Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em



Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em: Week 16

Rather than quickly listing start em and sit em players on my Week 15 NFL Picks page, I thought I’d devote a new page for this. Follow @walterfootball for updates.



Indianapolis Colts (3-11) at Baltimore Ravens (8-6)

Start Em:
  • T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts
    T.Y. Hilton is a solid start with the Ravens missing Jimmy Smith.

  • Mike Wallace, WR, Ravens
    Mike Wallace is finally playing well, and he has an easy matchup.

  • Ben Watson, TE, Ravens
    The Colts struggle against tight ends, so perhaps Ben Watson will score again.

  • Obvious Starts:
    IND: None.
    BAL: Ravens Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Frank Gore, RB, Colts
    The Ravens are pretty strong against the run with Brandon Williams healthy.

  • Alex Collins, RB, Ravens
    The Colts are actually solid against the run.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Minnesota Vikings (11-3) at Green Bay Packers (7-7)

    Start Em:
  • Latavius Murray, RB, Vikings
    The Packers have grown weaker against the run recently.

  • Obvious Starts:
    MIN: WR Stefon Diggs, WR Adam Thielen (PPR), TE Kyle Rudolph, Vikings Defense.
    GB: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Davante Adams, WR Randall Cobb (all if Rodgers and Adams play).

    Sit Em:
  • Jamaal Williams, RB, Packers
    Jamaal Williams has a tough matchup, and Aaron Jones might get work.

  • Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers
    Jordy Nelson has to battle Xavier Rhodes.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Detroit Lions (8-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-9)

    Start Em:
  • Marvin Jones, WR, Lions
    Marvin Jones has a much easier matchup this week.

  • Obvious Starts:
    DET: WR Golden Tate.
    CIN: RB Joe Mixon, RB Giovani Bernard (PPR), WR A.J. Green.

    Sit Em:
  • Ameer Abdullah, RB, Lions
    The Lions have moved on from Ameer Abdullah.




    Los Angeles Chargers (7-7) at New York Jets (5-9)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    LAC: QB Philip Rivers, RB Melvin Gordon, WR Keenan Allen.
    NYJ: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Hunter Henry, TE, Buccaneers
    Hunter Henry has a kidney laceration.

  • Jets Offense
    There’s a colossal difference between Josh McCown and Bryce Petty. I wouldn’t start any of the Jet players with Petty under center.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Los Angeles Rams (10-4) at Tennessee Titans (8-6)

    Start Em:
  • Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams (PPR)
    Cooper Kupp can continue to be started in PPR leagues.

  • Rishard Matthews, WR, Titans
    Rishard Matthews can be started, as the Rams are missing their top cornerback.

  • Obvious Starts:
    LAR: QB Jared Goff, RB Todd Gurley, WR Robert Woods, Rams Defense.
    TEN: TE Delanie Walker.

    Sit Em:
  • Sammy Watkins, WR, Rams
    Sammy Watkins will see fewer targets with Robert Woods back.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Cleveland Browns (0-13) at Chicago Bears (4-9)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    CLE: WR Josh Gordon.
    CHI: Bears Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns
    Isaiah Crowell isn’t very good, and the Bears are strong against the run with Danny Trevathan on the field.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10) at Carolina Panthers (10-4)

    Start Em:
  • Devin Funchess, WR, Panthers
    Devin Funchess has a nice matchup against Tampa’s woeful secondary.

  • Obvious Starts:
    TB: WR Mike Evans.
    CAR: QB Cam Newton, RB Christian McCaffrey (PPR), TE Greg Olsen.

    Sit Em:
  • Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
    I can’t see Jonathan Stewart repeating what he did a couple of weeks ago, especially with Christian McCaffrey getting more carries this past Sunday.

  • Buccaneers Running Backs
    Doug Martin has been benched, while Peyton Barber will have trouble against Carolina’s strong run defense.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at New Orleans Saints (10-4)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    ATL: QB Matt Ryan, RB Devonta Freeman, WR Julio Jones.
    NO: QB Drew Brees, RB Mark Ingram, RB Alvin Kamara, WR Michael Thomas.

