These are the starts and sits for Week 16, which in most cases is championship week. There are a few players who are favorable risks you should be taking this week, but the best advice to follow is don’t overthink things too much.
If you have rode a particular player for most of the season, you shouldn’t be too worried if they have a less than slightly rough matchup. Don’t go sitting players like Patrick Mahomes who is playing one of the worst matchups in fantasy for quarterbacks, the Bears. You don’t want to be the guy who lost his fantasy championship because he sat Mahomes for someone like Andy Dalton.
Starts
Marlon Mack, RB, Colts: Fantasy players who own Mack may be wary to play him after he struggled the past two weeks. However, he will be going up against the Panthers defense that has been especially weak against the run to end the season. They allow 27.3 points per game to opposing running backs, according to Fantasy Pros. Taking a risk on Mack may be the kind of thing to put you over the edge in your championship game.
Will Fuller, WR, Texans: Fuller has been limited all week at practice, but he followed that same procedure prior to playing last game. Keep an eye on him just to be safe, but he will be lining up against the Buccaneers who allow the most points to opposing wide receivers per week in fantasy. His ceiling may be high, but his floor can also be pretty low this week depending on how much attention they focus on Deandre Hopkins (who is an obvious start every week). There is the potential he could end up with double digit targets and over 100 yards receiving with a couple of touchdowns, or he could have just a handful of catches.
Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers: Henry has had a rough time following the team’s bye week, and his only game of note came when he caught his lone touchdown of that three game stretch. He has yet to eclipse two catches or 40 yards in that span, but he is facing the Raiders who allow the second most fantasy points to tight ends. If there was ever the chance for him to look more like the Henry we are use to seeing this is it.
Defense Stream
Sits
Devin Singletary, RB, Bills: The Bills have really committed to Singletary recently, but there is no reason to risk your championship on him doing well against the Patriots defense. Sure, Joe Mixon had a nice outing last week, but even with that game New England is only allowing 11.6 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Josh Allen’s running ability taking away red zone opportunities is never good for running backs who need every chance they can get against a tough defense.
Allen Robinson, WR, Bears: The Bears offense has been iffy for most of the season behind Mitch Trubisky, but Robinson has been one of the lone highlights in fantasy. You shouldn’t expect that to continue against the Chiefs, who are surprisingly a tough matchup for opposing wide receivers. They allow the fourth fewest fantasy points per week to wide receivers. Robinson really falls to being a desperation flex since he is clearly the only receiver Trubisky is hitting.
Carlos Hyde, RB, Texans: Hyde had a 100-yard game last week, but he has had a very inconsistent season. This week should be another down week against Tampa Bay’s defense who is very stout against the run. They allow the second fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs per week. Hyde’s floor looks like it could be the same as his 22 total yards on 18 touches performance against the Patriots in Week 13.