Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 15: Smartest Matchups to Exploit, Sleeper Plays and More

In the majority of fantasy football leagues, the playoffs have arrived. Depending on your format, some managers could have a bye in Week 15. Others will be playing in matchups that could either send you to the next round or end your season.

It's not easy to get into the fantasy playoffs, so it's an accomplishment for the managers who have made it this far. But nobody wants to lose in the first round, or at any point in the postseason. Everybody dreams of winning a championship.

That's why the work isn't over. Fantasy managers need to continue to stay on top of things and control their team the same way they have been all season. And that includes making the right lineup decisions to set themselves up for success.

Here's some early start/sit advice to help with lineups for Week 15.

Isiah Pacheco's two-game touchdown streak ended with the Chiefs' Week 14 win over the Denver Broncos. But the rookie running back continues to be heavily involved in the Kansas City offense, which bodes well for his fantasy value down the stretch.

Over the past five weeks, the 23-year-old has had at least 15 touches in every game. He had 93 total yards in Sunday's victory on 13 rushing attempts and a pair of catches.

Now, Pacheco is set up well to have one of his best showings yet in Week 15. The Chiefs are going on the road to face the Houston Texans, which are allowing an NFL-high 165.8 rushing yards per game and giving up the most fantasy points per game to RBs, per NFL.com.

It should be a favorable game script for the Rutgers product, too. Kansas City will likely control this matchup from the start and could be running the ball quite a bit in the second half, when it should have a big lead.

So, consider Pacheco a must-start running back in Week 15, as it's highly likely he'll get back into the end zone after not scoring a TD last week.

Throughout his three-year NFL career, Van Jefferson has been a bit of a boom-or-bust player who needs to make big plays to have fantasy value.

However, the 26-year-old has scored three touchdowns over the Los Angeles Rams' past five games, which has raised his stock on an offense that has been depleted by injuries.

Still, Jefferson hasn't had more than three catches in a game this season, so he needs to get into the end zone to have a high fantasy scoring output.

That may be tough ask for the Florida product in Week 15, when Los Angeles goes on the road to face the Green Bay Packers. There's a good chance Jaire Alexander will mostly cover Jefferson, and he's one of the top cornerbacks in the league.

The Rams' offense hasn't been high-powered enough to overcome those types of difficult matchups this season. It should be best to leave Jefferson on fantasy benches, and with him not playing until Monday night, there's ample time to find a better option for the Saturday or Sunday slates, or even another Monday option.

Parris Campbell has been a bigger part of the Colts' passing attack over the past four games since Matt Ryan took back over at quarterback.

The wide receiver hasn't gotten into the end zone over the past three weeks, but he's been targeted 14 times over that span.

Prior to that, Campbell had seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown in Indianapolis' Week 10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. It's possible he'll have that type of performance in the Colts' Week 15 road matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

Although the Vikings have been among the NFL's top teams this season, their defense has had some struggles, particularly against the pass. Minnesota is allowing a league-high 287.2 yards through the air per game and giving up the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, per NFL.com.

Plus, the Colts will likely need to pass a good bit to try to keep pace with the Vikings' potent offense. So, consider Campbell a sleeper flex play this week due to the favorable matchup.