Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Wide Receivers Fantasy Football Week 15: Puka Nacua Could Be Peaking At the Right Time

After a decent game last week, the Rams’ rookie has a sweet matchup vs. Washington.

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 Wide receivers

1. CeeDee Lamb at Bills
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Broncos
3. A.J. Brown at Seahawks (Mon.)
4. Cooper Kupp vs. Commanders
5. Stefon Diggs vs. Cowboys
6. Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Steelers
7. Ja’Marr Chase vs. Vikings
8. Mike Evans at Packers
9. Justin Jefferson at Bengals (Sat.)
10. Puka Nacua vs. Commanders

• 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: Wide Receivers

Start of the Week

Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports

Puka Nacua vs. Commanders (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Nacua posted 14 points in last week’s loss to the Ravens, but he’s still scored single digits in three of his last six games. Regardless, this week’s matchup against the Commanders makes him a virtual must start. Their defense has given up the second-most points to enemy wide receivers over the last four weeks, including six touchdowns allowed.

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Start ’Em

Zay Flowers at Jaguars (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Flowers has been red hot in the last two weeks, scoring a combined 43.2 points. I like him to remain productive this week, too, as he’ll face a generous Jaguars defense. Their defense has allowed the fourth-most points to wide receivers over the last four weeks, including a combined five touchdown catches, so Flowers is a solid No. 2 fantasy wideout.

Terry McLaurin at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): The squeaky wheel often gets the grease, right? Well, McLaurin’s “cardio” comment after catching no passes before the bye qualifies for that trend. He also has a great matchup against the Rams, who are tied for the sixth-most points to opposing wide receivers over the last four weeks. In what could be a shootout, McLaurin should rebound for managers.

Courtland Sutton at Lions (Sat. 8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network): Tell me if you’ve heard this before … Sutton scored a touchdown last week! He has now found the painted area 10 times in 13 games, and an upcoming matchup in Detroit makes him a good candidate to score yet again. The Lions have allowed 15 scoring strikes to opposing wideouts on the season, not to mention a 63.4% catch rate.

Tyler Lockett vs. Eagles (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Lockett had his best game in a month last week, scoring 14.9 points in a loss to the 49ers. I’d give him another start this week, as he faces a plus matchup against the Eagles. Their defense has been vulnerable to wideouts all season, allowing 23 touchdowns and a league-high 47.7 fantasy points per game to the position. As a result, Lockett is a nice flex.

More Starts

Rashee Rice at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Jayden Reed vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Marquise Brown vs. 49ers (4:05 p.m. T, CBS)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Rashee Rice at Patriots ($6,100)
Terry McLaurin at Rams ($5,600)
Jayden Reed vs. Buccaneers ($4,900)

Week 15 Sit ’Em: Wide Receivers

Sit of the Week

Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports

Chris Godwin at Packers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Godwin has been a huge dud over the last month, scoring single digits in five of his last six games. I’d also beware this week’s matchup at Lambeau Field against a tough Packers pass defense. This unit has allowed just nine touchdown catches to wideouts, not to mention the ninth-fewest points to the position this season. At best, Godwin is a risky flex option.

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Sit ’Em

Tee Higgins vs. Vikings (Sat. 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network): Higgins has been one of the bigger disappointments in fantasy this season, failing to score double digits in all but three games. He’s also tougher to trust without Joe Burrow, and a matchup against the Vikings makes him a fade. Their defense has allowed just one score to a wideout in the last four weeks, and the sixth-fewest points in that time.

Adam Thielen vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Thielen’s numbers have nosedived in the last few weeks, as he’s failed to score more than 12.4 points in five of his last six games. He had scored 15-plus in his six previous games including four with more than 20 points, so his totals have really gone south. The Falcons have been tough on wideouts and held Thielen to a mere 3.2 fantasy points in Week 1.

Jordan Addison at Bengals (Sat. 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network): Addison’s numbers and value have taken a major slide in recent weeks, as he’s failed to score more than 11 points in five straight games including three in single digits. The rookie also faces a Bengals defense that’s given up just two touchdowns to receivers lined up out on the perimeter, which is the second fewest in the league this season.

Gabe Davis vs. Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Davis, listed as a sit ’em in this space last week, had zero points in a win over the Chiefs. He’s now been held without a point in three of his last five games, making it impossible to trust him in the postseason without a great matchup. That’s not the case this week either, as the Cowboys have allowed just 90.6 yards per game to perimeter receivers.

More Sits

Drake London at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Brandin Cooks at Bills (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Demario Douglas vs. Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Jaylen Waddle vs. Jets ($7,400)
DJ Moore at Browns ($6,900)
Adam Thielen vs. Falcons ($6,300)