Week 15 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Review for Fantasy Football's Top Fringe Starters

The fantasy football playoffs have arrived, and if weighing your options among fringe starters this week, you're probably still alive in the championship race.

Either that, or you're a big fan of winning that consolation bracket.

For those who have experienced good injury fortune during the 2025 NFL season, playing those matchup-proof stars will be an option now that bye weeks are a thing of the past. For everyone else, second-tier starters will be firmly in play.

Start: Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Jason Behnken

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving hasn't been a top-tier star this season, largely because he's been sidelined for much of it. However, he returned in Week 13 and has delivered 16.1 fantasy points in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues in each of the past two weeks.

Irving tallied 81 yards and a touchdown on 17 touches against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. He could have an even bigger workload and more significant production this Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons have surrendered just 0.3 fantasy points per week fewer than the Saints this season. Other fringe running backs to consider this week include:

Woody Marks, Houston Texans

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings

Sit: David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery managed to deliver 12.8 fantasy points during last Thursday's win over the Dallas Cowboys. However, Montgomery's production largely remains touchdown-dependent.

Montgomery found the end zone in each of his last two games but has fallen short of double-digit fantasy points in two of his last four. He's averaging a modest 10.8 fantasy points and has fallen below 10 points six times.

This week, Montgomery faces a brutal matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, who have surrendered just 15.2 fantasy points, on average, to opposing backfields. Jahmyr Gibbs' receiving role should carry him against L.A., but Montgomery is risky.

Other fringe backs to avoid include:

Breece Hall, New York Jets

RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Start: Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Houston Texans rookie Jayden Higgins has slowly established himself as the team's No. 2 receiver behind Nico Collins. He had just 6.4 fantasy points against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14, but he should have a bounce-back performance this week.

Higgins and the Texans will host the Arizona Cardinals, who have surrendered 6.7 more fantasy points each week to opposing receivers than Kansas City. Arizona also just allowed Puka Nacua to go off for 167 yards and two touchdowns.

While Higgins has averaged a modest 7.6 fantasy points this season, he's topped nine points in four of his last five games. Other fringe receivers to consider this week include:

Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants

Sit: Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Gareth Patterson

Rashee Rice has been fantasy-reliable, when healthy, for most of the season. However, managers should be wary of starting him this week against a tough Los Angeles Chargers defense.

Managers should flat-out avoid teammate Xavier Worthy,

Worth actually logged more fantasy points than Rice against an elite Houston Texans defense on Sunday night. However, he still only tallied 8.5 points and has fallen short of 10 points in four of his last five games.

The Chargers have surrendered the fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers this season. They're a matchup to avoid, along with these fringe receivers:

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.