Happy 2nd week of the fantasy playoffs to those celebrating and happy week 16 of the NFL to all others. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and get ready for a weekend of football. Hope your fantasy team is destroying and will continue to destroy. Not everyone can make the fantasy playoffs because a lot of things happen out of our control but all we can do is put ourselves in the best position to win. Always keep grinding and play smart. Stay informed and be strategic. TGIF and welcome back to my weekly Start/Sit HUB! Mike Hubbard Jr here, providing you with information that can help you win your fantasy league week in and week out. For all things fantasy football, follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard). You can tweet me or message me with any questions you might have regarding the fantasy football season.
Last night we saw the TNF matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets. Prior to the season who would have thought this game would have a big effect on each teams run for a playoff spot? Not me. But anyway, the Jags went into Jets stadium and walked away with a 16-point victory when they were underdogs to begin with. The Jets offense looked terrible, and Zach Wilson showed everyone why they are correct when being skeptical of his future as a QB with the Jets. Wilson was booed many times and you have to wonder if he will start anymore games for the Jets moving forward. Jags dramatically improved their chances at making the playoffs and are in control of their own destiny while the Jets need a ton of help to make it into the playoffs with just a couple games left in the season. The Jags get Houston next which sounds great but they can’t take the Texans lightly in a trap game. The Jets have a date with Seattle next which might just close the book on the Jets season. Next week’s TNF game is between the Cowboys and the Titans in Tennessee.
The week 16 games I’m most interested in and will follow most closely are the Eagles/Cowboys, the Seahawks/Chiefs, the Giants/Vikings, and the Packers/Dolphins.
I’m here every week during the fantasy football season including playoffs with start and sit suggestions that can impact your team each week. My decisions as always include obvious and not so obvious picks. I would also like to clarify that my sit suggestions are based on the assumption you have or can add a player that has a better chance at success. Good luck this week and continue to check out my weekly articles.
**THIS WEEK WE HAVE 11 SATURDAY GAMES AND 3 SUNDAY GAMES**
START OF THE WEEK
Start – JK Dobbins – If you were lucky enough to pick up Dobbins or had him stashed on your bench or IR, you must be quite happy that you have him in your playoff push. Since returning from IR 2 weeks ago, Dobbins has 28 total carries for 245 rushing yards and a rushing TD. Those are great fantasy numbers averaging over 8 yards per carry. It is unclear if Lamar Jackson will play in this game or not but either way, I see them feeding Dobbins to keep up his momentum and stay in the playoff picture. Falcons have allowed a RB over 85 rushing yards in each of their last 3 games. Dobbins at home facing the Falcons is a solid play.
Bills @ Bears (SATURDAY)
Start – David Singletary – I like Singletary this week for the Bills. The Bear’s defense has allowed 14 rushing TDs to RBs this season and also 2 receiving TDs. They have also allowed 3 RBs to surpass 130 rushing yards in a game and have given up multiple TDs to a RB 3 times. Jalen Hurts had 3 rushing TDs against the Bears over the weekend so anyone capable or rushing is primed to get chances. The Bills use Singletary, Cook, and Hines now but Singletary is my pick out of the bunch.
Sit – Chase Claypool – Chase is currently questionable for this weekend’s game against Buffalo. Even if he plays, I’m fading him. If the name isn’t Fields or Montgomery, it’s a sit spot for me. Claypool had a week 14 BYE and didn’t play in week 15. If he returns this weekend, he will have his hands full going against a solid Buffalo defense. Chase has just 1 game this season with over 5 receptions and he hasn’t eclipsed 51 receiving yards since week 6. He has 1 TD this season and that was week 6 which was his only solid fantasy performance on the entire season. Claypool might be a solid streaming option in week 17 against the Lions but this week it’s not a hard decision to bench him.
Saints @ Browns (SATURDAY)
Start – Alvin Kamara – As if you weren’t going to start Kamara this week. But he is my favorite start in this game due to his dual threat presence and a great matchup. Kamara is coming off a game where he ran the ball 21 times and also caught both of his targets. He has double digit receiving yards in every game starting in week 2. The Browns defense has allowed 60+ rushing yards to a RB in every game since their week 9 BYE. Cleveland shas allowed 17 total TDs to RBs this season which bodes well for Kamara to find the end zone this weekend.
Sit – Deshaun Watson – Watson was on most people’s radars since being able to play again, but nothing has really been good. Watson has 2 TDs and 2 INTs in 3 games and is averaging 189 passing yards and 25 rushing yards per game. Those are below average numbers for a guy with as much talent and success as Watson has proven in the past. He needs to shake off the rust and there just isn’t time for that this late in the season. There should be a QB available that can produce more this week as I have Watson outside my top 20 QBs this week.