    Sit Em: Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Denver Broncos (5-9) at Washington Redskins (6-8)

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    DEN: Broncos Defense.
    WAS: Redskins Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • C.J. Anderson, RB, Broncos
    The Redskins are inconsistent against the run, but I don’t think C.J. Anderson can repeat what he did last week.

  • Josh Doctson, WR, Redskins
    Josh Doctson will be matched up with Aqib Talib this week.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Miami Dolphins (6-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-6)

    Start Em:
  • Kenyan Drake, RB, Dolphins
    The Chiefs aren’t very good against pass-catching running backs.

  • Alex Smith, QB, Chiefs
    Alex Smith has a great matchup this week, as Miami’s back seven is pretty atrocious.

  • Obvious Starts:
    MIA: WR Jarvis Landry.
    KC: RB Kareem Hunt, WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins
    DeVante Parker has been mailing it in, so he’s tough to trust right now.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Buffalo Bills (8-6) at New England Patriots (11-3)

    Start Em:
  • Dion Lewis, RB, Patriots
    Dion Lewis will get more touches with Rex Burkhead hurt, and Buffalo has been much worse versus the run since trading Marcell Dareus.

  • Obvious Starts:
    BUF: RB LeSean McCoy.
    NE: QB Tom Brady, WR Brandin Cooks, TE Rob Gronkowski, Patriots Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Bills
    Kelvin Benjamin is banged up and may not be 100 percent.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) at San Francisco 49ers (4-10)

    Start Em:
  • Dede Westbrook, WR, Jaguars
    Dede Westbrook is very talented, and he’s becoming a greater part of the offense with each passing week.

  • Keelan Cole, WR, Jaguars
    Marqise Lee sprained his ankle, so Keelan Cole can be started against a poor secondary.

  • Obvious Starts:
    JAX: RB Leonard Fournette.
    SF: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers
    The Jaguars are stout against the run.

  • Marquise Goodwin, WR, 49ers
    Marquise Goodwin has been hot lately, but he faces a tough Jacksonville secondary this week.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    New York Giants (2-12) at Arizona Cardinals (6-8)

    Start Em:
  • Evan Engram, TE, Giants
    Arizona has been struggling against tight ends, so Evan Engram has a nice matchup.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NYG: None.
    ARZ: WR Larry Fitzgerald.

    Sit Em:
  • Orleans Darkwa, RB, Giants
    The Cardinals have been difficult to run against.

  • Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
    Sterling Shepard has to take on Patrick Peterson this week.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Seattle Seahawks (8-6) at Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

    Start Em:
  • Marquise Goodwin, WR, 49ers
    Marquise Goodwin was coming on, even before he had Jimmy Garoppolo throwing to him.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SEA: QB Russell Wilson, WR Doug Baldwin, TE Jimmy Graham.
    DAL: QB Dak Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Dez Bryant, Cowboys Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Seahawks Running Backs
    Mike Davis has looked good, but the Cowboys are better versus the run with Sean Lee.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) at Houston Texans (4-10)

    Start Em:
  • Martavis Bryant and JuJu Smith-Schuster, WRs, Steelers
    Pittsburgh’s second and third receivers can be started with Antonio Brown out.

  • Lamar Miller, RB, Texans
    The Steelers are worse against the run without Ryan Shazier.

  • Obvious Starts:
    PIT: QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Le’Veon Bell.
    HOU: WR DeAndre Hopkins.

    Sit Em:
  • No one of note

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


    Oakland Raiders (6-8) at Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)

    Start Em:
  • Eagles Wide Receivers
    Both Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor performed well last week, and they have an easy matchup Monday night.

  • Obvious Starts:
    OAK: WR Michael Crabtree.
    PHI: TE Zach Ertz, Eagles Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Eagles Running Backs
    The Raiders aren’t bad against the run, and they’ll be able to stack the box with Carson Wentz out.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis





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