This season, I’ll be taking you through my favorite wide receiver start/sits using the brilliant Slot vs Wide tool on the Razzball website. This tool is revolutionary in analyzing not just the difficulty of a wide receiver’s matchup but also the success of their opponent against a specific style of player. I recommend using it to help you with those tough start-sit decisions though you’re welcome to add your questions in the comments too. Please also check out my rankings at ffdfantasyfootball.com and you can find my long-form videos on the Fantasy First Down YouTube channel and my Slot/Wide analysis on the Razzball Fantasy YouTube channel.
Be sure to check out the latest tools on Razzball.com: Slot vs. Wide PPG Allowed | WR Slot vs. Wide| DEF Targets Allowed | Home vs. Away | Wins vs. Losses | TD Tool
Top WR Starts
- Player: Jakobi Meyers
- Matchup: Falcons
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 1
Yes, Aidan O’Connell is at risk of missing Week 15, but Jakobi Meyers has averaged 12 targets and 95 yards over the last three weeks. He and Brock Bowers are the Raiders passing offense and Meyers will continue to get targets in a top-tier matchup against the Falcons.
- Player: Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson
- Matchup: Jaguars
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 7
After weeks of struggles, the Jets broke out against the Dolphins in a brutal overtime loss. I expect the fun to continue for Aaron Rodgers and co. against a Jaguars defense incapable of stopping the pass. Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson are both strong WR2s in Week 15.
- Player: Malik Nabers
- Matchup: Ravens
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 9
The Giants looked totally impotent in Week 14 and the Ravens pass defense has improved a little in the latter half of the season. But I’m still backing Malik Nabers to have a good day as Drew Lock chases points against the rollicking Baltimore offense.
- Player: Elijah Moore
- Matchup: Chiefs
- Slot Matchup Rank: 2
Assuming Cedric Tillman remains out, I expect Elijah Moore to be a significant part of the Browns offense in Week 15. The Chiefs concede half of their wide receiver points to the slot and Moore has averaged 11 targets in each of his last four non-Steelers games. He’s a low-end WR3 in PPR this week.
Desperation WR Starts
Michael Pittman (IND @ DEN): Firstly, it’s wild to think the Broncos are now a top out-wide matchup, but that’s where we’re at. I’m still scared by Pat Surtain but you just can’t argue with the numbers that have them conceding 27 PPR points per week to guys lined up out wide. So even though Michael Pittman is a very risky start, the matchup gives him enough upside to make him a viable option.
Xavier Legette (CAR vs DAL): Adam Thielen is the clear top dog in the Panthers passing offense, but Xavier Legette is still a boom-bust option against the weak Cowboys secondary. He’s not my preferred go-to option but if you’re in a bind, you can do worse than Carolina’s home-grown rookie.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (TEN vs CIN): Don’t let one scoreless week put you off NWI. He still has eight touchdowns in nine weeks and remains the definition of boom-bust. In a non-PPR or half-PPR league, there’s enough upside here to make him a viable desperation start.
Ray-Ray McCloud (ATL @ LV): Falcons slot guy Ray-Ray McCloud has over 90 yards each of the last two weeks and now faces a Raiders defense particularly susceptible to the slot. He’s a strong PPR desperation play in Week 15.
Top WR Sits
- Player: All Steelers Receivers
- Matchup: Eagles
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 32
The Eagles have become a nightmare WR matchup and the Steelers have no clear every-down receiver outside George Pickens, who is unlikely to play this week. I’m avoiding this whole situation in the fantasy playoffs.
- Player: Jordan Addison
- Matchup: Bears
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 30
Jordan Addison is incredibly the WR16 on the season and he should be very productive in the coming weeks, but I’m avoiding him in his Week 15 matchup against the Bears. Yes, he blasted them for 164 yards and a touchdown in Week 12. But return ties rarely play out the same way.
- Player: Brian Thomas Jr
- Matchup: Jets
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 27
Although he’s had a run of strong performances recently, in his young career Brian Thomas Jr has a history of struggling in tough matchups. And they don’t get much tougher than the Jets. Assuming Sauce Gardner returns, I’m benching Brian Thomas Jr unless I lack viable alternatives.
- Player: Christian Watson
- Matchup: Seahawks
- Out Wide Matchup Rank: 25
I love Christian Watson for later in the playoffs, but I’m very wary of him this week for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Seahawks have been very effective in shutting down deeper out wide receivers. Secondly, Romeo Doubs’s return could lead to a renewal of the X receiver split Watson has had with Dontayvion Wicks. And lastly, Watson is extremely boom-bust, with a handful of deep targets his primary path to points. That’s a big risk for the fantasy playoffs.
