It was a solid week for me in the sneaky start department. I went 5-3 overall if you remove John Parker Romo, who ended up not playing. One of the three losses was Will Dissly, who was injured in the first half and did not return. There are a couple of things to consider this week. The fantasy football playoffs are now upon us. Most of us are in a “win or go home” situation. Though I enjoy bargain hunting for fantasy production, you do not want to get too cute with your season on the line. We do not have to deal with those pesky bye weeks any longer. That means most of our high-caliber players should be available this week. But if you are dealing with injury issues or otherwise looking for diamonds in the rough, my Week 15 sneaky starts should do the trick.
Remember that these are all players who are currently being started in less than 50 percent of Fantrax leagues. Managers in our leagues are among the savviest out there, so this is a good barometer. I believe that all the players below should exceed expectations, and in most cases are viable starting candidates this week.
Week 15 Sneaky Starts for Fantasy Football
Quarterback
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Current Start Percentage: 35 Percent (19th among Quarterbacks)
My Current Week 15 Rank: QB11
Bo Nix is the overall QB5 in fantasy points since Week 5. He is ahead of quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Jayden Daniels in that span. Nix has finished as a top 12 weekly fantasy quarterback in six of nine games during this stretch. He has a great chance to do so again in Week 15 when Denver faces the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are a below-average pass defense and allow the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. Indianapolis has given up at least 24 points to four consecutive opponents, while Denver has averaged 36 points per game during their three-game winning streak. I expect the rookie to continue his ascension among fantasy football quarterbacks in this matchup.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
- Current Start Percentage: 46 Percent (16th among quarterbacks)
- My Current Week 15 Rank: QB12
Running Backs
Sincere McCormick, Las Vegas Raiders
Current Start Percentage: 17 Percent (50th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 15 Rank: RB30
A bit of commentary with regards to my Week 15 sneaky starts at the running back. As of this writing, Breece Hall, Isaac Guerendo, and Kenneth Walker III are all being started by less than 50 percent of Fantrax fantasy managers. I assume this is because all three backs are questionable due to various injury concerns. I rank all three players as top-24 fantasy backs for Week 15. However, it seems a bit disingenuous of me to list any or all of them as sneaky starts. If these players are available to play in their respective games, most fantasy managers will insert them into their starting lineups. Therefore, I am going to suggest some lesser-known names. The first may be lesser-known, but his name is among the best in the game. I am of course talking about Sincere McCormick of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Head coach Antonio Pierce has said that McCormick has earned the starting gig in the Raiders’ backfield. Is Pierce being… sincere? (Thank you. I’ll be here all week.) If so, then managers should consider McCormick in Week 15. McCormick has faced the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in consecutive weeks. He has emerged from each matchup averaging over five yards per carry while averaging 71 rushing yards in those games. The Raiders host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night this week. Atlanta is in a freefall, having lost four straight games. They also rank 21st in defensive DVOA versus the run. As long as McCormick continues to get most of the work this week, he should continue to be a viable Flex play. At the very least, he should be active in more than 17 percent of leagues.
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
Current Start Percentage: 25 Percent (40th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 15 Rank: RB31
Prior to last week’s contest, Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby had earned just 18 total opportunities across a three-game span. But Bigsby was much more involved last week, with 20 total opportunities. This was not a surprise based on how Jacksonville’s game played out. The Jaguars secured their third victory of the season, defeating Tennessee 10-6. Bigsby tends to earn more touches in games in which the team has been competitive. That is likely to be the case on Sunday when the Jaguars host the New York Jets. Both teams enter Week 15 with the same 3-10 record, while New York ranks 23rd in DVOA versus the run. With Mac Jones under center, I would expect Jacksonville to lean on the run in this matchup. That should enable Tank Bigsby to provide a solid floor in this matchup.
Other Running Backs to Consider
- Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Current Start Percentage: 48 Percent (31st among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 15 Rank: RB32
- Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
- Current Start Percentage: 31 Percent (36th among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 15 Rank: RB34
Wide Receivers
Tank Dell, Houston Texans
Current Start Percentage: 37 Percent (46th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 15 Rank: WR36
Tank Dell has struggled in recent weeks from a results standpoint. He has failed to finish inside the top 30 fantasy wideouts in all four weeks. Dell has finished outside the top 40 in three of those four games. However, he has gotten his chances. Dell earned 25 total targets in that stretch, which included 366 air yards. Those air yards are good for 11th in the NFL over that span. The volume combined with the air yards make Dell an intriguing play going forward. If he can convert on a deep target or two, he should be able to post double-digit fantasy points.
