Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Quarterbacks Fantasy Football Week 15: Brock Purdy Continues to Stay Hot

The 49ers’ field general has 13 TD passes in his last five games.

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Fabs’ Top 10 Quarterbacks

1. Jalen Hurts at Seahawks (Mon.)
2. Dak Prescott vs. Bills
3. Josh Allen vs. Cowboys
4. Lamar Jackson at Jaguars
5. Brock Purdy at Cardinals
6. Matthew Stafford vs. Commanders
7. Patrick Mahomes at Patriots
8. Sam Howell at Rams 
9. Jared Goff vs. Broncos
10. Jordan Love vs. Buccaneers

• Complete Week 15 Player Rankings

Week 15 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Week 15 Start ’Em: Quarterbacks

Start of the Week

Brock Purdy at Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Purdy has been hot, scoring 21-plus points in four of his last five games. During that time, he has thrown for 13 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He should remain productive against the Cardinals, who have allowed 17.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Purdy also beat them for two touchdowns and 21.3 points in Week 4.

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Start ’Em

Matthew Stafford vs. Commanders (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Stafford has been one of the hottest quarterbacks in fantasy football, throwing for a combined 10 scores while scoring over 22 points in his last three games. Next up is a date with the hapless Commanders, who have allowed nine touchdown passes and 24.7 points per game to quarterbacks since Week 11. Stafford could be a top-10 option.

Sam Howell at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Howell is coming off a bye and is in a good spot to produce in the first week of the fantasy postseason. That’s due to a plus matchup against the Rams at SoFi Stadium. Over the last four weeks, their defense has allowed eight total touchdowns and more than 20 points per game to enemy quarterbacks. Howell could push for top-10 numbers this weekend.

Jordan Love vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Love has looked great for most of the last month, scoring 20-plus points in three of his last four games. I like him to remain productive this week, too, as he faces a plus matchup against Tampa Bay. Their defense has been smoked by quarterbacks lately, allowing six total scores and an average of 18.5 points per game to the position in the last four weeks.

Russell Wilson at Lions (Sat. 8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network): Wilson’s numbers have not been great in recent weeks, but he’s still giving fantasy fans a decent floor. I like his ceiling this week, too, as the veteran faces a Lions defense that’s allowed the third-most points per game to opposing quarterbacks over the last four weeks. The total opened at 46.5, so there should be plenty of points scored.

More Starts

Lamar Jackson at Jaguars (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
Trevor Lawrence vs. Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
Joe Flacco vs. Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Jordan Love vs. Buccaneers ($6,200)
Matthew Stafford vs. Commanders ($6,000)
Joe Flacco vs. Bears ($5,500)

Week 15 Sit ’Em: Quarterbacks

Sit of the Week

Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports

Kyler Murray vs. 49ers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Murray has been pretty solid since his return to action, so consider this more of a warning than a hard sit ’em. The mobile quarterback faces the 49ers, who have allowed the third-fewest points to enemy signal-callers this season. What’s more, only Jalen Hurts has beaten them for more than 15.3 points in a game since Week 10. Start Murray with caution.

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Sit ’Em

Patrick Mahomes at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Don’t take this as me saying you have to sit Mahomes, just that he’s no longer a must start. He’s scored 16.9 or fewer points in all but one of his last six games, during which time he’s averaged a gross 14.3 points. Mahomes also has a bad matchup in New England, whose defense has held Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert under 13 points at home.

Desmond Ridder at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Ridder went off last week, as he put up 25.4 points in a loss to the Buccaneers. I wouldn’t chase the points, though, as this week’s matchup in Carolina is much tougher. Their defense has allowed an average of fewer than 13 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks at home, and it held Ridder to just 8.9 points earlier this season. He’s a super flex option, at best.

Baker Mayfield at Packers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Mayfield is coming off a big game, scoring 20.1 points in a win over Atlanta. That was his first game with more than 13.4 points in the last four weeks, however, and a matchup against the Packers makes him a fade. Their defense has been tough at home, allowing an average of fewer than 15 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Gardner Minshew vs. Steelers (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network): Minshew has been mediocre over the last month, scoring fewer than 15 points in all but one of his last six games. That trend is likely to continue against the Steelers, who have given up just five touchdown passes and an average of 12.8 points per game to opposing quarterbacks in the last four weeks. Minshew is a super flex at best.

More Sits

Tua Tagovailoa vs. Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Derek Carr vs. Giants (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Bryce Young vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Tua Tagovailoa vs. Jets ($7,900)
Patrick Mahomes at Patriots ($7,800)
Kyler Murray vs. 49ers ($6,400