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The following is an excerpt from the latest edition of Yahoo’s fantasy football newsletter, Get to the Points! If you like what you see, you can subscribe for free here… Questions about starting positions can be nerve-wracking for even the best fantasy managers, especially in playoff weeks. Here’s a traffic light report to help you prepare for Week 15.
Green light
QB Sam Darnold vs. Bears
As of Friday morning, it had only started in 52% of Yahoo leagues, so some may need a push. Darnold has been the most consistent pocket quarterback in the league, with multiple touchdown passes in 10 starts and a QB rating over 100 in 11 different weeks. He’s already torched Chicago’s respected secondary, throwing it for 330 yards three weeks ago. While we’re in Minnesota, start Jordan Addison too.
WR Calvin Ridley vs. Bengals
He’s dominating targets since the DeAndre Hopkins trade, and the Bengals rank 30th in pass defense DVOA. Even with the erratic Will Levis throwing passes, I like Ridley’s chances of making it home in Week 15.
WR Adam Thielen against the Cowboys
he has been WR6 and WR19 the last two weeksmaking beautiful music with the improved Bryce Young. The Panthers are the favorites on Sunday and Dallas features a below-average pass defense.
RB Rico Dowdle on Panthers
Dallas’ offense has some float with Cooper Rush at quarterback, and the emerging Dowdle will find running lanes against a Carolina run defense that’s giving up 5.0 yards per carry. Rico Suave belongs in your playoff lineups.
WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Jets
It’s remarkable how well Thomas has performed despite poor quarterback play (Trevor Lawrence was a disaster and Mac Jones He has no remedy in long passes). We’d like to have more touchdown equity, but we can’t ignore a 17-246-1 binge over the last three weeks. New York’s defense has not lived up to preseason expectations.
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yellow light
QB Jameis Winston vs. Chiefs
Don’t worry about the opponent: the Chiefs’ passing defense is simply league average. And when the Browns invariably blow the running game, as they often do, Winston estimates he’ll throw 40 or more passes. He has outperformed his projection in 5 of 6 starts this year and can do it again.
RB Alvin Kamara vs. Commanders
He’s probably too active and too good to sit on the bench, but keep in mind that Kamara has just one touchdown in his last nine starts and the offense could be wrecked by an inexperienced quarterback. If you lucked out with a surprise star like Zach Charbonnet (assuming there’s no Kenneth Walker III), maybe Kamara is, in fact, bankable.
RB Jaleel McLaughin vs. Colts
You can never start a Denver with complete confidence, given the whims of Sean Payton. But McLaughlin was the team’s best running back the last time Denver played, and if he gets even 10 carries against a shaky Indianapolis front seven, it’ll probably lead to some funny numbers. Also consider that Bo Nix was active as a running back and scrambler earlier in the year, but has frozen that part of the game over the last month.
TE Hunter Henry on the Cardinals
He has little touchdown equity and the Cardinals have guarded tight ends well all season. But Henry is usually Drake Maye’s first read, and that means Henry can be in the top 10 this week even without a visit to the end zone.
TE Jake Ferguson on Panthers
The matchup is divine, and for some fantasy managers, that’s enough. However, Ferguson has yet to have a touchdown this year and is offering just 8.7 yards per catch. I would prefer to start with someone who has recently offered something productive.
Red light
QB Jordan Love on the Seahawks
Green Bay’s offense has been geared toward the running game and Love offers little as a wrestler. It’s also catching Seattle at the wrong time, as the Seahawks defense has been flying since their Week 10 bye (296 yards allowed for the week, six yards lost). I suspect Love won’t get that second touchdown pass on Sunday.
WR Michael Pittman Jr. on the Broncos
He has yet to show chemistry with Anthony Richardson (there’s a poor 59.4 rating when Richardson targets Pittman), and coverage ace Patrick Surtain II will likely be guarding Pittman all afternoon.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. vs. Ravens
He’s had an impressive rookie year, fumble issues aside, but Baltimore’s defense is tough against the run and the script of the game could get out of hand, given that the Ravens are 16-point favorites.
TE Kyle Pitts on the Raiders
Kirk Cousins no longer has a fastball and has never had much of a connection with Pitts. Who is TE46 from week 9?. Forget benching Pitts, you have my permission to cut him straight. You can’t wait forever for players.