‘Tis the season to start stressing over every single lineup decision for your fantasy football team. That’s right! The fantasy playoffs are upon us with many leagues heading into the semifinal round this week.
Every single player going into your starting lineup can either make or break your fantasy season, so let’s take a closer look at some of my favorite early fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em picks for Week 16.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Picks for Week 16
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
It may not have been the most productive day at the office for Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, but he still managed to go 21 of 24 for 224 yards and a score against one of the best secondary units in the league on Sunday in the New York Jets.
The health of WR Tyreek Hill will loom large over his fantasy outlook this week, but the Dolphins’ matchup against a high-powered Dallas Cowboys offense that was just embarrassed by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday should produce a high-scoring game script for Tagovailoa in Week 16.
James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
In a must-win game for the Bills on Sunday, RB James Cook absolutely exploded for 179 rushing yards and a score against a quality Cowboys defense to deliver a career day on the ground to keep Buffalo’s playoff hopes alive.
If you started Cook in Week 15, then he likely kept your fantasy championship hopes alive too, which should be the case again heading into their matchup against the defeated Los Angeles Chargers, who just gave up 63 points to the Aidan O’Connell-led Las Vegas Raiders. Start Cook with confidence in Week 16.
Ty Chandler, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Speaking of career days, the Minnesota Vikings and fantasy managers alike finally got an opportunity to see what RB Ty Chandler can do with a leading role in this backfield. To put it kindly, these were the best results of the season from any running back in a Vikings uniform.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Chandler’s 132 yards on the ground against the Cincinnati Bengals is a personal career high for the North Carolina Tar Heel product and is the highest rushing yardage output of any Vikings RB this season.
Obviously, fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on the health/availability of Alexander Mattison potentially capping Chandler’s ceiling. But if Mattison is inactive again for Week 16, then Chandler is a great starting option against the Detroit Lions.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Regardless of whether or not Hill returns to the starting lineup in Week 16 against the Cowboys, WR Jaylen Waddle still needs to be a starter in your fantasy lineup against Dallas. The explosive WR just torched one of the best secondary units in the league — the Jets — to the tune of eight receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown.
The Cowboys run man coverage at one of the highest rates in the league, and Waddle just happens to be one of the best man coverage beaters at the WR position in the NFL this season.
If he has an expanded role in a potentially high-scoring game against a style of defense that he punishes on a regular basis, then Waddle is a must-start option in Week 16.
Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
One could make an argument that rookie WR Rashee Rice is the best fantasy pass-catching option the Kansas City Chiefs have right now… including Travis Kelce.
Over the last four games, Rice has 32 receptions and has scored a receiving touchdown in three of his last four games, while Kelce has 21 receptions and zero scores.
During that same four-game stretch, Rice has seen a minimum of 9+ targets, 7+ receptions, and 64+ receiving yards. The Chiefs have clearly made him a focal point of this passing attack. He should be a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 the rest of the way, regardless of matchup.
Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens
A touchdown in two straight games at the tight end position should always catch your attention. What is more encouraging for Baltimore Ravens TE Isaiah Likely is 5+ receptions for 70+ yards in two straight games.
Likely has slid right into the fantasy-friendly Mark Andrews role in this Ravens passing offense, which makes him a solid low-end TE1 option even against a stingy San Francisco 49ers defense who just gave up 10 receptions for 102 yards to Arizona Cardinals TE Trey McBride on Sunday.
Fantasy Football Sit ‘Em Picks for Week 16
Sam Howell, QB, Washington Commanders
The run of exceptional fantasy football production from QB Sam Howell was really nice while it lasted, but his recent performances have his arrow pointing in the wrong direction.
MORE: Fantasy QB Streamers and Rankings Week 16
Howell has thrown for under 150 yards in two straight games and was benched in favor of Jacoby Brissett against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Howell will remain the starter, but he has a very tough matchup against a Jets defense that allows the second-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing QBs at 13.4 this season.
I would avoid starting Howell at all costs in Week 16.
Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns’ once formidable rushing attack produced just 29 yards on the ground against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, Jerome Ford’s eight carries for 20 yards was a rough outing for fantasy managers who were depending on him heading into the fantasy playoffs.
Well, the Browns have a matchup against another top-seven rushing defense in Week 16 against the Houston Texans, who are allowing just 93.5 rushing yards per game — which is the sixth-lowest mark in the league.
Ford’s time split with Kareem Hunt and a tough matchup against a quality run defense means I would rather go another direction in Week 16.
Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
My goodness did the fantasy floor completely fall out from underneath Breece Hall on Sunday against the Dolphins or what?
Hall saw just seven total touches — which is his lowest mark since Week 2 — for 18 yards and no scores for a horrid 2.8 fantasy-point outing in full-PPR formats against an improved Miami defense.
There is some optimism that QB Aaron Rodgers could be medically cleared to play in Week 16, which feels like a risky decision given that the Jets were just eliminated from playoff contention. But I’m not sure I’m willing to risk my fantasy playoff life on the line by trusting the Jets offense. Do so at your own risk.
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
This absolutely breaks my fantasy football heart, but talented rookie WR Zay Flowers may be a candidate to be sent to your fantasy bench in Week 16 against the 49ers.
His seven receiving yards against the Jaguars on Sunday was a season low and marks the second time in the last six games he’s only caught one pass in a game.
Flowers has all the tools to be a fantasy star in the future, but his Week 16 fantasy ceiling against a tough 49ers defense doesn’t feel high enough to justify his low fantasy floor that we’ve seen from him on a couple of occasions over the last seven weeks.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans
The pain is real sometimes when watching this Tennessee Titans passing game operate when you have an invested fantasy interest. DeAndre Hopkins is still a very capable player in the NFL, but his healthy target share has managed to make him a reliable fantasy option in 2023.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
His two catches for 21 yards on Sunday marks the third time this season he has failed to top the 30-yard mark this season. The Seattle Seahawks have a collection of talented young corners, which could make life difficult for Hopkins if QB Will Levis is unable to go in Week 16 due to a lower leg injury he suffered late in the game against the Houston Texans.
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ passing offense is in complete disarray at the moment and doesn’t seem like a guarantee at this time that they will get starting QB Kenny Pickett back in Week 16. That means we’re likely to get another week of either Mitchell Trubisky or Mason Rudolph under center against the Cincinnati Bengals.
That reality does not bode well for Pat Freiermuth’s fantasy outlook, who has failed to register four receptions or 30 yards receiving in three straight games. If you’re in the business of streaming a tight end for your fantasy playoff matchup, then I would go in a different direction in Week 16.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
