Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: Smartest Matchups to Exploit, Sleeper Plays and More

Just like in real life, the fantasy football playoffs come down to a combination of superstars and explosions by sleepers who make a name for themselves when it matters most.

For owners who entered the playoffs last weekend, an obvious exploitable matchup such as Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson against the miserable Baltimore Ravens yielded 31 points.

One of the biggest sleepers? Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell against the San Francisco 49ers, who bullied his way to 26 points.

Now would be the time for owners to switch gears and start perusing the matchups and sleepers for Week 15. It's crunch time with everything on the line for those still alive, so let's get to work.

QB     

Matchup	Verdict
Tom Brady (vs. TEN) vs. Blake Bortles (vs. ATL)	Tom Brady
Cam Newton (at NYG) vs. Drew Brees (vs. DET)	Cam Newton
Carson Palmer (at PHI) vs. Russell Wilson (vs. CLE)	Carson Palmer
Aaron Rodgers (at OAK) vs. Eli Manning (vs. CAR)	Aaron Rodgers
Jameis Winston (at STL) vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick (at DAL)	Ryan Fitzpatrick

Matchup to Exploit: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (at PHI)

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Starting Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is a good idea any week, for obvious reasons, but it wouldn't be a shock to see him lead all scorers in Week 15. 

After all, Palmer gets to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Chip Kelly's team entered last weekend allowing the third-most points to quarterbacks on average before letting up 17 more to Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor.

Palmer has 20 or more points in five of his last six outings with at least a pair of touchdowns in those explosions. Few have been as consistent or deadly as Palmer this year, so a road contest against the Eagles should have owners rubbing their hands together, not thinking about the decision at all.

Sleeper: AJ McCarron, Cincinnati Bengals (at SF)

Some might shy away from it, but new Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback AJ McCarron looks like the perfect sleeper in Week 15. 

With starting quarterback Andy Dalton out of the picture due to an injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, it's McCarron who steps into the best supporting cast the league has to offer, led by A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert.

In fact, McCarron posted a smooth 15 points in relief of Dalton in a rough divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now he'll actually take the first-team reps leading up to a showdown with the 49ers, a team that has allowed five opposing passers to throw at least two scores and let Cleveland's Johnny Manziel post 13 points last week.

While quite risky, McCarron steps into a game-manager role and might just have what it takes to save an owner's season given the weapons around him.

RB   

Matchup	Verdict
Devonta Freeman (at JAC) vs. Chris Ivory (at DAL)	Devonta Freeman
Adrian Peterson (vs. CHI) vs. Lamar Miller (at SD)	Adrian Peterson
Doug Martin (at STL) vs. DeAngelo Williams (vs. DEN)	Doug Martin
LeSean McCoy (at WAS) vs. Matt Forte (at MIN)	Matt Forte
Todd Gurley (vs. TB) vs. DeMarco Murray (vs. ARI)	Todd Gurley

Matchup to Exploit: Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at STL)

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

Doug Martin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept it rolling in Week 14 against a suspect New Orleans Saints defense, totaling 14 points on just 11 carries to give himself 10 or more points in four of his last five outings. 

Martin has turned it on as of late just in time for a matchup with the St. Louis Rams. The defense has been consistently ranked as one of the worst against backs over the second half of the season, having let up 20 or more points to opposing backfields three times over its last five.

With St. Louis having to focus on a potent passing attack led by Jameis Winston, Martin figures to have a major day in his every-down role and keep his strong streak alive.

Sleeper: Denard Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. ATL)

Denard Robinson stepped in for the Jacksonville Jaguars this past weekend and posted a smooth 14 points while featured in an every-down capacity.

It was Robinson's biggest work rate of the season thanks to an injury to starter T.J. Yeldon, who sprained his knee, according to the Jaguars on Twitter.

In other words, Yeldon might not be healthy enough to take a full workload next week against the Atlanta Falcons. Call it a major win for those who happen to own Robinson, considering the Falcons allowed the fifth-most points to the position a week ago before Carolina's Jonathan Stewart gashed them for 14 on his own.

