Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Kickers and Defenses for Week 15 of Fantasy Football

It’s the fantasy playoffs, folks! It’s time to put together these fantastic lineups and win a championship! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst games in any given week for fantasy football leagues. Each week I will look at kickers and defenses that could exceed or fall short of expectations based on their weekly opponent.

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All positions: QB | RB | WR | TE | Ks and DST

1. Ka’imi Fairbairn vs. Dolphins
2. Chris Boswell with the Eagles
3. Brandon Aubrey with the Panthers
4. Cameron Dicker vs. the Buccaneers
5. Jake Bates vs. Bills
6. Wil Lutz vs. Colts
7. Jason Sanders to the Texans
8. Tyler Bass to the Lions
9. Jake Moody vs. Rams (Thursday)
10. Will Reichard vs. Bears (Monday)

Complete Kicker Rankings for Week 15 (coming soon)

Start of the week

Ka’imi Fairbairn vs. Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Fairbairn was one of the best kickers in fantasy football, averaging 11.2 points per game. His success should continue against the Dolphins, who have been generous with kickers over the past two months. In fact, only the Cardinals have allowed more points per game at the position since Week 7.

Start them

Will Reichard vs. Bears (Mon. 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+): Reichard wasn’t great in his return to action last week, missing a field goal and scoring just six points. Still, I’d stick with him in what is a positive matchup against the Bears. Their defense allowed eight kickers to beat them for at least eight points, including seven with at least 11 points.

Brandon Aubrey at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Aubrey hasn’t been as productive as last season, but he’s still a viable top-10 kicker behind a less productive Cowboys offense. I’d start it against the Panthers, who have allowed eight or more fantasy points to eight kickers, including seven who finished with at least 12 points, this season.

Kickers with good matches

Session of the week

Jake Elliott vs. Steelers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Elliott had a great game last week, but he missed a field goal and was held to just two points in a win over the Panthers. He’s now scored a total of eight points in his last two games, and a matchup against the Steelers takes him out this week. Their defense is the one that has allowed the fewest points to kickers.

Sit them down

Chase McLaughlin at Chargers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): McLaughlin was unable to take full advantage of last week’s great game, scoring just four points in a win over the Raiders. Next up is a tough matchup in Los Angeles against a Chargers defense that has only allowed one kicker to score in double figures. In total, nine scored six points or fewer against them.

Cairo Santos at Vikings (Mon. 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+): Santos has been a shell of the kicker who was so productive last season, as he averaged just 6.3 points per game in 2024. That trend is likely to continue this week, as he faces a Vikings defense that gave up just 6.2 points per game. kicker this season. Santos is best left on the waiver wire.

Kickers with bad matches

1. Ravens defense at the Giants
2. Vikings defense against the Bears (Monday)
3. Broncos defense against Colts
4. Defense of Commanders in Saints
5. Chiefs defense at Browns
6. Bengals defense against the Titans
7. Jets defense at Jaguars
8. Defense of the Cardinals against the Patriots
9. Falcons defense against the Raiders (Monday)
10. Eagles defense against the Steelers

Complete Week 15 Defense Rankings (coming soon)

Start of the week

Ravens defense vs. Giants (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Ravens defense hasn’t been what you’d call a fantastic defense this season, but a matchup against the Giants makes it a solid option. Their offense is last in points per game since Week 7, and their line has allowed 42 sacks this season. The G-Men also committed 18 giveaways this year.

Start them

Chiefs defense at Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Chiefs defense is a good streamer this week, facing turnover-prone Jameis Winston and a Browns offense that has committed 21 giveaways this season. Their trio has also allowed 53 sacks, which is the second-most in the league behind Chicago, so Kansas City’s DST should produce well this weekend.

Bengals defense vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Cincinnati’s defense has the NFL’s best game based on fantasy stats this week, facing a Titans offense that has allowed 45 sacks and committed the second-most giveaways in the league. The Bengals DST will be available in many leagues, so add them and start them if you need them this week.

Defenses with good matches

Session of the week

Lions vs. Lions Defense (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Lions have a fantastic top-10 defense, but this week’s game against Josh Allen and the Bills blows away that unit. Over the past eight weeks, Buffalo is second in points and yards per game, and its line has allowed just five sacks. The Bills also only had five giveaways during this seven-game stretch.

Sit them down

Seahawks defense vs. Packers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Seattle’s defense has been helpful when the matchup is favorable, but that’s not the case this week against the Packers. Only the Bills allowed fewer sacks from their quarterbacks during the season, and Green Bay’s offense averaged the seventh-most points and sixth-most yards in 2024.

Browns defense vs. Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Browns defense has been a serious misfire in fantasy leagues this season, only having value against lesser offenses. And even if the Chiefs offense isn’t firing on all cylinders, it’s still one to avoid in fantasy matchups when it comes to defenses. Even at home, Cleveland should be sidelined.

Defenses with bad matchups