WR Exceptions
Devonta Smith (PHI vs PIT): I simply can’t trust Devonta Smith this week, or indeed any week. The matchup is juicy on paper and Smith had a touchdown last week, but his consistently low yardage total makes it impossible to trust him in the fantasy playoffs. He’s at best a desperation start rather than the locked-in starter you expected when you drafted him.
Jalen McMillan (TB @ LAC): His two touchdowns in Week 14 make Jalen McMillan a tempting start in a top 3 out-wide matchup against the Chargers. But I’m unwilling to take that risk in my fantasy playoffs. McMillan just has such a low floor and that’s deadly this time of year.
Zay Flowers (BAL @ NYG): It’s hard to trust Zay Flowers in a bottom-five matchup against the Giants, but I can’t sit him either. Flowers always has upside in this offense and while he’s more of a high-end WR3 this week, I can’t recommend you bench him.
Good luck in Week 15 and remember, every player will be a sit in some leagues and a start in others so if you have any start-sit questions, drop them in the comments below or hit me up on Instagram @TheFantasyFirstDown
| Download Table as CSV | |||
| Note: Filters and sorting in the table below apply to the output | |||
| # | Defense | Total PPG Allowed | Slot PPG Allowed | Wide PPG Allowed | Slot% | Wide% | Next Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | 47.4 | 17.0 | 30.4 | 36% | 64% | KC | |
| MIN | 42.4 | 16.2 | 26.3 | 38% | 62% | DET | |
| DAL | 41.6 | 16.5 | 25.1 | 40% | 60% | WAS | |
| BUF | 40.9 | 16.1 | 24.7 | 39% | 61% | NE | |
| DET | 39.6 | 14.9 | 24.7 | 38% | 62% | MIN | |
| PIT | 39.0 | 11.2 | 27.8 | 29% | 71% | CIN | |
| NYJ | 38.9 | 18.8 | 20.1 | 48% | 52% | MIA | |
| PHI | 36.5 | 14.3 | 22.2 | 39% | 61% | NYG | |
| NYG | 36.2 | 9.9 | 26.3 | 27% | 73% | PHI | |
| CAR | 35.8 | 9.7 | 26.1 | 27% | 73% | ATL | |
| TB | 35.5 | 15.3 | 20.2 | 43% | 57% | NO | |
| CLV | 35.4 | 12.8 | 22.5 | 36% | 64% | BLT | |
| ATL | 35.3 | 9.3 | 26.1 | 26% | 74% | CAR | |
| LAC | 34.7 | 12.4 | 22.3 | 36% | 64% | LV | |
| TEN | 34.5 | 12.7 | 21.8 | 37% | 63% | HST | |
| LV | 34.3 | 10.7 | 23.7 | 31% | 69% | LAC | |
| NFL Average | 34.2 | 12.8 | 21.4 | 38% | 62% | ||
| CHI | 34.1 | 14.5 | 19.6 | 42% | 58% | GB | |
| IND | 34.1 | 9.7 | 24.5 | 28% | 72% | JAX | |
| NO | 33.5 | 12.8 | 20.7 | 38% | 62% | TB | |
| MIA | 32.6 | 9.5 | 23.1 | 29% | 71% | NYJ | |
| KC | 32.1 | 16.4 | 15.7 | 51% | 49% | DEN | |
| GB | 30.9 | 12.2 | 18.7 | 40% | 60% | CHI | |
| SEA | 30.6 | 11.6 | 19.1 | 38% | 62% | LA | |
| LA | 30.0 | 9.3 | 20.7 | 31% | 69% | SEA | |
| HST | 29.8 | 12.6 | 17.1 | 42% | 58% | TEN | |
| ARZ | 29.6 | 13.1 | 16.5 | 44% | 56% | SF | |
| NE | 29.6 | 12.5 | 17.1 | 42% | 58% | BUF | |
| CIN | 29.5 | 16.9 | 12.6 | 57% | 43% | PIT | |
| WAS | 29.4 | 10.5 | 18.9 | 36% | 64% | DAL | |
| JAX | 27.6 | 9.1 | 18.5 | 33% | 67% | IND | |
| SF | 27.3 | 10.1 | 17.3 | 37% | 63% | ARZ | |
| BLT | 25.5 | 11.3 | 14.2 | 44% | 56% | CLV |
