FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast — Episode Summary

Podcast: FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast
Episode: Week 15 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings & Tiers: Studs, Sleepers, and Must-Starts (Ep. 1890)
Date: December 10, 2025
Hosts: Chris Welsh, Andrew Erickson, Pat Fitzmaurice

Episode Overview

This episode, hosted by Chris Welsh with analysts Andrew Erickson and Pat Fitzmaurice, delivers an in-depth breakdown of wide receiver rankings and tiers for Week 15—the first round of fantasy football playoffs in most leagues. The crew covers the top 36 WRs, discusses crucial start/sit debates, addresses tricky matchups, and unpacks who you can trust to help secure a championship push. Sharp insights, expert disagreements, and relatable frustration with underperforming stars anchor the advice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Playoff Rankings Mindset and Pressure (00:30–02:06)

• Erickson: Season-long rank contests are over; all that matters now is nailing weeks 15–17. "Locked in, laser focused, not trying to get too cute, but trusting the process." (01:06)
• Fitzmaurice: Emphasizes “do or die” mentality—many listeners are now in single-elimination. (01:45)

2. Wide Receiver 1–12 (Studs & Intriguing Outlier) (04:26–08:55)

• Top 12 includes expected names (Smith-Njigba, Chase, Nakua, Rice, Adams, Collins), but Michael Wilson (ARZ) is a surprise high rank.
• Michael Wilson Debate
  • Fitzmaurice (Positive on Wilson):
    • Without Marvin Harrison Jr., Wilson’s volume is elite: 18, 15, 16 targets and 10+ catches in last three Harrison absences. Even with a difficult Texans matchup, Wilson projects as a strong play. (05:31)
  • Erickson (Cautious):
    • Matchup is brutal (“the worst”), with Jacoby Brissett not likely to succeed where Allen and Mahomes have struggled against Houston. Points to Paris Johnson (LT) missing, lowering ARZ’s offensive ceiling.
    • If Marvin Harrison Jr. plays, do not play Wilson. Only viable if Harrison is OUT—and even then, expectations should be tempered. (06:33)
  • Memorable Quote:
    • "This is the worst matchup... the clock strikes midnight on this type of production." — Andrew Erickson (06:33)
  • Discussion: If Harrison plays, Wilson’s target share plummets. Even without him, efficiency likely to drop.

3. WR1 Comparison: A.J. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, Jameson Williams (08:55–10:57)

• Fitzmaurice: All tightly ranked: Brown (9), Williams (10), Waddle (11).
• Erickson: Same order.
  • Brown is surging, faces a soft matchup (Raiders); Waddle concerning due to Tua’s recent play and tough road matchup in Pittsburgh; Williams has huge upside in a probable shootout (total: 56) in a dome. (09:57)

4. Wide Receivers 13–24: Start/Sit Dilemmas & Playoff Risks (10:57–24:25)

Justin Jefferson Panic Meter (13:00–16:30)

• Reality Check: Jefferson’s last five games—no 80+ yard games, no TDs, targets and involvement shrinking.
  • Fitzmaurice: “Not a confident ranking.” Remains WR16 only because he’s still more talented/upside than names like Wan’Dale, McLaurin.
  • Erickson: Not quite a “slam dunk,” but matchup is as good as it gets (Dallas has allowed huge games to WRs lately). "You didn’t go through all the tough games for Jefferson to then sit him against the number one defense in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers." (15:06)
  • Welsh: Openly frustrated—if name wasn’t “Justin Jefferson,” he’d be a WR3, but the upside and matchup force you to play him unless you have a true star alternative.

Zay Flowers Consistency Question (16:30–19:31)

• Erickson: Always overvalued. Bengals blanket “number ones,” and Flowers rarely beats his projections. Good for floor, not for ceiling this week. (17:18)
• Fitzmaurice: Ceiling is the concern: no TDs since Week 1, but PPR floor is decent (only three games <10 pts). “Are we really going to shy away from this matchup… in a game with a Vegas total of 52 points? I tend to think not.” (18:31)

Stefon Diggs “Revenge” Game (19:31–21:33)

• Fitzmaurice (WR15): Not fazed by recent duds; notes he torched Buffalo for 10-146 on 12 targets in Week 5—his best game of the season. Unless wind is severe, expect another strong game. (20:03)
• Erickson: “Imagine benching Stefon Diggs in revenge game part two. You just can’t do it.” (20:48)

Jauan Jennings (SF) as WR2/3 Borderline (21:33–24:25)

