Fantasy Football 2013: 5 Wide Receivers to Bench in Week 15
Fantasy Football 2013: 5 Wide Receivers to Bench in Week 15
Congratulations to whoever started Andre Caldwell and Keenan Allen on Thursday. Those two wide receivers combined for a total 31 Fantasy points. According to ESPN.com, Caldwell was started in just 0.1 percent of leagues while Allen was started in about 55 percent. The main Denver Broncos pass catchers scored a combined 12 points. Now how owners were expecting to start the second week of the Fantasy playoffs.
Well, now that those players are out of the way, it's time to talk about the wide receivers playing on Sunday and Monday. In order to keep your playoff hopes alive, play your superstar wide receivers. The Calvin Johnsons, Josh Gordons and Brandon Marshalls of the Fantasy world. These players have been carrying your team for the whole season, which is way they won't see the bench in Week 15.
Speaking of Week 15, there are some receivers with attractive matchups, like the Green Bay Packers against the Dallas Cowboys, but other circumstances prevent the receivers from being must starts. On the other side, there are wide receivers who started out the season hot, but have cooled off heavily heading into this Sunday.
This list is to help you start the best possible lineup on Sunday and help you advance to the Fantasy championship. Granted, you may have no other choice than to start a receiver or two, but would better serve sitting on the bench. Here are five wide receivers that are in my Fantasy owners' lineups, but should not be seen starting in Week 15.
Bill Pivetz is a Fantasy Football writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Mr_Piv1127.
5. T.Y. Hilton
T.Y. Hilton has scored just 11 points in the last four games combined. Andrew Luck has struggled as well, not counting last week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. In that game against the Bengals, Luck threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Hilton had two catches for seven yards. LaVon Brazill and Da'Rick Rogers have emerged in the passing game.
The last time the Indianapolis Colts played the Houston Texans, Hilton exploded for 121 yards and three touchdowns. However, as I said in the into, I'm looking at the streaks, trends and consistency among players in the Fantasy playoffs. Expect the Colts to run the ball more than Luck throws it.
4. Jordy Nelson
Jordy Nelson may be the best wide receiver that I recommend sitting in Week 15. Nelson is the 12th-best wide receiver in ESPN.com standard leagues. However, over the last three games, he has scored 14 combined points. Of all the Green Bay Packers wide receivers, Nelson has suffered the most from Aaron Rodgers' injury. Nelson has not scored in his last six games.
Everyone saw the Chicago Bears dominate the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers' Week 15 opponent. Despite the really good matchup, I would not start Nelson. Matt Flynn has improved while becoming the starter, but is nowhere near the quality of player Rodgers is. Odds are you don't have a receiver better than Nelson to start, but he is a high-risk play this week.
3. Pierre Garcon
Pierre Garcon is another wide receiver owned in 100 percent of leagues that could be dropped. He has 17 points and no touchdowns in his last four games. Surprisingly, he is on pace for more than 100 receptions and 1,200 yards. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, that does not translate well into fantasy football.
When Robert Griffin III was shut down, he took a lot of Garcon's value with him. The Washington Redskins will rush the ball now that Kirk Cousins is under center. Garcon may still get the targets and receptions, but the yards aren't there. Garcon's value, if there is any left, can be found in PPR leagues. If you are in a standard league, find other options.
2. Victor Cruz
The New York Giants gave their fans some hope with their four-game win streak, but are now eliminated from playoff contention. Victor Cruz was on his way to being a top-10 wide receiver after the first four games. He had 425 yards and four touchdowns. However, he has eclipsed 100 yards once and has not scored since Week 4. Cruz is still owned in 100 percent of ESPN.com leagues. At this point, he is not just benchable, but droppable as well.
The matchup against the Seattle Seahawks is the worst to have, especially for a struggling wide receiver like Cruz. The Seahawks allow just 13.5 points to opposing wide receivers. This, along with the poor quarterbacking from Eli Manning makes Cruz a tough start.
1. Harry Douglas
Harry Douglas helped out many owners during the middle of the season. From Weeks 7 to 11, he scored 61 Fantasy points, 12.2 points per game. Douglas owners have seen his production drop now that Roddy White is getting back to normal. Douglas has scored 16 points in the last three games.
There is good news for Douglas owners. White is heading into the game against the Washington Redskins with the questionable tag. White is expected to play, but his level of production is unknown. Douglas could be Matt Ryan's go-to guy for this game and is the most likely of the five wide receivers listed to score. However, with the playoffs on the line, I would not want to rely on a possible Douglas touchdown in order for me to advance.
