Monday Night Fantasy Football Start Decisions and Rankings: Jaylen Warren, Darren Waller, DK Metcalf and More

We just put together a DFS lineup for the week 15 NFL Monday night game between the Dolphins and Steelers, and are now going to look over the top fantasy football options for both teams.

We'll rank every offensive player before breaking.

Use the FantasySP start/sit tool for help with any last-minute lineup decisions.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback for Pittsburgh, while Tua Tagovailoa leads Miami.

Rodgers is coming off a big fantasy performance, but struggled in the few games before that. Tagovailoa has underwhelmed as a fantasy QB for the past several weeks, despite the Dolphins winning a bunch.

It's a close matchup between the quarterbacks, but I preferred Rodgers this week. Rodgers ranked 24th among quarterbacks, while Tagovailoa was at No. 28. 

Tagovailoa has the better fantasy matchup, but only by about a point. 

The real reason why I wasn't high on either quarterback was because of their overall play this season, and especially of late. Each could go off, but each is also capable of doing little or nothing. Ranking them in the 20s on a full week of NFL games was more than fair.

Running Backs

De'Von Achane was the only back from this game on the injury report this week, but he's been cleared and has no game status.

He is the best fantasy back in this game, by a long way too. Jaylen Wright is his top backup it appears, while Ollie Gordon helps out here and there.

In Pittsburgh, Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell lead the way. Kaleb Johnson figured to help out this year, but hasn't gotten going.

Both team's backs have below-average matchups tonight. Miami's defense allows fantasy backs to score 21 fantasy points per contest, while Pittsburgh gives up 20 fantasy points.

Achane was my No. 2 back this week, and could have challenged for the top spot had he not been banged up. I gave Warren my No. 25 ranking, and nobody else from the contest was ranked.

Gainwell is a decent starting option, but in a below-average matchup, I decided to skip him in my top-30 rankings. He ranks third after Achane and Warren in this game among the running backs.

I'd take Wright after that, then Gordon. Wright is a deep-league starting option only, while Gordon would be a desperation play in even deeper leagues. Skip Johnson if you can.

Wide Receivers

There's not many good fantasy wideouts in this game.

DK Metcalf is the top wideout in Pittsburgh, while Jaylen Waddle leads Miami.

Malik Washington is the next-best fantasy wideout for the Dolphins, but is way behind Waddle. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Cedrick Wilson and Dee Eskridge are the other wideouts who played last week.

There's really not a clear No. 2 behind Metcalf in Pittsburgh. Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Calvin Austin, Ben Skowronek and Scotty Miller all played last week.

The Dolphins' wide receivers have a super favorable fantasy matchup tonight, as the Steelers' defense gives up 36 fantasy points per game to the position. The Dolphins are a below-average matchup, allowing only 27 fantasy points per game to wideouts.

Waddle and Metcalf are the only ones I considered for my top-30 wide receiver rankings for week 15. Waddle ranked 12th, while Metcalf checked in 17th.

Everyone else is a deep-league option, at best. I'd rank them as follows: Washington, Thielen, Austin, Westbrook-Ikhine, Valdes-Scantling, Skowronek, Wilson, Eskridge and Miller.

Because there's no clear No. 2 wideouts really for either team, I'd try to avoid any wideouts not named Waddle or Metcalf tonight, even with the Dolphins' group of wideouts having a favorable matchup.

Tight Ends

Darren Waller is the top tight end for Miami, even with Greg Dulcich leading the way last week. Julian Hill also outsnapped Waller last week.

Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Jonnu Smith are the tight end options in Pittsburgh.

It's a shame there aren't better fantasy tight ends in this contest, because the matchups for each team are elite. Both defenses allow tight ends to score 16 fantasy points per contest.

Waller still made my top-25 tight end rankings despite a weak showing in week 14. He sat No. 21 for me. No Steeler tight ends made my rankings.

While Waller is an option, he's a much better starter in deeper fantasy leagues. It's a toss up on who could be the top Pittsburgh tight end, so I'd also take Dulcich over any Steelers.

I'd try Freiermuth after that, then Smith and Washington. Hill would rank last among the six tight ends I've mentioned in this section.

Kickers

Riley Patterson does the kicking for the Dolphins, while Chris Boswell is still booting it for the Steelers.

Patterson is 23-of-25 on his field goals this season, while being 28-of-29 on his extra points.

Boswell is 21-of-24 on his field goals and has made all 33 of his extra points so far.

Both kickers are projected for eight fantasy points tonight. Both are solid options, but Boswell is the bigger fantasy asset, starting in nearly 78% of leagues - Patterson is started in just 5% of leagues.

I also like Boswell over Patterson tonight, although the Dolphins' kicker could easily score more fantasy points tonight.

Defenses/Special Teams

The Steelers DST is projected for seven fantasy points tonight, while the Dolphins DST is set for six.

Pittsburgh's DST is starting in 54% of leagues, while the Miami DST is at 16% started.

The Steelers' defense is allowing 23.9 points per game this season, while the Dolphins' defense is giving up 22.8 per contest.

Miami has 31 sacks and 17 takeaways on the season. Pittsburgh has 23 takeaways and 36 sacks.

I like the Steelers to win this game, so I'd take their DST over the Dolphins. Both could have decent fantasy showings though.

Trending Start Decisions

There's a few trending decisions involving players from tonight's game. Let's run through them here before getting to my final rankings.

Warren and Metcalf are in a decision against each other, with fantasy owners liking Warren over Metcalf, but are also starting both guys 59% of the time. They are close in my book, but I like Metcalf coming off a big week 14 showing.

Warren is preferred over Gainwell by a wide margin, and fantasy owners are starting both Pittsburgh backs 21% of the time. I think it's a much closer decision, but would also take Warren. Both could deliver in tonight's matchup.

Warren is also up against Waddle, with fantasy owners liking Waddle, while starting both 74% of the time. I think Waddle is the pretty easy choice here, but I'd be fine starting both in all leagues.

Gainwell and Warren are in another decision, with fantasy owners liking the running back over the tight end. Both guys are starting 23% of the time. I like Gainwell by a decent margin, despite them being close in my rankings. I'd only want to be starting both guys in deeper fantasy setups.

Use the FantasySP start/sit tool for any other fantasy football lineup decisions you have tonight, or the rest of the season!

Offensive Overall Rankings (OP or Flex Spots)

1. De'Von Achane

2. Aaron Rodgers

3. Jaylen Waddle

4. Tua Tagovailoa

5. DK Metcalf

6. Jaylen Warren

7. Kenneth Gainwell

8. Darren Waller 

9. Malik Washington

10. Jaylen Wright

11. Adam Thielen

12. Calvin Austin

13. Greg Dulcich

14. Pat Freiermuth

15. Ollie Gordon

16. Jonnu Smith

17. Darnell Washington

18. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

19. Marquez Valdes-Scantling

20. Ben Skowronek

21. Julian Hill

22. Cedrick Wilson

23. Kaleb Johnson

24. Dee Eskridge

25. Scotty Miller

UPDATE: Warren is questionable with an illness. If he cannot play, Gainwell would be a fantastic fantasy option for tonight, while Johnson would have an increased fantasy outlook. I'd move Gainwell up a spot to No. 6 if Warren is eventually ruled out, and then Johnson would jump in between Austin and Dulcich.