Based on last week, Robinson has quite the attractive floor for an owner in need with a strong ceiling, too.

WR   

Matchup	Verdict
Antonio Brown (vs. DEN) vs. Jarvis Landry (at SD)	Antonio Brown
DeAndre Hopkins (at IND) vs. Larry Fitzgerald (at PHI)	DeAndre Hopkins
Odell Beckham Jr. (vs. CAR) vs. Calvin Johnson (at NO)	Odell Beckham Jr.
Julio Jones (at JAC) vs. Allen Robinson (vs. ATL)	Allen Robinson
Brandon Marshall (at DAL) vs. A.J. Green (at SF)	Brandon Marshall

Matchup to Exploit: DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans (at IND)

Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

It would almost be unfair to spotlight Palmer's favorite target, Larry Fitzgerald, so let's focus on Houston Texans wideout  DeAndre Hopkins instead.

Hopkins let more than a few owners down last time out, scoring just five points in what many figured would have been a shootout with the New England Patriots.

Alas, it's no reason to go away from the man called Nuk. He's scored 11 or more in three of his last five and remains one of the league's top target hogs going into a matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.

Those Colts just let up 51 points to the Jaguars by way of two touchdowns to wideouts, meaning the team has allowed six touchdowns to the position over two weeks. Nuk posted 16 on the unit back in Week 5, which might just be his floor this time out.

Sleeper: Kamar Aiken, Baltimore Ravens (vs. KC)

Nick Wass/Associated Press

It's hard to trust any member of the Baltimore Ravens right now, but wideout Kamar Aiken continues to post reliable numbers despite a shoddy quarterback situation.

Owned in 59.5 percent of leagues, Aiken has nine or more points in three of his last four outings and six or more in every outing except one since Week 8.

Against Seattle's so-called Legion of Boom last weekend, Aiken grabbed five passes for 90 yards and nine points.

It's an encouraging sign as he goes into a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that allowed the second-most points to the position before Week 14. The Chiefs haven't had an answer for most players at the spot this year, and Aiken will help keep the trend alive.

TE   

Matchup	Verdict
Rob Gronkowski (vs. TEN) vs. Tyler Eifert* (at SF)	Rob Gronkowski
Greg Olsen* (at NYG) vs. Gary Barnidge (at SEA)	Greg Olsen
Delanie Walker (at NE) vs. Jordan Reed (vs. BUF)	Delanie Walker
Travis Kelce (at BAL) vs. Richard Rodgers (at OAK)	Richard Rodgers
Antonio Gates (vs. MIA) vs. Benjamin Watson (vs. DET)	Benjamin Watson

Matchup to Exploit: Benjamin Watson, New Orleans Saints (vs. DET)

Steve Nesius/Associated Press

Other than the major names regardless of matchup, owners will want to take a look at New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson this weekend.

Thank the top-tier matchup. Watson's reliable with four or more catches in seven of his last eight games. Drew Brees leans on him when things break down and near the end zone, giving him a consistent floor.

Now, though, Watson gets to go against the Detroit Lions, one of those teams that just cannot seem to find an answer against the position, having let up four scores to the position over its last five outings.

Given Watson's floor and the upside provided the matchup, he's the top play.

Sleeper: Richard Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (at OAK)

It's hard to tell what Green Bay Packers tight end Richard Rodgers has to do to leave sleeper territory. 

Despite five touchdowns since Week 9, Rodgers still sits available in almost 40 percent of leagues. Not just on benches, either, but among the free agents who don't score much of anything at all.

Alas, Rodgers is the perfect play this week. Not only has he come up big as of late in an Aaron Rodgers-led passing attack, but he gets to go against the Oakland Raiders, formerly a running punchline for being so bad at defending the position.

Oakland still entered last weekend allowing the second-most points to the position. Spread thin while trying to account for Rodgers' weapons, expect Rodgers the tight end to post a massive day over the middle.

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats as of December 14. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com.