Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Week 15 (2025)

Week 14 of the NFL season had its ups and downs. We saw some big plays on both sides of the ball, but the injury monster continues to ravage NFL locker rooms. Week 15 is here, and Thursday Night Football delivered an exciting matchup with some explosive performances that just might prove to be week winners. Looking ahead to this weekend, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others who are better left on benches despite promising upside. Let’s dig in.

Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Week 15

Start em

Eric Wilson (LB – MIN)
Eric Wilson was excellent in Week 14, racking up two solos, four assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Wilson has been an LB1-level producer since stepping into the starting lineup and should be treated, at the very least, as an elite LB2 option for a plus Week 15 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Jeffery Simmons (DT – TEN)
Jeffery Simmons showed up in Week 14, tallying two solos, five assists, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and one pass defended. Simmons is up to eight sacks and is now just half a sack from his career high. Simmons has recorded at least one sack in three of his last four games and should be counted as a top-25 option for a plus Week 15 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Elijah Ponder (DE/LB – NE)
Ponder showed up again in Week 13, tallying two solos, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery on a season high 53 percent of the snaps. Elijah earned an expanded role over the previous two weeks and rewarded the coaching staff with multiple splash plays. Tap Ponder as a DL4/flex option for a heavyweight tilt against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15.

Geno Stone (S – CIN)
Geno Stone was excellent in Week 14, racking up seven solos, two assists, one sack, and two tackles for loss. Stone has been a DB3 for most of the season, but can be considered part of the top-25 conversation thanks to posting two monster outings in his last three contests. Treat him as such for a plus Week 15 matchup against his former team in the Baltimore Ravens.

Jordan Battle (S – CIN)
Jordan Battle continued to impress in Week 14, tallying five solos, four assists, and one pass defended. Battle has been a top-25 option since Week 7 and can be counted as an elite DB3 play for a plus Week 15 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Start the Bengals safety with confidence where needed.

Sit em

Zaire Barnes (LB – NYG)
Zaire was excellent in Week 13, going off with eight solos, five assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss on 78 percent of the snaps. Barnes played starter’s snaps with Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles injured, and would have received another nod if DFF missed Week 15. However, with Flannigan-Fowler back at practice, Barnes should be left on benches or dropped back to the waiver wire. Look elsewhere for Week 15.

Zach Sieler (DT/DE – MIA)
Zach Sieler showed up in Week 14, racking up three solos, one assist, 2.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss. Sieler hasn’t been much of a fantasy option this season, even for those in DT leagues, so hopefully this is a sign that Sieler is ready to heat up for the playoffs. He does have two sacks in his last four games, so stash him where necessary, but look elsewhere for Week 15 regardless of your league size or settings.

Christian Benford (CB – BUF)
Benford showed up again in Week 14, tallying one solo, one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception, one pass defended, and one touchdown. Benford has scored a defensive touchdown in back-to-back weeks, but is not someone whose production fantasy managers should be chasing, especially in the fantasy playoffs. Ignore Benford completely, despite the standout production, unless you play in a league with multiple CB spots.

D.J. Reed (CB – DET)
D.J. Reed showed up in Week 14, reeling off eight solos, one interception, and two passes defended. Reed has sprinkled in a couple of plus outings, but is more of a CB league option than someone those in the playoffs will want to plug into lineups in DB leagues. Look elsewhere for Week 15.

Nick Scott (S – CAR)
Nick Scott showed up in Week 13, notching five solos, four assists, one interception, and one pass defended. Scott is a bye week filler type who is now out of byes to fill. Keep him as emergency depth where roster space allows, but keep him far from your Week 15 lineups, despite the plus matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.