Roundtable: Gutsy Playoff Lineup Decisions

Photo: USA Today Sports

Welcome to Week 15 of the 2022 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. Topics are now split into separate features.

This week's roundtable features these four topics:

• Fantasy Playoff Lineup Decisions with Guts (see below)
• Long-Term Outlook for Late-Round/UDFA Rookie Performers
• Love/Hate: The NFL Draft Edition
• Fantasy Nightmare: Ravens-Browns

FANTASY PLAYOFF Lineup Decisions with Guts

Matt Waldman: Yes, you generally want to stick with your best players. Blah, blah, blah. Still, there are scenarios where you need the guts to deviate from the game plan.

• Give us one top-25 starter at RB or WR that you'd consider benching this week.
• Give us one RB or WR outside the top 35 that you'd consider starting this week.

Go!

Joseph Haggan: Tyler Lockett has been lights out this year for the Seahawks, but I recommend benching him for the first week of playoffs who is ranked in the top 25. The 49ers defense has been absolutely stifling this season. The secondary especially has been strong for the 49ers. They rank tied for 2nd in touchdowns allowed (12), tied for 2nd in interceptions (14), tied for 7th for yards allowed per attempt, 12th in passing yards allowed, 1st in total yards allowed per game (286.8), and 3rd in total QBR allowed. The matchup could not be any worse.

A player ranked outside of the top 35 I would consider starting is JuJu Smith-Schuster. For starters, he is tied to Patrick Mahomes II, potentially the best quarterback in the NFL. Smith-Schuster has eight or more targets in seven of the twelve games he has played this season and is averaging 63.5 receiving yards per game. His matchup with the Texans in Week 15 is a great one. The Texans have given up the 3rd most yards per game (380.2) and have one of the weakest pass-rushing groups in the NFL. Mahomes should have a clean pocket all day.

Jason Wood: Saquon Barkley ranks 6th on the year, but he's outside the Top 20 over the last three weeks, and, although we don't know the extent, it's pretty clear he's playing hurt. He's somewhat buoyed by a lack of viable alternatives on the Giants roster, but he's up against a division rival in the Commanders this week, whose strength is their defensive front. It will take plenty of intestinal fortitude to sit Barkley, but if you've got recent waiver-wire gems like J.K. Dobbins, Rashaad White, or Zonovan Knight on your roster, it's worth considering.