Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Week 15 Predictions

Start: RB Doug Martin at Bengals

Sit: RB Marlon Mack vs. Cowboys

Doug Martin has not put up the most efficient numbers, but he is getting red zone opportunities. Martin averaged just two yards per carry against the Steelers. The good news is Martin has scored a touchdown in three straight games.

This week, Martin faces a Bengals defense that is giving up the most rushing yards in the league at 148 yards per game.

Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has seen enough from Martin to know he wants him back on the team next season.

“He’s a good back," Gruden told NBC Sports Bay Area. "I think I’ll say it again and again, he’s a very good player. He’s been a great player in this league. He’s running it. He’s catching it. He picked up some blitz that were flushed. We did a lot of good things on the film that I look at. We’re proud of what we did against a very good defense. We thought Doug Martin played extremely well...Hopefully we can keep him around here. He’s a heck of a football player.”

We already know Martin is going to get red zone work, and now he has the opportunity to rack up yards against the worst rushing defense in the league.

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Marlon Mack Faces the No. 3 Rushing Defense in the NFL

Marlon Mack has not been an amazing fantasy option this season, and things could get even worse in Week 15. Mack had 14 carries for 33 yards against the Texans and was saved by a touchdown. He had just 27 yards against the Jaguars in Week 13. Mack averaged 2.4 yards per carry in Week 14 and 3.4 yards per carry in Week 13.

Mack faces a Cowboys defense that is only giving up 86.8 yards per game, which puts them No. 3 among all NFL teams. Cowboys defensive coordinator Ron Marinelli stopped short of calling his unit elite but believes it is on the right track.

“We got to keep doing everything,” Marinelli explained to the Star-Telegram. “You are not elite until you can be consistently good every single week. You have to constantly build on it. You got to build on it. That’s our challenge each and every week. The challenge isn’t the opponent the challenge is us...Just sound and simple and we got better players. The talent has grown every year and the talent is playing hard. Sometimes you get extra talent and the talent doesn’t want to achieve like that. Our most talented players are probably our most highest achievers and that helps.”

As you look to win your fantasy championship, you can't rely on Mack in an especially bad matchup. The Colts will have trouble scoring against a Cowboys defense that has been on fire this season.