Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Who should you start in Week 16?
It’s Championship Week! Read on for some tips that will help you bring home the hardware in week 16:
Quarterback
Automatic Starts: Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson, Tom Brady, Justin Herbert
Start of the Week: Baker Mayfield @ New York Jets
I hope you were on my red-hot start of the week last week. Jalen Hurts went off to end the week as the QB1. I have to believe Baker Mayfield can finish the week top 5 and help win you some championships. He’s my favourite play this week at the QB position when not factoring in automatic starting QBs such as Kyler etc. Mayfield has been on a roll and the Jets are actually a decent run stuffing team they mostly stopped the Rams last week apart from one big run so Baker is going to have to throw. Luckily for him he’s been dominant doing just that lately; 10 passing TDs to just 1 INT good enough for the QB3 through the last 4 weeks which is real good and if you come up against a Baker this week I would be slightly nervous.
Other notable starts:
Tua Tagovailoa @ Las Vegas Raiders
Tua is a great streaming option this week against a reeling Raiders D who have given up an average of 36 points over the last 5 games. Justin Herbert bounced back in style against the Raiders last week finishing as the QB6 throwing for 2 passing TDs and rushing for another. Miami could have some receivers back this week which would only help Tua’s cause here. I see a similar stat line for Tua who has steered the Dolphins to being in touching distance of the playoffs.
Mitch Trubisky @ Jacksonville Jaguars
I’m wary of the meltdown game that will inevitably happen but I don’t see it this week. I love this matchup and I love Trubisky’s play lately. He’s playing like a man who’s full of confidence certainly not someone who already knows he won’t be with the organisation next season. Since week 12 he’s the QB11 and had the monster game against Houston showing the upside if you can catch him on a good week. Luckily that next good week is upon us. Jacksonville now holding the no.1 draft spot courtesy of the Jets shock win are stopping nobody right now. Lamar had success passing and running the ball last week which sets it up nicely for Trubisky who’s connecting well with Robinson, Mooney & Kmet lately.
Ryan Tannehill @ Green Bay Packers
How many QBs have put up more fantasy points than Tannehill over the past 5 weeks? Answer is just 1 and that’s Deshaun Watson. Tannehill has been straight out ballin! Everybody is talking about Derrick Henry and how he is literally running away with the rushing title, running through teams such as the Jags and Lions but quietly Tannehill is putting together a fantastic season. The QB7 on the entire season Tannehill is satisfying owners everywhere, if he’s available or you already own him start him and don’t look back!
Sits – Cam Newton, Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins
Running Back
Automatic Starts: Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, Chris Carson, Josh Jacobs, James Robinson, Austin Ekeler, Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, David Montgomery, Miles Sanders
Start of the Week: Giovanni Bernard @ Houston Texans
So typically Bernard goes off the week that I drop him. Hugely disappointing in his last few games as starter he decides to go off in what was perhaps his hardest game on paper. The Bengals committed to the run and didn’t shy away from it, playing with a lead throughout Bernard rushed for an incredible 25 times for 1 score and then caught his own target for 14 yards and another score. With Mixon out once again Bernard will get the start and if they decide the carry on this heavy run approach Bernard will end up a RB1 this week against the Texans who give up the 2nd most points to fantasy RBs.
Other notable starts:
David Johnson v Cincinnati Bengals
Another player with a sudden uptick in volume was David Johnson. Without the injured Duke Johnson, David was about to see the bulk of the rushing work as well as surprisingly leading the targets. A whopping 11 targets, 11 catches for 106 yards Watson looked for his running back often as they looked to get back in the game against the Colts. Duke Johnsons status is up in the air to start the week so if he was to sit for another game then David will be a great starting option with big upside against the Bengals.
JD McKissic v Carolina Panthers
Another RB that’s benefited from an injury to the starter is JD McKissic who has been sensational for fantasy owners in the absence of Antonio Gibson. The PPR RB4 on the week in 15 against a usually stout Seattle rushing defense McKissic had a huge workload rushing 13 times but also catching 9 passes on 10 targets. Washington would be silly to not give McKissic another big workload against the Panthers who rank 8th worst against running backs, if Gibson remains out McKissic has top 5 upside once again.
Le’Veon Bell v Atlanta Falcons
Welcome back Lev Bell, was nice to see you relevant once again. For the first time this season Bell rushed 15 times and managed 62 yards and a score against New Orleans. With Clyde Edwards-Helaire out again this week Bell will have every chance to find success against the Falcons who gave up 2 rushing scores to Leonard Fournette last week.