• Erickson: Cautiously optimistic—safe as a WR3, especially if rookie Pearsall doesn’t emerge. (22:16)
• Fitzmaurice: Productive lately (4 TDs in 5 games, at least 4 catches in 7 straight games), favorable matchup vs. Titans, strong point total—"I just like the spot for Jennings." (23:25)

5. Wide Receiver 25–36: Sleepers, Regression, and Trap Plays (27:43–41:18)

a) Emeka Egbuka (WR25): Bounce-Back or Trap? (27:43–32:16)

• Erickson (WR19, Bullish): Trusts the volume—29% target share over last 7, highlighted by a positive Week 1 matchup vs. ATL (2 TDs). Coaches have been promoting getting him early targets. “His upside is too great to leave on the bench.” (28:37)
• Fitzmaurice (More Skeptical): Not worried about Evans’ return siphoning targets, but Egbuka’s conversion rate is abysmal (39.7%). Needs Mayfield and offense to be efficient, which hasn’t been the case. (30:58)

b) Christian Watson: Big Play Reliance in a Tough Matchup (32:16–35:46)

• Fitzmaurice: Warns against chasing Watson’s recent big games (5 TDs in 4 games, 18.1 YPC); Denver defense doesn’t give up big plays (fifth fewest completions of 20+ yds). (32:58)
• Erickson: “Facts are the facts.” Only 4 targets last week, massive efficiency not sustainable. Watson is the anti-Egbuka (little volume, big production). Regression makes him risky in a bad matchup. (34:01)
• Quote: "One of them is getting all the usage, no production. And then Watson is kind of the reverse..." — Andrew Erickson (34:01)

c) Alec Pierce: Abandon Ship with Philip Rivers? (35:46–41:18)

• Welsh: Pierce’s value nosedives with old/new QB. Rivers unlikely to take deep shots; offense likely to rely on short throws (hurting Pierce). (35:46)
• Erickson (Very Bearish): "How many hits can [Rivers] even take? Does he even finish the game?" Only startable Colts pass-catcher is Jonathan Taylor, otherwise “not worth the risk.” (37:19)
• Fitzmaurice: Dropping Pierce rapidly in ranks. "That is still feeling too high... probably going to have him outside the top 40 by the weekend." (40:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “All that matters is weeks 15, 16, 17, nailing these rankings, getting you to your championship.” — Andrew Erickson (01:06)
• “This is the worst matchup... the clock strikes midnight on this type of production [for Michael Wilson].” — Andrew Erickson (06:33)
• “Not a confident ranking… but fundamentally I think Justin Jefferson, even with bad QB play, is a better start than [tier two WRs].” — Pat Fitzmaurice (13:00)
• “Imagine benching Stefon Diggs in revenge game part two. You just can’t do it.” — Andrew Erickson (20:48)
• “One of them is getting all the usage, no production. And then Watson is kind of the reverse…” — Andrew Erickson (34:01)
• “If Riley Leonard were playing, would that change anything for Pierce? I think I’d rather chase upside elsewhere.” — Andrew Erickson (39:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30–02:06: Playoff mindset, rankings reset
• 04:26–08:55: Top 12 WRs & Michael Wilson debate
• 09:46–10:57: A.J. Brown, Waddle, Williams debate
• 13:00–16:30: Justin Jefferson panic and start/sit dilemma
• 16:30–19:31: Zay Flowers consistency and ceiling
• 19:31–21:33: Stefon Diggs revenge game discussion
• 22:16–24:25: Jauan Jennings as a confident WR3
• 27:43–32:16: Emeka Egbuka—a trap or playoff winner?
• 32:16–35:46: Christian Watson: Big plays vs. bad matchup
• 35:46–41:18: Alec Pierce; risk of old quarterback and better dart throws

Takeaways for Listeners

• Matchups Are King But So Is Volume: Tough matchups (Michael Wilson, Christian Watson) can depress production, but massive volume (Wilson without Harrison, Egbuka's share) can keep players in the mix.
• Don’t Get Cute—but Don’t Be Blind: Benching Jefferson feels wrong, but double-check your alternatives. Fade Alec Pierce, trust Stefon Diggs, and monitor injury situations closely.
• Chase Ceiling (but be honest about risks): For playoff survival, lean into upside (Jameson Williams, Egbuka), avoid trapped-out offenses.
• Watch for Late News: Especially on whether key WR’s running mates (Harrison Jr., Mike Evans) are active.

For more start/sit decisions and nuanced Q&A, check out the weekly FantasyPros live streams on YouTube at 3 PM ET every Thursday.