Start 'Em, Sit 'Em wide receivers: Week 15 fantasy football

Welcome to the fantasy football playoffs. In Week 15 of the season (and beyond), it's time to either fight for the championship or try to avoid the last-place punishment.

Fortunately, it's also the part of the season in which byes are no longer a factor. That means every healthy player will be available to contribute to a fantasy team's success down the stretch.

"Healthy" is the key word there, particularly at the wide receiver position. Big-time play-makers like Brandon Aiyuk and Stefon Diggs have already suffered season-ending injuries. Others, like Josh Downs and Ladd McConkey, are dealing with recent injuries as well.

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Each week's fantasy matchup will raise the stakes this late in the year, but it all starts with that first playoff win.

That being the case, here are three receivers to consider starting as well as three to avoid in Week 15.

Fantasy football start 'em: Week 15 wide receivers

Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins (@ Houston Texans)

After a 10-week stretch of poor production between Weeks 2 and 11, Waddle's arrow is trending back up. He's surpassed 50 receiving yards in three straight games now – even on a freezing cold night in Green Bay – and recorded more than seven receptions in two of the last three weeks.

In Week 15, he'll face a Texans defense that is among teams giving up the most fantasy points to wideouts on a week-to-week basis. Houston has allowed the sixth-most points to receivers all season, fourth-most over the last four weeks and third-most over the last two.

Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears (@ Minnesota Vikings)

Much like Waddle, Allen struggled in the earlier parts of this season only to see his production start to increase in recent weeks. Prior to a tough matchup with the stingy 49ers' defense, Allen had two straight games with more than 70 receiving yards and a touchdown.

The good times for the veteran receiver should resume in a divisional game against the Vikings. Despite the great work defensive coordinator Brian Flores has done with Minnesota's defense this year, the Vikings have been a good fantasy matchup for wide receivers all season.

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

In Aiyuk's absence, Jennings has stepped into the clear No. 1 receiver role for San Francisco and ran with it. He's recorded at least five catches in four of his five games out of the 49ers' Week 9 bye and tallied over 90 yards in three of them. He's also coming off of a two-touchdown day in Week 14.

What's more, he gets a matchup with the Rams ahead, a team that just gave up 201 yards to the Bills' top two receivers last week.

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Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 15 wide receivers

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (@ Seattle Seahawks)

Reed's season as been full of ups and downs, which is a characteristic already doesn't lend itself well to the most important games of the fantasy football season. To that end, he's coming off of a one-target, zero-catch performance against the Lions, and he hasn't recorded more than three catches in any of the Packers' four games since their Week 10 bye.

This week, he and Green Bay come up against a Seahawks passing defense that has been one of the stingiest over the last month. It's not a recipe success for Reed, who's already a volatile option, to say the least.

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills (@ Detroit Lions)

Coleman is likely gearing up to make his return from a nagging wrist injury in Week 15 after he was a game-time decision last week. Even though quarterback Josh Allen is coming off of a historic performance under center, the rookie wide receiver is a better player to stash for now as he works his way back. Allen's trust in top options Amari Cooper and Khalil Shakir is growing every week, and Coleman could be the odd man out.

On top of that, he and the Bills are coming up against a Lions defensive unit that has been among the strongest against the pass over the last four weeks. Detroit's defense has allowed the third-fewest EPA/play and second-lowest success rate on dropbacks in that span.

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Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (@ Denver Broncos)

Pittman is another too-volatile option to start in a time of year that demands consistency from fantasy football wide receivers. He's found the end zone just twice all season and zero times in his last six games. He had at least five catches in three games leading into the bye, but he only eclipsed 50 yards once in those three games.

Ultimately, Pittman's volatile production comes down to the whims of his equally volatile quarterback, Anthony Richardson. It's hard to depend too much on either against a Denver defense that's been strong against the pass all season – Jerry Jeudy revenge game aside – and could really use this win to boost its playoff chances.

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

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.

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

→ A good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent's offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 15.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: 6 WRs to start or sit