Stadium Rant’s Week 16 Fantasy Football Starts & Sits
Daniel Portillo – host of Another Damn (Fantasy) Podcast – is here to give you the players with the most (and least) favorable fantasy football matchups for week 15 to help you make your playoff push!
Quarterbacks
Starts
The Green Bay Packs have the pleasure of facing the 31st-ranked defense against fantasy football QBs in the Miami Dolphins. This means Aaron Rodgers is in a prime position to start for you this week. Rodgers is not the QB of old, but the Dolphins have been one of my favorite matchups to exploit this year.
The Tom Brady of old would not be in an article like this. He would be an auto-start, but that is just not how things work when you’re 46 and playing a young man’s game. This week the Buccaneers face off against the Arizona Cardinals that have nothing but pride to play for at this point. The Bucs on the other hand, are fighting for their playoff lives. The Cardinals have allowed the seventh most fantasy points to QBs, lock Brady in for a big night.
Sits
Daniel Jones is currently a top 15 fantasy football QB through this point in the season. Something no one saw coming. While he may seem like a great option against the Vikings’ 25th-ranked defense, I am proceeding with caution here. He has cracked 20 points just once in the last four games and could extend that streak this week.
The Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson get to host one of the tougher defenses in the NFL, the New Orleans Saints. While Watson is certainly kicking the rust off, I do not foresee him doing much this week. Cleveland’s temperature is expected to be well below zero during game time with one of the lowest betting totals in NFL history at just 32 points. Stay away from Watson and anyone from this game not named Nick Chubb.
Running Backs
Starts
Raheem Mostert gashed the Buffalo Bills to the tune of over eight yards per carry last week and will face the Green Bay Packers’ porous run defense this week. With Jeff Wilson still nursing that injury to an extent, I expect a fully healthy Raheem Mostert to take advantage of the 24th-ranked fantasy defense against fantasy football running backs.
JK Dobbins has been a monster since returning from his knee cleanup surgery. Rushing for over 120 yards in two straight games, he has the honor of facing the Atlanta Falcons this week with some payoff hopes on the line. Look for him to get plenty of work.
Sits
David Montgomery has been solid in the absence of Khalil Herbert the last few weeks. Well now, Herbert returns from his injury and will be looking to reclaim his volume. The Dolphins torched the Bills on the ground last week, so this may appear to be a friendly matchup, but I will be tempering expectations until I know who is going to be the 1A moving forward.
All signs point to Miles Sanders playing his first game of the season without Jalen Hurts under center. This gives me great cause for concern, especially with the Dallas Cowboys lining up across from him. While Gardner Minshew has proven to be a serviceable QB at times, we truly have no idea which direction this offense is going to go. Explore other options this weekend, I know I will be.
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Wide Receivers
Starts
DK Metcalf is the lone wolf for the Seahawks’ receiving corps with the loss of Tyler Lockett for the next few weeks. Seattle travels to a frigid Kansas City this week, but the context is telling me to start DK this week. Increased volume, 28th ranked fantasy football defense against wide receivers, and DK is already a top 15 receiver with Lockett on the field. What else do you need to know?
Christian Watson, prior to last week, had been on a scorching run of TDs. After a bit of a down game against the Rams, he will be bouncing back in a big way in Miami. There are a lot of low-scoring totals being projected, but this is not one of them. Keep him in the lineup as a solid WR2/Flex
Sits
Amari Cooper is clearly not the favorite target for Deshaun Watson. DPJ has received most of the attention and with the current weather forecast, I am even further from wanting to start Cooper. Do not let him cost you a league championship.
No Kyler Murray. No Colt McCoy. That leaves Trace McSorley to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This leaves me with little to no confidence in Marquise Brown this week. It is likely you have been starting other receivers over him since his injury, roll with one of those guys this week as well.
Tight Ends
Starts
Darren Waller is back! With a solid game against New England last week, Waller has a much better outlook against Pittsburgh. They tend to keep TEs in check, but tight ends like Dallas Goedert and David Njoku have had great games against this defense. I like Waller to continue his return to peak fantasy football form against Pittsburgh.
Dawson Knox is in the midst of a two-game TD streak and in fantasy football, that is everything for this position. The Chicago Bears have been stingy this year, but with the weather, it is going to be runs and short passes all day long and that is where Knox and many tight ends excel. You can feel good about starting him this week.
Sits
Cole Kmet and the Bears have the tall task of facing the Buffalo Bills this weekend in some crazy weather. Kmet has been one of the better fantasy football tight ends this year but has failed to find paydirt the last four games. I would look at other options this week.
Evan Engram has been a fantastic option the last four weeks – which just so happens to align with Trevor Lawrence’s improved play – but I am not thrilled about their Thursday Night matchup against the New York Jets. I would check out some other options this week.
Team Defense
Starts
The Tennessee Titans defense manhandled the Houston Texans earlier this season. Allowing just ten points in their last matchup while sacking the QB three times and generating a turnover. Now, with their backs against the wall and the division title slipping through their fingers, this defense is going to step up even more. Put them in your lineup this week.
The only bright spot for the Denver Broncos has been their defense this season. A top-ten fantasy unit up to this point, the Broncos take on the LA Rams, a generous offense to opposing defenses this year. Take advantage of this matchup where you can.
Sits
The New England Patriots defensive unit is one that is typically a must-start each week. This week is not one of those weeks. The white-hot Bengals aim to maintain their hold on the AFC North and put up some major points in the process. Look at some other options this week.
This one will be difficult to do. But the Philadelphia Eagles defense should be benched this week. They travel to Dallas to face the high-powered Cowboys offense and while the rushing defense has improved, the Cowboys attack is one of the best two-headed monsters in the league. Check the waivers for a better matchup and hold onto these guys for your next round.
More Fantasy Football Content
In the meantime check out Dan and his co-host, Trevor Steinbacher, on Another Damn (Fantasy) Podcast every Wednesday, live at 8:15 PM Central Time on YouTube, or Thursday mornings on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Best of luck in week 16!