Fantasy Football Traffic Cop: Week 15 lineup advice

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..Start-sit questions can be anxious for even the best fantasy managers, especially in the playoff weeks. Here’s a traffic-light report to help get you ready for Week 15.

✅ Green Light

QB Sam Darnold vs. Bears

He’s only being started in 52% of Yahoo leagues as of Friday morning, so perhaps some need a nudge. Darnold has been the league’s most consistent pocket quarterback, with multiple touchdown passes in 10 starts and a QB rating over 100 in 11 different weeks. He’s already torched the respected Chicago secondary, getting them for 330 yards three weeks ago. While we’re hanging in Minnesota, please start Jordan Addison too.

WR Calvin Ridley vs. Bengals

He’s dominating the targets since the DeAndre Hopkins trade, and the Bengals rank 30th in pass defense DVOA. Even with erratic Will Levis throwing the passes, I like Ridley’s chances at getting home in Week 15.

WR Adam Thielen vs. Cowboys

He’s been WR6 and WR19 the last two weeks, making beautiful music with the improving Bryce Young. The Panthers are favored on Sunday, and Dallas presents a below-average pass defense.

RB Rico Dowdle at Panthers

The Dallas offense has some buoyancy with Cooper Rush at quarterback, and the surging Dowdle is going to find running lanes against a Carolina rushing defense that hands out 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 mess, and Mac Jones is hopeless on long passes). We’d like more touchdown equity, but we can’t ignore a 17-246-1 binge over the last three weeks. The New York defense has not lived up to preseason expectations.

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🫤 Yellow Light

QB Jameis Winston vs. Chiefs

Don’t sweat the opponent — the Chiefs passing defense is merely league average. And when the Browns invariably junk the running game, as they usually do, Winston figures to throw 40 or more passes. He’s beaten his projection in 5-of-6 starts this year, and he can do it again.

RB Alvin Kamara vs. Commanders

He’s probably too active and too good to bench, but be mindful that Kamara has just one touchdown in his past nine starts and the offense could be shipwrecked by an inexperienced quarterback. If you lucked into a surprise star like Zach Charbonnet (assuming no Kenneth Walker III), perhaps Kamara is, in fact, benchable.

RB Jaleel McLaughin vs. Colts

You can never start a Denver back with total confidence, given the whims of Sean Payton. But McLaughlin was the team’s best back when Denver last played, and if he can even sneak 10 carries against a shaky Indianapolis front seven, fun numbers will likely result. Also consider that Bo Nix was active as a rusher and scrambler earlier in the year, but he’s iced that part of the game over the last month.

TE Hunter Henry at Cardinals

He’s low on touchdown equity and the Cardinals have marked tight ends well all season. But Henry is generally the first read for Drake Maye, and that means Henry can get into the top 10 this week even without an end-zone visit.

TE Jake Ferguson at Panthers

The matchup is divine, and for some fantasy managers, that’s enough. However, Ferguson still doesn’t have a touchdown this year, and he’s offering just 8.7 yards per catch. I’d prefer to start someone who’s recently offered something productive.

🛑 Red Light

QB Jordan Love at Seahawks

The Green Bay offense has steered into the running game and Love offers little as a scrambler. He’s also catching Seattle at the wrong time, as the Seahawks defense has been flying since its Week 10 bye (296 yards allowed per week, six takeaways). I suspect Love won’t get that second touchdown pass Sunday.

WR Michael Pittman Jr. at Broncos

He’s yet to show chemistry with Anthony Richardson (there’s a crummy 59.4 rating when Richardson targets Pittman), and it’s likely cover ace Patrick Surtain II will be marking Pittman all afternoon.

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. vs. Ravens

He’s had an impressive rookie year, fumbling issues aside, but the Baltimore defense is staunch against the run and the game script could get out of hand, given that the Ravens are 16-point favorites.

TE Kyle Pitts at Raiders

Kirk Cousins no longer has a fastball and he’s never had much of a connection with Pitts, who is the TE46 since Week 9. Forget benching Pitts, you have my permission to cut him outright. You can’t wait forever on players.