Week 15: Fine or Pine?

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Heading into the next week of the fantasy playoffs can be exciting and scary at the same time. Knowing what players to play and which players to bench can be difficult to decide on. No fantasy owner wants to make the wrong choices at this point in the season. That's where this edition of "Fine or Pine" comes in.

Quarterback

Fine- Nick Foles- With Minnesota allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks (22.1 points per game) and Nick Foles posting a 20:1 touchdown to interception ratio, Foles should be a reliable fantasy option heading into week 15.

Pine- Eli Manning- Not only is this one of the worst possible matchups for Eli, the Seahawks have a reason to show up for this game looking for a first round bye. The Seattle defense is allowing the second least amount of fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks at just over 13 points per game. With Eli tied for the league lead in interceptions, owners hopefully moved away from the Giants signal caller weeks ago.

Running Back

Fine- Danny Woodhead- The combination of the Chargers most likely needing to pass a lot to keep up with the Broncos and Denver giving up the eighth most fantasy points to the running back position makes Danny Woodhead a must start heading into week 15.

Pine- Ray Rice- With a Monday night matchup on the horizon for the Ravens, Ray Rice faces a tough run defense in the Lions. Detroit is allowing under 17 points per game to running backs and the Baltimore run game hasn't produced most of the season.

Wide Receiver

Fine- A.J Green- Not only is Green a top receiver going into week 15, the Steelers defense is allowing over 20 points to the receiver position per game so Green should have no problems getting his this week.

Pine- Larry Fitzgerald- While Fitzgerald has been reliable as of late, Carson Palmer is dealing with an elbow injury and Michael Floyd is banged up. The Titans defense could focus more on Fitzgerald and to make matters worse, Tennessee is allowing the fewest amount of fantasy points to opposing wide receivers at under 16 per game.

Tight End

Fine- Tony Gonzalez- Washington has given up the fourth most fantasy points per game to tight ends and Tony Gonzalez is coming off of back to back double digit fantasy points games. The Falcons offense should have no problems moving the ball on a deflated Redskins defense and team as a whole.

Pine- Jared Cook- With Jared Cook coming off of another disappointing fantasy game and the 49ers giving up the fourth fewest fantasy points to tight ends, Jared Cook cannot be trusted any week let alone in the fantasy football playoffs.

Defense

Fine- Carolina- Playing at home where the Panthers need this game to keep pace with the division leading Saints and playing versus an offense that cannot string together two consecutive wins, Carolina is the must start defense of the week. Carolina has given up the least amount of fantasy points to the opposing quarterback, the third fewest to opposing running backs and the second fewest to opposing wide receivers. With a turnover prone offense in the Jets, the Panthers will be a top fantasy defense in week 15.

Pine- Denver- With the Broncos allowing the fifth most fantasy points to quarterbacks, the eighth most to running backs and the twelfth most to wide receivers, Denver faces a high powered offense in San Diego who last time they met only lost by eight points. The Chargers can score and the Broncos can't stop opposing offenses from scoring. Unless Denver can generate some turnovers, this unit will do very little to help fantasy owners in week 15.