As we head into the second round of fantasy football playoffs, every start ’em or sit ’em decision carries more weight than ever and can become the difference in a win-or-go-home scenario. With not all matchups being equal, here are our top start ’em and sit ’em plays for Week 16.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 16: Quarterbacks
While the focus in the majority of fantasy leagues falls on skill positions, quarterbacks — in most cases — consistently bring the highest weekly total. Which QBs are must-starts, and who should remain on the bench in Week 16?
Start ‘Em | Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens (@ CIN)
Alright, I’ve seen enough. If Lamar Jackson is anything less than 100%, Tyler Huntley needs to be the QB of the Baltimore Ravens and is a virtual must-start for fantasy. Sure, it’s a small sample size. But in that small sample, we saw some sensational play against the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Huntley completed 28 of 40 passes for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding 73 rushing yards and another 2 scores on the ground to finish as Week 15’s fantasy QB1 (so far). Obviously, his future is dependent on Jackson’s health. But for right now, Huntley is a must-start for fantasy in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals after playing better than anyone could have asked for over the last two weeks.
Sit ‘Em | Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts (@ ARI)
For most of this season, Carson Wentz has been a fringe starter for fantasy despite playing some of the best football of his career. Yet, over the last five weeks, he has taken a nosedive, hitting rock bottom in Week 15 against New England. Wentz went just 5-of-12 passing for 57 yards with 1 touchdown and an interception while adding 17 yards on 8 carries. In his last five games, Wentz has finished as the QB24, QB20, QB5, QB24, and QB21 (with four games left to play).
He’s thrown for 180 yards or less in four of the last five. He is often completely taken out of the game script because the Colts have the best running back in the NFL in Jonathan Taylor, who can take over when called upon. Wentz has a difficult matchup against the Cardinals defense, who is No. 4 on the season in points allowed to the QB position at 15.21. Wentz should not be a fantasy starter in Week 16.
Running Backs
While these RBs found themselves with adjusted roles following injuries to surrounding players and poor play from others, they are on opposite sides of start/sit debates for Week 16. Let’s look at the top start and sit options from RB committees around the league for Week 16.
Start ‘Em | Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions (@ ATL)
Craig Reynolds went from being the epitome of the “Who?” meme to everyone’s favorite playoff darling. In two games with both D’Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams (COVID-19) out, Reynolds has 216 total yards. After posting 11 carries for 83 yards on the ground in Week 14 against Denver, Reynolds bested that performance with 112 rushing yards on 26 attempts while adding 5 yards on his lone target in the Lions’ 30-12 beatdown of the Cardinals.
The RB20 in half-PPR scoring last week, Reynolds is currently the RB11 in Week 15 with 12.2 points. This speaks to Reynolds playing well, but also to how awful Week 15 was in general. In Week 16, the apparently hot Lions take on the Atlanta Falcons and their defense that has allowed the 24th-most points to opposing RBs this season (25.87 per game). Keep an eye on the statuses of both Swift and Williams, but even if one of them makes a return, Reynolds should be a starter for the third week in a row.
Sit ‘Em | Chuba Hubbard, Carolins Panthers (vs. TB)
Despite inheriting a sizable role, Chuba Hubbard keeps watching his workload go to other people. In Week 15, Hubbard rushed just 8 times for 42 yards and caught his only target for 1 yard in Carolina’s loss to the Bills.
Ameer Abdullah is operating as the team’s passing-down back (4-of-4 for 48 yards and a TD), and inside the 10-yard line, Cam Newton will call his own number as he has his entire career. Add in a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense (12th vs. RBs and No. 2 in rush yards), and Hubbard lacks the upside to help advance your fantasy team deeper in the playoffs.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 16: Wide Receivers
The WR position is the deepest in fantasy football, with a plethora of quality starting options to choose from every single week. As matchups can be the final deciding factor, here are some of our start ’em or sit ’em recommendations for Week 16.
Start ‘Em | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (@ ATL)
I mean, come on. If you know me, did you honestly think this would be anyone else but Amon-Ra St. Brown? St. Brown hauled in 8 of his 11 targets against the Cardinals for 90 yards and a touchdown and currently sits as the WR5 with 19.5 points.
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Over his last three games, St. Brown has a whopping 35 targets, 24 receptions, 249 yards, and 2 touchdowns. I stated before the season that St. Brown would become the Lions’ No. 1 receiver, and while it has taken a bit, that time is now. With T.J. Hockenson out for the season, St. Brown’s role will not change anytime soon. He is a WR2 in Week 16 against the Falcons and their No. 30 defense vs. WRs over the last four weeks (41.40 ppg). Start him with confidence.
Sit ‘Em | Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (@ KC)
If there was ever a week for Chase Claypool to do something after all the drama he has caused, last week would have been it. Instead, he ended up with one of the stranger stat lines you can find. He was held without a catch on his 2 targets but had 12 receiving yards thanks to a backward pass from Ray-Ray McCloud following his own reception.
Claypool has not scored over 15 half-PPR fantasy points since Week 5. In Week 16, he matches up against one of the NFL’s hottest defenses in the Kansas City Chiefs, who are No. 6 in points to WRs allowed over their last four games (27.27).
Tight Ends
It’s notoriously hard for fantasy managers to find consistent production from the tight end position. In Week 16, start ’em or sit ’em decisions could mean the difference between a win or loss as the margins are razor-thin.
Start ‘Em | Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals (vs. IND)
Despite being a late addition to the injury report on Friday with a hamstring issue, Zach Ertz was busy Sunday despite the Cardinals convincingly losing to the Detroit Lions. Ertz caught 4 of his 11 targets for 74 yards and has now seen 7 or more targets in three of his last four games.
With DeAndre Hopkins (torn MCL) done for the fantasy season, Ertz is a must-start for fantasy managers. In Week 16, the Cardinals take on the Indianapolis Colts, who have allowed a touchdown to the position in two of their last three games and are No. 27 in points allowed to TEs over their last four contests (15.77 per game).
Sit ‘Em | Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (vs. BUF)
Hunter Henry showed you what he is last week — a touchdown-dependent TE2 who can have blow-up games. Henry caught 6 of 8 targets for 77 yards with 2 touchdowns in Week 15. It was his best outing of the season.
Yet, it was his first game since Week 5 with more than 5 targets and just his second double-digit game over his last seven. Henry will have a much harder time in Week 16 against a Buffalo Bills’ defense that is No. 8 against the position over their last four games (8.08 ppg) and No. 4 on the season.
