For most fantasy owners, Week 15 is the semi-finals of the fantasy playoffs. Each decision is pivotal and one bad move could cost you your entire season. There are three players with great name value that can be the reason for your demise if you attempt to trust them this week. The theory that you should start your studs and high draft picks in the playoffs isn’t always true. Your main goal is to make the most informed, logical choice and these three players should not be in your lineups.
The Atlanta Falcons are free-falling with a six-game losing streak, and the poor play of Matt Ryan is one major reason for it. Ryan was expected to be a good fantasy quarterback this year but he has regressed quite much. Among all quarterbacks to start at least three games this season, Ryan is ranked 27th in fantasy points per game. The matchup against a lackluster Jacksonville Jaguars pass defense will lead to the pondering of if this is the week Ryan breaks out but you can’t possibly trust him in a must-win fantasy matchup. There’s no scenario in which you can have Ryan at your quarterback position if you’re in the fantasy playoffs.
Matt Forte is another big-name star that went early in drafts. His demise has not been poor play as much as it has been injury and splitting time with Jeremy Langford. The Chicago Bears are splitting carries between their two running backs and Forte is no longer an RB1. This week will see Forte fall even harder from a RB2 to a player you can’t start at all. With the timeshare at running back, Forte will have limited touches and he’ll be facing a great Minnesota Vikings run defense. The Vikings are fighting in a division battle and will have extra incentive. This isn’t a good scenario for Forte.
One wide receiver that will be a great risk this week is Pittsburgh Steelers star Martavis Bryant. The story of Bryant each week is he has a high ceiling and a low floor. You can get anywhere between two and twenty-five points from Bryant due to his big-play ability. The matchup against the league-best Denver Broncos defense will limit his potential. Bryant has dominated poor defenses but has shown a weakness in struggling against the better defenses this season. His overall numbers are incredible but the chances of a dud from Bryant are way too high for you to trust him in the fantasy playoffs against Denver.