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.
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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?
Isaiah Likely (TE – BAL)
“If we’re diving deep this week, I’ll bet on the 101st player on the flex rankings board in Isaiah Likely. Sure, Mark Andrews will be the number one option in this one, just like he was two weeks ago when the Ravens invited the Bengals to Baltimore. Now in Cincy, the Bungles D still won’t have any answers for anything opposing offenses do outside of, well, the outside. DJ Turner and Dax Hill have absolutely shut down wideouts this season, but the middle of the field has been wide open for TEs and backs to feast in the passing game. And let’s also remember that Likely has been more involved in the Ravens’ pass game recently, with six targets in each of his last two games and posting a 5 for 95 line in this matchup all the way back in Week 13. As long as Likely’s touchdowns continue to count as touchdowns as he learns to hold on to the ball, he’ll dramatically exceed his TE14 ranking. I’m banking on a really nice day once again for Likely this week.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
“Isaiah Likely posted 5-95 just two weeks ago vs. the Bengals. The rematch brings similar upside, especially when you consider Cincy’s season-long struggles against TEs. They’ve allowed 7.4 catches, 96.7 yards, and 1.1 TDs per game to enemy TEs.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
“Starting a tight end vs Cincinnati’s ‘defense’ seems too obvious… but let’s do it anyway. You can’t ignore the fact that the Bengals have allowed over 100 fantasy points more to tight ends than the next closest defense. Also, there’s the fact that Isaiah Likely had his season-high in yards (95) just two weeks ago against this DST. The fact that he scored his first TD last week indicates that he may be getting more involved in the offense. I rarely advocate flexing a TE, but this is an exception too tempting to pass up.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)
“Zach Charbonnet. This could be another blowout win for the Seahawks. Even if it’s not, the Colts have a bevy of injuries, which should lead to open running lanes for Seattle. Despite being the backup to Kenneth Walker, Charbonnet has eight touchdowns and has hit at least 35 rushing yards each of the last five games. Expect close to 10 touches again with touchdown upside against the Colts.”
– Adam Zdroik (RotoWire)
Darren Waller (TE – MIA)
“Darren Waller feels like a great play against the Steelers, who are sixth in points allowed per game to tight ends this year, with 16 in PPR.”
– Pete Nova (FF Faceoff)
Ryan Flournoy (WR – DAL)
“Ryan Flournoy had possibly the game of his career in Week 14 with a stat line of 9/115/1 (on 13 targets). If CeeDee Lamb misses any time with a concussion, Flournoy is in line to do this again. Pickens will be double-teamed by the Vikings, allowing Flournoy to have his way as he did with the Lions’ secondary. He is a must-add for all Lamb owners and a preventative/defensive add for all other teams during the upcoming fantasy playoff weeks.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Kimani Vidal (RB – LAC)
“The player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings that is a good sleeper start in Round 1 of the fantasy playoffs is Kimani Vidal. Just because Omarion Hampton is back from the IR does not mean that Kimani 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 less than half as many snaps as Kimani Vidal 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)
Dylan Sampson (RB – CLE)
“With the Browns throwing the ball more last week, Dylan Sampson got more playing time and did well with his chances. He played 38 percent of the snaps and had five receptions for 64 yards on six targets. Sampson has double-digit fantasy points in two of the last three games. It would not be a surprise to see him get a lot of work again this week in a game the Browns might need to throw the ball to play catch-up against the Bears. Chicago can also struggle to stop the RB in pass coverage. Sampson could be worth a look as a flex play in Week 15.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)
Andrei Iosivas (WR – CIN)
“I’m usually out on him, but I’m all in on Andrei Iosivas in Week 15. While his production for pretty much his whole career has been inconsistent at best, he will likely find himself in a solid role assuming Tee Higgins doesn’t return from yet another concussion this past week. With a matchup against the poor Baltimore Ravens defense on deck, Iosivas should be able to put up some solid numbers this week.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)
John Metchie III (WR – NYJ)
“It’s not easy advocating for a Jet not named Breece Hall, but John Metchie III checks a lot of the boxes. He has a relatively neutral matchup against a Jacksonville Jaguars team ranked 16th in points allowed to wide receivers. What makes Metchie enticing as a sleeper is that he has been one of the Jets’ leading targets (seven or more targets in three straight games), and he’s scored touchdowns in back-to-back games in Weeks 11 and 12, while dropping what should have been touchdowns in Weeks 13 and 14. Seven targets or more in three straight weeks and what “should” be touchdowns in four straight games. Sounds like a tasty target for sleeper of the week to me…. and I’m a diehard Patriots fan.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
Devaughn Vele (WR – NO)
“Devaughn Vele could make for an intriguing play this week against the Panthers. Jaycee Horn, pending he clears concussion protocol, could follow Chris Olave around the field versus New Orleans, putting Vele into a position to see even more targets. Vele has featured heavily for New Orleans in recent weeks, gathering 20 targets in his last three outings to go along with a score. For those searching for WR help in the first week of fantasy playoffs, Vele may be the answer.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“This is a very consolidated target tree in New Orleans. It’s Chris Olave, and then it’s Devaughn Vele. The Panthers’ pass defense is very weak, and not only does Vele have a lot of target upside in this Saints offense, but he’s also a great big-bodied redzone target for Tyler Shough with legit TD upside as well. If Shough keeps up this high amount of passing volume as he has been, Vele should crush this week as a legit under-the-radar sleeper that not enough people are paying attention to right now.”
