5 Start, 5 Sit for Week 15 of the 2024 NFL Season
The playoffs are here! Every decision now carries the weight of the season, and one wrong move could be the end of a year’s worth of work. The knowledge I’m bringing you this week will keep you in the game just long enough to taste victory at the end of December. Just like always: 5 good, 5 bad.
Start:
Sam Darnold vs CHI – Start
Sam Darnold went through a minor slump mid-season but has fully returned to form. A frontrunner for comeback player of the year, he just put up 347 yards and 5 touchdowns against the Falcons. This week, he gets to play the Bears again, but this time they’re down a head coach. Darnold’s last game in Chicago was pretty good, (330 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions) but with the Vikings rolling like they have been, I’m expecting another monster game from him. If you have Sammy D for this year’s playoffs, let him take you to the promised land.
Chuba Hubbard vs DAL – Start
I fully expected Chuba Hubbard to have a serious decline in usage once Johnathan Brooks got healthy. Turns out I was right, but only for 2.5 games. With Brooks out for another year now, Hubbard managed to put up 100+ scrimmage yards against the Eagles defense widely thought to be the best in the league. Going into Dallas and a very soft run defense, Hubbard has a fantastic matchup. the Panthers have been playing good ball recently and Hubbard is a big part of it.
Jauan Jennings vs LAR – Start
Jauan Jennings has become the #1 wide receiver for the Niners with Deebo Samuel playing so poorly (more on that later). His production has been a bit up-and-down but has seemed to be matchup-agnostic. He’ll play well against good defenses and badly against bad defenses, kind of weird! What I do know is that the last time he played the rams he had 11 catches for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns. I’ll take another piece of that action this week! Both of these teams still have playoff aspirations so it should be a great scoring game.
David Njoku vs KC – Start
David Njoku has practically been a league winner. In redrafts he was probably close to the 10th tight end taken and certainly wasn’t a high commodity in dynasty. Yet he’s currently the TE8 while only having played in 8 complete games. The Browns host the Chiefs this week which makes it a tough matchup, but Njoku has been getting crazy volume for a tight end. Since the bye week he has had 26 catches for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns. KC will be a challenge, but Njoku has succeeded against good defenses. Njoku didn’t practice on Wednesday but there is optimism he practices later in the week. As always, keep on an eye on his practice and game status prior to submitting those lineups.
Josh Jacobs vs SEA – Start
As the season has progressed, the Packers have leaned more and more on their run game to win. Jacobs’ solid streak of 20+ point games is a testament to that. He has 423 total yards and 8 touchdowns since their week 10 bye! He’s been able to perform like this even against some of the league’s best run defenses. Seattle has been playing well of late, but I don’t think they are going to be able to stop Green Bay from running up and down the field on them. Jacobs is an auto-start as long as he’s healthy and maybe even if he’s not!
Sit:
Kirk Cousins vs LV – Sit
Kirk Cousins has not thrown a touchdown since November 3rd. Since then, he has thrown 8 interceptions. That kind of gives you an idea of what you should do with him, I think. The Falcons overall have played alright, but Kirk has just not been getting it done through the air. He is not a guy I would trust going into the playoffs if money or a punishment is on the line.
D’Andre Swift vs MIN – Sit
D’Andre Swift had a season trajectory opposite to Sam Darnold: a swell in the middle and horrible otherwise. Swift hasn’t looked great since a game after the Bears’ bye week and his only relevant game had him score a touchdown. Since the Bears got an interim head coach, the offense seems to have taken another step backward. I am going to have a hard time trusting any player on this offense, probably until week 5 of next year.
Deebo Samuel vs LAR – Sit
I’ve had Deebo on my sit list once already this season and he has not improved since then. His efficacy in the run game has gone completely out the window and relying only on receiving isn’t worth it. He’s the third target in the progression on most plays now behind Jennings and Kittle and hardly gets enough volume to be worthy of your bench spots. I know that his name carries a lot of weight, but he shouldn’t be starting on your team.
Cade Otton vs LAC – Sit
Cade Otton had a brief stretch where he was fantasy relevant, but since Mike Evans has returned, Otton has fallen from grace. His four weeks of fame still have him sitting at TE6 on the year, but his production in the last four weeks make him a cut candidate. Baker Mayfield has also now built some chemistry with the younger receivers on the team and is comfortable targeting them down the field instead of Otton. He may have helped you out mid-season, but Otton should be in your starting lineup now.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs WAS – Sit
Valdes-Scantling was a surprise waiver wire grab in week 11 when he blew up for two touchdowns. Since then, he has pretty reliably been a part of a few deep balls a game from Derek Carr. With Carr’s injury status “week-to-week”, “MVS’s” prospects are looking grim. With Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler at the helm, it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to convert on as many deep shots. He will likely fade back into oblivion and never be heard from again.
If you want more offensive start/sit advice, follow me on X @TFFGRobbie. If you need IDP start/sit advice, give @ThePPRShow a follow as well.