The grind is over, playoffs are upon us and fantasy owners all over are rejoicing. For those fortunate enough to make it we salute you. For those who have missed out we wish you better luck next year, and leave you with a reminder. It’s never too soon to prepare for the 2012 fantasy season. For most of you it all comes down to this week, for others the culmination of your hard work will have to wait until next week.
Either way it is win or go home time for fantasy owners. With that in mind, here is who to start and who to sit for week 15.
Starters
Quarterback
Tony Romo at Buccaneers (Sat.): The Cowboys might be choking before our very eyes (again), but Romo is still a tremendous option. He put up his best stat line of the season in a loss to the Giants, and facing a Buccaneers unit that ranks 27th against the pass is clearly a favorable matchup.
Carson Palmer vs. Lions: Palmer’s interception issues are a concern, but he’s still worth a look against a Lions defense that’s allowed an average of 24.90 fantasy points to quarterbacks in their last four games. That includes 28.16 points to the combination of Christian Ponder and Joe Webb last week.
Wide Receiver
A.J. Green at Rams: Green is having one of the best rookie seasons at the wide receiver position, and this week’s matchup against the Rams makes him a must-start in all leagues. St. Louis has given up 17 touchdown catches and the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, so look for Green to be very active.
Jordy Nelson at Chiefs: The decision to start Nelson is more about production and targets than it is about the matchup. With Greg Jennings out, Aaron Rodgers will be looking for Nelson more often in one of the league’s most prolific pass attacks. He needs to be active across the board.
Running Back
Shonn Greene at Eagles: Greene has been on absolute fire over the last two weeks, scoring 54.10 fantasy points in wins over the Redskins and Chiefs. Next on the schedule is a date with the Eagles, who rank 18th in run defense and have surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points to runners.
Cedric Benson at Rams: On pace for 1,100-plus rushing yards based on his current totals, Benson should be considered a nice No. 2 fantasy back or flex starter against the Rams. Ranked dead last in the league in run defense, St. Louis has surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points to runners.
TE
Owen Daniels vs. Panthers: Daniels had his first solid stat line in several weeks against the Bengals, posting seven catches and 10.00 fantasy points as one of T.J. Yates’ favorite targets. The Panthers have allowed an average of close to eight fantasy points to tight ends, so keep Daniels active.
Kicker
Sebastian Janikowski vs. Lions: “Sea Bass” hasn’t been as reliable in fantasy land this season as he was in 2010, but he’s still a top-10 option. Owners should definitely keep Janikowski active against the Lions, who have surrendered an average of close to nine points per game to kickers.
D/ST
Bengals defense at Rams: Defenses facing Sam Bradford and the Rams have averaged the most fantasy points at the position this season (including a combined 33 points over the last two games), so the Bengals are clearly a solid option for fantasy owners in the semifinals. Pick them up if available.
Sitters
Quarterback
Philip Rivers vs. Ravens: Rivers has been on fire, scoring 43.46 fantasy points in his last two starts. And while I’m not telling you he’s a must-sit this weekend, you should be aware that no team has allowed fewer fantasy points to opposing QB’s than the Ravens and they have not allowed more than one passing TD in a game. Lower your expectations.
Ben Roethlisberger at 49ers (Mon.): Roethlisberger has a high ankle sprain that has him in question, so it’s hard to wait on him until Monday night. What makes him even more of a risk is that San Francisco has allowed an average of just 13.59 fantasy points to QB’s.
Wide Receiver
DeSean Jackson vs. Jets: Jackson did score a touchdown last week, but he posted a mediocre four catches against the Dolphins and has averaged just 5.74 fantasy points in his last seven games. With a date against a tough Jets defense next, I’d be concerned about Jackson’s level of production.
Anquan Boldin at Chargers: How’s this for a stat: Boldin hasn’t scored double-digit fantasy points in standard leagues since Week 8. What’s more, he’s found the end zone once in that time. The Chargers have also allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, so Boldin is a risky option.
Running Back
Rashard Mendenhall at 49ers (Mon.): One of the rules of the 2011 fantasy football season is that you never, ever start a running back against the 49ers if at all possible. Their defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown to a back all season, so Mendenhall’s prospects for posting great fantasy totals aren’t good.
DeAngelo Williams at Texans: Williams had a solid 15.10 fantasy points last week, but most of his production came on one run. In fact, 41.2 percent of his overall fantasy numbers this season have come on just four carries. Four! I’d bench him against the Texans, who rank fourth in the league against the run.
TE
Greg Olsen at Texans: It’s tempting to start Olsen after he scored an impressive 11.30 fantasy points in last week’s loss to the Falcons, but an upcoming matchup against the Texans is anything but attractive. Their defense has allowed a mere two touchdowns and the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2011
Kicker
Shaun Suisham at 49ers (Mon.): Suisham has been a viable fantasy option against teams that have allowed a ton of points to kickers, but that’s not the case against the 49ers. Aside from the Steelers, no team has allowed fewer fantasy points to opposing kickers. As a result, Suisham should be on your bench.
D/ST
Broncos defense vs. Patriots: The Broncos have been a hot pickup on the defensive side of the football, but it’s tough to start them against the Patriots. In fact, defenses facing New England’s potent offensive attack have scored the second-fewest fantasy points at the position in 2011