Sits – James Conner, Mike Davis, Sony Michel
Wide Receiver
Automatic Starts: Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, Terry McLaurin, Calvin Ridley, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Allen Robinson, Michael Thomas, AJ Brown, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen
Start of the Week: Marvin Jones v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are great against the run, against the pass however not so much. Without superstar Julio Jones Calvin Ridley had a day to remember setting his career high against this Bucs secondary that could be without their best corner in Carlton Davis. Marvin Jones dominated the Titans last week hauling in 10 or 12 passes for 112 yards a TD score. There had been question marks surrounding Jones fantasy production without Golladay but eventually him and Stafford are singing from the same hymn sheet and he will have another huge target share this week, he’s a lock for a WR1 finish for me.
Other notable starts:
Tyron Johnson v Denver Broncos
Tyron Johnson a name few people knew at the start of the season is certainly someone you should know about now. He’s just been really good the last 2 weeks and he’s helping to carry the receiving burden with injuries to Mike Williams & Keenan Allen. Both Williams & Allen are either playing through injuries or in danger of missing the Broncos matchup. If you have some question over your flex spots then Johnson is a great option, he’s not going to scare your opponents but come Sunday night they will be the ones sobbing at another TD bomb from Herbert.
Emmanuel Sanders v Minnesota Vikings
The No.1 option in New Orleans, finally. He has taken his limited chances he had the last 2 weeks registering 124 yards on just 7 catches. With Michael Thomas sidelined Sanders will be the go to against this Minnesota defense giving up the 3rd most points to fantasy WRs. Brees got things going in the second half against Kansas City in his first game back from multiple fractured ribs. He will be more confident here and Sanders is in my team for my Championship game this week and I have full confidence.
Rashard Higgins @ New York Jets
The opponent I play against this week in the Championship game has Rashard Higgins and it terrifies me! The WR13 over the past 3 weeks he’s wracked up 239 yards over that span and caught 2 TDs from the impressive Baker Mayfield. This week Baker will be facing the Jets and multiple TD passes is the only possible outcome, I just hope none go to Higgins but I fear at least 1 is coming his way, he’s a great option this week in the biggest game of the year.
Sits – Marquise Brown, Jerry Jeudy, TY Hilton
Tight End
Automatic Starts: Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, TJ Hockenson
Start of the Week: Logan Thomas v Carolina Panthers
I have wrote about Logan Thomas extensively lately and I’m falling a little in love with him! Thomas has just been phenomenal for Washington and for fantasy owners. Over the past 3 weeks he’s the TE3 only behind Waller & Kelce which is elite company. He deserves to be there too, no matter who the QB is in Washington he’s been the go to and it shouldn’t slow down this week either. The Panthers concede the 9th most points to fantasy TEs and although McLaurin may be struggling right now Logan Thomas is thriving, he’s a must start this week outside of Waller, Kelce & Hockenson.
Other notable starts:
Dallas Goedert @ Dallas Cowboys
The return of Zach Ertz has had little effect on Dallas Goedert’s production as I predicted. It appears they are ready to move on from Ertz and install Goedert as the No.1 TE option in Philadelphia. Goedert has been the model of consistency since week 10 not seeing fewer than 6 targets in every contest. Last week the targets just didn’t turn into serious fantasy points, twice being targets in the end zone but neither connected. This week just feels like a game he will go off in, famously could have been drafted by Dallas he will come back to haunt them and send them packing in the NFC East race.
Austin Hooper @ New York Jets
There’s not been many more frustrating TEs to own this season than Austin Hooper. He’s been so inconsistent with the best came coming last week against the Giants where he hauled in 5 catches for 41 yards and a score, that’s nowhere near what you got from Hooper when he was with the Falcons and if you paid up for him your looking silly right now. The good news is he now gets to face the other New York team, the even worse one who give up the most points to fantasy TEs. He’s sure to get some looks in the red zone so he has great upside this week.
Cole Kmet @ Jacksonville Jaguars
I may have to include Cole Kmet in my twitter bio soon I ramble on about him that much. I just love his upside and the dynasty value of the Giant Chicago Bears’ tight end. He had a down day last week against Minnesota catching on 2 passes but it’s the snap percentage that had me giddy. Kmet was out there for 100 percent of the offensive snaps, yes 100. If that doesn’t get you excited then maybe the matchup against the Jags will who give up the 8th most points to the position.
Sits – Tyler Higbee, Jordan Reed, Steelers TE's
Alastair Cook
Fantasy Football Analyst
ALASTAIR, A DIE-HARD BUCCANEERS FAN FROM NORWICH AND UP AND COMING FANTASY CONTRIBUTOR CAN BE FOUND ON HIS TWITTER PAGE The Dynasty Grill (@FFDynastyGrill)