– Aidan Weingartner (Fantasy In Frames)
Rashid Shaheed (WR – SEA)
“I have been critical of Rashid Shaheed since he joined the Seahawks, and he looked like a bad fit from the start. He simply did not look like the same receiver as he was with the Saints. Call it a gut feeling, but I’m sensing that my early assessment might be premature after seeing that long return and other noticeable offensive involvement. And that’s the thing, the field presence is growing. There’s risk, but reward. Mavericks win leagues because they take calculated risks.”
– Richard Savill (Fantasy Six Pack)
Pat Freiermuth (TE – PIT)
“Digging deep for the TE play of Pat Freiermuth (TE29, Overall 149) against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. Why not leave us some chaos in the week’s finale? Rodgers’ average depth of target is abysmal, much like the Miami effort against tight ends this season (83 receptions and nearly 900 yards).”
– Mike Harmon (Swollen Dome)
Duds
Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC)
“If you can help it, benching Ladd McConkey seems reasonable entering the playoffs. He’s posted just eight catches for 64 yards in the last three games, and with Justin Herbert nursing a broken hand, there’s little reason to expect anything different against the Chiefs.”
– Adam Zdroik (RotoWire)
Woody Marks (RB – HOU)
“Woody Marks is a player I am avoiding vs the Cardinals. Volume has been there, but production has not. I expect an ugly game here with low fantasy production.”
– Pete Nova (FF Faceoff)
Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND)
“Jonathan Taylor is not performing as he did early in the season, when he looked like a league winner. Since Week 9, he has only had one RB1 finish (running all over Atlanta). The last few weeks, he has put up good enough numbers, but not what owners had come to expect. Add to the decline, Daniel Jones is out with a torn Achilles (and possibly Riley Leonard, too), and the Colts are playing a very good Seattle defense. All those factors should have owners lowering expectations on Taylor, who is still ranked as a top 15 player going into Week 15.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Chris Olave (WR – NO)
“Jonathan Taylor is the easy (and very correct) answer here, so I’ll give you another one: Chris Olave. I hate this one because I own a ton of Olave across my leagues, but Jaycee Horn and the Panthers D are set to shut down this mediocre Saints passing game, led by a run-first QB in situations that he’ll face on Sunday. We already saw what happens when Tyler Shough gets loose against a stout front last week: no passing TDs, an otherwise limited day through the air, and a New Orleans win. I think the Saints look to keep the script intact this week against a Carolina D that shares structural similarities with Tampa, except they’re stingier with WRs thanks to their coverage, and they also have a more fearsome pass rush. Olave faces another tough day at the office this week.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)
“The player inside the top 50 in the FantasyPros flex rankings that is likely to disappoint fantasy managers in the first round of the fantasy playoffs is DeVonta Smith. He has been disappointing for most of the season, finishing with less than 10 fantasy points in three of his last four games. His quarterback, Jalen Hurts, looked pitiful on Monday Night Football, and I don’t see him turning it around on a short week. Smith’s red zone conversion rates have been poor all season. Only start him if you do not have better options.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)
Breece Hall (RB – NYJ)
“Breece Hall is just 30th overall in fantasy running back scoring his last three games. He had just 4.3 fantasy points last week against the Dolphins and failed to catch a pass in that game. Hall is becoming a hard fantasy player to trust in this reeling Jets offense. With questions at quarterback this week, you just aren’t sure what you will get from this offense, making Hall a risky fantasy play. Hall also has a tough matchup against the Jaguars, a team that allows the fifth fewest fantasy points to running backs. The Jaguars have allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards in all but three games.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)
Rico Dowdle (RB – CAR)
