for Carolina, which is great for the fans, but we’re a little unsure of how he’ll look in New Orleans. I don’t care how bad the Saints are, I never want my quarterback playing there. Bryce is 1-4 against the Saints with a passer rating of 61.1, 2 tds, and 4 interceptions. He’s never thrown for more than 170 yards in a meeting. Not great and the Saints are starting to believe after a big win against Tampa Bay. While the Panthers have looked improved, I’m sitting this one out.

CJ Stroud vs Cardinals

The numbers are going to tell you to start him, but I’m just not feeling it. Last year’s struggles have carried into this season and I think we’re just hoping for average performances that don’t kill your chances at this point. I’m forced to use him in one of my leagues and hoping the Cardinals’ 20th ranked pass defense can allow for my team to survive, but I’d do anything for a more trustworthy starter. It may be one of those things where, if you start him, just check the score at the end. Otherwise, you’ll be sweating it out all game long and stressing yourself out.

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Running Backs

START

Quinshon Judkins vs Bears

He may not always make the most of it, but he’s guaranteed a heavy workload on a weekly basis. The Titans held him to 26 yards on 14 carries despite not being very well known for having a great rush defense. However, the Bears just got run over by Josh Jacobs and are ranked near the bottom against running backs. With the volume, I’d have no fear running him out there in week 15.

Chase Brown vs Ravens

The Bengals have run the ball pretty effectively against the Ravens in their last three matchups. Despite the intimidating nature of the Ravens, they haven’t lived up to their reputation as of late. Brown has received at least 15 touches in the last three matchups against Baltimore with no less than 7 targets in the passing game in the last two. He’s coming off a productive game against them just a few weeks ago and will more than likely be busy once again despite the rough week 14 performance.

Woody Marks vs Cardinals

Speaking of volume, Woody Marks gets all of it in Houston. The Texans are rolling right now and Marks has been a good part of it while keeping the run game alive. I’d fully trust him in the flex against a porous Cardinals run defense that just gave up over 200 yards on the ground to Blake Corum and Kyren WIlliams. The Raiders in week 16 will only make this one more fun.

RJ Harvey, Broncos

Harvey has been a bit of a tough one to figure out. He started the year out clearly behind Dobbins but would show his talent nearly any time he got the ball. Once Dobbins was lost for the year, it took him a game and a bye week to get rolling, but he’s been great the last two weeks with three trips to the endzone in total. The backfield has been clearly his with an occasional carry going to someone else further down in the order. I do trust Harvey the player, but I’m a little nervous trusting this offense over the next few weeks as the Broncos still have a bit of a ..fraud feel to them, do they not?

SIT

D’Andre Swift vs Browns

Swift has started to surrender a lot of carries to Monangai. It’s working and both have been productive, but the Browns have a top 10 rushing defense. Despite giving up a big day to Tony Pollard, rushing yards have been difficult to come by for opposing backs. This has the feel of a ground and pound type day by way of Monangai. We’ve known Swift’s schedule would get pretty difficult and I’m afraid we won’t see any more of those RB1 days this season.

Breece Hall at Jaguars

Two things are true. The Jaguars have been surprising this year and Breece Hall has been ineffective. New York may be down Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor and it’s just gross if the third stringer draws the start. Jacksonville has the number one ranked rush defense and Breece hasn’t exactly been efficient from a YPC standpoint. I’d expect a week of 10 or less which is fine, but he’s not the point getter that you drafted him to be and he’s probably a big reason why you’re playing this week and not enjoying a bye.

Jordan Mason at Cowboys

Dallas has been so bad on defense this season but have greatly improved since the trade deadline. The Cowboys front is coming off a stretch where they limited Ashton Jeanty to 1.2 ypc, Saquon to 2.2, Kareem Hunt to 4.1 and Jahmyr Gibbs to 3.6. Hunt was the best of that bunch but you’re noticing a trend. Running on the Cowboys is no longer the cakewalk that it was all season.