Fantasy Football 2013: 5 Wide Receivers to Bench in Week 15
Congratulations to whoever started Andre Caldwell and Keenan Allen on Thursday. Those two wide receivers combined for a total 31 Fantasy points. According to ESPN.com, Caldwell was started in just 0.1 percent of leagues while Allen was started in about 55 percent. The main Denver Broncos pass catchers scored a combined 12 points. Now how owners were expecting to start the second week of the Fantasy playoffs.
Well, now that those players are out of the way, it's time to talk about the wide receivers playing on Sunday and Monday. In order to keep your playoff hopes alive, play your superstar wide receivers. The Calvin Johnsons, Josh Gordons and Brandon Marshalls of the Fantasy world. These players have been carrying your team for the whole season, which is way they won't see the bench in Week 15.
Speaking of Week 15, there are some receivers with attractive matchups, like the Green Bay Packers against the Dallas Cowboys, but other circumstances prevent the receivers from being must starts. On the other side, there are wide receivers who started out the season hot, but have cooled off heavily heading into this Sunday.
This list is to help you start the best possible lineup on Sunday and help you advance to the Fantasy championship. Granted, you may have no other choice than to start a receiver or two, but would better serve sitting on the bench. Here are five wide receivers that are in my Fantasy owners' lineups, but should not be seen starting in Week 15.
Bill Pivetz is a Fantasy Football writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Mr_Piv1127.
5. T.Y. Hilton
T.Y. Hilton has scored just 11 points in the last four games combined. Andrew Luck has struggled as well, not counting last week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. In that game against the Bengals, Luck threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Hilton had two catches for seven yards. LaVon Brazill and Da'Rick Rogers have emerged in the passing game.
The last time the Indianapolis Colts played the Houston Texans, Hilton exploded for 121 yards and three touchdowns. However, as I said in the into, I'm looking at the streaks, trends and consistency among players in the Fantasy playoffs. Expect the Colts to run the ball more than Luck throws it.
4. Jordy Nelson
Jordy Nelson may be the best wide receiver that I recommend sitting in Week 15. Nelson is the 12th-best wide receiver in ESPN.com standard leagues. However, over the last three games, he has scored 14 combined points. Of all the Green Bay Packers wide receivers, Nelson has suffered the most from Aaron Rodgers' injury. Nelson has not scored in his last six games.
Everyone saw the Chicago Bears dominate the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers' Week 15 opponent. Despite the really good matchup, I would not start Nelson. Matt Flynn has improved while becoming the starter, but is nowhere near the quality of player Rodgers is. Odds are you don't have a receiver better than Nelson to start, but he is a high-risk play this week.
3. Pierre Garcon
Pierre Garcon is another wide receiver owned in 100 percent of leagues that could be dropped. He has 17 points and no touchdowns in his last four games. Surprisingly, he is on pace for more than 100 receptions and 1,200 yards. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, that does not translate well into fantasy football.
When Robert Griffin III was shut down, he took a lot of Garcon's value with him. The Washington Redskins will rush the ball now that Kirk Cousins is under center. Garcon may still get the targets and receptions, but the yards aren't there. Garcon's value, if there is any left, can be found in PPR leagues. If you are in a standard league, find other options.
2. Victor Cruz
The New York Giants gave their fans some hope with their four-game win streak, but are now eliminated from playoff contention. Victor Cruz was on his way to being a top-10 wide receiver after the first four games. He had 425 yards and four touchdowns. However, he has eclipsed 100 yards once and has not scored since Week 4. Cruz is still owned in 100 percent of ESPN.com leagues. At this point, he is not just benchable, but droppable as well.
The matchup against the Seattle Seahawks is the worst to have, especially for a struggling wide receiver like Cruz. The Seahawks allow just 13.5 points to opposing wide receivers. This, along with the poor quarterbacking from Eli Manning makes Cruz a tough start.
1. Harry Douglas
Harry Douglas helped out many owners during the middle of the season. From Weeks 7 to 11, he scored 61 Fantasy points, 12.2 points per game. Douglas owners have seen his production drop now that Roddy White is getting back to normal. Douglas has scored 16 points in the last three games.
There is good news for Douglas owners. White is heading into the game against the Washington Redskins with the questionable tag. White is expected to play, but his level of production is unknown. Douglas could be Matt Ryan's go-to guy for this game and is the most likely of the five wide receivers listed to score. However, with the playoffs on the line, I would not want to rely on a possible Douglas touchdown in order for me to advance.
