Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: Last-Minute Fantasy Football Advice for Sunday

There are plenty of reasons why fantasy owners can sometimes procrastinate when it comes to setting their lineups. They may have been consumed by holiday shopping, were traveling for the weekend or simply spent a little too much time at the local watering hole on Saturday night.

Well, it's Sunday morning and the early games are just hours away. So, if you happen to fall into one of those categories and are in need of some quick help, you've come to the right place.

At this time of year, every fantasy league has entered its playoffs, making Week 15 extremely pivotal. After all, one mistake can lead to a season-ending loss to your buddy's team and a year's worth of jokes at your expense. No one wants that.

In an effort to avoid any last-minute lineup uncertainties, here's a look at a good example of a starting-caliber player with a friendly matchup at each position, followed by a group that should be left on the bench, for Sunday's slate of games.

Start 'Em

Pos.	Player	Opponent
QB	Eli Manning, NYG	Washington Redskins
RB	LeGarrette Blount, NE	Miami Dolphins
WR	Donte Moncrief, IND	Houston Texans
TE	Travis Kelce, KC	Oakland Raiders
D/ST	Carolina Panthers	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
K	Cody Parkey, PHI	Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is a fantastic start this week against a terrible Washington Redskins defense. When these teams last faced off in Week 4, Manning threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns en route to 32 fantasy points. It's likely he'll come close to duplicating that feat on Sunday.

Washington is ranked dead last against opposing quarterbacks, allowing an average of 20.0 fantasy points per game. The Redskins have allowed multiple passing touchdowns in nine of their last 11 games. Expect Manning to take advantage of Washington by utilizing Larry Donnell against a unit that has allowed four touchdowns to tight ends over its last two games and getting the dangerous Odell Beckham Jr. into the mix early.

LeGarrette Blount didn't take long to establish himself atop the pecking order in the New England Patriots backfield. In Week 14, he carried 20 times while the team didn't give more than two to any other ball-carrier. Based on that sizable workload, he'll have a field day against the Miami Dolphins in Week 15.

Miami is allowing an average of 17.0 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season, but it has been torched of late. Ball-carriers have rushed for at least 156 yards in each of the Dolphins' last three games, reaching the end zone twice in that span. With upwards of 20 carries once again, Blount will do some damage.

Bill Barnwell of Grantland tweeted what several other running back-needy teams were thinking while watching Blount run in Week 14:

Donte Moncrief has emerged as a great deep threat in the Indianapolis Colts offense of late. Veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne has been dealing with a torn triceps muscle, making Moncrief the No. 2 option for Andrew Luck behind T.Y. Hilton. He didn't disappoint in Week 13 against Washington, putting up 134 yards and two scores on three receptions.

He'll have a great chance to duplicate those numbers this week against a suspect Houston Texans secondary that has been susceptible to big passing plays. Houston enters Sunday ranked 31st in the league, allowing an average of 26.5 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Moncrief will have many chances for big plays, especially if the Texans decide to roll coverage in Hilton's direction.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is finally getting worked into the team's offensive game plan. He came away with seven receptions for 110 yards in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, and a favorable matchup Sunday against the Oakland Raiders should see him continue that success. Kansas City's tight ends fared well against Oakland in Week 12, and we should see more of the same in Week 15.

Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com tweeted a flattering comparison for Kelce during the tight end's Week 14 showing:

If you're stuck on a defense this week, the Carolina Panthers make for a sneaky play. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season, and the Panthers are coming off a great showing against the New Orleans Saints. Carolina's defense has a good ceiling with this matchup, and the risk is minimal, as it has only accumulated negative fantasy points once in its last six games.

Cody Parkey kicked four field goals and came away with 15 fantasy points the last time the Philadelphia Eagles faced off against the Dallas Cowboys. Expect Philadelphia to move the ball well against Dallas once again this time around, giving Parkey many more chances to rack up fantasy points.

Sit 'Em

Pos.	Player	Opponent
QB	Johnny Manziel, CLE	Cincinnati Bengals
RB	Ryan Mathews, SD	Denver Broncos
WR	Mike Wallace, MIA	New England Patriots
TE	Jason Witten, DAL	Philadelphia Eagles
D/ST	San Francisco 49ers	Seattle Seahawks
K	Dan Carpenter, BUF	Green Bay Packers

Yes, there's plenty of hype surrounding the first-career start of Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel; however, fantasy owners shouldn't be buying into it in this pivotal week. After all, do you really want to hinge your aspirations of playing in the championship game on an unproven rookie quarterback? The correct answer is no.

Things won't be easy for Manziel this week. He's playing in an extremely important divisional clash with the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals have been very good against opposing signal-callers for the most part this season, allowing an average of 14.1 fantasy points per game, the seventh fewest in the league. Sure, Manziel could light it up Sunday, but don't count on it.

This tweet from ESPN Fantasy Sports is fitting due to the huge amount of uncertainty surrounding Cleveland's offense in Week 15:

Since his return in Week 11, San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews has eclipsed the 100-yard mark once and reached the end zone twice. He's regained the role as the team's lead back, but he doesn't have a favorable matchup heading into Week 15. To make matters worse, he's dealing with an ankle injury and he may not be 100 percent if he does ultimately suit up.

The Denver Broncos have been fantastic against the run this season, allowing an average of just 12.4 fantasy points to opposing ball-carriers. Denver has only allowed an opponent to gain 100 yards on the ground just once this season and has given up just one rushing touchdown since Week 6.

Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace got off to a hot start this season, racking up seven receptions for 81 yards and a score in Week 1 against New England; however, don't expect history to repeat itself Sunday against a stout secondary featuring cornerback Darrelle Revis.

The Patriots are allowing just 17.6 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, the sixth fewest in the league. They haven't allowed more than one receiving touchdown in a game by a wideout since Week 6, and Revis continues to play very well against the opposing offense's No. 1 option.

Jason Witten has been a fantasy staple for years, but he doesn't have a favorable matchup against an Eagles team that only allowed him one reception for eight yards in Week 13. Philadelphia hasn't allowed a touchdown to a tight end since Week 2, and that's not a good sign for Witten, as he hasn't gained more than 33 yards since Week 9.

The San Francisco 49ers have been imploding on the offensive side of the ball and it's affecting the team's defense as well. The 49ers defense has scored a total of four fantasy points in its last two games. The Seattle Seahawks have been limiting turnovers of late, and while they aren't the most prolific offense, they rarely give opposing defenses opportunities to accumulate fantasy points.

Buffalo Bills kicker Dan Carpenter has posted double-digit fantasy points in two of his last three games, but that's not likely to happen again in Week 15 against the Green Bay Packers. Due to Green Bay's ability to get out to early leads, opposing kickers are given few opportunities. That has resulted in the team giving up just two double-digit fantasy showings to the position this season and none since Week 8.

All fantasy rankings and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues and current as of December 13.