We have reached the semifinals in the fantasy football playoffs this week. Congratulations to everyone who won their matchups last week to advance. It is not an easy task to win a fantasy championship, and now you are one step closer to that goal. Keep in mind that this week we have two Saturday games and three games on Monday, which is Christmas Day, so don’t forget to double-check those lineups this week. Now, let’s get started on who to start and sit for Week 16.
The season can be a grind at times, from doing waiver claims to looking at rankings and then finally deciding who to start. It can seem difficult, but that is where the staff at DrRoto.com comes in to help you. We have everything you need to make the tough decisions here in one place. You can also join our members-only Discord channel and ask us personalized questions anytime you want on there.
Week 16 Quarterback Starts
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots
Russell Wilson has struggled a little bit the last couple of weeks, but he will bounce back this week against a struggling New England Patriots defense. The Patriots’ defense is going to have a tough time covering Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy in this matchup. I believe Wilson will throw for 250 yards or more and two touchdowns this week, finishing with a solid fantasy outing.
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals
Justin Fields has an excellent matchup this week against a struggling Arizona Cardinals secondary. Fields has been playing well since coming back from his thumb injury and he is building a nice rapport with wide receiver D.J. Moore and tight end Cole Kmet. I believe he will have 300 total yards and two touchdowns this week, making for an elite QB one finish when combined with his production on the ground.
Week 16 Quarterback Sits
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders at New York Jets
Sam Howell has struggled the last two weeks and he will struggle again this week on the road against the New York Jets’ defense. Howell is currently the QB8 this season, but I don’t think you should start him this week. He needs to use his legs more to create plays like he was doing earlier in the season. I believe Howell will throw for under 225 yards and one touchdown this week in a very touch matchup.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints at L.A. Rams
Derek Carr is on my sit list again this week as his up and down season continues. He actually had a good game last week in a favorable matchup against the New York Giants, with 218 passing yards and three touchdowns. However, this week he gets a tough matchup on the road against the L.A. Rams’ defense and I just cannot trust him at this point. I would sit Carr this week if you have another option.
Week 16 Running Back Starts
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
Ty Chandler is an extremely enticing start this week with Alexander Mattison looking like he is going to be out again with an injury. Chandler will get the majority of the carries for the Minnesota Vikings, and I always look for the running backs that will get the most volume each week. Last week as the lead running back he had 23 carries and three receptions on four targets for 157 total yards and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. Chandler also has a favorable matchup against a struggling Detroit Lions defense this week, so he should have another solid outing.
James Cook, Buffalo Bills at L.A. Chargers
James Cook had 221 total yards and two touchdowns last week against a tough Cowboys defense. Since Joe Brady took over as the Bills’ offensive coordinator, Cook has been seeing more and more touches each week. Now he gets a favorable matchup this week against a struggling L.A. Chargers team that just fired their head coach last week. I believe he will get 150 total yards or more with a touchdown this week, and he is a must-start in all formats.
Week 16 Running Back Sits
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
I have Najee Harris as a sit this week because it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers are going back to having a time share in their backfield with Jaylen Warren, and Harris might be on the wrong side of the time share. Warren looks like the more explosive player right now and he might see more carries moving forward this season. Harris is also facing a good Cincinnati Bengals run defense this week. I expect Harris and the Steelers’ offense to struggle this week, especially with Kenny Pickett out again, so just be prepared for less than 100 yards and hope for a touchdown.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers
Gus Edwards is on my sit list again this week. He is a player that needs to score touchdowns to come through for his fantasy managers each week. With Keaton Mitchell suffering a gruesome knee injury last week, Edwards should have the Ravens’ backfield all to himself, but we know the Ravens will still use a running back by committee approach most weeks. Edwards will now be sharing carries with Justice Hill and quarterback Lamar Jackson, which will make for a messy backfield situation for the rest of the season. Edwards also faces a tough San Francisco 49ers run defense in Week 16, so expect Edwards to struggle if he does not get double-digit touches or score multiple touchdowns.
Week 16 Wide Receiver Starts
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers
Jayden Reed might just stay on this list permanently for the rest of the season. He is one of my favorite players to watch each week. He is a dual threat with his rushing and receiving ability, plus he continues to build a nice rapport with quarterback Jordan Love. Last week he had six receptions on eight targets for 52 yards and a touchdown. This week, he gets a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers’ defense. I expect Reed to see a lot of targets this week, and it is possible that he could go over 100 receiving yards and over 40 rushing yards with a touchdown in Week 16.
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Tyler Boyd gets another opportunity to be a starting wide receiver this week and possibly for the next three weeks with Ja’Marr Chase getting injured last week. Boyd has a nice matchup this week against a banged-up Pittsburgh Steelers secondary. He has also been building a nice rapport with backup quarterback Jake Browning over the last three weeks. I believe Boyd could have five receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown this week, making him a great play.
