Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: Final Review Before Thursday Night Football

If you came here looking for Thursday Night Football fantasy advice, here it is.

Both defenses are worth starting, if you're going with an Arizona running back the man you want is Kerwynn Williams and, while you can gamble on Tre Mason, Williams, Larry Fitzgerald or Michael Floyd, I'd recommend benching them all this week.

OK, now that we got that out of the way, we can get to the rest of this week's Start 'Em, Sit 'Em advice. Because let's keep it real—a Thursday night game between two solid defenses and two mediocre offenses isn't offering much in the way of fantasy relevance. 

The following players, however, are all intriguing cases this week.
 

Start 'Em: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

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The key to owning Eli Manning is knowing precisely the moment to start him. He's inconsistent, after all, but he does have a pretty high ceiling in favorable matchups. Remember, Manning has gone for 21 or more fantasy points four times this season and notched 32 points in a Week 4 matchup against Washington.

And that's the key. This is one of those weeks that Manning can absolutely blow up, as he again faces a Washington defense giving up 20 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week, worst in the NFL.

More often than not, starting Manning is way too risky. But if you've been streaming quarterbacks this year, carefully playing the matchups, Manning is absolutely the man you want to nab this week. 

Sit 'Em: Johnny Manziel, QB, Cleveland Browns

On Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns announced that Johnny Manziel would be the team's starter on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals:

For owners who have been streaming quarterbacks throughout the season, starting Manziel this week is going to be tempting. After all, we all saw him in college. He's an exciting player who can make plays with his feet or extend the play long enough to find an open receiver down the field. 

Resist the temptation. 

We've seen Manziel for all of a few drives in the regular season thus far, and we have virtually no idea what he'll show at the NFL level given a full game. Plus, he isn't exactly earning his first start in an easy matchup, as the Cincinnati Bengals have held opposing quarterbacks to 14.1 fantasy points per game, seventh in the NFL. 

Starting an unproven rookie in a tough divisional matchup against a good defense trying to secure a playoff berth is a recipe for disaster. Johnny Football may end up being a viable fantasy starter down the line, but he isn't one this week.

Start 'Em: Isaiah Crowell, RB, Cleveland Browns

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I understand why you might be hesitant to start Isaiah Crowell this week. After all, Terrance West actually had more carries than Crowell in Week 14 (15 to 14) and each player finished with 54 rushing yards. Plus, with a rookie quarterback under center in Manziel, who knows what to expect from Cleveland's offense?

Let's break this down point by point.

For starters, Crowell is a better player than West. He's more explosive, he has a habit of finding the end zone (eight touchdowns this season to four for West) and he's now scored seven or more fantasy points in four of his last five games and reached double-digit points in three of those contests.

Plus, with a running threat like Manziel under center, Cleveland's running game should benefit. The Bengals are going to have to be very aware of Manziel given his ability to keep the ball and run, which should open up running lanes. 

And while Cincy has been tough against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy, they've been susceptible against the run, giving up 130.3 rushing yards per game (27th in the NFL) and 21.2 fantasy points to opposing backs each week (28th).

Add it up, and Crowell is absolutely a solid flex consideration this week. He isn't without his risks, no, but if you don't mind a bit of a gamble you should be rewarded handsomely for starting Crowell this week.

Sit 'Em: Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers

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I'm done with Frank Gore. Just done. I'm not even sure it's Gore's fault. After all, when a team's top back only gets 12 carries and rushes for 63 yards against the Oakland Raiders, one of the worst rush defenses in the league, I'm essentially done with that entire run offense. 

Which is weird to say, because in the Jim Harbaugh years we've associated the San Francisco 49ers with a smashmouth rushing attacking. Not so much this year.

Gore has all of 17 fantasy points, total, in his last four games. He's reached double-digit fantasy points just once in his last eight games. And now he faces a Seattle Seahawks defense that is third in rushing yards allowed per game, eighth in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs per game and has given up a total of 15 fantasy points to opposing backs in the past three weeks.

That includes holding Gore to just two fantasy points when the teams met on Thanksgiving. In other words, starting Gore this week simply isn't an option.

Start 'Em: Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills

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Lost amidst the amazing rookie seasons several wideouts are having, chief among them Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr. and Kelvin Benjamin, is the fact that Sammy Watkins is having a very solid year. After all, 58 receptions for 822 yards and five touchdowns is nothing to sneeze at for a rookie.

Watkins has a nice chance to add to that total against the Green Bay Packers, a team that just allowed Julio Jones to catch 11 passes for 259 yards and a score on Monday night. Watkins may not be on the same level as Jones just yet, but with the Bills likely playing catch-up against Aaron Rodgers and company, Watkins should see plenty of targets heading his way. 

He stepped up against the Denver Broncos this past week, catching seven passes for 127 yards (though he did lose a fumble). Look for him to step up again this week against a Green Bay defense that suddenly looks vulnerable against talented wideouts.

Sit 'Em: Mike Wallace, WR, Miami Dolphins

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There are so many reasons to sit Mike Wallace this week. There's the fact that he has a grand total of 21 fantasy points in his last four games.

Or that he's reached double-digit fantasy points just once in his last seven contests.

Or the fact that he and Ryan Tannehill just can't seem to connect on plays deep down the field.

Or the fact that his opponent this week, the New England Patriots, gives up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wideouts per week.

Or that he'll likely be shadowed by Darrelle Revis, who made Keenan Allen (two receptions for three yards) disappear last week.

Or...

Well, you get the point. Sit Wallace. There's little to suggest he'll help your team this week.

Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes, too. It's more fun than a Colin Kaepernick press conference.