Sit/Start Week 15: Reviewing All the Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Bills@Steelers

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, December 15 at 8:20 PM ET

Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Betting Odds: GB -1, 37 total via Oddsshark

Network: NBC

Sleeper Spotlight:

 

Buffalo Bills

 

Quarterback:

• Josh Allen (Sit)

 

Fun fact about Josh Allen: he’s a top-five QB so far this year. I like Josh Allen a lot, I think he’s a talented quarterback (though he does make a few mistakes). But this week, he’s up against a Steelers defense that’s allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. And, if we’re being honest, Allen’s had a pretty favorable schedule overall, and when he’s faced good secondaries lately, he hasn’t been great. Last week against the Ravens, he was really bad, and two weeks before against the Broncos, he was okay. If Allen is my only quarterback, I’m going to be looking elsewhere.

 

Running backs:

• Devin Singletary (Start/Flex)
• Frank Gore (Sit)

 

Singletary is talented, I like him a lot. The guy runs hard like he’s ticked off at the defense or something. He’s been solid lately, snagging double-digit fantasy points in each of the past three weeks, but has just one game over 20 fantasy points so far this season. Against a Steelers defense allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, he’s more a high-end flex than an RB2.

 

Wide receivers/Tight ends:

• John Brown (Start/Flex)
• Cole Beasley (Sit)
• Dawson Knox (Sit)

 

It stands to reason that if we think Josh Allen is going to struggle because the Steelers’ secondary is good, the wide receivers and tight ends will struggle too. If you have to start a Bills receiver, it’s John Brown, but even he doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence in me. He’ll likely draw Joe Haden in coverage, which isn’t as scary as it used to be but is still not great.

 

And while Beasley has had three great weeks in a row, I don’t feel comfortable trusting him in the fantasy playoffs at all. He’s got a decent floor, but I’d be looking elsewhere outside deep leagues.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Quarterback:

• Devlin Hodges (Sit)

 

There isn’t a ton to say here. Hodges manages the game decently, throws the ball short a lot, and isn’t someone you should be touching in fantasy. That’s been the case since he got the starting gig, and that remains the case this week, especially against a very good Bills defense.

 

Running backs:

• James Conner (Start/RB2)
• Benny Snell Jr. (Sit)
• Jaylen Samuels (Sit)

 

It’s looking like James Conner should be back this week, and if that’s the case, go ahead and slot him into your lineup. The Bills are pretty middle-of-the-road against running backs, so Conner should be able to have some success against them, but the thing holding him back is uncertainty over how much work he’ll get. Coming back from injury, I have no idea how much Snell and Samuels will be in the mix, how many carries Conner will get, it’s pretty risky. But I think if he’s healthy enough to be out there, he’ll get the work.

 

Wide receivers:

• JuJu Smith-Schuster (Start if healthy/Flex)
• Diontae Johnson (Sit)
• James Washington (Sit)
• Vance McDonald (Sit)

 

It’s looking like JuJu is back this week, which is great for him, but I’d be passing on him in my fantasy lineup unless I need him as a flex play. The Bills have given up the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, and I just don’t trust Devlin Hodges to overcome Tre’Davious White’s coverage of JuJu. Meanwhile, I realized Diontae Johnson had an amazing game last week, but with JuJu’s return, he’ll see his target share diminish, and against a tough Bills secondary? I’ll pass.

 

I’m also going to pass on Vance McDonald. He’s dealing with a concussion and might not even play, but even if he does, the Bills have given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends. No thank you.

-Ben Palmer