Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: Making the Call on Fantasy Football Fringe Starters

As most owners prepare for semifinal matchups in their fantasy playoffs, lineup decisions take on a life-or-death importance.

While most owners who have gotten this far have built a solid foundation, nearly every team has some weakness in need of fixing. That one spot in your lineup every week you stare at, longingly, hoping that if you stare long enough it'll become a competent player. And unless you play in a fantasy league within the pages of the Marvel Universe, that player never changes. There he is, Jason Damn Witten staring you right in the face.

Well, inasmuch as one can given roster limitations at this point, I'm here to help. The following are players sitting on the edge of fantasy starting lineups and the reasons you should or shouldn't give them a go in Week 15.

Quarterback

Start: Mark Sanchez, Philadelphia Eagles

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

One (admittedly dreadful) game against the Seattle Seahawks is a terrible barometer for Sanchez's fantasy status. Anyone can take a look at his pitiful 96 yards and near-constant checkdowns and see he's not a quarterback capable of handling an elite defense.

But guess what: We already knew that. He's Mark Sanchez. The Butt Fumble guy. The star in this Eagles offense is the system, and it's one that Sanchez had executed just fine before last week. He has three 300-yard games in his five starts and is two weeks removed from a stellar all-around performance against these same Dallas Cowboys.

The former USC star threw for 217 yards and a touchdown, adding 28 rushing yards and a score in Philadelphia's 33-10 romp. This time, the Eagles get to take on Dallas at home. In his first two home starts, the Eagles scored 45 points on Carolina and 43 on Tennessee.

The Cowboys aren't a bottom-10 team, but they are a bottom-10 defense. Look for Sanchez to return to fantasy relevance this week.

Sit: Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns

First thing: I love Johnny Manziel. Love watching him play, love watching his off-the-field exploits, love his brash on-field personality. He reminds you that sports are fun, which we so often forget in this self-serious culture.

That he's polarizing—that people loathe his existence—makes him all the more fun. As sportswriters we judge player performance on merit, but I have no qualms admitting I hope Manziel continues making the game interesting for the next decade.

Second thing: I want zero part of Johnny Manziel as he makes his first start Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. We have an eight-pass sample of Manziel playing OK in garbage time against a non-playoff team in Buffalo. No one has any clue how good he'll be against a Cincinnati secondary that ranks 12th in Football Outsiders' DVOA.

The risk isn't worth the reward—especially when the likes of Sanchez are available in most leagues. It's possible he's amazing from the jump and I'm wrong. It's equally possible, though, that he's terrible and costs owners who start him their playoff chances.

Running Back

Start: Daniel Herron, Indianapolis Colts

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The Colts' fixation with Trent Richardson remains utterly confounding, but his quote, unquote "backups" continue to find ways to produce. Ahmad Bradshaw, who had eight touchdowns in 10 games before going out with a season-ending injury, has given way to Daniel Herron, another versatile back with a knack for the big play.

Herron, rightfully given the nickname "Boom," has consistently produced when on the field. He's averaging 5.1 yards per carry, has shown deft hands out of the backfield and the offense generally moves better than when Richardson plods forward for constant three-yard gains.

The Colts need to make a statement Sunday against Houston. The Texans, though their wins have come against god-awful opponents, aren't out of the division race. Indianapolis clinches with a win. This feels like a game where Chuck Pagano realizes that playing your best players is typically a good idea.

Sit: Denard Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

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A few weeks ago, it appeared Robinson had gained must-start status. Now, it appears the Robinson era was a facade. The former Michigan star has a grand total of 99 rushing yards over the last three weeks, going full Jaguar at a time when owners were starting to trust him.

Throw that trust out the window. The Jaguars still have this weird affinity for Toby Gerhart, they play a strong Baltimore run defense this week and there's just been no sign of improvement from Blake Bortles. This is a bad situation all the way around.

Wide Receiver 

Start: Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Keenan Allen's averages the last four weeks when not shadowed by Darrelle Revis: 8.3 receptions, 96 yards, one TD.

Keenan Allen's numbers when shadowed by Darrelle Revis: two receptions, three yards.

Unless the Denver Broncos miraculously acquire Revis in the next few days, Allen's numbers should go up. Denver has its own fine secondary, but it's one against which Allen already had success this season. The second-year star had nine catches for 73 yards and a touchdown when these teams met in Denver.

Early-season struggles and the general non-explosiveness of his performances have led some to sour on Allen, but he's been consistently solid for the last two months. Don't let one week discourage you from keeping him as a WR2. 

Sit: Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

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Wayne is not only a must-sit, he's droppable in all formats. He's playing through a list of injuries so long that it wouldn't be out of the question for Pagano to give him the "DNP - Old" treatment. The most severe of Wayne's ailments is a torn triceps that everyone admits is adversely affecting his performance.

"Is (his play) a byproduct of that," Pagano told Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. "Would I say no? No, I wouldn't. There's something there because we know the player that Reggie is, we know how he's contributed and we know how he can make the clutch catch. He had a tough day."

Over the last three weeks Wayne has 46 receiving yards. Last week he made one catch for five yards despite being targeted eight times. Andrew Luck didn't have his best game, but more than a couple of those incompletions were on Wayne. He's just not the same this year.

Tight End

Start: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans

James Kenney/Associated Press

Tight end is a crapshoot, but Walker may benefit from the return of Jake Locker. His best performance of the season, a 10-catch, 141-yard domination of the Cowboys, came with Locker under center. A starter for the first three weeks, Locker targeted Walker at least five times in every game and connected for touchdowns twice.

Tennessee plays the New York Jets in the Dumpster Fire Game of the Week. The Jets have allowed an NFL-high 12 touchdowns to opposing tight ends. 

Sit: Jordan Reed, Washington

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Let's paint a scene.

Friend 1: Hey, I'm thinking of starting a Washington player in my fantasy playoffs this week.

Friend 2: [Smacks Friend 1 in the hand with a ruler.]

Friend 1: Ouch! Seriously, Jordan Reed has been pretty good when hea...

Friend 2: [Smacks Friend 1 in the hand with a ruler, harder this time.]

Friend 1: Dammit, stop doing that! But Reed, he might be a slee...

Friend 2: [Smacks Friend 1 in the hand with a ruler, this time with the hard metal edge]

Friend 1: Fine.

Don't force your friends to be Friend 2.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.