Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 15: Quarterbacks

Welcome to Week 15 of the fantasy football season. Christmas is right around the corner, and the fantasy playoffs are in full swing. With next week’s championship game deciding fantasy titles, your start/sit decisions will be more crucial than ever.

If you’re in a shallower league and still alive in the title hunt, chances are you won’t have to think about your quarterback position too much. However, some owners don’t have the luxury of plugging in Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, so they still have to think about their QB starter. We’ll try to help you chase fantasy glory with these recommended starters, along with players you should be avoiding in this crucial week.

Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Tennessee Titans)

It’s been hard to trust Smith in fantasy this season, but he’s actually playing much better as of late thanks to the emergence of Tyreek Hill. He still doesn’t have much of a ceiling, but Smith has a good matchup with the Titans, whose defense has a tough reputation but is actually 31st in passing yards allowed per game.

Kirk Cousins, Washington (vs. Carolina Panthers)

A legitimate every-week starter this year, Cousins is on his way to earning a massive paycheck in the offseason. Fantasy owners can keep riding him in the playoffs, where he faces a Panthers defense that’s been legitimately bad all season.

Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (vs. New Orleans Saints)

Yes, Palmer has been actively bad this year. The offense now runs through David Johnson, and Michael Floyd was released amid an arrest on a DUI charge. He doesn’t have much to work with in the passing game outside of Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. However, Palmer has a favorable matchup with the Saints defense at home, so if you’re in a deeper league you won’t be faulted for giving him a shot.

Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills (vs. Cleveland Browns)

Taylor is in the hot seat alongside Rex Ryan, so there’s the risk of an in-game benching. Combine that with his unimpressive play in recent weeks, and Taylor should be considered hands-off even in a dream matchup with the Browns defense.

Matt Barkley, Chicago Bears (vs. Green Bay Packers)

It’s fair to acknowledge Barkley is actually playing decent football. He has been a legitimate QB2 and is getting Alshon Jeffery back from suspension. That said, this game will be played in subzero temperatures, and the Bears will likely lean on Jordan Howard to carry the offense. Almost every Bear and Packer will be a hard sell in fantasy this week.

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (@ Atlanta Falcons)

So much for that hot streak. A week after getting benched for Blaine Gabbert, Kaepernick had another dismal performance against the New York Jets, averaging just 5.1 yards per attempt. The Falcons defense in a dome should be a great matchup for most QBs, but Kaepernick is impossible to trust in the playoffs.