Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: Smart Matchup Plays, Sleepers and More

Can we have a brief moment of silence for all of the fantasy owners knocked out of the playoffs due to Peyton Manning's two fantasy points in Week 14?

Yeah, fantasy football can sure be a fickle beast. For those who are still alive and kicking, it's time to start preparing for Week 15. After all, you didn't get this far on your good looks.

Assessing smart matchup plays, potential sleepers and looming busts must be an essential part of your early-week preparation. Sorting through your lineup on a Tuesday allows you extra time to assess any necessary waiver-wire additions to strengthen a weak position. So, if you're reading this, give yourself a pat on the back.

In an effort to help get the week off to a good start, here's a look at some examples of players to start and sit in Week 15.

Smart Matchup Plays

LeGarrette Blount, RB, New England Patriots (vs. MIA)

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Head coach Bill Belichick quelled any uncertainty regarding the Patriots' crowded backfield in Week 14, giving Blount 20 carries against the San Diego Chargers while Jonas Gray received just two. Clearly, Blount is in line to be the workhorse for this team once again.

While the ball-carrier tallied just 66 yards in San Diego, an average of 3.3 yards per carry, the Chargers haven't provided many big fantasy performances to opposing ball-carriers recently, holding the position to 15 points or fewer in every game since Week 9. Luckily, a favorable Week 15 matchup against the Miami Dolphins looms large.

Fantasy guru and editor of 4for4.com John Paulsen shared his thoughts on the running back entering Week 15:

The Dolphins have been gashed by opposing backfields of late, giving up 200 rushing yards and a score to Denver Broncos ball-carriers, 173 yards to New York Jets running backs and 156 yards and a touchdown to the Baltimore Ravens backfield. Those numbers are certainly promising for the bruising Blount.

If further reassurance of Blount's prowess in New England's backfield is needed, just look back over his two previous games against the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. He came away averaging 6.5 and 5.8 yards per carry in those performances, respectively. Consider him a solid RB2 in Week 15.

Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers (vs. DEN)

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Here's a matchup in which fantasy owners will be hoping history repeats itself. Allen produced one of his best games of the season against Denver in Week 8, racking up nine receptions on 13 targets for 73 yards and a touchdown. That performance began his climb back into fantasy relevance, as he scored double-digit fantasy points in two of the team's next four games.

So, Allen isn't coming off a very good Week 14 showing. In fact, he's coming off his worst performance of the season, catching two passes for just three yards after being blanketed by Darrelle Revis for a full 60 minutes. It was also difficult for Allen to accumulate fantasy points due to his lack of targets, via ESPN Stats & Info:

Although, that's no reason to lose faith in the wide receiver.

In Week 15, he has a huge chance to redeem himself against a Denver secondary that has allowed six 20-point fantasy performances, including a 25-point outing by Buffalo Bills receivers, over its last eight games. Considering Allen was targeted 13 times the last time San Diego faced off with the Broncos, we can assume he'll be accumulating the lion's share of those points.

Fantasy owners should consider Allen a worthy WR2 with big upside in Week 15. He'll get plenty of targets, and he has the ability to burn a susceptible Broncos secondary.

Sleepers

Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders (at KC)

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The Raiders finally came to their senses and gave Murray the bulk of the carries out of the backfield. While he had a difficult matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, Oakland remained committed to the run, giving the running back 23 carries. The end result was a 24-13 victory.

It should suffice to say Oakland found a winning formula, and it will continue to employ a balanced offense for the remainder of the season. If that's the case, Murray quickly becomes fantasy gold in Week 15 against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that continues to get gashed by the run.

While Kansas City doesn't allow many rushing touchdowns, somehow Murray found a way around that, accumulating the only two rushing scores the Chiefs have allowed this season in Week 12. The ball-carrier also totaled 112 yards in that contest, and here's the kicker: He did it all on just four carries. Mike Clay of Pro Football Focus sounded off on the matchup:

Now, imagine what Murray can do with 20 carries.

With Darren McFadden only receiving four carries against San Francisco, it appears he's being phased out of the game plan. Things are trending upward for Murray heading into Week 15, and fantasy owners should certainly consider him a strong flex play.

Martavis Bryant, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (at ATL)

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Bryant was making fantasy owners very happy between Weeks 7 and 10 this season, accumulating six touchdowns in that four-week span. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep up the pace, totaling just three fantasy points over his next two games. Well, after his performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14, it should be safe to say he's back.

The speedy wide receiver was targeted six times, accumulating four receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown, including a 94-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter that secured a huge win over his team's division rival. The Bengals have been very good against opposing wide receivers this season, but they couldn't hang with Bryant's speed.

Jon Zimmer, the director of AFC football communications for the NFL, tweeted an impressive statistic following Bryant's performance:

That's a great sign heading into Week 15 against a porous Atlanta Falcons defense. The Falcons have been absolutely terrible against opposing wide receivers this season, allowing at least 20 fantasy points to the position in all but one game. If Atlanta decides to roll coverage in the direction of Antonio Brown, Bryant will have a field day in single coverage.

Due to the sporadic usage of Bryant, he shouldn't be in line to start in one of your wide receiver slots; however, he makes a great boom-or-bust option in the flex position, and against the Falcons, he's more boom than bust.

Busts to Avoid

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins (at NE)

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This isn't a week to roll with Tannehill thinking he may get into a shootout with Tom Brady in Foxborough. Let's not sugarcoat this: That's not going to happen, and the Dolphins quarterback will tank for the third consecutive week.

It's extremely difficult to trust Miami's signal-caller at this point of the season despite his past success. He's in a big slump right now, accumulating just eight and 13 fantasy points in his last two games against the shaky secondaries of the Jets and Ravens. That's not a good omen before the quarterback travels to New England to take on Revis and Co.

Adam Rank of NFL.com certainly wan't pleased with the quarterback's performance:

The Dolphins have been severely missing a big-play element on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receiver Mike Wallace was supposed to be that threat, but he's averaging just 12.3 yards per reception this season. Being covered by Revis in Week 15 won't help matters, either.

After two down performances, and with a difficult matchup against the Patriots up next, it's safe to call Tannehill a likely bust for Week 15. Fantasy owners should relegate this quarterback to the bench and look for a better option elsewhere.

Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings (at DET)

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With running back Jerrick McKinnon on season-ending injured reserve, Asiata took over as the Vikings' primary ball-carrier. Over the past two weeks, he's received 13 and 19 carries, respectively, and the results haven't been impressive. In Week 13, he tallied 52 yards, and in Week 14, he accumulated 54 yards. Needless to say, he's not lighting it up for fantasy owners.

Adding to the running back's struggles, he's in line to face the Lions in Week 15. Detroit has been absolutely brutal to opposing ball-carriers this season, allowing just one 100-yard performance in Week 4 and just two rushing touchdowns over its last five games.

That's where Asiata's value is severely hurt. He isn't a home-run hitting back, averaging a measly 3.3 yards per carry this season. He's delivered two strong fantasy performances this season, scoring three rushing touchdowns in each of those contests. Don't expect a similar result against the Lions.

In Week 15, Asiata's upside is limited. It's highly unlikely he reaches the end zone, and he'll have a rough time eclipsing the 50-yard rushing mark against a stout Detroit defense. Unless you really need a flex player to put up roughly four fantasy points, keep Asiata on the bench.

All fantasy statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard scoring leagues and current as of December 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET.