Start 'Em, Sit 'Em D/STs: Week 15 fantasy football

The giving season is in full swing, and the fantasy playoffs also fall during this most wonderful time of the year.

While gift guides are all the rage, hoping to find that special gift for a certain someone, we hope that you were given the gift of playoffs this fantasy season. After all, there's no rule against getting yourself something nice.

It took 14 weeks of trades, waiver claims, starts and sits, and a summer day spent drafting to reach this point. Now it's time to finish the job. No one wants to hang a banner for securing a postseason spot or winning the regular season. No one wants to be the laughingstock of the league for making a horrendous start/sit decision when the games really matter.

It's all practice up to this point. Will your team rise to the challenge? Here are four D/ST units that we believe will get the job done in Week 15 and four that we think should be avoided if you can.

NFL POWER RANKINGS: Rams, Bucs making late playoff picture push

Fantasy football start 'em: Week 15 D/STs

Washington Commanders (at New Orleans Saints)

The Commanders come into Week 15 fresh off a bye, ready for the stretch run. They find themselves with a soft landing, traveling to the bayou for a matchup with the potentially Derek Carr-less Saints. Whether he plays or not doesn't seem to matter, especially thanks to all the injuries in New Orleans. Outside of Alvin Kamara, the Saints are unrecognizable from where they were earlier in the year. Without Taysom Hill, New Orleans is missing their Swiss Army knife, making matters even more difficult.

Meanwhile, there's a good chance that Marshon Lattimore will finally make his debut for Washington. The cornerback should provide a nice boost to the Commanders defense and it certainly doesn't hurt that he could debut against the team that traded him. As Washington marches towards a potential playoff spot, they're a worthy streaming option to kick off the fantasy playoffs.

Arizona Cardinals (vs. New England Patriots)

Speaking of bye weeks, the Patriots are also coming off a late-season vacation. However, they're traveling across the country to the desert, facing a Cardinals team desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Like Washington, New England is starting a rookie quarterback, but Drake Maye doesn't have the advantage of playing for the better team. A rookie quarterback on a bad team going across the country after coming off a bye feels like a recipe for disaster. The Cardinals are looking to rebound off a brutal home loss to Seattle and New England provides a solid spot to bounce back.

Baltimore Ravens (at New York Giants)

Baltimore hasn't been a fantasy defense to trust in 2024, but a visit to the Meadowlands is enough to earn them a start in Week 15. The Giants have aggressively tanked their way to a projected top-two pick in the draft through 15 weeks and are just a few games from making that dream a reality. New York added a blocked field goal to their growing list of embarrassing moments, losing to the Saints in Week 14. They own the league's lowest-scoring offense, and barring a miracle, it won't get better this season. If Baltimore can force a turnover or two, they can improve on an already high floor as one of the best fantasy options for Week 15.

New York Jets (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

From fading one New York team to starting another, the Jets find themselves on the start side of the spectrum with a second consecutive trip to Florida. However, consider this more of a desire to fade the Jaguars than an endorsement of the Jets. New York has been a disaster all season, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at every turn. They have just one win in the last ten tries and are likely heading for another complete reset.

Despite their sad reality, New York will likely collect some wins along the way and Jacksonville seems like the perfect place for that. The Jags are 1-2 in Mac Jones' starts and have yet to score more than 10 points in any of those games. The Jets should have no problem keeping up with Jones and posting one of their better scoring totals of the year.

Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 15 D/STs

Seattle Seahawks (vs. Green Bay Packers)

While Seattle has been kind to fantasy managers this season, it's a unit to fade in Week 15. The Seahawks have gotten by with some big point totals thanks to five touchdowns from their defense and special teams, but that isn't a given every week. Even though they've forced at least one turnover in seven straight, the matchup with the Packers is enough reason to look elsewhere. Green Bay owns a top-10 scoring offense but is in the middle of the pack in turnovers. In what should be a fun Sunday night game, there is too much scoring potential to trust the Seahawks against a step up in competition.

Atlanta Falcons (at Las Vegas Raiders)

The Falcons are set to travel to Sin City for a matchup with the Raiders in the second half of the Monday night doubleheader. Starting Atlanta's defense against the team with the worst record in the league is tempting, especially given the quarterback uncertainty in Vegas. However, like buying a car, you must look under the hood. Underneath, you'll find a mess that no mechanic or fantasy manager wants a piece of.

The Falcons don't force turnovers and commit plenty, good enough for the fifth-worst turnover differential in the league. Without those takeaways, posting a solid score becomes increasingly difficult. If you factor in that Atlanta also averages a league-worst 1.5 sacks per game, the task becomes nearly impossible. Barring a shutout, the Falcons don't offer a big enough reward for the risk you're taking. Their floor might as well be lower than the basement. You can do better elsewhere.

Pittsburgh Steelers (at Philadelphia Eagles)

The battle for Pennsylvania features two top teams in each conference as the Steelers travel to Philadelphia to meet the Eagles. Pittsburgh brings their impressive defense on the road, hoping for a rivalry win to add to a magical season already. They are, without a doubt, one of fantasy's best units. While they earned a spot in the sit section for this week, we can't fault you for starting them. We suggest you temper your expectations since they're facing an impressive Philly offense led by Saquon Barkley. The Eagles don't turn the ball over, averaging less than one per game, limiting the Steelers' ability to rack up D/ST points. It makes perfect sense to ride with what got you to the playoffs, but don't expect a huge number from Pittsburgh in Week 15. Don't be afraid to sit this unit in Week 15 if you can.

Cincinnati Bengals (at Tennessee Titans)

The Bengals got some of their mojo back with a win over the Cowboys on Monday night. That doesn't mean they're automatically in the fantasy circle of trust though. Unlike the Jets from the start section, the Bengals don't offer the upside in a matchup we'd otherwise be looking to target. We've seen what New York is capable of and are willing to take the plunge.

From the Cincinnati side, we've seen a team that's been horrendous defensively for most of the season. Everything about this matchup screams to start the Bengals. Everything about the Bengals season screams to avoid them. Will Levis is capable of tossing multiple touchdowns to his team or the other team, making him an exciting player to watch each week. That level of uncertainty is something we want no part of right now. With the margin for error gone, you'd be better off going elsewhere in a win-or-go-home week.

Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'ems, Week 15

Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:

Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:

→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 15.

→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here's who to start and who to sit in Week 15.

→ Kickers are people, too. Here are the most clutch kickers to start, and some to sit, for Week 15.

→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 15 with start 'em, sit 'em advice for wideouts.

→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here's who you should start and sit in Week 15.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: 8 D/STs to start or sit