Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 15

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.

Consult our Week 15 rankings for the rest of your lineup decisions. You can also listen to the Week 15 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

StartMatthew Stafford, Rams

vs. Commanders

Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Rams' offense is closer to full health and, as a result, Stafford has been on a tear with three straight top-eight fantasy finishes. He even overcame a pair of difficult matchups against the Browns and Ravens in the last two weeks.

The Commanders are next, and they allow the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, the fourth-most passing yards, and the most touchdowns through the air this season.

Washington's combination of bad defense and a faster-paced offense is the perfect recipe to help its opponents reach high-end fantasy results.

Boone's projection: 309 passing yards, 3 passing TDs

Other QBs to start

• Jordan Love vs. Buccaneers
• Geno Smith vs. Eagles

Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots

vs. Chiefs

Perry Knotts / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Rhamondre Stevenson remains out with an ankle injury, leaving the Patriots' backfield duties mostly in Elliott's hands. The veteran finished as the top fantasy running back last week with 22 carries for 68 yards and another 72 yards and a score on seven receptions.

Bailey Zappe's willingness to check down to his running backs gives Elliott a strong fantasy floor and a significant ceiling when he can reach the end zone, regardless of the opponent.

The Chiefs have also given up a lot of yards to running backs of late, with James Cook (142), AJ Dillon (87), Josh Jacobs (125), and D'Andre Swift (107) all having successful outings over the last month.

Boone's projection: 63 rushing yards, 61 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD

Other RBs to start

• Zack Moss vs. Steelers
• D'Andre Swift at Seahawks
• Chuba Hubbard vs. Falcons

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

at Lions

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Sutton has emerged as Russell Wilson's favorite target and leads the Broncos in every meaningful receiving category this season.

His 10 touchdowns in 13 outings are particularly impressive, but he's also providing solid yardage totals with at least 60 yards in four straight contests.

Meanwhile, the Lions are still struggling to stop opposing No. 1 wideouts and are a top-10 fantasy matchup for the position.

Boone's projection: 74 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD

Other WRs to start

• Zay Flowers/Odell Beckham Jr. at Jaguars
• Rashee Rice at Patriots
• Jayden Reed vs. Buccaneers

Isaiah Likely, Ravens

at Jaguars

Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Likely essentially stepped into Mark Andrews' role on Baltimore's offense, garnering nine receptions, 123 yards, and a score on 13 targets over his last two games.

The 23-year-old finished as the TE3 overall in Week 14 and gets another friendly matchup Sunday night against a Jaguars defense that's been powerless to stop teams through the air.

Jacksonville is the 10th-easiest opponent for fantasy tight ends, so expect Likely to post another top-12 performance.

Boone's projection: 72 receiving yards, 5 receptions, TD

Other TEs to start

• David Njoku vs. Bears
• Jake Ferguson at Bills

SitTua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

vs. Jets

Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The red flags are piling up for Tagovailoa, starting with a matchup versus the Jets, who held him to his worst outing of the season in Week 12. In that game, he threw for 243 yards with one touchdown, two picks, and a fumble - finishing as the week's QB27.

This time around could be even more difficult - Tyreek Hill is dealing with an ankle injury that could limit him.

The Dolphins also have to contend with bad weather, as the forecast is calling for rain and 20-mph winds with gusts up to 35 mph.

Boone's projection: 214 passing yards, TD, INT

Other QBs to sit

• Kyler Murray vs. 49ers
• Derek Carr vs. Giants

Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks

vs. Eagles

Nic Antaya / Getty Images Sport / Getty

In addition to an awful encounter with the Eagles, who are the toughest matchup for fantasy running backs, Walker also has to deal with Zach Charbonnet stealing touches.

After missing two games due to injury, Walker returned last week into a 55-45 timeshare with Charbonnet. Walker came away with 12 touches for 54 yards and the rookie saw 10 touches for 48 yards.

Walker has the kind of big-play ability that can turn any touch into a score, but it's hard to project a ceiling outcome in a bad matchup where he's splitting work.

Boone's projection: 44 rushing yards, 19 receiving yards, 2 receptions

Other RBs to sit

• James Conner vs. 49ers
• D'Onta Foreman at Browns
• Gus Edwards at Jaguars

Adam Thielen, Panthers

vs. Falcons

Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Thielen had a bit of a bounce back last week with a 5-74-0 line against the Saints. But he failed to top 45 yards in four of his previous five appearances.

The veteran wideout also had a miserable season opener (2-12-0) against the same Falcons defense he's going up against this week.

You can, hopefully, do better than a risky WR3/flex like Thielen in the first round of the fantasy playoffs.

Boone's projection: 46 receiving yards, 4 receptions

Other WRs to sit

• Tee Higgins vs. Vikings
• Jordan Addison at Bengals
• Gabe Davis vs. Cowboys

Cole Kmet, Bears

at Browns

Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Don't be fooled by last week's Evan Engram performance - the Browns remain one of the hardest matchups for fantasy tight ends.

Cleveland has permitted just 2.92 receptions and 27.46 yards per game to tight ends this year, which puts it well ahead of the other 31 defenses.

As I've mentioned before, highlighting tight ends to sit is the most difficult task in this column based on the nature of the position, but Kmet is someone to shy away from if you can in Week 15.

Boone's projection: 37 receiving yards, 4 receptions

Other TEs to sit

• Kyle Pitts at Panthers
• Hunter Henry vs. Chiefs

Stash

Past stashes that still qualify: Rico Dowdle, D'Ernest Johnson

Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins Eric Espada / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With De'Von Achane dealing with a toe injury, the exciting rookie back may be sidelined or limited in Week 15.

That puts Jeff Wilson Jr. (10% rostered) back on the fantasy radar as a potential flex play, depending on Achane's health.

It's also worth noting that starter Raheem Mostert has a long history of durability concerns, so Wilson could have multiple paths to fantasy relevance down the stretch.

Patrick Taylor, Packers Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Aaron Jones is seemingly trending in the right direction to return from his knee issue, but now AJ Dillon has a broken thumb that could cause him to miss time.

Taylor (2% rostered) stepped into the No. 2 job while Jones was out and will continue in that role if Dillon can't suit up.

There's also a small chance that both backs could be sidelined in Week 15, making Taylor a surprise starter.

Quit

Now that the fantasy playoffs are here, the criteria for dropping players has changed. Don't hesitate to drop anyone who isn't helping you win this week in favor of someone who can. Your focus should be on having the best possible starting lineup and a bench full of players with extreme upside.

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