Week 14 proved to be another example of why wide receivers can be found during the fantasy football season.
The top-five fantasy options were Chris Hogan, J.J. Nelson, T.Y. Hilton, Davante Adams and DeSean Jackson. Other than Hilton, those options have been about as inconsistent as possible. And there’s a strong possibility those four have found themselves on the waiver wire at least once this season in fantasy leagues.
And despite being the most owned of the group, I actually prefer Adams over Hilton. I’ve been saying this for weeks, but Adams is becoming a top option for the Packers. His targets are continually solid and he’s consistently in the conversation as a WR1. He should once again be considered a WR1, along with teammate Jordy Nelson this week against the Bears.
For those wide receivers who don’t always provide consistent fantasy scoring, here’s the week 15 wide receivers start ’em, sit ’em guide.
Start
Tyreek Hill vs. Tennessee Titans
Let’s not get carried away by Hill’s recent performances. Past history tells me these hybrid wide receivers don’t have a long shelf-life in fantasy football, so temper your expectations.
But even I can’t deny the possibility for Hill’s solid fantasy production in week 15. The Titans are terrible in the pass defense category. They rank second-worst against the pass, but are third-best against the run. That means Andy Reid will focus on the pass, meaning Hill should see plenty of volume.
And even with smaller amounts of volume, Hill has been able to produce in fantasy football in recent weeks. He has double-digit fantasy points in five of the last eight games. The Chiefs are incorporating him in every facet of the game and he’s garnering a decent amount of targets.
I love the matchup, but I’m not going to put Hill in the category of a WR1. I consider him a solid WR2, so peg him in for the lower double-digits in fantasy points.
Terrelle Pryor vs. Buffalo Bills
I get why several fantasy experts are predicting a bad game for Pryor in week 15. The Bills were just shredded by the Steelers’ running game and it would appear the Browns would be able to run the football.
That would severely limit Pryor’s ability to put up decent fantasy production. Several fantasy experts have Pryor ranked below the WR3 mark. On FantasyPros, which averages several experts’ rankings, he’s ranked as the 32nd best wide receiver option for fantasy football for week 15.
That’s too low for this week. I get that Pryor was underwhelming in week 14 with Robert Griffin III as the quarterback, but I’m not taking the doom and gloom outlook into week 15. Pryor is still the best receiver on Cleveland’s roster and had at least nine targets in the three previous games before week 14’s dud.
The Bills will focus on stopping the run, forcing the Browns to pass. That means Pryor has to be effective for Cleveland to have any chance of moving the ball. Pryor deserves to be more in line with WR2 value, as opposed to lower than WR3.
Stefon Diggs vs. Indianapolis Colts
Despite being a disappointing fantasy option at times, Diggs is still the best option at wide receiver for the Vikings. And that should pay dividends against a leaky Indianapolis secondary.
The Colts are seventh-worst against the pass in the NFL, allowing 262 yards per game through the air. Minnesota absolutely can’t run the football (did you see them fail twice from the 1-yard-line last week to score any points?), so Diggs should once again see plenty of volume.
He’s been ineffective at times this season, but he’s still only a few weeks removed from receiving at least 13 targets in three straight games.
The Vikings have to pass to move the ball, so Diggs should make an impact in fantasy football in week 15. Minnesota moved the ball well against a good Jacksonville secondary in week 14, so I’m expecting more of the same against a bad Colts defense in week 15. Eventually that yardage will turn into points.
Sit
DeSean Jackson vs. Carolina Panthers
He’s been a solid fantasy performer in recent weeks, so it’s time to take a step back.
Jackson has resurrected his career this season, once again showing big-play ability and stretching defenses on a regular basis. In the last four weeks, Jackson has a touchdown reception in three of those games. He also has at least 100 yards receiving in two of those four games.
The only problem is that his targets are still below a WR3 level, generating 22 total targets in the last four games. If he’s not able to haul in the big play, he’s not a viable fantasy option.
With three of his last four games producing at a high level, I’m anticipating a drop in production on a Monday night against Carolina. The Panthers are bad against the pass, but Jackson is coming off an emotional game in week 14 against Philadelphia. I expect him to drop off in production as the Panthers look to avoid the big play.
Kelvin Benjamin vs. Washington Redskins
Benjamin was a wide receiver who I whiffed on before the season started. He started out well, giving Carolina a solid wide receiver option.
But with a quarterback unable to complete many passes, Benjamin hasn’t been able to put up much in terms of fantasy production. He has only one double-digit fantasy effort since week 2. He hasn’t put up more than 60 yards receiving since week 10 and he’s not scoring touchdowns.
That’s an issue for fantasy owners who were counting on Benjamin as a WR2 heading into this season.
And despite a solid matchup in terms of statistics in week 15 (Washington ranks in the bottom-10 in pass defense), I’m not trusting Benjamin. His targets keep going down, with six or fewer targets in three of the last four games.
He will likely be matched up against former teammate Josh Norman, so I expect him to struggle against a player who will have plenty of motivation to stop the opposition.
Michael Thomas vs. Arizona Cardinals
I’m not high on New Orleans chances in week 15. And I’m especially not buying into Thomas in week 15.
Thomas was out for week 14, so he likely won’t be fully back to health against a Cardinals defense that ranks No. 1 in total defense in the NFL. Did I also mention the Saints are traveling in back-to-back road games and going from east to west? Oh, and the playoffs are out of the question.
That could spell doom for the Saints and Thomas. Thomas is a boom-or-bust receiver anyway, regularly recording fewer targets than other options in New Orleans. He’s gone for six or fewer targets in four of the last six games.
With questionable health, those numbers won’t increase in week 15 against a stingy Arizona pass defense.
