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

Baker Mayfield, Browns

at Cardinals

After predictably flopping against the Steelers two weeks ago, Mayfield surprisingly came up lame in a favorable matchup with the Bengals last Sunday. While that might scare some owners away, you can confidently go back to the Browns quarterback thanks to his date with the Cardinals, who've allowed the most passing yards, passing touchdowns, and fantasy points to the position in 2019. Even with a banged-up Odell Beckham Jr., Mayfield has more than enough weapons to be a QB1 against Arizona.

Boone's projection: 279 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 12 rushing yards

Other QBs to start

• Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Falcons
• Kyler Murray vs. Browns
• Gardner Minshew at Raiders

Raheem Mostert, 49ers

vs. Falcons

Mostert was the top pickup in our Week 15 waiver wire column, and since then, head coach Kyle Shanahan has continued to heap praise on the 27-year-old runner.

"Raheem's earned it over these last few weeks," Shanahan told The San Francisco Chronicle. "We keep trying to balance it out, but what Raheem has done these last few weeks and has continued to do, we need to give him more opportunities. He's given us no choice."

If Mostert continues to play 60% of the snaps in the league's second-most productive rushing attack (behind Lamar Jackson and the Ravens), then you need to have him in your lineup as a solid fantasy RB2 in an unimposing matchup with the Falcons.

Boone's projection: 78 rushing yards, 31 receiving yards, TD

Other RBs to start

• James Conner vs. Bills
• Miles Sanders at Redskins
• Kareem Hunt at Cardinals

Dede Westbrook, Jaguars

at Raiders

With DJ Chark almost certain to be sidelined with an ankle injury, Westbrook vaults into the WR2 conversation and teammate Chris Conley isn't far behind as a WR3 this week. We've targeted the Raiders' pass defense often in this column, and for good reason - they rank 31st in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA and have given up monster stat lines to opposing wideouts, including A.J. Brown's 153-yard, two-touchdown afternoon last week.

Boone's projection: 93 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• Emmanuel Sanders/Deebo Samuel vs. Falcons
• Terry McLaurin vs. Eagles
• Sterling Shepard/Darius Slayton vs. Dolphins

Tyler Higbee, Rams

at Cowboys

Higbee has 14 receptions, 223 yards, and a touchdown with Gerald Everett sitting out the last two games. He's also led all tight ends in air yards during that span while playing 94% of the Rams' snaps. That makes him a strong TE1 option in fantasy heading into a meeting with a Cowboys defense permitting the 11th-most fantasy points to the position.

Boone's projection: 68 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Ian Thomas vs. Seahawks
• Dallas Goedert at Redskins
• Mike Gesicki at Giants

Sit

Josh Allen, Bills

at Steelers

Allen has made great strides in his sophomore year, but he struggled versus a stingy Ravens defense in Week 14. Unfortunately, his schedule only gets worse over the next two contests with the Steelers this Sunday and the Patriots on deck. Pittsburgh has held 10 of the last 11 quarterbacks it's faced under 15 fantasy points. While Allen has the tools to overcome any matchup, fantasy owners need to consider other options if they're looking for upside. Dropping Allen and rolling with streamers the next two weeks is a wise decision.

Boone's projection: 156 passing yards, TD, 2 INTs, 19 rushing yards

Other QBs to sit

• Matt Ryan at 49ers
• Mitch Trubisky at Packers
• Philip Rivers vs. Vikings

Devonta Freeman, Falcons

at 49ers

Freeman was a start in this column last week and delivered with 94 yards from scrimmage and a score in his first quality performance since early in the season. Though a very enticing matchup with the Jaguars awaits in Week 16, Freeman is an extremely risky play in the fantasy semifinals on the road against the 49ers. Despite occasionally giving up big rushing yardage, San Francisco is still allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs. The 2019 version of Freeman hasn't shown that he's capable of overcoming tough opponents, so hopefully you have a better option.

Boone's projection: 44 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• Adrian Peterson vs. Eagles
• Carlos Hyde at Titans
• Bo Scarbrough vs. Buccaneers

Diontae Johnson/James Washington, Steelers

vs. Bills

If Devlin "Duck" Hodges only managed 152 passing yards against the Cardinals' league-worst pass defense, what's a fair projection for him versus the Bills? Knowing Hodges' limitations, the Steelers are relying on their defense and rushing attack to propel them toward the playoffs, and that suggests minimal passing attempts in this game. Johnson looked impressive posting 6-60-1 last week, but don't forget he was held under 30 yards in each of the previous three outings. You also shouldn't expect Washington to get loose deep against a Bills defense that sells out to stop teams through the air. Even with JuJu Smith-Schuster still out, Johnson and Washington belong on fantasy benches this week.

Boone's projection: 38 receiving yards (Johnson)
46 receiving yards (Washington)

Other WRs to sit

• Tyrell Williams vs. Jaguars
• Larry Fitzgerald vs. Browns
• Curtis Samuel vs. Seahawks

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings

at Chargers

In the first six games of the season when Adam Thielen was healthy, Rudolph was a nonfactor in fantasy with zero trips to the end zone and stat lines of 0-0, 3-9, 1-11, 1-12, 1-4, and 3-36. As Thielen prepares to return this week, Rudolph's chances of producing in fantasy decline dramatically.

Boone's projection: 29 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• Jason Witten vs. Rams
• Jimmy Graham vs. Bears
• Tyler Eifert vs. Patriots

Stash

Kerryon Johnson, Lions

Johnson can be activated off injured reserve in Week 16 and, since he's been practicing with the team lately, a return in the fantasy championship round appears likely. Can you trust him in his first game back against a challenging Broncos defense? That depends on your other options at running back, but Johnson should be owned everywhere as a potential RB3 with RB2 upside.

Dion Lewis, Titans

Derrick Henry is expected to play through a hamstring injury Sunday, but it's possible he could be limited or suffer an aggravation of the issue that would put his Week 16 status in doubt. As his immediate backup, Lewis (11% owned) is a sneaky add off the waiver wire.

Quit

LeSean McCoy, Chiefs

Even with all the injuries in the Chiefs' backfield, McCoy (62% owned) is playing on just a third of the team's snaps. That makes him completely touchdown-dependent and gives him a dangerously low ceiling and floor for fantasy. Unless you're desperate, his roster spot would be better spent on someone with more upside.

Brandin Cooks, Rams

Cooks (71% owned) will see his streak of four straight 1,000-yard seasons end this year as he's developed into an afterthought in the Rams' offense. Last week, he failed to catch a single pass while playing on less than 39% of the team's snaps. He should have been dropped long ago in re-draft leagues.