Fantasy Football Week 16: Start’em / Sit’em

Sit’em

QB

Matt Ryan @SF (51%, 16): I keep waiting for Ryan to play better, but after last week’s debacle against Washington’s porous defense I am giving up on Ryan this year. He’s just not the same QB he was last season. Whether it’s breakdowns on the 0-line, the loss of Julio Jones, or some unknown issue… Ryan just isn’t trustable for fantasy purposes right now.

Alex Smith IND (27%,19): Don’t be fooled by his lofty fantasy totals lately. He’s on a good run of late with 14 TDs / 2 INTs over his last 5 games, but Smith hasn’t faced a decent defense in that stretch. The Colts are the best D he’s faced since week 9 and his numbers should come back to normal.

Jason Campbell @NYJ (7%, 19): If you are debating starting Campbell, then most likely you are playing in your league’s toilet bowl. 19 points seems way to high for a player who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn last week against the Bears.

RB

Bobby Rainey @STL (42%,15): The Rams run defense is better than you think (12th in NFL) and Rainey isn’t as good as you think. He’s had a couple good fantasy games, but they have been due to 1-2 big runs which I don’t see him pulling off against a fast Rams D.

CJ Spiller MIA (56%,11): I can’t justify starting a RB that is on the field for less than a third of his team’s offensive snaps (22 of 77 last week). He’s explosive and could break one, but I avoid relying on big plays for fantasy value.

Ray Rice NE (69%, 13): He’s scored 1 TD in his last 9 games and it came against the Bears. Don’t let name recognition dictate your fantasy strategy. Take away that Bears game and Rice hasn’t cracked 75 rushing yards in a game all season!

Rashard Mendenhall @SEA (22%,8): Had 13 carries for 22 yards the last time these two teams met. Mendenhall is just too slow to do anything against Seattle’s swarming defense.

Trent Richardson @KC (30%, 8): On this list every week. Don’t let last week’s decent game fool you. Starter Donald Brown will be back in the lineup and T-Rich should go back to getting less than 10 touches a game. Last week’s shovel pass TD is the definition of a fluke.

WR

Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Roddy White @SF (58%,12): Matt Ryan sucks right now and the Niners have the 4th best pass defense in the NFL (yards allowed).

Harry Douglas @SF (42%,10): See above

Larry Fitzgerald @SEA (80%,12): My track record on benching Fitz is awful (0-3), but both Fitz (concussion) and Palmer (ankle, skill) are banged up and facing the best pass defense in the league in the hardest place to score a TD (@SEA).

Golden Tate AZ (34%,10): Patrick Peterson vs Golden Tate is a serious mismatch in Peterson’s favor. Russell Wilson has looked toward Baldwin over Tate lately as well.

Hakeem Nicks DET (34%,10): Still has ZERO touchdowns this year. He’s not good anymore and fantasy owners need to move on.

TE

Jordan Cameron @NYJ (57%, 11): Concussion symptoms and inconsistent targets with Campbell at QB are enough for me to stay away from Cameron this week. He’s only had 1 good game in 6 Campbell starts.

Jared Cook TB (22%, 6): He’s just not good enough to be in your starting lineup. He’s only had two games all season with over 50 yards.

Twitter: @MikeFlannery_