“I think Rico Dowdle is likely to disappoint again, and I don’t think it’ll necessarily be his fault either. Since exploding on the fantasy scene during the middle of the year, he’s slowed down considerably and at times has fallen behind Chuba Hubbard in the pecking order. Last time he faced off against the New Orleans Saints, he averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and was saved by his touchdown. Averaging less than 3.3 yards per carry in three of his last four contests, I think Dowdle will continue to struggle from a production standpoint.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)
Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN)
“The only thing that gave me pause in naming Justin Jefferson a leading disappointment in Week 15 is that his season has been so disappointing that I’m not sure fantasy managers expect very much from him at this point. Jefferson has two touchdowns and two 100-yard receiving games in the entire season. He has scored double-digit Fantasy points in only five of 13 games, and, in his last five games, he has managed fewer than nine points in every game while producing 22.50 total points – production a Fantasy playoff team would like to see in one game, not five combined. Going from bad to worse, in three of those five games, the defenses ranked 10th, 8th, and 3rd in points allowed to wide receivers. The Dallas D ranks poorly, but Jefferson has struggled against bad defenses and good ones alike. Jefferson’s poor upcoming week won’t be disappointing to me, but that’s because I expect him to produce like a WR on my bench, not someone I drafted in the first round to win me a title.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
George Pickens (WR – DAL)
“I feel like I just need to nod over at Justin Jefferson (WR16, Overall 39). 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) 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 WRs (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 RB 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 torched 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 now 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)
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG)
“Wan’Dale Robinson went off big in Week 12 against the Lions, but it was Jameis Winston and not Jaxson Dart doing the deliveries. In Week 13, Robinson went back to a normal WR42. Coming out of the bye, the game script against the Commanders just doesn’t look like the kind of game you want to start Robinson for your playoff.”
– Richard Savill (Fantasy Six Pack)
Michael Wilson (WR – ARI)
“Expectations are understandably high for Michael Wilson following three 100-yard games — each without Marvin Harrison Jr. But even if Harrison misses this week, I’d reel in expectations against an elite Houston defense. The Texans sit third-toughest in PPR points allowed to WRs. They’ve also allowed only seven WR scores through 13 games. Note: Arizona is also likely to play without stud LT Paris Johnson.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
“Listen, I get it. Michael Wilson has been on an absolute TEAR over the last few weeks without Marvin Harrison Jr. in the lineup, and he and Jacoby Brissett have an elite connection with one another. But unfortunately, this week is going to be different if you ask me. The Cardinals are playing the Houston Texans, who absolutely SHUT PEOPLE DOWN. That defense is SPECIAL. I know that it might be hard to do because of what he’s done over the last few weeks, but if you can afford to bench Michael Wilson this week for a higher upside player, I’d do it.”
– Aidan Weingartner (Fantasy In Frames)
Ashton Jeanty (RB – LV)
“Ashton Jeanty will have to wait until next year to lead fantasy teams to glory. We knew he had a brutal playoff schedule and that he was in a dysfunctional offense, but the lack of production is still disappointing. Jeanty has rushed for a total of 118 yards over the last four games. Firing Chip Kelly didn’t help, as Jeanty had 30 and 31 yards rushing the last two games and only caught two passes last week. Even a workhorse back suffers when his offense is bad, and his team isn’t winning. The Raiders have lost 7 in a row and have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Consequently, they rank 29th in overall rush play percentage and 22nd in rush% when trailing, which is most games. The only argument for Jeanty is his floor in PPR due to pass-catching, but that’s simply not enough to make him a strong option during the playoffs.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC)
“For the same reason I touted Kimani Vidal as being flex-worthy, Omarion Hampton carries some risk simply because we can’t count on him for workhorse usage this week in Kansas City. I think Hampton is still playable, but limited usage could cap his Week 15 upside.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
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