Week 15 Starts/Sits Guide
- Faraz Siddiqi
- Dec 11, 2025
- 6 min read
Quarterbacks
🟢 Green Light 🟢
Marcus Mariota @ NYG
With Jayden Daniels ruled out, Marcus Mariota steps into a strong streaming spot. He’ll have Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel available and faces a Giants defense allowing the 2nd-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Mariota has been productive in his full or near-full games this season, averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game, including a 294-yard, 2-TD performance against Denver — plus 55 rushing yards in that matchup and 49 rushing yards the week prior. The rushing floor makes him a stable option.
Jaxson Dart vs Washington
Dart returns from a down game and a bye to a highly favorable matchup. Prior to Week 13, he was the overall QB3 in his full or near-full games between Week 4 and Week 10. Washington has allowed the 4th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and the 3rd-most passing TDs per game. He belongs back in lineups.
Brock Purdy vs Tennessee
Purdy draws a Titans defense that has given up the 4th-most fantasy points per game over the past four weeks. With his group of weapons healthy and the 49ers entering the week with the second-highest implied team total, Purdy profiles as a strong streamer.
🟡 Yellow Light 🟡
Jacoby Brissett @ Houston (Temper Expectations)
Brissett has been remarkably consistent, finishing as the overall QB3 in fantasy points per game since Week 6. But Houston presents his toughest test yet — the same defense that held Patrick Mahomes in check last week and is allowing the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. A few QBs have managed success against them, so Brissett isn’t a sit, but expectations should be reduced.
Dak Prescott vs Minnesota (Temper Expectations)
Prescott continues to play at a high level, but Minnesota has been one of the league’s toughest matchups lately, allowing only 5.43 fantasy points per game to QBs over the last four weeks. Prescott excels against single-high coverage and man coverage — two looks the Vikings rarely use — but Dallas is at home with a top-six implied total. He’s still a start, but a tempered one.
🔴 Red Light 🔴
Jordan Love @ Denver
Love’s production has largely come in favorable matchups (Detroit, Chicago, Giants, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Washington). In tougher spots — Minnesota, Philadelphia, Carolina, Cleveland — he hasn’t delivered. Denver is a difficult matchup, and given Love’s track record in similar situations, managers should look elsewhere. Options like Sam Darnold, Bo Nix, or Brock Purdy are preferable this week.
Running Backs
🟢 Green Light 🟢
Woody Marks vs Arizona
With Nick Chubb dealing with a rib injury, Marks could dominate touches. He handled 26 carries after Chubb exited last week and is averaging 21 touches per game over his last four. Houston is favored by 9.5, and Arizona has allowed the 4th-most fantasy points to RBs this year and the 3rd-most over the last four weeks, while giving up 5.42 YPC during that span (2nd-most in the NFL). Marks’ efficiency could benefit from this matchup.
🟡 Yellow Light 🟡
Chris Rodriguez @ NYG (Desperate Flex)
Rodriguez’s takeover of the backfield coincided with a string of difficult opponents — Seattle, Detroit, Miami, Denver, Minnesota — yet he maintained 4.7 YPC. This week brings his best matchup: the Giants are allowing the 2nd-most fantasy points to RBs, the most yards per carry, and the 2nd-most fantasy points over the last four weeks. He’s inside RB2 territory.
Giants RBs vs Washington (Desperate Flexes)
The Giants’ backfield is hard to read. Devin Singletary led touches even before Tyrone Tracy’s injury, but Tracy returns this week and previously averaged nearly 135 total yards across two games. Washington is a favorable opponent, allowing top-7 fantasy points per game to RBs and the 5th-most rushing yards per game. Singletary holds a slight edge due to recent goal-line usage, but both backs carry upside as flex plays.
Rico Dowdle @ New Orleans (Temper Expectations)
Last game, Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard split work almost evenly (18 vs 17 carries). Hubbard has been far more efficient recently (5.0 YPC over his last four, compared to Dowdle’s 3.2). The Saints have allowed the 3rd-most rushing yards per game to RBs and rank 10th-worst in fantasy points allowed over the past four weeks, so the matchup helps. Dowdle is a lower-end RB2; Hubbard remains a boom/bust flex.
Omarion Hampton @ KC (Temper Expectations)
Hampton and Kimani Vidal split touches evenly last week, with Vidal dominating passing-down snaps (27 of 28 obvious passing downs and two-minute situations). The Chiefs allow just 3.6 YPC, 76 rushing yards per game, and limited fantasy production overall. With another likely split and a difficult defense, both players fall outside the Top 24.
