We made it! This is what we worked for all season. Starting with the arduous draft through all the agonizing weekly decisions, we are now on the cusp of fantasy football playoffs. If you didn't notch a first-round bye, this week's start/sit decisions are the most critical they have ever been. With a must-win week, let's evaluate a few standout players and see if they are a Tootsie's Pick to start or sit.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, New Orleans Saints
In evaluating players for your starting lineup, some are riskier than others. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is a player who has shown volatility in past seasons. Throughout his career, Valdes-Scantling has been shipped around multiple NFL teams, from Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills to now the New Orleans Saints. Being on different offenses lent to inconsistency in his fantasy output. However, maybe this time, it's different. In his last four games with the Saints, Valdes-Scantling averaged 15.83 fantasy points in point-per-reception (PPR) scoring and hauled in four receiving touchdowns. Because Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are both on IR (Injured Reserve), Valdes-Scantling has found himself leading the Saints receiving corps. The right circumstances are everything.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling yards per target:
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 9, 2024
-Packers with Aaron Rodgers: 8.7
-Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes II: 8.1
-Bills with Josh Allen: 2.9
...
-Saints with Derek Carr: 16
In Week 15, the Saints face the Washington Commanders, who allow an average of 32.60 fantasy points to the wide receiver position this season. I anticipate Valdes-Scantling will continue the consistent trend he's shown the last four weeks. Over this span, he's had a 66.8 snap percentage and 4.7 targets per game from Carr. He's getting the job done. Currently ranked WR36 on Footballguys rankings, Valdes-Scantling is a solid WR3 or flex option this week. I am starting him ahead of the likes of Christian Watson and Rome Odunze.
Tootsie's Pick: Start
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans
Were we horribly misled by recent stats when it comes to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine? After the Titans Week 5 bye, he scored at least one receiving touchdown in seven out of nine games. Across Weeks 11, 12, and 13, Westbrook-Ikhine averaged 75.3 receiving yards. Many fantasy managers, myself included, thought he was a must-start in Week 14. Despite a prime matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Westbrook-Ikhine saw only one reception for 19 yards, yielding 2.9 PPR points. What in the heck happened? Were his three big weeks an anomaly, or was Week 14 the outlier?
Looking at his snap percentage, from Week 8 through Week 14, Westbrook-Ikhine averaged 94%. He has been on the field for most of the game, so the opportunity was there. Perhaps the game script took the story away from Westbrook-Ikhine. Last week, the Titans leaned heavily on the run, with Tony Pollard rushing for 102 yards on 21 carries. Going into Week 15, can you trust Westbrook-Ikhine in your playoff lineups? As the last couple of weeks proved, he's the definition of a risky player with a high ceiling and a low floor. Without any teams on bye this week, chances are you have better options to plug in your flex spot. Adam Thielen and Ray-Ray McCloud III are two names I trust more than Westbrook-Ikhine this week.
Tootsie's Pick: Sit
Grant Calcaterra, Philadelphia Eagles
The name of the game is opportunity. Last week, the Philadelphia Eagles placed tight end Dallas Goedert on IR due to a knee injury suffered in Week 13. It's the next man up. Grant Calcaterra started in Goedert's stead in Week 14. In this game, Calcaterra had three targets, three receptions, 16 receiving yards, and one touchdown. This was all with a 91 snap percentage, a sharp increase from his 48 snap percent in Week 13. Similar to how the Eagles utilized Goedert as one of their main weapons, the team is fitting Calcaterra right into the offensive plays.
This coming Sunday, a big powerhouse matchup will occur between the Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers defense allows the fourth-most targets to opposing tight ends. This will bode well for Calcaterra and Jalen Hurts. Though Calcaterra is the new shiny toy available in fantasy leagues, multiple other tight ends are better candidates to start Week 15. The fantasy playoffs aren't the time to get cute. If you don't have one of the elite tight ends like Brock Bowers or Trey McBride, tight ends like Hunter Henry or Tucker Kraft are viable starting options.
Tootsie's Pick: Sit
There you go with a few standout players coming into Week 15 and whether they are a Tootsie's Pick to start or sit. Congratulations on making it to the fantasy football playoffs, my friend. Your hardest lineup decisions await. Check out our team of expert rankings right here on Footballguys to see where Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the rest of the list rank. Our rankings are fully customizable to your league's roster and scoring settings.
Go get that win!
