The byes are over as most Fantasy playoffs begin in Week 15, but there are still key issues to deal with, including injuries like the reported season-ender for DeAndre Hopkins, a mess of positive COVID tests and tough matchups. However, there are options for teams that need to stream the position or a one-week replacement.
Jamey Eisenberg has his Start and Sit calls for WR below. His Waiver Wire column also can direct you to the best options who may be available in your leagues. And don't forget to check out Heath Cummings' wide receiver preview for more help with matchup notes, Week 15 numbers to know and more.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receiver
Start 'Em
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The Buccaneers went from not potentially bringing back Brown following his three-game suspension to now needing him in the worst way after Chris Godwin (ACL) and Mike Evans (hamstring) got hurt. And Brown should be fine with the ankle injury that cost him five games prior to his suspension. He scored at least 13 PPR points in four of his first five games, including three games with at least 23 PPR points. He has top-five upside as the No. 1 receiver for Tom Brady if Evans is out, and if Evans plays then consider Brown still a top-20 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. The Panthers have allowed five receivers to score at least 13 PPR points in their past four games, and there's sleeper appeal this week for guys like Tyler Johnson, Scotty Miller and potentially Breshad Perriman (COVID) if he's healthy.
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Gage has become a must-start Fantasy receiver after his performance over the past four games. He's scored at least 18 PPR points in three of those outings, including two with at least 11 targets and eight catches. And he has an amazing matchup in Week 16 against the Lions, who have allowed five receivers to score at least 14 PPR points in their past five games. Hopefully, Matt Ryan will continue to lean on Gage this week, and he's helping many Fantasy managers with big-time production in the stretch run of the season.
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Kirk stepped up with a big performance in Week 15 at Detroit in the first game after DeAndre Hopkins (knee) went on injured reserve. He had nine catches for 94 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets, and I expected him to be the No. 1 receiver for Kyler Murray with Hopkins out. A.J. Green is also worth using as a sleeper this week, but Kirk is a must-start Fantasy option in all leagues. In four games without Hopkins, Kirk has scored at least 12 PPR points in three of them. The weakness of the Colts defense is their secondary, and Murray should lean on Kirk, Green and Zach Ertz a lot in Week 16.
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I pointed this out in Week 14 when the Cowboys played Washington that Cooper has a good track record against the Football Team, and he delivered in that matchup with five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. He's now scored at least 13 PPR points in five games in a row against Washington, with three touchdowns over that span. I expect the Cowboys passing game to get on track this week at home, and Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup all have the chance to post a quality stat line. Washington is No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to wide receivers this year, and Cooper should be considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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Sleepers
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Lazard could see more targets if Marquez Valdes-Scantling (COVID) is out for Saturday's game against Cleveland. And Lazard has benefitted recently with Randall Cobb (groin) out. Lazard scored 20 PPR points in Week 14 against Chicago, and he nearly scored in Week 15 at Baltimore on a missed touchdown throw from Aaron Rodgers. I like him as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues if Valdes-Scantling is out, and he's a good flex option in deeper formats if Valdes-Scantling is cleared to play.
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Jefferson's three-game touchdown streak ended in Week 15 against Seattle when he was limited to just two catches for 23 yards on two targets. He had scored at least 14 PPR points in three games in a row prior to that, and I expect him to rebound this week against the Vikings. Minnesota allows the most Fantasy points to opposing receivers, and hopefully Cooper Kupp will share the wealth with Jefferson and Odell Beckham in this matchup. Beckham and Jefferson are worth trusting as high-end No. 3 Fantasy receivers in all leagues for Week 16.
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If Tyreek Hill (COVID) is out then consider Hardman a sleeper in all leagues. He's played five games without Hill going back to 2019, and Hardman scored at least 11 PPR points in three of them. He has the chance to be a go-to option for Patrick Mahomes if Travis Kelce (COVID) is out also, and you can look at Byron Pringle as a sleeper this week as well. The matchup isn't easy against the Steelers, but they have allowed six receivers to score at least 13 PPR points against them in their past five games.
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Meyers could see even more targets in Week 16 against Buffalo if Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor (head) are out. That is, if the Patriots decide to throw against the Bills since the last time these teams met in Week 13, Mac Jones attempted only three passes and none to Meyers. He had 12 targets in Week 15 at the Colts and finished with six catches for 44 yards, and he could be a low-end No. 3 PPR receiver in Week 16 if Bourne and Agholor are out.
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Sit 'Em
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Mooney almost scored in Week 15 against Minnesota, but he was ultimately ruled correctly out of bounds. He's now gone four games in a row without a touchdown, and he's scored 11 PPR points or less in three outings in a row. This week, he's facing a Seattle defense that has allowed only one receiver to score a touchdown since Week 8, which was Cooper Kupp last week, and not many secondaries are slowing him down. Mooney isn't on Kupp's level yet, and Mooney should be considered just a low-end No. 3 receiver in the majority of leagues.
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I love Smith's potential, and he can always find the end zone on a given week (he even had an errant end-zone target in Week 15 against Washington). But he's just not producing as a Fantasy receiver, and he's not worth trusting in Week 16 against the Giants. He hasn't scored a touchdown in four games in a row, and he's scored 10 PPR points or less in each outing over that span. He also has gone seven games in a row with six targets or less, and this offense is dominating on the ground, so it's hard to expect his role to change. In Week 12 at the Giants, Smith had two catches for 22 yards on four targets. He'll do better than that, but I would only use him as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues for this week.
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Let's hope that Drew Lock starting for an injured Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) can unlock Jeudy's Fantasy potential because it's been a rough season for the second-year receiver. He hasn't scored a touchdown yet this year, and he's been held to fewer than 50 receiving yards in four of his past five games, including having no catches in Week 15 against Cincinnati. At this point in the season, you can't consider using Jeudy, Courtland Sutton or Tim Patrick even as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in three-receiver leagues.
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There's a scenario where Claypool can be trusted this week, and that's if the Chiefs get Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill off the reserve/COVID-19 list and score plenty of points to put the Steelers in a significant deficit. Then you would see Claypool's targets up, and he could be a starting option in most Fantasy leagues. But as of Wednesday afternoon, the Chiefs are without Kelce and Hill for Week 16. And Claypool also has scored seven PPR points or less in two of his past three games, while also failing to score a touchdown in eight outings in a row. He is only worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues.
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If Adam Thielen (ankle) returns this week then it's easy to ignore Osborn. But I would also sit him if Thielen is out again. He's done well in place of Thielen recently, scoring at least 14 PPR points in two of his past three games. But this is a tough matchup for him in Week 16 against the Rams, who have allowed just one touchdown to a receiver since Week 10. Justin Jefferson remains a must-start even in a tough matchup, but I would only use Osborn as a No. 3 receiver in deeper formats if Thielen is out again.
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Bust Alert
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Parker did well in Week 15 against the Jets with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown on eight targets, and he's now scored at least 11 PPR points in five of seven games this year. But I would be hesitant to trust him this week against the Saints. Jaylen Waddle is back, and he should have success in the slot against New Orleans. But Parker should see plenty of Marshon Lattimore, who has done well in shadow situations this year, limiting the production for guys like Davante Adams, Terry McLaurin and Mike Evans. Parker has done well at times in tough matchups like this in his career, but I don't trust Parker to deliver a big stat line in this game at New Orleans in prime time.
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