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.

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

Start

Jared Goff, Rams

vs. Jets

Goff might feel like a tough player to trust in the fantasy semifinals since he's only thrown for multiple touchdowns once in his last six outings.

However, this matchup is hard to overlook against a Jets defense giving up the second-most fantasy points to passers, including touchdown totals of 5, 2, 3, 2, 4, and 4 to quarterbacks over the past six games.

It's possible the Rams stay conservative and lean on their rushing attack to bring home the victory as 17.5-point favorites. But with an implied team total over 30, it's hard to imagine Goff not getting in on the scoring in what is by far his easiest matchup of the season.

Boone's projection: 291 passing yards, 3 TDs

Other QBs to start

• Ryan Tannehill vs. Lions
• Tom Brady at Falcons
• Philip Rivers vs. Texans

Jonathan Taylor, Colts

vs. Texans

Hopefully you were able to acquire Taylor last month when we spent a whole segment of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast recommending him as a buy low. We even included it in the title of that episode.

Over the last three games, Taylor has accounted for yardage totals of 114, 135, and 165 - while adding three touchdowns during that stretch.

Yes, he's been capitalizing on an easy schedule, but that continues for one more week thanks to another matchup with a Texans unit allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position. In his last meeting with Houston in Week 13, Taylor finished as a top-five fantasy back and he should be locked into your lineup as a high-end RB1 once again this Sunday.

Boone's projection: 109 rushing yards, TD, 23 receiving yards

Other RBs to start

• Cam Akers vs. Jets
• Mike Davis at Packers
• J.K. Dobbins vs. Jaguars

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers

at Cowboys

After a slow start to his rookie campaign, Aiyuk has dominated with stat lines of 6-115-0, 8-91-1, 7-75-1, 5-95-1, and 10-119-0 over his last five appearances.

He's averaging the third-most fantasy points per game during that span and there are no signs of that stopping against the Cowboys' defense - a unit that's one of the five easiest matchups for opposing wideouts.

There's also very little competition for targets in San Francisco's offense, with George Kittle unlikely to return until Week 16 at the earliest and Deebo Samuel out "a while," according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Aiyuk should be viewed as a WR1 this week and someone who can help you advance into the fantasy championship.

Boone's projection: 105 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• T.Y. Hilton vs. Texans
• Mike Evans at Falcons
• Jarvis Landry at Giants

Rob Gronkowski, Buccaneers

at Falcons

Gronkowski makes his second straight appearance in this section, and though he didn't put up a huge day yardage wise in Week 14, he did score another touchdown.

That means Gronk has posted 50 yards and/or a touchdown in seven of his last nine contests and now gets to face a Falcons defense offering up the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends on the year.

While he might not be the uncontrollable force he was during his time with the Patriots, Gronk remains a surefire TE1 in fantasy.

Boone's projection: 59 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Robert Tonyan vs. Panthers
• Eric Ebron at Bengals
• Irv Smith Jr. vs. Bears

Sit

Cam Newton, Patriots

at Dolphins

Newton's first season in New England hasn't exactly gone smoothly due to a stint on the COVID-19 list and a mixture of up-and-down performances.

After 14 weeks, the former MVP is 21st in average fantasy points per game and has been held under five fantasy points in two of his past three contests.

That number is likely to drop even further after a meeting with the Dolphins, who've limited eight of the past nine starting quarterbacks they've encountered to 20 or fewer fantasy points. Miami's defense even made Patrick Mahomes look somewhat mortal with a three-interception day on Sunday.

Newton will need a big rushing performance to salvage his fantasy score this week and as we've seen several times recently, you can't always rely on that against quality opponents.

Boone's projection: 139 passing yards, INT, 49 rushing yards

Other QBs to sit

• Kirk Cousins vs. Bears
• Teddy Bridgewater at Packers
• Matt Ryan vs. Buccaneers

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs

at Saints

Edwards-Helaire has only topped 50 rushing yards once since his career-high 161-yard day against the Bills back in Week 6. Even that big performance is tainted after Buffalo's coaching staff admitted they were selling out to stop the pass and essentially conceded the rushing production.

