Fantasy football advice, Week 15: Who to start/sit for Dolphins vs. Chargers
Maybe 2016 will be better for these two teams.
Hopes were so high for the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers. Instead, here they are in Week 15, playing out the string. The Dolphins are 5-8, in last place in the AFC East, while the Chargers are even worse, sitting at 3-10 and in last in the AFC West. The two play one another Sunday afternoon.
The Dolphins might get wide receiver Rishard Matthews back Sunday after he missed time with a rib injury. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry is also on the injury report, but expected to be fine for the game. Running back Lamar Miller was held up in practice some this week, but most expect him to be good to go for the game. On the San Diego side, wide receiver Stevie Johnson will miss another game to injury, but Dontrelle Inman should return from his own injury, and wide receiver Javontee Herndon and tight end Ladarius Green are both expected to play despite their own appearances on the injury report.
The Chargers host the Dolphins Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look at the fantasy names to consider:
DOLPHINS
Start ‘em: Be aware of Lamar Miller’s possible injury heading into Sunday; he had only five second-half touches in Week 14 and practiced sparingly during the week. Still, if he plays, you likely have no choice but to use him, and he carries high upside. ... Jarvis Landry gets so many targets he almost has to be in every lineup.
Sit ‘em: The last seven weeks, Ryan Tannehill has averaged 13.2 fantasy points a game and topped 16 only once. ... Before his injury, Rishard Matthews had seen his numbers decrease as it was. Better to let him show he is healthy again before putting him back in lineups. ... Matthews' return hurts DeVante Parker's upside. ... Jordan Cameron hasn't done anything to make fantasy owners interested. ... Andrew Franks hasn't even averaged four fantasy points over his past seven games. ... The Dolphins' defense has had negative games more often than it's has positive ones.
CHARGERS
Start ‘em: The last three weeks, Antonio Gates has 29 fantasy points, and he has at least five in every game he's played this year but one.
Sit ‘em: Yes, he's had some tough matchups, his weapons are hurt, and he was ill, but those are all just symptoms to the general problem, which is that Philip Rivers has almost no upside right now. ... Melvin Gordon has equaled or bested Danny Woodhead's fantasy production for four straight games; neither is a fantasy option. ... Malcom Floyd and Dontrelle Inman are the best wide receivers left for San Diego, and against Miami, there's definite potential, but I'll be damned if I can tell you which is better. ... Josh Lambo is averaging five fantasy points a game in his last five. That's not great. ... The Chargers' defense can't be a fantasy starter until it has at least one game of double-digit fantasy points.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Lamar Miller, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Gates
Bench: Ryan Tannehill, Rishard Matthews, DeVante Parker, Jordan Cameron, Andrew Franks, Miami defense, Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead, Malcom Floyd, Dontrelle Inman, Josh Lambo, San Diego defense
