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Week 16 is finally here, and that means you’re likely in the championship of your Fantasy Football seasons (unless your commissioner is absolutely lost). If you made it this far, congrats and good luck. I know just how much is on the line this week: loads of cash and massive amounts of bragging rights.
With that being said, let’s jump into the starts and sits for the week.
Quarterback
Start ‘Em:
Los Angeles Chargers QB Phillip Rivers vs. Oakland Raiders
Rivers is coming off a stinker of a performance in Week 15, but he has a tremendous matchup against the secondary of the Raiders this week. The Raiders allow the 2nd most points per game to opposing QB’s and are ranked 31st in pass defense DVOA and 32nd in yards-per-pass-attempt allowed (YPA) allowed. You never truly know what you’ll get out of the veteran, but he’s a good bet to score a bunch of points this weekend.
Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson vs. Arizona Cardinals
If you have Wilson, you’re probably starting him regardless of matchup, but this week his matchup also turns out to be a great one as the Cardinals allow the most points per game to opposing QB’s and are ranked 28th in pass defense DVOA and 29th in YPA allowed. Wilson only scored 14.30 points in the first meeting against the Cardinals in Week 4, so that is something of note.
Other potential starts: Jameis Winston vs. Houston Texans, Dak Prescott vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sit ‘Em:
Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen vs. New England Patriots
Allen has been one of the most surprising players in fantasy football this year, ranking 6th in scoring among all quarterbacks. The issue for Allen and the Bills is the incredibly tough matchup against the Patriots. In their Week 4 contest, Allen only managed to score 8.72 points as he threw three interceptions on the day. The Patriots allow the fewest points per game to opposing QB’s and are ranked 1st in pass defense DVOA and 2nd in YPA allowed.
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady vs. Buffalo Bills
Just like Allen, Brady is a prime candidate to leave on your bench in Week 16. In the first contest against the Bills, Brady mustered a measly 3.70 points. The Bills field an incredibly talented defense that allows the 2nd fewest points per game to opposing QB’s and is ranked 2nd in pass defense DVOA and 3rd in YPA allowed.
Other potential sits: Baker Mayfield vs. Baltimore Ravens, Sam Darnold vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Running Back
Start ‘Em:
Indianapolis Colts RB Marlon Mack vs. Carolina Panthers
Mack has struggled mightily in the past few weeks and hasn’t reached double-digit points since Week 11 (injuries held him out two games), but a matchup against the leaky run defense of the Panthers is exactly what the doctor ordered. The Panthers allow the most points per game to opposing RB’s and are ranked 32nd in run defense DVOA and YPC allowed.
Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
After suffering some mid-season injuries, Freeman has returned to form as he’s scored double-digit points in two of his past three contests. This week, Freeman gets a great matchup in the Jaguars which allow the 2nd most points per game to opposing RB’s and are ranked 31st in run defense DVOA and YPC allowed.
Other potential starts: Joe Mixon vs. Miami Dolphins, Phillip Lindsay vs. Detroit Lions, DeAndre Washington vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Sit ‘Em:
Houston Texans RB’s Carlos Hyde/Duke Johnson vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have one of the toughest run defenses in the league as they allow the fewest points per game to opposing RB’s and are ranked 1st in run defense DVOA and 2nd YPC allowed. Bench Hyde and Johnson comfortably this weekend.
Buffalo Bills RB Devin Singletary vs. New England Patriots
Singletary has taken a stranglehold on the backfield production in Buffalo, but this week is a tough one with the Patriots next on the schedule. The Patriots allow the 2nd fewest (tied for 1st actually) points per game to opposing RB’s and are ranked 7th in run defense DVOA and 18th in YPC allowed.
Other potential sits: Todd Gurley vs San Francisco 49ers, Sony Michel vs. Buffalo Bills
Wide Receiver
Start ‘Em:
Houston Texans WR Will Fuller vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers may field a tough run defense, but the pass defense is completely on the other end of the spectrum. The Buccaneers allow the most points per game to opposing WR’s and are ranked 15th in pass defense DVOA and 13th in YPA allowed. Fuller is a massive sleeper in this contest, though his injury history is always something to monitor.
