Fantasy football advice, Week 15: Who to start/sit for Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills

With only four teams remaining in each fantasy league across the board, it’s not exactly a news flash to say that fantasy owners have to be at the top of their game. Several factors present themselves for the matchup between the Bills and Browns on Sunday, and fantasy owners will absolutely have to examine them closely to get the upper hand on their opponent. Let’s take a look:

No fantasy value is a given with Robert Griffin III at quarterback, but for the truly daring fantasy owners, Terrelle Pryor remains a high-ceiling option despite having obvious risk associated with him. Buffalo’s seventh-ranked pass defense has allowed just 15 touchdowns through the air, a total that is lower than all but four NFL teams. Pryor’s talent sets him apart in bad matchups, but starting him in the playoffs is something that only fantasy owners who are heavy underdogs should consider.

Griffin and his group of receivers can remain on benches, along with Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell, despite the latter eclipsing 100 yards in Week 14. There simply isn’t enough fantasy wealth to trickle down to the Browns’ complementary weapons.

The Browns have allowed over 100 yards rushing in eight straight games, which sets up a potential script for the Bills to do what they do best. LeSean McCoy is a no-brainer RB1 in such a great matchup, especially against a defense that is allowing the second highest amount of points per game. Fantasy owners looking to capitalize on high ceilings of Browns opponents would also be served well to start Sammy Watkins, who continues to make plays fresh off of an injury. Watkins found the end zone against the Steelers in Week 14, and isn’t a bad bet to do so once again.

Though Tyrod Taylor has the ability to go off against this Browns defense, he may not have to. With a defense good enough to keep them in the game, it’s possible that the Bills won’t deviate from their ground-and-pound identity. The ceiling for Taylor always exists due to his dual threat nature, but his low floor is something fantasy owners will have to consider with the quarterback position being so deep across the fantasy spectrum. Taylor is a boom-or-bust QB2 even against a soft defense.

Robert Woods and Charles Clay don’t warrant lineup spots for Week 14 and beyond with Watkins back in action. The Bills’ passing attack is simply too low-volume to house many consistent fantasy options among pass catchers.