Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots

Brady has been on an upswing since the return of the Patriots super-star tight end, Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately for Brady, his fantasy world will come crumbling down in Week 15 as the Patriots travel to face, for the second time this season, the Miami Dolphins. We all witnessed Brady’s struggles at the beginning of the season before his beloved “Gronk” returned. Week 15 will be a reality check for Brady, who scored less than 10 fantasy points the last time he played the staunch Dolphins pass defense. Cash in Brady while you are ahead and seek elsewhere for a more viable quarterback in Week 15.

Projected Statistics: 17/29, 190 yards, one touchdown, one interception

Carson Palmer, Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals, who have been on a four out of five game winning streak, will play in Week 15, the Tennessee Titans, who were just scorched by the Denver Broncos. Forget that Peyton Manning threw for four touchdowns against the Titans and remember we are talking about Palmer, who has only tossed more than two touchdowns in a game once this year. The Titans give up the fourth least fantasy points to quarterbacks and prior to last week’s game have only surrendered eight passing touchdowns this year. With playoffs chances still in the picture for the Titans, look for them to pull out all the stops against Palmer who should be benched in Week 15.

Projected Statistics: 26/41, 231 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions

Kirk Cousins, Quarterback, Washington Redskins

It is official. The Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan has named Cousins as the starting quarterback for the team and this Sunday’s matchup at Atlanta. This throws a real monkey wrench at people who owned Robert Griffin III as their starting fantasy quarterback. Even though the matchup Week 15 at Atlanta is favorable to opposing quarterbacks, starting Cousins, who has only five completed passes all season, is not an advisable option as you enter into your fantasy playoffs this week. If Cousins shows any signs of struggling, I wouldn’t put it past the capricious Coach Shanahan to bench him out and insert his backup, Rex Grossman. Cousins is too risky of a play in Week 15.

Projected Statistics: 16/31, 187 yards, two touchdowns, one interception

Mike Wallace, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins

If you’re faced with the option of starting Wallace, who has been a roller coaster performer all year, Week 15 versus the New England Patriots is one of those weeks to keep him benched. The Patriots will surely have their top corner Aqib Talib covering Wallace, forcing Ryan Tannehill to look elsewhere to pass the ball. Wallace only has three touchdowns to his name and even though Week 15 gets him out of the snow, counting on double-digit fantasy points or a touchdown score from Wallace is not realistic in Week 15. He will be a flex option at the most.

Projected Statistics: Three receptions, 46 yards, zero touchdowns

Victor Cruz, Wide Receiver, New York Giants

Week 15 is absolutely a week to avoid starting Cruz as he faces the NFL’s scariest passing defense when the Giants host the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday. What a sad season this has been for Cruz, who normally was a “must-start” all of last year. Cruz tops the list of fantasy football major disappointments in 2013 due to his humongous failure of a quarterback, Eli Manning. The Seahawks should have a field day against the Giants causing Manning to look even more preposterous than normal. Do yourself a tremendous favor and sit Cruz Week 15 in what could be one of the hugest blowout games the Giants play this year.

Projected Statistics: Three receptions, 35 yards, zero touchdowns

Marques Colston, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints

Colston finally earned his title as WR1 last week when he and the Saints efficiently blew away the Carolina Panthers. Fantasy owners will want to tame expectations for Colston in Week 15 and keep in mind that before his two scores last week, he has only made one touchdown all season. Week 15 takes the Saints out of the comfort of their home territory and to the St. Louis Rams. You cannot depend on Drew Brees, who hones in on a different guy each week to target Colston 13 times again. The Rams, who rank in the top half of difficult pass defenses, will surely lock their sights on Colston with the goal of stopping a repeat performance. If you must play Colston, plan on lower-end WR2 numbers.

Projected Statistics: Five receptions, 54 yards, zero touchdowns

Chris Johnson, Running Back, Tennessee Titans

All year Johnson has made a boom or bust play and while his stats for the latter part of the season are decent, Johnson does not make the finest start in Week 15, as the Titans travel to compete with the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals rush defense is one to take seriously as it only allowed Zac Stacy 25 yards on the ground last week. Stacy slipped in a score, however, if anyone is going to score on the ground for the Titans this week, it will likely be Shonn Greene, who the Titans apparently trust to get the job done at the goal line. With these factors in consideration, you may want to avoid Johnson in your Week 15 lineup if you have another option.

Projected Statistics: 15 attempts, 63 yards, two receptions, 15 yards, zero touchdowns

Chris Ivory, Running Back, New York Jets

Week 15 takes the Jets, who are happily coming off of a win, to the home of a scorn Carolina Panthers, who just got pounded by the New Orleans Saints. Even though it appears that Ivory has been the preferred running back receiving most of the early down carries, look for his production to be stifled by the Panthers defense, who at home allow the second fewest points to running backs. With Bilal Powell in the mix and a turnover-prone Geno Smith in control, this game against the Panthers has disaster written all over it. Avoid Ivory in Week 15 because there has to be a more suitable option out there for your fantasy team.

Projected Statistics: 14 attempts, 59 yards, zero receptions, zero touchdowns

Frank Gore, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers

Gore and the 49ers travel to Tampa Bay where he will face yet another formidable opponent.  Tampa Bay’s defense allows the fourth fewest fantasy points to running backs which doesn’t bode well for Gore. During the last half of the season, Gore’s fantasy production has spiraled downward significantly as he is showing signs of wear and tear. Gore has only had one touchdown in five weeks and he is not in step to break that streak this week. Start him as a flex option only if you must and if you can bench him for a more productive running back in Week 15, all the better.

Projected Statistics: 16 attempts, 62 yards, one reception, 7 yards, zero touchdowns

Garrett Graham, Tight End, Houston Texans

Graham’s greatest production has come this season when the Texans face softer defenses, so he warrants a plug play status depending on his matchup. Week 15 brings the horrifically deflated Texans to the home the Indianapolis Colts, who rank in the top 10 in defending tight ends. If you’re scrounging for a tight end due to losing Rob Gronkowski last week or whatever the reason, rethink placing Graham into your Week 15 lineup. The last time Graham squared off against the Colts he only had four receptions for 46 yards. The rotating quarterback situation for the Texans does not add to Graham’s upside either.

Projected Statistics: Three receptions, 49 yards, zero touchdowns