Welcome back to our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series for 2020, we are about to enter Week 16! Championship Week! Hopefully, you are right in contention this week to win it all. If you are, then read on! Christmas week brings us a bunch of games throughout the holidays- which is fantastic (at least I like it).
If you have a particular start/ sit question then you can always check out our weekly rankings page, or reach out to us on any of our social media channels. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I answered all of you that reached out last week, I will always try to get to every single one of you.
Slam dunk starts (the likes of Patrick Mahomes) and sits (pretty much anyone in New York) aren’t going to be included. You should always be starting or avoiding those guys. These are players that I have seen on social media being considered with some mixed answers.
Start ‘Em
Justin Herbert v DEN
Herbert looks very much like the real deal. Yes, it is just his rookie season, but this offense really runs through his arm. Next up, a divisional matchup against the Denver Broncos. Start him with confidence (especially with Keenan Allen a likely larger factor in the game).
Jalen Hurts @DAL
Ok, Hurts was in the sits for two weeks. But I’m ready to accept I was wrong. In his two starts he has gone up against some of the better defensive units in the league, and has played well. Sure, the Dallas defense has been better in recent weeks, but Hurts should ball out this week.
Mitchell Trubisky @JAX
Trubisky has really put down a marker after reclaiming the starting job in Chicago. This game might get out of hand quickly, especially with Jacksonville trending to be without their star offensive piece (James Robinson if you didn’t know). That could lead to Trubisky not having a good game, and as strange as it sounds I’d roll Trubisky if I needed to.
David Montgomery @JAX
I said a while ago that Montgomery would end up being a league-winner if you could grab him. This week he comes up against Jacksonville who are among the worst in the league against the position. Fantasy football isn’t always hard.
Giovani Bernard @HOU
Bernard almost feels like a trap this week. He had a fantastic outing against the Steelers and is set to match up against the Texans. On paper that spells a lot of fantasy success so you can’t sit him.
David Johnson v CIN
Johnson returned to the lineup last week and was great, catching 11 passes for 106 yards. I’m not expecting that level of volume this week, but against the Bengals, there should be enough production to get you over that championship line.
Sammy Watkins v ATL
Tyreek Hill is going to be in your lineup if he is fit, but I saw a report that he missed practice, and has been struggling with his hamstring. That could give Watkins an opportunity to do something on offense against a team that has given up 28.4 points on average to the position.
D.J. Moore @WAS
Moore didn’t start the season that well, but he has started to put together some performances recently. Note to self: Don’t over-hype Moore next season as a result. Washington, equally, has been struggling to limit production at the WR position recently.
Rashard Higgins @NYJ
The Jets have found a way to stop the ball on the ground, which could force Cleveland to pass the ball more often. Obviously, that helps Jarvis Landry, but it should also mean targets for Higgins (as well as Donovan Peoples-Jones).
EDIT: Higgins has now been added to the COVID list (as have what feels like all of the CLE receivers). Clearly, Higgins shouldn’t be considered a starter now.
Russell Gage @KC
Atlanta has to move the ball through the air if they are to get anything out of this game. Equally, I can’t see the team bringing Julio Jones back as the team has nothing to play for at this point of the season. That should give Gage the targets that he needs to be successful.
Austin Hooper v NYJ
The New York Jets are the worst unit in the league at defending the position. Equally, they are going to force Cleveland to have to throw the ball as they have managed to limit production on the ground. If you have a premier option then play them, otherwise Hooper is a fine option.
EDIT: With a number of receivers being ruled out Hooper becomes a fantastic option for fantasy owners this week
Logan Thomas v CAR
Thomas is a big part of this offense, meaning that he gets a good number of targets in the offense. Carolina have been a mid-table team against the position this season, so I’d be happy putting Thomas in my TE spot.
Robert Tonyan v TEN
Tonyan should be going to the Pro Bowl. There I said it. He has been great all season and has shown that Aaron Rodgers can use a TE if they are talented enough.
I’m not going to mention Koo or Blankenship. They are both players that you should be starting.
