The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 15

Welcome to the Playoffs, FootClan. Hopefully, you could weather the storm that is the 2020 NFL season and find yourself in the fantasy football playoffs. Remember that the ‘Ballers want to assist you in winning your #FootClanTitle, so they declared their Starts of the Week on Thursday’s show.

The Footballers began the show chatting about their “Taking It Up to 100” players for Week 15. This week, Andy selected Chris Godwin, Mike took JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Jason picked Jeff Wilson Jr. (because he was the first one to the show doc – “My name is Jeff!“). In the back-half of the episode, the guys got to their Starts of the Week. If you missed the episode, you can listen to the podcast here or watch it on Youtube. Subscribe and hit the bell so you stay informed. Also, give JoinTheFoot.com a look as it offers loads of additional resources exclusively for #FootClan members.

Andy’s Starts

QB: Deshaun Watson @ Indianapolis Colts

Andy buys that Houston’s Watson will uncover a way to get it done this week. There is a 51 point over/under in this game, so he is not someone to pivot off this week. The Colts have been the seventh-best matchup for fantasy quarterbacks over the last five weeks, and Watson looks to have a solid game with his number one receiver Brandin Cooks back in the mix. MMMBop Chad Hansen has looked fabulous moving up from the practice squad while Cooks has been absent. Keke Coutee has additionally been thrown back into relevance. Two weeks ago, Watson obtained 341 yards through the air facing Indianapolis and should be launching the ball lots in this matchup.

RB: James Robinson @ Baltimore Ravens

The rookie UDFA makes it on Andy’s start list this week, even if people have been intimidated by Robinson’s matchups to close the year. Baltimore, the unit Robinson faces, has been appalling opposite the running back position over the last five weeks. Robinson has eight straight weeks of being inside the top 24, so no need to fret as Robinson seems to be matchup proof. Gardner Minshew is in at quarterback, and he should get the team closer to the goal line than they have been with the previous quarterback play. Currently, the Jacksonville running back has 1,361 yards from scrimmage under his belt, and he is going to add to that tally when he matches up with the Ravens.

WR: Curtis Samuel @ Green Bay Packers

The Packers have been yielding quite a few fantasy points to the wide receiver position across the last five weeks, as Andy points out. This week’s matchup is a good one for Samuel as he will be taking on a defense that is the ninth-best matchup. Over the past three weeks, Samuel has hauled in at least five receptions per game. He is a steady player who should continue seeing production in this contest. Samuel will most likely be battling Chandon Sullivan in this campaign, a player outside the top 100 in PFF‘s corner grades. Robby Anderson will likewise be a reliable start in this game, but he will see a lot of Jaire Alexander, the athlete sitting at number two on PFF‘s corner grades.

TE: Tyler Higbee vs. New York Jets

A deeper league upside play at tight end, in Andy’s opinion, is the Rams’ big man Higbee. Certain tight ends got you to the playoffs, so certainly do not switch them out for Higbee. However, Higbee is a player worth starting if you do not have one of those apparent starters. The Jets can be regarded as a team having a hot streak of sorts right now, as in they have allowed top 10 performances to the tight end in four straight weeks. The Jets have conceded 11 touchdowns to the tight end position in the 2020 season, and they additionally allow big chunks of yardage to tight ends. Higbee has seen over 85-percent of the snap counts as of late and should be acknowledged as a touchdown option.

Jason’s Starts

QB: Tom Brady @ Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons love giving up fantasy points to the quarterback, surrendering the second-most air yards in the league at 3,851 yards. Through the air, QBs have racked up 26 touchdowns this season. Quarterbacks have totaled over 18 fantasy points a game in nine matchups this year as well. This game gives the impression that it will be a shootout, meaning plenty of passes attempted by the field general Brady. In the past four games, Brady has tossed ten scores. He’ll aim to continue his touchdown streak in this week’s game.

