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

Seahawks@Panthers

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, December 15th at 1:00 PM EST

Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

Betting Odds: SEA -6, 48 total via Oddsshark

Network: Fox

Sleeper Spotlight: Curtis Samuel

 

Seattle Seahawks

 

Quarterback:

• Russell Wilson (Start)

 

The Panthers have allowed the 10th fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position this year, though they have allowed a 300-yard passer in six of their last nine games. This is hardly a matchup to avoid, and despite Russell Wilson failing to reach 20 fantasy points over his last four weeks, he’s still a solid QB1 this week. Wilson might be more boom/bust than you would like from a player of his caliber, but there should be enough touchdowns to go around for the Seahawks to produce a solid fantasy day for Wilson.

 

Running Backs:

• Chris Carson (Start)
• C.J. Prosise (Sit)

 

With Rashaad Penny’s season-ending injury, this is a dream scenario for Chris Carson owners. Carolina gives up the most fantasy points to the running back position in 2019, getting gashed by Atlanta, Washington, and New Orleans on the ground over the last three weeks. Carson should get 20 or more touches like a true workhorse without Penny, and he ranks as a top-five running back this week. C.J. Prosise has received two touches total since Week 6 and can’t be trusted as a fantasy option.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight End:

• Tyler Lockett (Start, WR3)
• DK Metcalf (Start, WR3)
• Jacob Hollister (Start, Back-End TE1)

 

Carolina gives up the eight-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position in what has been an up and down year for the secondary. Last week was a good example, as they contained Julio Jones while also allowing a 93-yard touchdown to Olamide Zaccheaus. Tyler Lockett is hard to trust even in a nice matchup, however, as he hasn’t produced to his previous levels since his Week 10 injury. Last week was an “improvement”, catching four of six targets for 43 yards. But that was preceded by one catch and zero catch game, and Lockett hasn’t been the playmaker that he was in Week 9 where he caught 13 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. With your season on the line, Lockett is hard to see as much more than a leap of faith WR3. I have him as the WR26, and while I certainly wouldn’t be shocked to see him regain his old form with improved health, I wouldn’t want to bank on it in the playoffs.

 

DK Metcalf has been more consistent than Locket, catching 12 balls for 153 yards over the last two weeks. He doesn’t yet have the upside that Lockett has, as Metcalf only has one game over 100 yards on the season. But Metcalf has six catches in four of his last five games, hitting 70 yards or more in each. Metcalf is a high-end WR3 in this matchup, with a much higher floor than Lockett.

 

Tight end Jacob Hollister is averaging 6.8 targets a game over the last five weeks, producing an average of 4.8 receptions and 35 yards receiving. Carolina has defended the tight end position well overall, but Hollister’s volume puts him in the mix as a start-worthy tight end this week. I have him as the TE12 this week with a decent floor for the position.

 

Carolina Panthers

 

Quarterback:

• Kyle Allen (Sit)

 

Seattle has been middle of the pack allowing fantasy points to the quarterback position, so this isn’t a stay-away matchup for Kyle Allen at home. Allen has been a high volume passer, going over 40 attempts in four of his last five weeks, and surpassing 30 attempts in all but his first start of the season. But Allen has been a turnover machine lately while being under constant pressure in the pocket, and there has even been the talk of turning to third-round pick Will Grier at quarterback. Allen has upside, but the downside is too much to ignore, making him more of a 2QB league streamer than a traditional league option.

 

Running Backs:

• Christian McCaffrey (Start)

 

Christian McCaffrey has been on the field for 95% of the Panthers’ snaps this year and is a true workhorse that also just happens to lead all running backs in receptions with 86. McCaffrey has scored 20+ PPR points in all but two games this year. Who cares if the matchup is good or not, McCaffrey is the RB1. 

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:

• D.J. Moore (Start)
• Curtis Samuel (Start, WR3/Flex)
• Greg Olsen (Start)
• Ian Thomas (Start, If Olsen Misses)

 

D.J. Moore has been extremely consistent this year, and against a Seattle defense that has allowed the 15th most fantasy points to the wide receiver position, Moore is a high floor WR1 this week. Moore has had 75 yards receiving or more each week since Week 8 against San Francisco and ranks fourth among all wide receivers with 121 targets on the year. He may not have the elite upside of some WR1’s, but he makes up for it with a dependable floor each week.

 

There’s a ton to like about Curtis Samuel’s game, but with Allen at quarterback, he is no more than a touchdown/big-play dependent WR3. Carolina wants to find ways to get him the ball, as he is frequently targeted deep as well as incorporated into the running game. If Samuel and Allen could have connected on a few more deep shots over the year, we may be looking at Samuel differently. But as it stands, Samuel only gets to double-digit PPR points when he scores a touchdown. With six touchdowns on the year, you’ve got a shot at a good week from Samuel, but he’s no more than a WR3.

 

Greg Olsen returned to practice Wednesday, though he was limited to individual drills. Returning from a concussion, Olsen will need to clear the protocol, but if he does immediately becomes a fantasy starter. Seattle gives up the second-most points to the tight end position, as the position has given them problems from Week 1 on. Olsen is a high-floor TE1 with some room for a big game if healthy. If Olsen were to miss, Ian Thomas immediately slots into Olsen’s spot in the rankings and is an upside play in a plus matchup. Thomas filled in for Olsen last week and caught five passes on 10 targets for 57 yards and a touchdown. While a repeat of 10 targets may be a bit much to ask for, Thomas was a major part of the passing game, and as a fourth-round pick in 2018 has the draft pedigree to support his performance.

-Erik Smith (@ErikSmithQBL on Twitter, truebest on Reddit)