Cairo Santos @JAX
It feels strange to say I would trust a Bears kicker, but here I am. Santos has enabled Chicago to keep the scoreboard ticking over. He should have plenty of opportunity against the Jaguars this week.
Jason Myers v LAR
Put simply, the Rams were embarrassed against New York Jets. I can’t see that happening again this week in a divisional matchup. However, the Seattle offense should be able to move the ball a bit, leading to stalled drives and FG opportunities for Myers.
Cleveland Browns v NYJ
The Rams struggled to keep the Jets from winning the game last week, but that doesn’t mean it is going to happen again. The Browns have been a decent fantasy option this season, and they should be again this week.
Los Angeles Chargers v DEN
We’ve seen the blueprint to fantasy success against Denver. Put pressure on Drew Lock, and let me falter. The Chargers have playmakers that can do that. This screams a big sack total.
Sit ‘Em
Ben Roethlisberger v IND
The Colts defense is good, we know that, but the Steelers offense has really stalled recently. There is no way I’m going to be putting him in my lineups this week. Especially as the Colts have only given up 16.4 points on average to the position.
Jared Goff @SEA
The Rams offense is undergoing change, with the backfield to be split between Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown. That just doesn’t fill me with confidence to start Goff. I mean he struggled against the New York Jets. Move on, there are a bunch of options I’m sure are available in your league that would be better.
James Conner v IND
This might end up being completely dead as a point by the time Sunday comes round, as the team might decide to rest him, but Conner needs to be on your bench. The matchup isn’t great, but he has been unreliable as a fantasy option for a few weeks. If you have better options steer clear.
Todd Gurley @KC
You don’t me to tell you that Gurley isn’t going to win you a championship. But there will be a few of you that might be tempted. Don’t do it. Honestly, I’d rather start Frank Gore this week. Ito Smith has been announced as the starter- it’s over for Gurley this season.
Kareem Hunt @NYJ
Hunt has had flex consideration all season, as he was able to be effective in this run-heavy offense. However, in recent weeks he has struggled to recapture that form. This week, the Browns are due to face the Jets, who have been able to limit the opportunity of RBs.
D.K. Metcalf v LAR
Metcalf struggled last time he faced the Rams and it is surely going to be the same this week. He should surely get covered by Jalen Ramsey, which could mean he costs you a fantasy title this year. That being said, you aren’t going to bench him are you? Just don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Juju Smith-Schuster v IND
As I mentioned in the QB section, the Steelers offense has stalled in recent weeks. Smith-Schuster has struggled too, so I’m not going to start him in the most vital of weeks. That is, unless I’m in a really deep league.
Jonnu Smith @GB
Smith was another guy who started out really well, but has failed to live up to that in recent weeks. This week the matchup isn’t great, but isn’t bad either. Green Bay gives up just 6.0 points on average to the position, but I’d sit Smith this week with the team not needing his services in the Redzone- where he excels.
Eric Ebron v IND
I’m going to continue the streak of sitting Steelers with the TE position. I’ll keep it short as you should have the gist by now. The offense has stalled, and the Colts defense is among the best in the league.
Sam Ficken v CLE
Don’t chase the points. Yes, Ficken had a good game last time out, but this offense can’t be relied upon to be as effective as it was last time out. There is an opportunity he is able to have a good fantasy week, I’m just not relying on it for championship week.
Green Bay Packers v TEN
The Packers are a good real-life defense, but it doesn’t always translate to fantasy. That is something I expect his week, as the Titans will look to kill the clock through Derrick Henry, and their line should keep their QB upright.
Seattle Seahawks v LAR
I can see you might be tempted to start Seattle this week. The Jets defense managed to keep the Rams lost on offense, but that’s why I want to sit the Seahawks. The Rams offense will want to put things right in this divisional matchup.
So that’s it for our 2020 Week 16 edition of Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em. Remember, you can always reach out to us for help in setting your lineup. Check out our weekly rankings page, or reach out to us on any of our social media channels. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And, as always, if you want something more specific to your league- reach out!
Image Credit: Robert Hanashiro – USA TODAY Sports