RB: J.K. Dobbins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars’ defense has just not been good against the run over the last three games. Facing Cleveland, Minnesota, and Tennessee, the Jags have yielded 561 rushing yards and three touchdowns to the running back position in total. Furthermore, the Jaguars have conceded 14 catches to running backs, going for an added 128 receiving yards and a touchdown. Dobbins is a perfect start this week as he has garnered double-digit touches in each of the latest three games, paired up with a touchdown a game in that same span.

WR: Brandon Aiyuk @ Dallas Cowboys

Aiyuk has been putting up great numbers, especially in his last four games, where he has gained at least 20 PPR points in each of those matchups. Deebo Samuel hurt his hamstring last week when opposing Washington so that receiving option will be missing from this feud. Last week saw Aiyuk accumulating ten catches on 16 targets while going for 199 yards. This week, Aiyuk gets a tasty matchup, challenging a Dallas defense that gives up more touchdowns to opposing wideouts than any other team in the NFL at a whopping 22. The rookie should have a game full of targets this weekend.

TE: Jared Cook vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Jason names Cook as a start this week at the tight end position, a player who has been playing well with quarterback Taysom Hill. In back-to-back weeks, Cook has found the endzone for six points. This week finds Cook facing a Kansas City defense that has allowed the most receiving yards to wide receivers spanning the last four weeks. This competition is one where the Saints may need to toss the ball more to keep up with the Chiefs. Cook should be another solid start in Week 15.

Mike’s Starts

QB: Jalen Hurts @ Arizona Cardinals

Hurts was a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week, and with plenty of valid reasons. In Week 14 versus New Orleans, starting his first game, Hurts rushed for 106 yards. He only threw for 167 yards, but his day on the ground redeemed his fantasy day. This contest will be his second start, but he is looking to have success this week facing a Cardinals’ defense struggling versus running quarterbacks recently. This year, Russell Wilson had his best running game when meeting Arizona, running for 84 yards on six carries. Quarterbacks have gone for over 20 fantasy points six times this season against the Cardinals, and quarterbacks are recording an average of 18.4 points versus them as well.

RB: Cam Akers vs. New York Jets

This rookie has taken over as the Rams’ primary running back. He was presented with 22 opportunities two weeks ago, followed by 32 opportunities in Week 14. Mike is starting Akers over plays such as Josh Jacobs and Chris Carson. Akers went for 171 rushing yards on 29 carries in his contest against the Patriots in Week 14’s Thursday Night game, along with two catches on three targets for 23 yards. The rookie also scored in three straight games from Week 11 to Week 13. Akers will experience a healthy portion of work when taking on the Jets in Week 15, a team who gave up 24.6 fantasy points last week to Seattle’s running back group. A score or two from Akers is highly feasible in this contest.

WR: TY Hilton vs. Houston Texans

Houston, we have a problem! That problem is “TY Houston,” as the Ballers like to call Hilton. Week 13 saw Hilton haul in eight receptions on 11 targets while collecting 110 air yards. He additionally had a score in that game. In his last three contests this season, the Colts’ wideout has recorded at least one score while going for over 80 yards. Quarterback Philip Rivers seems to be on the same page as Hilton finally, giving you confidence when starting Hilton at home this week.

TE: Cole Kmet @ Minnesota Vikings

The rookie tight end for the Minnesota Vikings is Mike’s choice to start this week. Four weeks ago, Kmet took over the starting job in snaps. He has witnessed a 21% target share two weeks in a row. Jimmy Graham is a touchdown dependant tight end that has been put on the backburner as the Bears use more Kmet in their offense. Graham’s snap count is falling while Kmet’s has been on the rise. In back-to-back outings, Kmet has been targeted seven times. The Vikings big man is a red zone threat that seeks to add a score when he travels to Minnesota.

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And, finally, Jason Moore provided the listeners with his Iron-Clad Locked and Loaded 100% Guaranteed Boom Boom Kicker of the Week:

“Listen, I’m a big guy. Every day’s fat day. But in these playoffs, you’re going to win with the Rams’ Matt Gay.“

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