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Current Start Percentage: 40 Percent (45th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 15 Rank: WR41
Quentin Johnston has been one of my most popular sneaky starts throughout the season, with varying levels of success. Johnston has been among the most boom-or-bust fantasy players in the league at any position. Since returning to the lineup in Week 9, Johnston has finished as a top-30 weekly wide receiver in four of six games. He has finished outside the top 90 in the other two outings. Johnston has a favorable matchup in Week 15 when the Chargers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks while giving up 12 touchdowns and over 2,000 thousand receiving yards to wideouts. Johnston is not the safest fantasy wide receiver, but he has plenty of upside in this matchup.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
Current Start Percentage: 44 Percent (43rd among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 15 Rank: WR43
Fantasy managers continue to sleep on Adam Thielen. The veteran wide receiver has been one of the most productive wide receivers in the league over the last two weeks. In that stretch, Thielen is tied for second in receptions while ranking fifth in receiving yards. Thielen should be heavily involved once again this week when the Panthers host the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas has struggled defensively in all aspects, including allowing production to opposing wide receivers. Like Tampa Bay, Dallas is one of a dozen teams that has given up at least 2,000 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns to opposing wide receivers. The matchup as well as Thielen’s recent usage should keep his floor relatively high this week. I expect Thielen to end the week as a serviceable Flex play.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
- Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
- Current Start Percentage: 47 Percent (42nd among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 15 Rank: WR44
- Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
- Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (41st among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 15 Rank: WR46
- Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
- Current Start Percentage: 35 Percent (47th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 15 Rank: WR47
Tight End
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Current Start Percentage: 33 Percent (18th among Tight Ends)
My Current Week 15 Rank: TE10
Hunter Henry has been a solid streaming option at tight end since New England named rookie Drake Maye the team’s starting quarterback. Henry has been a top-16 fantasy tight end in six of his last eight games. That includes three straight leading into last week’s bye. Henry earned at least eight targets in all three of those games. That type of volume can be difficult to come by at the tight end position. Henry does not have the best matchup in Week 15. The Arizona Cardinals have been a top-10 defense in terms of fantasy production allowed to tight ends this year. However, Henry has earned the trust of Maye, and the Patriots lack a lot of threats on the outside. This should allow Henry to post solid production for fantasy managers looking for a streaming option.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
- Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
- Current Start Percentage: 46 Percent (13th among Tight Ends)
- My Current Week 15 Rank: TE13
Kicker
Matthew Wright, Kansas City Chiefs
Current Start Percentage: 23 Percent (17th among Kickers)
My Current Week 15 Rank: K6
Matthew Wright has played two games for Kansas City in relief of Harrison Butker. Wright has kicked four field goals in each of those two games. The Chiefs have continued to struggle in the red zone, and Wright has been the primary beneficiary. If these issues continue, Wright should be a solid bet for multiple field goals. From a matchup perspective, Wright’s Week 15 matchup is neutral. The Cleveland Browns are about league average in both red zone defense and fantasy points allowed to opposing kickers. Wright remains on benches because Butker should return in a couple of weeks. Until then, however, Wright should keep kicking his way into a high number of fantasy points.
Other Kicker to Consider
Cade York, Cincinnati Bengals
Current Start Percentage: 6 Percent (29th among Kickers)
My Current Week 15 Rank: K7
Defense/Special Teams
Arizona Cardinals
Current Start Percentage: 48 Percent (8th among D/STs)
My Current Week 15 Rank: D/ST5
It warms my heart a bit to see only seven defense/special teams units started in at least 50 percent of Fantrax leagues not only because it increases the number of D/STs that I can include in my Week 15 sneaky starts. But also because that means most fantasy managers are streaming the position, which makes a lot of sense. As for this week’s selection, I am going with the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona disappointed last week to the tune of -1 points. But they had scored at least seven fantasy points in four straight and six of eight games before that outing. This week, Arizona faces the New England Patriots. Though Drake Maye has impressed, he is still a rookie quarterback going against a solid defense on the road. New England has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing D/ST units this season.
Other Defense/Special Teams to Consider
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Current Start Percentage: 41 Percent (12th among D/STs)
- My Current Week 15 Rank: D/ST7
Make sure to check out all of our Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!