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Wide Receivers

START

Michael Wilson vs Texans

To put it bluntly, Wilson hasn’t been worth a roster spot in most fantasy leagues during his young career. Something clicked with the combination of Jacoby Brissett taking over QB duties and Marvin Harrison Jr. missing time, however. Some may be hesitant with a tough matchup in Houston on deck but that shouldn’t be enough to move him to the bench in standard formats. On targets alone, Wilson would be worth a starting spot in what is the first week of the playoffs for many. But he’s had a great connection with Brissett in the three games Harrison has missed, combining for a 36-445-2 line, making him a must start.

Jordan Addison vs Cowboys

Addison has been the opposite of Wilson thus far. He’d been a steady presence for fantasy managers through his first two years but has struggled along with the Vikings QB’s this season. He looked to be on his way to another productive season after his first three games back from a three game suspension but things fell apart quickly after that. Though Dallas’ defense has improved as it’s gotten healthy, they’re susceptible to big plays, and that’s where Addison thrives; turning his 7.3 yards per target into 13.8 yards per catch this season. He’s garnered 17 targets over the last two weeks and is poised for his biggest game since Week 7.

Terry McLaurin or Deebo Samuel vs Giants

If you have one, start him. Especially in PPR. It may not be ideal they’ll be catching passes from Marcus Mariotta instead of Jayden Daniels but there’s been plenty of passing in Washington lately. Mariotta attempted 50 passes in Week 13 and 30 each in two of his three other starts since Week 8. It doesn’t have to be pretty, but with the opponent, opportunity and injury to Zach Ertz, these two should hog all the targets this weekend. The Giants have been bad on defense but Jaxson Dart has elevated the offense and a shootout could be in store.

SIT

Jauan Jennings vs Titans

A quick glance at his last handful of games would indicate Jennings should be in lineups this week. However, it doesn’t seem so rosy under the hood. Four touchdowns in five games have barely kept Jennings in FLEX consideration. It’s hard to trust someone so touchdown dependent in a (likely) playoff matchup. Over those last five games, his highest marks were nine targets, six catches and 71 yards. All of those came in one game. There’s just not enough there to depend on him.

Alec Pierce vs Seahawks

When looking at yearly ownership trends, Pierce didn’t get all the love he deserved. He was a real deep threat for Daniel Jones and a solid FLEX option during bye weeks. Now, however, Jones is out for the year and Philip Rivers could be starting under center. Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Warren will most likely reap the benefits of that situation. Even though Pierce should still see the field for the majority of snaps, it could be a reach for him to garner more than five or so targets. That was fine with Jones at the helm, but whether it’s Rivers or Riley Leonard at QB, the deep threat could be nonexistent. Especially against a tough Seattle defense.

Rome Odunze vs Browns

As of this writing, Odunze was listed as questionable to play Sunday. Even if he’s on the field for the Bears, he would be best left on fantasy benches. The second year pro was hot to start the season but has cooled off as of late. On top of that, he missed Week 14 with a stress fracture in his foot. The Bears have other playmakers to turn to as they battle for a division title and won’t be forced to make Odunze a priority target. Rookies Luther Burden and Colston Loveland have come along nicely lately and could siphon targets from Odunze as he battles this injury.

Bonus: Sit Keenan Allen vs Chiefs

Since Odunze could be on the wrong side of questionable, a bonus player to keep on benches is Allen. Despite his diminished skills and going back to LA as an afterthought, Allen had a good start to the season. But things have been mostly poor since Week 3 and the offense has been too inconsistent for the ownership numbers Allen has at this point. The high risk/reward play of Quentin Johnston would serve fantasy teams better.

Keith, Author

Keith runs youth flag football leagues by day, and by night he hosts the podcast and writes articles with the confidence of a man who’s been rushing quarterbacks since dial-up. A longtime flag football DE and lifelong Falcons fan, he’s no stranger to heartbreak and enjoys watching the bears get slaughtered each week. Equal parts coach, critic, and chaos, Keith calls it like he sees it… even if it hurts.