Fantasy Football Start/Sit: George Pickens, Kenneth Walker, Kimani Vidal

Fantasy football playoffs are here, which means every lineup decision suddenly feels like it carries the emotional weight of a midseason coaching change. One wrong call and you’re doom-scrolling your league chat; one right call and you’re coasting into the semi-finals like you planned it all along. To help you avoid any tragic December blunders, our Featured Pros have rounded up their favorite Week 15 sleepers and duds — the sneaky starts who can save your season and the landmines you definitely don’t want detonating in your Flex spot. Let’s survive and advance.

Fantasy Football Week 15 Start/Sit Advice

Sleepers

Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is a good sleeper start, and why do you think he has upside this week?

Kimani Vidal (RB – LAC)

“The player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings who is a good sleeper start is Kimani Vidal. Just because Omarion Hampton is back from injured reserve (IR) does not mean that Vidal can’t be productive in the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense. In Week 14, Vidal led the Chargers in receiving yards. He can also be a change-of-pace back, as Hampton will not be 100% for several weeks. If Vidal was dropped in your fantasy leagues, pick him up and start him this week as a Flex option. It is a tough matchup against a strong Kansas City Chiefs defense, but they will find a way to get Vidal the ball on the ground and through the air.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

“Omarion Hampton played fewer than half as many snaps as Kimani Vidal on Monday night in Hampton’s first game back from injury. Although it’s reasonable to expect an uptick in usage for Hampton, Vidal figures to still be prominently involved, particularly with the Chargers incentivized to go run-heavy because their offensive line is such a mess. I think Vidal is at least Flex-worthy against the Chiefs.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Duds

Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?

George Pickens (WR – DAL)

“I feel like I just need to nod over at Justin Jefferson (WR16, 39 overall). But it’s the Cowboys. Wishing and hoping is a difficult proposition (two touchdowns & two 100-yard games all year). So, push that aside a spell and flip it. What do we get from George Pickens (WR7, 17 overall) against the Vikings? Sure, his effort (or at least the perception thereof) will be better against Minnesota, but this is a unit that has played top-notch football against wide receivers (third-best). Pickens has scored two touchdowns in his past seven games, including five efforts outside of the top 15.”
– Mike Harmon (Swollen Dome)

Kenneth Walker III (RB – SEA)

“It has to be Kenneth Walker, who is a part of a truly horrendous running back committee in Seattle. Along with Zach Charbonnet, Walker has been in this mess virtually all season. While Walker has stayed healthy, which was the aim for Seattle coming into this year, the committee has nuked Walker’s value. Walker has not had a 100-yard rushing day since Week 2, and since a two-touchdown day in Week 3, he has only one score to his name. Despite facing a reeling Colts team that is possibly relying on Philip Rivers to save their season, Walker is a scary play for fantasy managers this week and one that may be better left on benches.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)