Yesterday, I pointed out 5 players that you should avoid going into Week 15.
Today, it’s time to take a look at 5 players who you should start in this crucial week of the playoffs. These players aren’t your obvious choices, like Todd Gurley or Saquon Barkley, but are players who you may have legitimate questions whether or not to start them or someone else.
If you have any of these players, know that this doesn’t mean start them over your top-tier guys…but it’s simply meant to be a confidence boost to put them into your lineup if you have doubts. Alright, let’s dive in.
1. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
Last week, Jared Goff destroyed your fantasy team if you played him.
The combination of the Bears defense, the cold weather in Chicago and the running game not getting established greatly hurt Goff in that game.
But now, he gets what we call a “get right” game…
The Eagles are currently getting torched by opposing quarterbacks due to their secondary’s lack of talent. Amari Cooper went off last week when playing them and he’s essentially the only decent option in Dallas’ receiving corps.
Now, the Eagles have to worry about Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Gerald Everett and Josh Reynolds.
I have Jared Goff ranked very highly going into this matchup against the Eagles, who will most likely be without Carson Wentz. The Rams are going to be pissed off that they lost that badly in Chicago and I expect them to put up massive points on the board.
A 300 yard passing game and 4 touchdowns is not out of the realm of possibilities with Goff this week. If you’re conflicted about putting him back into your starting lineup, you shouldn’t be. Goff’s an elite play this week.
2. DaeSean Hamilton, Denver Broncos
If you’re wondering whether or not DaeSean Hamilton is a good play in PPR leagues this week, the answer is yes.
In his first week as a starter due to Emmanuel Sanders’ Achilles injury, Hamilton received 9 targets. He was able to haul in 7 of those for 47 yards and a touchdown.
If you watch back through the game, you’ll see that Case Keenum begins to trust Hamilton more and more. I expect that chemistry to continue moving into this matchup against the Browns.
Hamilton might not put up the crazy yardage numbers that you need in Non-PPR, but he’s shown that he has a safe floor in PPR leagues. And if you’re needing a player that can provide you with that solid floor (plus potential to score) Hamilton is a safe bet.
(I’m in my Dynasty league semi-finals and I’m rolling DaeSean Hamilton out there if that gives you any sort of confidence boost)
3. Dante Pettis, San Francisco 49ers
Over the course of the past 3 games, Pettis has scored 4 touchdowns.
He’s received 7 targets in each of those games and he’s proved that he can be a focal point of the offense.
He’s gained the trust of head coach Kyle Shanahan and he’s constantly finding ways to get the ball into his hands.
The Seahawks are currently giving up the 13th most passing yards to wide receivers this season and with Marquise Goodwin back in the fold, and George Kittle playing out of his mind, it’ll only draw more attention away from Pettis.
Dante has a great chance to score again this week and he’s a solid play.
4. Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins
This one, admittedly, is a desperation play. But if you’re in a tight spot, I think you could do a lot worse than Vernon Davis for your Tight End play this week.
Davis stepped in last week when Jordan Reed went down with a toe injury and he finished the game with 4 receptions for 31 yards. This was in the middle of a transition from Mark Sanchez to Josh Johnson in-game…
Now, Josh Johnson gets the start against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Redskins might not have much luck moving the ball, but Johnson will be looking for the easy completions as the Jaguars put pressure on him. This bodes well for guys like Chris Thompson and Jamison Crowder, but especially for Vernon Davis.
I expect solid numbers for PPR, as I believe he finishes with quite a few targets. But the yardage might not fully be there to warrant non-PPR consideration.
But if you need someone this week, Davis is your best bet.
5. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Chris Carson has been an unexpected revelation this season for fantasy football.
Once the Seahawks drafted Rashaad Penny with their first round pick, everyone assumed that Carson would fade away into oblivion. However, under the run-heavy offense Seattle has employed, Carson has found great success!
LOL WHAT CHRIS CARSON pic.twitter.com/dHZvmvu0PQ
— Ben Baldwin (@benbbaldwin) November 25, 2018
This week, Carson is a great play. The 49ers have recently shut down their opposing running backs, but Carson has guaranteed volume. And that’s what I’m willing to bet on more than anything else in Week 15.
I don’t want to mess around with a player that might be game-scripted out or could lose work to another running back. Carson should see around 20 carries and maybe even more since Penny is currently dealing with an injury and is questionable for Sunday’s game.
If you’re on the fence of whether or not to start Chris Carson, fire him up.
There are your five players who you should have confidence in starting this week! If you have any questions regarding these players, or any others, feel free to reach out on Twitter @KyleYNFL!