Dallas Cowboys WR Michael Gallup vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Gallup is coming off a massive stinker that seen him total only 1.6 points in Week 15, but a matchup against the Eagles could end very well for Gallup owners. His first contest against the Eagles wasn’t great as he totaled only 6.4 points, but the Cowboys have had the Eagles’ number and the Eagles allow the 2nd most points per game to opposing WR’s.
Other potential starts: Tyler Boyd vs. Miami Dolphins, Terry McLaurin vs. New York Giants, A.J. Brown vs. New Orleans Saints
Sit ‘Em:
Los Angeles Rams WR Brandin Cooks vs. San Francisco 49ers
If you’re still starting Cooks at this point, well, I have no idea how you made it this far. Cooks has gone completely invisible since suffering a concussion mid-season and now faces an incredibly tough pass defense that allows the 5th fewest points per game to opposing WR’s.
Buffalo Bills WR John Brown vs. New England Patriots
In what has become a theme this week, Brown — like the remainder of his teammates — is a prime candidate to be left on your bench. In the first contest against the Patriots, Brown totaled 11.90 points, which isn’t bad, but it was one of his worst games of the season. The Patriots allow the fewest points per game to opposing WR’s.
Other potential sits: Julian Edelman vs. Buffalo Bills, T.Y. Hilton vs. Carolina Panthers
Tight End
Start ‘Em:
Seattle Seahawks TE Jacob Hollister vs. Arizona Cardinals
Hollister doesn’t figure much into the Seahawks’ passing attack, but the matchup against the Cardinals is just too good to ignore him. The Cardinals allow by far the most points per game to opposing TE’s. They’re awful at defending tight ends, giving Hollister a nice ceiling this week.
Los Angeles Chargers TE Hunter Henry vs. Oakland Raiders
Henry has had an incredibly successful season, even after sustaining an injury that essentially forced him to miss four weeks of playing time. Currently, Henry ranks 9th among all TE’s in scoring and gets a nice matchup against the Raiders which allow the 2nd most points per game to opposing TE’s. The Raiders’ linebackers are not good in coverage, and that was evidenced by Henry’s 13-point performance against them back in Week 10.
Other potential starts: Tyler Higbee vs. San Francisco 49ers, O.J. Howard vs. Houston Texans
Sit ‘Em:
Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Witten has been very productive in recent weeks as he’s eclipsed 13+ points in two of his past three games, but the matchup against the Eagles is a tough one as they allow the 4th fewest points per game to opposing TE’s.
Cleveland Browns TE Ricky Seals-Jones vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 15 was an incredible week for Seals-Jones as he put together one of his best days of the season, totaling 15.90 points against the Arizona Cardinals (shocker). This week, the matchup presented is a lot tougher as the Ravens allow the fewest points per game to opposing TE’s.
Other potential sits: Jimmy Graham vs. Minnesota Vikings, Dawson Knox vs. New England Patriots
Defense
Start ‘Em:
Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST vs. New York Jets
The Steelers’ defense is 2nd in the league in scoring, trailing only the Patriots. The front-seven is incredibly disruptive and it shows with their sack numbers. In the past four weeks, the Steelers have topped 11+ fantasy points three times. Expect Jets QB Sam Darnold to be harassed all game.
Denver Broncos D/ST vs. Detroit Lions
David Blough is the starting QB for the Lions. Yup, that’s all.
Other potential starts: Baltimore Ravens D/ST vs. Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers D/ST vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sit ‘Em:
Chicago Bears D/ST vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Bears are an above average defense as they currently rank 14th among all defenses in scoring, though they have a matchup opposing the leagues most dangerous player in Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. Find another defense to stream this week.
Green Bay Packers D/ST vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Packers are coming off a strong week in which they totaled 13 points, but they face a Vikings offense that has been rolling for majority of the season.
Other potential sits: Philadelphia Eagles D/ST vs. Dallas Cowboys