Fantasy football managers who survived to the next round of the fantasy playoffs with horrible fantasy outings from DeAndre Hopkins, Drake London, and Brandon Aiyuk should consider it an early holiday season gift from the fantasy gods and turn their attention to the next round.
Here are some of my start/sit options at the WR position for Week 16 of NFL action.
Which WR Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Regardless of whether or not Tyreek Hill (ankle) 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, 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 those contests. Conversely, Kelce has 21 receptions and zero scores in the same span.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
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.
Which WR Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
This absolutely breaks my fantasy football heart, but talented rookie WR Zay Flowers may be a candidate for 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, Tennessee Titans
The pain is real sometimes when watching this Tennessee Titans passing game, especially if you have a vested fantasy interest. DeAndre Hopkins is still a capable player in the NFL, but his healthy target share is what’s primarily managed to make him a reliable fantasy option in 2023.
His two catches for 21 yards on Sunday marks the third time this season he has failed to top the 30-yard mark. 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.
Trending Searches for WR Start/Sit
Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use, and it allows you to enter up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!
It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, and we’ve jotted some down here to help provide some clarity on!
Should You Start Rashee Rice or Calvin Ridley?
On paper, Jacksonville Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley has a great matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, with Ridley’s maddening inconsistencies and the health status of QB Trevor Lawrence in serious jeopardy heading into Week 16, there is simply no way I can justify starting him over the red-hot Rice in a make-or-break week in the fantasy playoffs.
Should You Start Zay Flowers or Terry McLaurin?
The Washington Commanders may be heading a big house-cleaning exercise at the end of the season, but WR Terry McLaurin proved he is still an incredibly capable fantasy producer when given the opportunity.
His six receptions for 141 yards and a score was his best game of the season, but 93 of those yards and the touchdown came with backup QB Jacoby Brissett under center.
Unfortunately for McLaurin, his starting QB throughout most of the season — Sam Howell — is expected to start this week against a very stingy New York Jets pass defense, which makes McLaurin’s outlook against CB Sauce Gardner a bit less appealing.
This is very close, but McLaurin gives us a floor similar to Flowers’ and has a slightly higher ceiling. Roll with McLaurin 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!
