Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 16
SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 16 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 16 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.
StartMatt Ryan, Falconsvs. Jaguars
Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Sport / GettyRyan is a top-12 quarterback in 2019 on a fantasy-points-per-game basis and showed great resiliency by throwing for over 200 yards and two scores in an upset win over the 49ers last Sunday. The veteran passer has also been boosting his fantasy output by using his legs, rushing for over 20 yards in two of his previous three appearances. While we don't know how Tom Coughlin's firing will affect the Jaguars this week, this is a defense that allowed 300 yards and three touchdowns to a noodle-armed Philip Rivers two weeks ago. Ryan tends to perform better at home and is locked in as a mid- to low-end QB1 for this matchup.
Boone's projection: 309 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 16 rushing yards
Other QBs to start
- Jameis Winston vs. Texans
- Kyler Murray at Seahawks
- Andy Dalton at Dolphins
vs. Panthers
Bobby Ellis / Getty Images Sport / GettyIf you haven't been attacking the Panthers' run defense in fantasy, you're missing out. As discussed several times, injuries have decimated Carolina's front, allowing anyone to travel freely through their line. In the last four weeks, the Panthers have allowed rushing stat lines of:
- 11-54-0 (Alvin Kamara)
- 7-64-1 (Latavius Murray)
- 10-129-2 (Derrius Guice)
- 13-99-1 (Adrian Peterson)
- 17-84-1 (Devonta Freeman)
- 9-62-1 (Brian Hill)
- 24-133-2 (Chris Carson)
Remember: That's just over the last month and only includes rushing totals, not receiving yards or receiving touchdowns to running backs. Mack has been held in check since returning from injury, but he faced two tougher matchups in the Bucs and Saints. Back home as near-touchdown favorites, the Colts should control this contest against a rookie quarterback getting his first start, setting Mack up for a healthy workload versus the league's worst run defense. He's a borderline RB1 in Week 16.
Boone's projection: 114 rushing yards, 8 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Other RBs to start
- Miles Sanders vs. Cowboys
- Phillip Lindsay vs. Lions
- Devonta Freeman vs. Jaguars
vs. Cardinals
Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyMetcalf has at least 70 yards and/or a touchdown in six of his last seven games. Josh Gordon's suspension won't have a major impact on Seattle's offense, but it could mean a few more targets sent Metcalf's way. His matchup in the fantasy championship is also enticing, as the Cardinals rank 28th in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA. With a high ceiling and a reliable floor even as a rookie, Metcalf is a strong WR2 this week.
Boone's projection: 82 receiving yards, TD
Other WRs to start
- Breshad Perriman vs. Texans
- Tyler Boyd at Dolphins
- Anthony Miller vs. Chiefs
vs. Texans
Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / GettyHoward was the top tight-end pickup in this week's waiver wire column - the stars have aligned for the talented 25-year-old to close out the season much better than he began it. Injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have helped Howard put up three straight weeks of solid production and now position him as one of the top-two receiving weapons in the Bucs' offense.
Bucs QB Jameis Winston, likely without his top receivers this week, said he greeted tight ends O.J. Howard and Cam Brate by saying "Hey, y'all are going to get the rock."
- Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 17, 2019
Our preseason love for Howard wasn't rewarded early in the year, but he still has a chance to help fantasy owners take home a title as a top-10 tight end in Week 16.
Boone's projection: 71 receiving yards, TD
Other TEs to start
- Jacob Hollister vs. Cardinals
- Greg Olsen at Colts
- Mike Gesicki vs. Bengals
at Patriots
Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images Sport / GettyBefore Allen was knocked out of his last game against the Patriots in Week 4, he was well on the way to his worst performance of the season, with three interceptions and no passing scores. As mentioned in this space last week, Allen has made major improvements during his second NFL campaign, but he's not matchup-proof, and we've seen him struggle against the Ravens and Steelers in recent weeks. New England is still allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, so expect Allen's numbers to be capped once again.
Boone's projection: 159 passing yards, TD, 2 INTs, 28 rushing yards
Other QBs to sit
- Jared Goff at 49ers
- Tom Brady vs. Bills
- Baker Mayfield vs. Ravens
vs. Bills
Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyMichel is coming off one of his better games of the season in a favorable matchup against the Bengals. While Buffalo's flirted with being a run-funnel defense at times, the Bills have improved in that area over the last five weeks and should be a far tougher test. While Michel is capable of delivering a week-winning, three-touchdown stat line at any time, this game profiles as a defensive battle with the lowest projected point total of the week. The Patriots' insistence on using three and sometimes four running backs makes it hard to trust Michel on a weekly basis, pushing him into the RB3 range as a volatile, touchdown-dependent play.
Boone's projection: 45 rushing yards, 8 receiving yards
Other RBs to sit
- Kerryon Johnson at Broncos
- LeSean McCoy/Darwin Thompson at Bears
- Carlos Hyde at Buccaneers
vs. Ravens
Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's not often we recommend sitting a receiver who had 13 targets the week before, especially one as talented as Beckham. But as everyone in the fantasy community knows, OBJ's first year in Cleveland has been a disaster on every level. He's surpassed 66 yards just three times over his last 12 games, and he caught just two balls for 20 yards on seven targets in his previous encounter with the Ravens. Whether his poor performance is due to injuries, poor coaching, or something else, Beckham's a fringe WR3 who doesn't need to be in your starting lineup if you have a better option.
Boone's projection: 46 receiving yards
Other WRs to sit
- John Brown at Patriots
- T.Y. Hilton vs. Panthers
- Robby Anderson/Jamison Crowder vs. Steelers
at Eagles
Elsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyWitten's always a touchdown-or-bust option and though he found the end zone in his first meeting with the Eagles this season, he had just three catches for 15 yards in the game. Philly's allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season, making this a tough spot even before you consider Dak Prescott is dealing with an injury. There are simply better streamers available for the most important week of the fantasy campaign.
Boone's projection: 32 receiving yards
Other TEs to sit
- Jimmy Graham at Vikings
- Vance McDonald at Jets
- Dawson Knox at Patriots
Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere's no time left to wait on stash plays, so we need to find options who can return immediate value. Assuming Mike Boone and DeAndre Washington are already owned, you can pivot to Gaskin (1% owned) if you're desperate for a running back play. Gaskin posted season highs in Week 15 for playing time (47.9% of Miami's snaps), touches (11), and yards from scrimmage (72). Miami's clearly shifted to a more even split between Patrick Laird and Gaskin, a trend that should continue the rest of the way. With an easy matchup versus the Bengals, Gaskin could be a surprise producer in the fantasy championships.
QuitSince it's the final week of the fantasy season, don't hesitate to drop any player you don't plan on starting - as long as your opponent doesn't need help at that position.
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