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

Texans@Titans

 

Game Info

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

Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN

Betting Odds: TEN -3, 50 total via Oddsshark

Network: CBS

Sleeper Spotlight: Duke Johnson

 

Houston Texans

 

Quarterback:

• Deshaun Watson (Start)

 

Deshaun Watson nearly reached 30 fantasy points in each of the past two weeks against the Patriots and the Broncos and is a must-start against a Titans defense missing some key pieces in the secondary. Tennessee is middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this year, but their defense has certainly benefited from a relatively friendly schedule of quarterbacks. Of the elite fantasy quarterbacks the Titans have faced, Patrick Mahomes lit them up for 446 yards and three touchdowns, Jameis Winston threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 53 yards, and Matt Ryan threw for 397 yards without a touchdown. Watson is certainly in that class of fantasy quarterback and is my QB2 in Week 15.

 

Running Backs:

• Carlos Hyde (Sit, Desperation Standard Flex)
• Duke Johnson (Sit, Desperation PPR Flex)

 

Since Week 10 bye, Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson have mostly split this backfield, though Johnson did have the advantage in Weeks 11 and 13 with 59% and 68% of the snaps respectively. Johnson has received some nice passing game work lately, with 11 catches on 14 targets for 94 yards and a touchdown over the last two weeks combined. However, the previous two weeks he had a total of 3 catches on 3 targets for 12 yards and has yet to post 10 carries in any game this season, making him hard to trust in the fantasy playoffs. The Titans have allowed the most targets, second-most receptions, and fourth-most yards to opposing running backs this year, so this does set up well for Johnson. But he is no more than a deep-league flex or desperation option in 10 to 12-team PPR leagues.

 

Hyde is your more traditional between the tackles runner, and the Titans have been much better at defending those types of running backs. Hyde has 9 catches for 32 yards on the season, giving him an extremely low floor in PPR leagues. He’s had double-digit carries in all but one game this year, a game where they were blown out by the Ravens, so you know he will get his touches. Most games with Hyde you are looking at about 60 yards rushing and left praying for a touchdown. You can hopefully do better than that this week, though he could be a desperation flex option in standard leagues.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight End:

• DeAndre Hopkins (Start)
• Will Fuller (Boom/Bust WR3/Flex)
• Kenny Stills (Sit)
• Keke Coutee (Sit)
• Darren Fells (Sit)
• Jordan Akins (Sit)

 

DeAndre Hopkins’ early-season “struggles” are long gone, and in PPR leagues Hopkins has scored 15 or more points every week since Week 4. That includes matchups against Baltimore, New England, and Denver. Not that you needed me to tell you, but Hopkins is a must-start this week and is my WR2 overall.

 

Will Fuller has been limited in practice this week and is questionable with a hamstring injury. He was limited in practice last week as well and ultimately sat out against Denver in a game the Texans likely thought they could win without him. In a must-win matchup against the Titans, I would expect Fuller to play. Fuller is a true boom/bust option, however, as not only is the risk of reinjury or limited snaps, but he also has the game log of a boom/bust option. Fuller has three touchdowns on the year, all of which came in his 14 catch, 217-yard performance in Week 5 against the Falcons. Fuller also posted 140 yards on seven catches in Week 12, but outside of those two games his season highs are 69 yards receiving and five catches. The Titans’ secondary is littered with injuries, so this is certainly an exploitable matchup. If Fuller is healthy, this ultimately comes down to how much risk and reward you are seeking. If you’re projected as a healthy underdog, he may be a player that can swing the matchup in your favor. If you’re a heavy favorite, you may be better off going with a safer floor option.

 

Without Fuller last week, Keke Coutee was on the field for 71% of Houston’s snaps and caught five of eight targets for 68 yards. Coutee hadn’t even shown up on the stat sheet since Week 11, however, and Fuller’s return would kill any fantasy value for Coutee. You could make a case for him as a desperation flex if Fuller sits out, but I would be looking for options with a more consistent role in their offense. Kenny Stills has failed to take advantage of opportunities when Fuller has sat out and is not an option in fantasy leagues this week even if Fuller sits out again. Darren Fells and Jordan Akins both typically see 50% or more of the Texans’ offensive snaps, and Fells has scored seven touchdowns on the season. But both are so inconsistent from week to week that there should be better options on waivers in most leagues.

 

Tennessee Titans

 

Quarterback:

• Ryan Tannehill (Start)

 

The Houston Texans have given up the sixth-most points to fantasy quarterbacks this year, putting Ryan Tannehill squarely in the mix as a QB1 this week. I have been reluctant to hop on board the Tannehill train this year, largely due to his passing volume. Tannehill has thrown 18, 22, and 27 passing attempts in his three games since the bye, totals that are less than ideal for the fantasy quarterback position. But it is hard to argue with his results so ride the hot hand again, especially against this burnable secondary. I have Tannehill as my QB6 this week, as a potential shootout with Houston should erase most of the volume concerns that I have with Tannehill most weeks. Start him with confidence.

 

Running Backs:

• Derrick Henry (Start)
• Dion Lewis (Sit)

 

Houston gives up the seventh-most points to fantasy running backs, and… does it even matter at this point? Start Derrick Henry. Henry was “limited” last week with a hamstring injury and posted 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns against the Raiders, and is currently steamrolling defenders on his way to fantasy excellence. He’s my RB2 behind only Christian McCaffrey. 

 

Dion Lewis no longer gets the passing game work that could potentially make him rosterable, as he hasn’t topped one reception since Week 9. He can remain on waivers.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:

• A.J. Brown (Start)
• Corey Davis (Sit)
• Adam Humphries (Sit)
• Tajae Sharpe (Sit)
• Jonnu Smith (Sit)

 

Wide Receiver A.J. Brown passes every eye-test that you could imagine and post his breakout performance last week with five catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns against the Raiders. He burnt the secondary deep and broke a tackle for a 91-yard touchdown, and later caught a slant for a touchdown where he ran over multiple defenders, showing his full range of skills in one game. The only question is volume, as he has a season-high eight targets in one game, and only has 16 targets and 12 catches over the last three weeks. But his explosive big-play ability and touchdown scoring prowess makes him a potential week-winner. Sometimes you just have to ride the hot hand, and Brown certainly qualifies. He’s my WR18 this week.

 

As Brown has emerged, Corey Davis has disappeared, totaling five catches on nine targets for 86 yards over the last three weeks. Davis is only a desperation option in the deepest of leagues. Adam Humphries was sidelined at practice Wednesday after missing Week 14 with an ankle injury and is off the fantasy radar. Tajae Sharpe caught all four of his targets for 25 yards last week but lacks the upside necessary to make him a fantasy option.

 

Jonnu Smith looked like he was breaking out when Delanie Walker went down with an injury but has since come crashing back down to earth. Smith combined for two catches on two targets for zero yards in Weeks 12 and 13, and despite catching a touchdown on a jump ball last week he can hardly be trusted. Tight ends have had success against the Texans this year, but Smith is only an option in the deepest of leagues as a tight end streamer.

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