Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16

Championship weekend has finally arrived! It has been a long season for fantasy football players, including myself. Unfortunately, injuries have been a major storyline for fantasy team owners. Fantasy Football relevant injuries that occurred in week 15 include Trevor Lawrence (concussion), Kyler Murray (lower body), Brock Purdy (head, returned in the second quarter), Will Levis (ankle), Zack Moss (shoulder), Jaylen Waddle (chest, returned shortly after), Jayden Reed (toe), and Hunter Henry (knee). Aside from monitoring injuries throughout the week, the best advice I can give you is to go with players who have the “hot hand.” Personally, this strategy worked for me when I won my second dynasty fantasy football championship in 2019. Good luck to the fantasy football team owners playing in the fantasy football championship this weekend!

Here are my recommendations for Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16.

Nick Mullens

Lions @ Vikings | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 3.6%

We’re going to start off hot here and open with the Minnesota Vikings newest starting quarterback Nick Mullens. Mullens performed well in the Vikings loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, scoring 17.12 fantasy points for team owners. He has a much better matchup against NFC North rival the Detroit Lions. The Lions defense has notoriously given up over 20 points to opposing quarterbacks and has been performing less than subpar during the second half of the NFL regular season. With Mullens, who has both starting wide receivers available (Jefferson and Addison) along with tight end T.J. Hockenson, you can’t go wrong. I’m confident he will be able to put up high-end QB2 numbers for fantasy team owners in fantasy football in week 16.

Justin Fields

Cardinals @ Bears | 4:25 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 55.8%

The other quarterback I’m going to advise you to start is Justin Fields. I understand Fields had a horrendous day in the Chicago Bears loss to the Cleveland Browns, scoring 9.64 fantasy points. His two interceptions deducted four points if your league deducts points for interceptions thrown. If not, then he ended up with 13.64 fantasy points which is awful too. Fortunately, fantasy owners can breathe easy this week as Fields and company are at home hosting the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals defense performs less than stellar against the quarterback position, plus Fields always has his rushing ability, which is a huge advantage. Personally, I would rather Fields run for as many yards as possible and score on the ground. I’m certain Fields will bounce back this week and perform as a high-end QB2 in fantasy football in week 16.

Raheem Mostert

Cowboys @ Dolphins | 4:25 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 66.7%

Raheem “the dream” is leading in rushing touchdowns with eighteen. The next player behind him is San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey who has scored 13. Mostert also is third in rushing yards (966). I like this matchup as the Dallas Cowboys are once again on the road and have been playing terribly all season on the road. Another thing about the Cowboys playing on the road is that their ability to stop the run is nonexistent. Let’s look at their road games so far this season. Week 3 vs Arizona (James Connor scored 19.6 PPR), week 5 vs San Francisco (Christian McCaffrey 13.8 PPR), week 9 vs Philadelphia (combined Swift, Gainwell, and Hurts only rushing 29.1 PPR). Mostert will most likely be added onto the list as I’m confident that he will perform well and solidify mid-end to high-end RB1 numbers. It is safe to start Mostert in fantasy football in week 16.

Rachaad White

Jaguars @ Buccaneers | 4:05 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 84.6%

White has been a PPR machine for fantasy team owners this season. Along with being targeted out of the backfield every week, he has carried the ball at least 20 times in the past three weeks. The volume he has seen is attractive to all fantasy team owners. Not only is he receiving the volume, but he has produced over eighty rushing yards as well. White will continue to see a heavy workload, especially that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are close to making the playoffs. I understand that the Jacksonville Jaguars have been one of the better teams against the run, but I don’t see that equating to holding White to a minimal amount of fantasy points. The Buccaneers offense has made it a point to get him the ball consistently. He should be considered a mid-end RB2 in fantasy football in week 16.

Tee Higgins

Bengals @ Steelers | 4:30 pm EST Saturday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 34.7%

Higgins returned from injury a few weeks ago and has looked fantastic like he never left for a little while. Aside from looking good, fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase suffered a shoulder sprain this past weekend. If Chase were to miss time, Higgins is automatically the WR1 as it showed on Sunday where Higgins scored 22.1 fantasy points in PPR leagues. Fortunately, Higgins has a good matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense that has been giving up double-digit numbers to opposing wide receivers all season. The combination of Higgins and quarterback Jake Browning is too good to pass up during Championship weekend, especially in a good matchup. I’m confident that Higgins will perform as a low-end WR1 in fantasy football in week 16.

Terry McLaurin

Commanders @ Jets | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 27.6%

At first glance, the matchup against the New York Jets defense does not look appealing, but then think about Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle lighting up the Jets defense. That alone makes me feel better about starting McLaurin. McLaurin is no slouch as he scored 26.1 fantasy points in PPR leagues against the Los Angeles Rams this past Sunday. I believe the Jets defense is on a down swing to end the regular season as a collective unit. McLaurin owners should take advantage and start him this weekend, even as a flex if you have the option. He should perform as a solid WR2 in fantasy football in week 16.

David Njoku

Browns @ Texans | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 63.7%

Njoku has been the go-to guy for Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco as of late. I’m certain that Njoku will receive plenty of targets this week. The past two weeks Njoku has scored 27.1 (PPR), and 26.4 (PPR) fantasy points for team owners. He will continue to perform as a TE1, especially in a good matchup against the Houston Texans. Njoku should be considered a mid to high-end TE1 in fantasy football in week 16.

Sam LaPorta

Lions @ Vikings | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 84.4%

Finally, I’m going to go with the rookie tight end who “broke the mold.” LaPorta has had a phenomenal rookie season, scoring a total of 205.2 fantasy points in PPR leagues. He is a must start once again this week against the Minnesota Vikings defense as he is one of quarterback Jared Goff’s favorite targets. LaPorta should be considered a low to mid-end TE1 in fantasy football in week 16.

Russell Wilson

Patriots @ Broncos | 8:15 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 30.0%

The Denver Broncos as a collective whole looked completely flat against the Detroit Lions. During the game, head coach Sean Payton had a word or two with quarterback Russell Wilson that went viral. I do not expect it to get any better this weekend against the New England Patriots defense that is one of the best passing defenses in the league. My recommendation is to sit Wilson in fantasy football in week 16.

Devin Singletary

Browns @ Texans | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 22.8%

Don’t get me wrong, Singletary played great on Sunday, scoring 21 fantasy points in PPR leagues. However, the Houston Texans offense is playing against the Cleveland Browns defense that performs above average against the run. It is too risky to start Singletary during championship weekend. My recommendation is to sit Singletary in fantasy football in week 16.

Joshua Palmer

Bills @ Chargers | 8:00 pm EST Saturday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 1.1%

Palmer is currently operating as the WR1 for the Los Angeles Chargers due to the injuries sustained by Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Palmer scored 21.3 fantasy points in PPR leagues last Thursday night against the Las Vegas Raiders. Except, the points came extremely late into the game after the Raiders were up big and the defense was playing “soft” to prevent injury in a game that was already over. The Buffalo Bills defense is not going to be giving up many points to the Los Angeles Chargers offense, especially after winning big against the Dallas Cowboys last week. My recommendation is to sit Palmer in fantasy football in week 16.

Michael Mayer

Raiders @ Chiefs | 1:00 pm EST Monday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 1.6%

Mayer scored 13.9 fantasy points in PPR leagues last week, except it was against a bad Los Angeles Chargers defense. The Kansas City Chiefs defense is strong against the tight end position. I don’t see Mayer recording more than three to four receptions for minimal yardage in a tough matchup. My recommendation is to sit Mayer in fantasy football in week 16.