Week 15 Monday Fantasy Football Start/Sit Decisions: Tyler Lockett, Dallas Goedert, Kenneth Walker and More

Week 15 of the NFL season wraps up with a primetime clash between the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles.

There’s some big question marks going into the game, so I’m going to approach the start/sit decisions a bit differently than I do for typical Monday games. You can check out all the trending decisions on FantasySP’s start/sit tool.

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Iffy Quarterbacks

Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and Seattle’s Geno Smith are both questionable for Monday’s game. Hurts has an illness, while Smith is still doing with his groin injury.

Marcus Mariota would start in place of Hurts if he can’t go, while Drew Lock would draw another start if Smith misses the contest. The fantasy outlook for the offensive players around them will shift pretty dramatically based on which quarterback is out there for each team.

The Eagles’ defense struggles to slow opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers, while being pretty average against tight ends and elite in stopping the run. Whichever Seattle quarterback starts will probably have a pretty solid night, and the receivers and tight ends will all be decent starting options because of the amount of times they’d likely need to pass. The running backs would probably fare a touch better if Smith played, but it’ll be a tough matchup regardless.

The Seahawks’ defense is average against opposing quarterbacks and tight ends, while struggling to slow running backs and wide receivers. I like Philly’s offense to lean on its run game regardless of who plays quarterback - also remember that Hurts would take some carries and possible scores away from the team’s backs, so him being out actually probably benefits the running backs. I’d feel quite a bit better about the pass catchers with Hurts back there, but most of the pass catchers that are startable are good enough to deliver with any QB throwing them the ball.

Running Back Debate

No running backs appear on the injury report coming into the game, so that’s a positive.

D’Andre Swift is Philly’s workhorse, while Kenneth Gainwell is the main backup. Swift has just 19 touches over the past two weeks combined, while Gainwell has gotten 11 touches. 

Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet will power the Seahawks. Walker got 12 touches in his first game back from injury last week. Charbonnet had 10 touches in that contest.

This is a far more favorable matchup for the Philly backs than the Seattle ones. 

Regardless of who plays QB for each team, I like Swift as the top fantasy RB tonight. Walker and Charbonnet are pretty much a tossup for the next spot, but I’d take Walker based on last week’s touches. Both could be pretty heavily involved if Lock starts over Smith.

Gainwell takes the last RB spot for me. The only way he outscores any of the other backs is if he scores a touchdown or breaks off a long run or catch.

Wide Receiver Debate

None of the big-time receivers in the contest are injured coming into the game.

A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are the studs for the Eagles. Brown has 13 targets in each of the past two games, while Smith has 21 targets over that span.

DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett typically lead the Seattle receivers, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba is also capable of outplaying both. Metcalf has 33 targets over the past four weeks, but had just five last week. Lockett is at 26 targets over that span, and had six targets last week with Lock at QB. JSN has 27 targets over the past four games, including seven a week ago, which led the team.

Brown and Smith are the safest WR fantasy options in this game, but any of the five guys I just named are capable of being the top fantasy player tonight.

If both starting QBs play, I’d take my chances with Brown and Smith as the top two options. I’d then roll with Metcalf, as his ceiling is higher than Lockett and Smith-Njigba. I’d take JSN over Lockett based on the targets a week ago and the targets from the past two games combined.

If Hurts doesn’t play, then I’d take Metcalf over Brown and Smith, but I’d keep the two Philly WRs over JSN and Lockett. The order would stay the same - Brown, DeVonta Smith, Metcalf, Smith-Njigba, Lockett - if Geno Smith doesn’t play, or if both QBs are out.

Tight End Debate

Dallas Goedert is pretty clearly the best TE in this matchup, but as he works his way back from injury, it’s worth mentioning Seattle’s Noah Fant here too.

Fant has four targets in each of the past two games, but hasn’t scored this season. 

Goedert had four targets in his first game back last week. He’s scored twice this season.

Regardless of who is playing quarterback for each team, I like Goedert over Fant. I don’t think either guy will be all that involved though.

Flex Spot Debate

If you have a few of these players, but at different positions and are trying to determine a flex starter, here’s how I’d proceed. 

Let’s start with the order if both starting quarterbacks play: Brown, Smith, Metcalf, Swift, Walker, Smith-Njigba, Charbonnet, Lockett, Goedert, Gainwell, Fant.

If Hurts plays and Geno Smith is out, the order changes to: Brown, DeVonta Smith, Metcalf, Swift, Walker, Charbonnet, Smith-Njigba, Goedert, Lockett, Gainwell, Fant. If Geno Smith plays but Hurts doesn’t, the order goes to: Metcalf, Swift, Brown, DeVonta Smith, Walker, Smith-Njigba, Charbonnet, Lockett, Gainwell, Goedert, Fant.

If Geno Smith and Hurts are both out, my order switches to: Swift, Brown, DeVonta Smith, Metcalf, Walker, Charbonnet, Smith-Njigba, Lockett, Gainwell, Goedert, Fant.

Best of luck in your final week 15 start/sit decisions!