The good news for CEH is that he's coming off his highest snap share of the season, seeing the field on 74% of the plays against the Dolphins. He also kicked in 59 yards on five receptions versus Miami - his most usage as a pass-catcher since the opening month of the season.

Are you ready for the bad news? The Chiefs square off with the Saints' league-best run defense, which will be dialed in after a shocking upset to Jalen Hurts and the Eagles.

Running back can be a tough position to find quality replacements, but don't treat Edwards-Helaire as anything more than a low-end RB2 in his worst matchup of the year.

Boone's projection: 38 rushing yards, 16 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• David Johnson at Colts
• Todd Gurley vs. Buccaneers
• Damien Harris at Dolphins

Tee Higgins, Bengals

vs. Steelers

Cincy's offense hasn't been the same without Joe Burrow, and now backup Brandon Allen is dealing with a knee injury. If Allen joins Burrow on the sidelines, disappointing sophomore Ryan Finley and his career 48.1 completion percentage would be thrust into action.

While Finley did show some rapport with Tyler Boyd last year, Higgins' production is going to be threatened even more, especially against the Steelers' defense. The rookie wideout has been held to 56 yards or less in four straight games and can't be trusted in fantasy lineups until Burrow returns in 2021.

Boone's projection: 45 receiving yards

Other WRs to sit

• Marvin Jones at Titans
• Antonio Brown at Falcons
• Jerry Jeudy vs. Bills

Hayden Hurst, Falcons

vs. Buccaneers

Hurst has been playing through an ankle injury the last few weeks and his numbers have suffered as a result. After averaging the 11th-most fantasy points among tight ends through the first nine weeks of the season, Hurst has been held under 10 yards in three of his last four outings.

With Julio Jones possibly done for the year, the Falcons' offense doesn't have the same upside and won't be spending nearly as much time around the red zone.

Though Hurst was a solid TE1 in the first half of the year, you should look to better streamer options as you make the final push for a fantasy title.

Boone's projection: 29 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• Jonnu Smith vs. Lions
• Dalton Schultz vs. 49ers
• Austin Hooper at Giants

Stash

Cole Kmet, Bears

Over the last four games, Kmet (9% rostered) has overtaken Jimmy Graham as the Bears' lead tight end. The rookie is now playing over 70% of the snaps and has seen at least seven targets in two straight games.

With many fantasy managers desperate for help at the position, Kmet is a TE2 with TE1 upside if he can maintain this volume in upcoming matchups with the Vikings and Jaguars.

Kendrick Bourne, 49ers

With Aiyuk stepping into the No. 1 receiver spot, Bourne (5% rostered) will be the favorite for the No. 2 role while Samuel is sidelined.

Even before becoming a near full-time player last Sunday, Bourne had quietly seen at least five targets in each of his previous five outings. Plus matchups with the Cowboys and Cardinals will make him a flex option over the next two weeks.

Quit

Antonio Brown, Buccaneers

At this point in the season, the decision to hold or drop players often comes down to whether you can see a path to starting them over the final two weeks.

Brown (63% rostered) has an outstanding matchup with the Falcons' defense this week, but his recent numbers make it hard to trust him as an option in the fantasy semifinals. After being force fed targets in his first few games with the Bucs, Brown has just 8 targets over his last two contests and his playing time dipped under 50% of snaps in Week 14.

With the coaching staff openly discussing Scotty Miller getting an increased role down the stretch, Brown will likely need an injury to either Chris Godwin or Mike Evans to become a receiver you can start with confidence the rest of the way.

Sterling Shepard, Giants

Even prior to Daniel Jones' recent injury issues, Shepard (48% rostered) has struggled to deliver in 2020. The 27-year-old receiver has been held under 50 yards in six of his nine appearances this season and only has one trip to the end zone on the year.

Whether it's Jones or Colt McCoy under center, Shepard is a risky play with a low ceiling and a basement-level floor - evidenced by his two latest stat lines of 1-22-0 and 3-35-0. If you're chasing a fantasy title, Shepard isn't likely to help you get there.