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The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 15: Slumping stars could be fantasy playoff poison

The fantasy playoffs begin for most mavens this week, and many of them will revert back to their Week 1 lineups with all of their presumed standouts.

That’s certainly the safe strategy. But what if your roster is filled with underperforming stars, or slumping front-liners? That’s where things get tricky.

Here are some of the big names who have not been producing big numbers recently, and who possibly could sink your fantasy ship this weekend:

Alvin Kamara (Saints RB): Four years ago he had six touchdowns against the Vikings. But now he has gone seven consecutive games without a score. Throw in the season-ending injury to his quarterback Derek Carr, and No. 41 could be very quiet the next few weeks.

Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints is tackled by Michael Hoecht #97 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Caesars Superdome on Dec. 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots RB): He has seven touchdowns this season, but none since early November. And New England’s top runner has been fading into the background since the emergence of rookie QB Drake Maye and a more pass-heavy offense.

Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots stiff arms Tyrique Stevenson #29 of the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on Nov. 10, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

D.K. Metcalf (Seahawks WR): He used to be Seattle’s top receiver before the rise of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Metcalf has only one TD in his past eight games and has not topped the century mark in receiving in his past seven outings.

DK Metcalf #14 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Malik Nabers (Giants WR): He might be a rookie of the year on any other team. But he is a Giant, and he has a streak of eight games without a touchdown. And with Drew Luck at the helm this week against Baltimore, that streak will likely reach nine.

Head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants hugs Malik Nabers #1 after the game against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 08, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Tank Dell (Texans WR): You might have thought Dell would break out after Stefon Diggs’ injury, and you’d be mistaken. As Houston’s offense has cooled off, Dell has remained ice cold, averaging only about 45 yards per game over the past month.

Ronald Darby #25 of the Jacksonville Jaguars defends a pass intended for Tank Dell #3 of the Houston Texans during the first quarter at EverBank Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Travis Kelce (Chiefs TE): Taylor Swift’s guy has been a non-entity in half of the Chiefs’ games this season, as Patrick Mahomes has relied on DeAndre Hopkins and Xavier Worthy for the big plays. Scoreless in 11 of 13 games? That’s not gonna do.

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 08, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

C.J. Stroud (Texans QB): How do you define a sophomore slump? Well, Stroud has as many interceptions (5) as touchdown passes over the past seven games. Pretty weak sauce from a guy who threw for 23 TDs and ran for three last season.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans throws a pass during the fourth quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Sitting stars

Now that Buffalo QB Josh Allen has decided to hog all the touchdowns, you can’t count on too many for RB James Cook against the NFC-leading Lions. … Cleveland’s Nick Chubb will face tough going against AFC-leading Kansas City. … Speaking of the Chiefs’ defense, it will cool off the red-hot Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy. … Green Bay WR Christian Watson has been strong lately, but Seattle’s defense will be able to limit him. … And two young quarterbacks will continue to underwhelm in Week 15: Chicago’s Caleb Williams vs. the Vikings and the Colts’ Anthony Rchardson against surprising Denver.

James Cook #4 of the Buffalo Bills hit by Keir Thomas #96 and Omar Speights #48 of the Los Angeles Rams during a 44-42 Rams win at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 08, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Matchup game

The Vikings’ Aaron Jones ran through the Bears two weeks ago in Chicago, and it won’t be much different on Monday night in Minneapolis. … Seattle RB Zack Charbonnet was all-world last week, and he’ll be at least a top-five back against Green Bay. … Now that Dallas has hit rock bottom, look for big weeks from their next foes: Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard and Adam Thielen. … And inconsistent Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray will come to the rescue of the Cardinals, and The Loop’s fantasy team, with a big day against New England.

Aaron Jones #33 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates in the stands after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Injury watch

Two prominent running backs are very iffy: the Jets’ Breece Hall and the 49ers’ Isaac Guerendo. Possible replacements for those we will discuss later as Deepest Sleepers. … RBs with a better chance of playing are Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III and Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving. … The list of other questionables includes two RBs (Raiders’ Alexander Mattison, Dolphins’ Raheem Mostert), five WRs (Steelers’ George Pickens, Chargers’ Ladd McConkey, Colts’ Josh Downs, Browns’ Cedric Tillman, Packers’ Romeo Doubs), one TE (Bills’ Dalton Kincaid) and two QBs (Chargers’ Justin Herbert, Titans’ Will Levis).

Breece Hall #20 of the New York Jets looks on after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New York Jets, 26-21, at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 01, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Deepest sleepers

Two virtual nobodies could see major playing time this week: Jets RB Isiah Davis and Niners RB Patrick Taylor. Davis had 13 touches for 67 yards and a touchdown last Sunday in Miami, and Taylor ran for 25 yards and a TD, which isn’t bad for a fourth-stringer.

Isaiah Davis #32 of the New York Jets runs the ball up the field against Anthony Walker Jr. #6 of the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter of a game at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The Thursday pick

Rams at 49ers (-2½):

Pick: Rams by 3

Puka Nacua #17 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass against Christian Benford #47 of the Buffalo Bills in the second quarter of a game at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 08, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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