Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: Reviewing Fantasy Football's Top Fringe Starters

With the fantasy football playoffs now upon us, the difference between a win and a loss is often the difference between fringe players either getting the start for your team or remaining on your bench.

Below, we'll take a look at a few players who could be the differences between joy and despair. (Yes, it's that serious come playoff time.)

Start 'Em: Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills

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You'll want to check the weather report carefully Sunday, given what Decembers in Buffalo can be like. But it's hard not to love the matchup here.

To put into perspective how bad the Cleveland Browns have been against opposing quarterbacks, they've now given up 16 or more fantasy points in 11 of 13 games this season and 20 or more fantasy points to the position five times. They are, not surprisingly, giving up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks in the NFL.

Taylor isn't exactly lighting the world on fire these days, but he still has managed 15 or more fantasy points nine times. Taylor's upside isn't as high as the elite options at the position, but if you are streaming quarterbacks, Taylor is an excellent choice this week.

Sit 'Em: Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford averaged 19.6 fantasy points over the first six games of the season. Since then, he's averaging a more pedestrian 15.5 points per contest. On the season, 15 quarterbacks are averaging more than 15.5 fantasy points per week, so Stafford's numbers stretched out to a full season would put him squarely in the QB2 tier.

This week, he faces a New York Giants defense giving up the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year and one that hasn't given up 20 points in a week to the position yet this season. Last week, the Giants held Dak Prescott to a whopping total of six fantasy points.

Avoid Stafford this week.

Start 'Em: Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

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A running back trending upward against a defense struggling with opposing running backs is always a recipe for success. Jeremy Hill, meet the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While Hill is fresh off a 111-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Browns, the Steelers are tied for 30th in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this year.

Hill is a safe choice—he has eight or more points in six of the past seven games—with plenty of upside. He's a nice starting option this week.

Sit 'Em: Ryan Mathews, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

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Ryan Mathews hasn't been particularly good this year, but with Wendell Smallwood on injured reserved and Darren Sproles' status up in the air, there may be the temptation to give Mathews a start.

Ignore it.

No team has given up fewer fantasy points to running backs this year than the Baltimore Ravens. They've given up 20 or more total fantasy points to the position just three times this season. Mathews, meanwhile, has just one double-digit performance in the past nine games.

Sit him.

Start 'Em: Mike Wallace, WR, Baltimore Ravens

The Philadelphia Eagles have bad cornerbacks, and opposing wideouts have taken advantage, scoring 24.8 points per week when facing Philly. The Eagles have given up at least 20 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers nine times and 96 fantasy points to the position in the past three weeks alone.

Mike Wallace has cooled off recently, failing to reach the end zone in the past five weeks, but he's continued to accumulate targets and receptions. The Eagles give up a lot of big plays to wide receivers, and Wallace still has deep speed. Don't be surprised if he torches them for a big play in Week 15.

Sit 'Em: Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

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Julian Edelman has returned to fantasy relevance since Week 8, averaging 9.1 fantasy points per game during that time and firmly planting himself in the flex conversation.

But the Denver Broncos are giving up just 12.0 fantasy points to opposing wideouts this season, easily the best mark in the NFL.

LeGarrette Blount and the team's running backs seem far more likely to hurt the Broncos defense than Edelman. Keep him on your bench.

Start 'Em: Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

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Zach Ertz doesn't necessarily have a good matchup against the Ravens this weekend. In fact, the Ravens are seventh in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, though they have given up touchdowns to the position in three of the past five weeks.

Starting Ertz is about the Eagles finally remembering he is one of the only legitimate weapons they have on offense. In the past two weeks, Ertz has caught 19 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown. While Philadelphia's season has fallen apart, Ertz has emerged as one of Carson Wentz's only reliable targets—just like we thought he would be all season long.

Sit 'Em: Coby Fleener, TE, New Orleans Saints

The Arizona Cardinals have given up one touchdown to opposing tight ends this season. Not coincidentally, it was also the only time they've given up more than five fantasy points to the position in a game.

There are tight ends that you'd maybe risk against this defense, but Coby Fleener, who has two games with double-digit fantasy points this season, isn't one of them.

All fantasy stats and points-against totals via ESPN.com standard leagues.

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