Week 16 Wide Receiver Sits
George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Yes, George Pickens is back on my sit list this week. He has been up and down this season, and it does not help that quarterback Kenny Pickett is going to miss the game this week. The Steelers are also turning to third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph to start this week, but I do not expect things to get better this week for Pickens or the Steelers’ offense in general. Pickens also faces a tough matchup this week against a good Cincinnati Bengals secondary in Week 16. Pickens is currently ranked as the WR35 in PPR scoring, but I expect the Steelers’ offense to continue to struggle this week, so I would sit Pickens if you have another option.
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills at L.A. Chargers
Yes, Gabe Davis is on my sit list again this week. He has had two straight weeks of scoring zero fantasy points. That is about as bad as it can get when you have Josh Allen as your starting quarterback. He gets a favorable matchup this week against a reeling L.A. Chargers secondary, but I cannot trust him at this point in the fantasy playoffs. This could be a get-right game for Davis and the Bills’ passing offense, but that is a gamble I would not want to take this late in the season.
Week 16 Tight End Starts
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans
How can I not have David Njoku as a start this week at tight end as he has been on fire since Joe Flacco took over as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback? Over the last three weeks, Njoku has had 18 receptions on 28 targets for 212 yards and three touchdowns. He is becoming one of Flacco’s favorite targets. Coming off two huge weeks, Njoku now ranks as the TE6 in PPR scoring this season. I expect Njoku to get five receptions for 85 yards and another touchdown this week.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals
Yes, I have Cole Kmet as a start again this week, as he came through for us last week in a tough matchup against the Cleveland Browns. He is, without a doubt after last week, the Chicago Bears’ number-two receiver right now behind only D.J. Moore. Kmet had five receptions on seven targets for 23 yards and a touchdown last week against a tough Browns defense. He also gets a favorable matchup this week against the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. I am expecting him to have seven receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown this week.
Week 16 Tight End Sits
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills at L.A. Chargers
Rookie Dalton Kincaid has been great since he took over as the starting tight end in Week 8, but now that Dawson Knox is back from his injury it seems like this will be a timeshare at tight end, and I am not a fan of a timeshare at any position. Kincaid will still have some nice fantasy performances down the stretch, but good luck picking those weeks. Kincaid ranks as the TE12 in PPR scoring and he has a favorable matchup this week against the L.A. Chargers defense, but I just can’t trust this situation until I see a good game from Kincaid and the Bills; passing offense in general. So, I would sit him this week if you have another option.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
I know Hunter Henry has been good over the last two weeks, but he hurt his knee toward the end of the game last week, and I just don’t trust the matchup against a tough Denver Broncos defense this week. I put him on the sit list because I know a lot of people are going to be asking if they should start him this week, and I would say to try to avoid starting if you have a better option. Henry is currently ranked as the TE13, but with Bailey Zappe starting at quarterback again this week I just can’t trust him.
Week 16 Defense Starts
New York Jets Defense vs. Washington Commanders
The New York Jets defense gets an excellent matchup this week against a struggling Washington Commanders offense. I am expecting the Jets’ defense to get at least five sacks and two turnovers in this game. They will put pressure on Sam Howell all day long, so I would start the Jets’ defense in every league I can this week.
Denver Broncos Defense vs. New England Patriots
The Denver Broncos’ defense has been getting better as we move toward the end of the season, and this will be a great matchup for them against the New England Patriots. The Patriots’ offense has looked better over the last two weeks, but they give up a ton of sacks and a couple of turnovers every game. The Broncos’ defense will get four sacks and two turnovers, so I would pick them up this week and start them if they are available in your league.
Week 16 Defense Sits
Dallas Cowboys Defense at Miami Dolphins
The Dallas Cowboys get the tough task of trying to stop the vaunted Maimi Dolphins’ offense this week. The Cowboys got blasted by the Buffalo Bills last week and now they get to face the speed of the Dolphins’ dynamic offense this week. The Cowboys have been a top-five defense all season, but I believe they will be overmatched by the Dolphins’ speed and big plays this week. I believe this game will get out of hand early, as the Dolphins’ first-ranked offense can score at any time. Find another defense to start this week if possible.
New York Giants Defense at Philadelphia Eagles
The New York Giants get the tough task of taking on the Jalen Hurts-led Eagles offense this week. The Eagles have been struggling over the last three weeks, especially on offense, but I think this will be a get-right game for them. They should be able to get the ground game going this week which will allow their play action pass game to work much better than it has the last three weeks. The Eagles will put this game away early so I would avoid the Giants’ defense this week.
Good luck in Week 16, everyone!
