In addition to writing articles and appearing on podcasts, our internal analysts at FantasyPros also toss ideas back and forth in Slack throughout the week. Since these conversations would also be useful to fantasy managers, we decided to organize some of them and make them available to everyone.

Here is what Matthew Freedman, Pat Fitzmaurice, Derek Brown, Andrew Erickson and Joe Pisapia had to say in Slack this week as everyone prepared for Week 15 of the fantasy football season.

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Fantasy Football Week 15 Preview

Q1. What was your biggest takeaway or what surprised you the most from Week 14?

Erickson: J.K. Dobbins coming back to immediate relevance. Started him on a whim because of the ambiguous Seattle backfield and it paid off big time. With Cleveland and Atlanta up next…Dobbins could be a major player for league-winning teams.

Joe: That Baker Mayfield could lead an offense in two days to a win over any NFL team, even the Raiders.

Maher: Even the Raiders…harsh.

Pat: Baker Mayfield‘s fourth-quarter superhero act was certainly the biggest surprise.

But for fantasy relevance? I didn’t imagine J.K. Dobbins making such a big impact. It’s nice that Dobbins shareholders might still get a satisfying return on investment with a good late-season run.

Bonus takeaway: Justin Jefferson should be the 1.01 in all fantasy drafts next year. The dude takes care of business week after week. The Zero-RB haters won’t take him at 1.01, of course, but they should.

DBro: I’ll stay on the subject of QB play. Baker Mayfield looking sharp with no time to prepare was impressive. Even though it sounds gross with Mayfield breathing at least some life into this passing attack makes Tutu Atwell and Van Jefferson interesting players to monitor or stash for the fantasy playoffs.

My other big takeaway was the continued emergence of Trevor Lawrence. We all scoffed at the offseason additions by the front office, but they have all paid off. Lawrence is taking control of this offense and looking like the QB we all hoped he would be. Add in Calvin Ridley next year; this offense could do serious damage in 2023. Ridley could be one of the best value picks in fantasy next season.

Q2. What is one piece of advice you would give fantasy managers as they prepare for their fantasy playoffs this week?

Erickson: Don’t change your process now. You got to the playoffs because you were doing all the right things (or got lucky). Eitherway, don’t press and trust the process that got you here. Let others other think and change their approach as the stakes increase.

From a more actionable standpoint, dump players you will never start for handcuffs/players with more upside. Its do-or-die so you don’t need depth on your bench anymore. And block your opponent if they have a glaring hole on their starting roster.

Joe: Put your best talent on the field. Matchups are important as tie breakers when deciding between two close players, but talent should always take precedent over a theoretically good matchup for a mediocre player.

Pat: “I need upside.” Good lord, I’m going to get so sick of hearing that over the next couple of weeks. Fantasy managers who use that infernal phrase are laying the groundwork for suboptimal decision-making. I hear it as, “Should I use this sketchier, less talented, less reliable player who could conceivably have a big game over someone who’s a better percentage play?” No. Keep playing the percentages. Sometimes the weirdo lineup choices work out. More often than not, they leave you with regrets.

DBro: Stay ahead of the curve with RBs. If you have the space, stash handcuffs and one injury away types, especially if they are the cuff for a team you are playing this week or next. We never want injuries to happen, but if they do, you are prepared to reap the benefits of savvy roster decisions (while also blocking your now-ailing opponent).

Q3. The last few weeks have been disastrous for QB injuries. Who is a QB2 you’d confidently start this week if you had them on your bench or were able to grab them on the waiver wire?

Joe: Three words…”Magic” Mike White. (v Det)

Update: Mike White has not been cleared by doctors, and Zach Wilson is in line to start.

Pat: Mac Jones. I could get on board with Mike White vs. the Lions, but Jones has an equally appealing matchup against a Raiders defense that just turned Baker Mayfield into a hero, and I think Jones is a better QB than White.

DBro: Brock Purdy. He’s proven that he can make quick decisions in this offense. Jimmy G has coasted to top 12 weeks as a point guard in this offense and now we’ve seen Purdy do the same. Even with Deebo out of the lineup this week SF still has plenty of offensive firepower to elevate Purdy to borderline QB1 status.

Q4. Any final thoughts for the week? Any sleeper starts or popular players you’re fading in Week 15?

Pat: Just to reiterate my earlier advice: Don’t get cute with lineup decisions in the most important week (so far) of your fantasy season. Injuries might force you to make unpalatable lineup choices, but don’t do something silly just because you have a momentary vision of some fringe contributor having a splash game.

A few borderline start/sit guys I’m above consensus on this week: J.K. Dobbins, Raheem Mostert, A.J. Dillon, Michael Carter, Allen Lazard, Michael Gallup.

A few borderline start/sit guys I’m below consensus on: Jamaal Williams, D’Andre Swift, Brian Robinson, Diontae Johnson, Josh Palmer.

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.

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