Wide Receivers
🟢 Green Light 🟢
Terry McLaurin @ NYG
McLaurin thrived with Mariota last week (30% target share, 7/96/1) and now faces a Giants defense giving up top-five numbers across receptions, receiving yards, and fantasy points to WRs — both season-long and over the last four weeks. The Giants’ heavy single-high usage also favors McLaurin, who has been significantly better vs single-high (31% vs 18% target per route; 2.79 vs 1.5 YPRR). He’s a strong WR2.
Jaylen Waddle @ Pittsburgh
Waddle rebounded last week and now plays a Steelers defense allowing the most receptions and 2nd-most receiving yards to WRs. Waddle dominates vs single-high coverage, which Pittsburgh plays at the 6th-highest rate (31% target per route; 3+ YPRR). Cold weather introduces risk, but the matchup is too favorable to ignore.
Jauan Jennings vs Tennessee
Jennings has three Top-20 finishes in his last four games and a Top-36 finish in each of his last five. Since Brock Purdy returned, Jennings holds a 25% target share. The Titans are top-10 in fantasy points allowed to WRs — season-long and in the last four weeks — and have struggled specifically against routes run from the left perimeter and slot, where Jennings aligns about 70% of the time.
Wan’Dale Robinson vs Washington
Robinson has been steady with Jaxson Dart, averaging a bit over 5 catches and 50 yards per game. Washington is particularly vulnerable to slot receivers, giving up the 5th-most fantasy points to slot WRs. His ceiling is elevated this week.
🟡 Yellow Light 🟡
Darius Slayton vs Washington (Desperate)
Slayton is averaging 12.7 fantasy points per game with Jaxson Dart over their last three games together. He wins downfield, and Washington allows explosive plays — 3rd-most 40+ yard passes and 5th-most 20+ yard completions. Slayton is also stronger vs single-high coverage (17% vs 10% target rate; 1.86 vs 1.04 YPRR). He’s a viable dart throw.
Chimere Dike @ SF (Deep Start)
Dike has been volatile but productive in spikes (four Top-18 finishes in his last seven games). Last week he held a 33% target share. San Francisco has allowed the most fantasy points to slot receivers this year, and Dike runs 67% of his routes from the slot. A viable deep-league play.
Zay Flowers @ Cincinnati (Temper Expectations)
Flowers dominated Pittsburgh last week, but the DJ Turner shadow matchup returns. Turner held Flowers to 2 catches for 6 yards two weeks ago. Cincinnati, despite broader struggles, has been elite vs WRs recently — the fewest fantasy points allowed over the last four weeks, and among the best in receptions, yards, and TDs surrendered to WRs overall.
Christian Watson @ Denver (Temper Expectations)
Watson has been heavily touchdown-dependent (5 TDs in his last four games) while averaging 4.25 receptions per game. This week he faces a Denver defense that has allowed only 5 WR touchdowns all season, the fewest in the NFL. He can still be started, but with reduced expectations.
Colts Pass Catchers @ Seattle (Temper Expectations)
With Philip Rivers expected to start, the passing tendencies become unpredictable. Daniel Jones’ elevated play had supported Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, and Tyler Warren, but this week brings significant uncertainty. Pittman (tough matchup but schematically viable) and Warren (strong matchup) remain startable with major downgrades.
Tight Ends
🟢 Green Light 🟢
Ravens TEs @ Cincinnati
Both Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are startable against a Bengals defense that allows 8 more fantasy points per game to TEs than any other team. Two weeks ago, Andrews saw higher route participation (78% to 55%), but Likely matched him in targets and produced more yardage (5/95), while also scoring last week. Both tight ends are playable.
Harold Fannin Jr @ Chicago
With Shedeur Sanders under center, Fannin has earned a 28% target share over the last three weeks with 87% route participation. He’s the TE4 over that span and draws a favorable matchup against the Bears.
Kyle Pitts @ Tampa
With Drake London ruled out, Pitts continues to see elevated volume:
7/82 on 8 targets two weeks ago
6/90 on 10 targets last week
He has finished as a Top-6 TE in three of four games with Kirk Cousins and holds a 24% target share in that stretch.
🔴 Red Light 🔴
Oronde Gadsden @ KC
Gadsden has not reached more than three receptions in any of his last four games and has recorded just one reception in each of his last two. Kansas City allows minimal production to tight ends, making him a risky fantasy playoff play. Managers should look for alternatives.