Texans @ Titans (SATURDAY)
Start – Nico Collins – Derrick Henry is obviously the play here but that’s a little too obvious. So, I went with Nico Collins of the Texans. Be warned his status is currently questionable so keep your eyes on that prior to Saturday. Nico has been productive on a team that isn’t too productive as a whole. Texans have 1 win this season but the last 2 games Houston lost by a combined 10 points. Nico missed the last 2 weeks but in the 4 games prior he averaged 9 targets per game and found the end zone twice. Titans struggle with WRs averaging around 26 fantasy points to WRs each game. It should be the Collins and Chris Moore show for the Texans offense with the likelihood of no Brandin Cooks again.
Sit – Robert Woods – Don’t think you own him or are starting him as he is a rather obvious sit this week and basically every week. Woods has just 2 games with 5+ receptions all season and only surpassed 50 receiving yards 2 times. In Woods last 8 games played he has 2 receptions or less in 6 of those. Tannehill and Woods don’t seem to be clicking the way they would like, and the emergence of Okonkwo and Burks doesn’t help Woods at all. Texans have a good pass defense but even if they didn’t, I would still bench Woods.
Seahawks @ Chiefs (SATURDAY)
Start – Jerick McKinnon – It has become the Pacheco and McKinnon show in the back field for the Chiefs. Seattle has a terrible defensing RBs allowing 14 rushing TDs and 3 receiving TDs. Since Seattle’s week 11 BYE they have surrendered 8 total TDs to RBs and 6 different RBs hit 60+ rushing yards. In the same amount of time, they gave up 30+ receiving yards to 3 different RBs. McKinnon has become a big play RB for KC, and it shows, especially in the passing game. Jerick has 1 rushing TD and 4 receiving TDs in his last 3 games played. In his last 2 games he has a combined receiving total of 182 yards and 3 TDs. Isiah Pacheco seems to be the rusher of the 2 while McKinnon gets most of the pass plays. I expect a big game from Jerick as the Seahawks could make this a closer game than most expect.
Sit – Noah Fant – Fant is another one of those players that is questionable at the moment. Even without Tyler Lockett and the success that Fant had last game, I am benching Fant and feel good about it. He is outside my top 10 TEs this week. KC did allow 2 TEs to score last week against Houston which is very rare, but prior to the Houston game KC hadn’t allowed a TE to score since week 7 and no TE hit 50 receiving yards in the same time frame. Fant clearly isn’t 100% so Will Dissly might be a sneaky player this week but I’m not confident enough in either of them.
Giants @ Vikings (SATURDAY)
Start – TJ Hockenson – After the largest comeback in NFL history let’s hope the Vikings don’t come out flat. Kirk Cousins is airing it out like never before totaling 885 passing yards in his last 2 games. Hockenson might not have gotten stats like Jefferson and Osborn and even Thielen lately, but Kirk still targets TJ a good amount making him a solid TE play this week. Hock has 6+ targets in each of his last 7 games and has 5+ receptions in 5 of those. Giants defense seems to be able to hold their own, but with the amount of weapons Minnesota has on offense it only makes sense Hockenson will be involved a lot.
Sit – Vikings DST – The Vikings offense is elite, but the defense needs improvement. Minnesota allows the 5th most points per game in the NFL with just under 25. In the last 6 games Minnesota has played in, they are averaging over 31 points against them. The Giants offense averages 20 points per game this season, but if they can’t contain Saquon Barkley this could be another high scoring event. I would pass on the Vikings defense this week.
Bengals @ Patriots (SATURDAY)
Start – Joe Burrow – Burrow is one of the hottest QBs in the NFL right now. Since the Bengals week 10 BYE Burrow has 13 passing TDs in 5 games. He has multiple TD passes in 10 games this season and for a QB that isn’t the most mobile, he has 5 rushing scores on the season. The Patriots defense has their ups and downs but have struggled lately against QBs. New England has allowed 8 TD passes in their last 4 games and that includes the Arizona game where Colt McCoy didn’t throw a TD. Burrow should have all of his WRs at his disposal and should be able to score plenty of points as they are averaging 30 points per game since their last loss in week 8. This will be New England and Belichicks first game playing against Burrow since he was drafted.
Sit – Patriots not named Rhamondre – There is not much appeal on the Patriots offense other than Rhamondre Stevenson. He is a work horse and should get a ton of opportunities. Mac Jones doesn’t have a TD pass in each of his last 2 games and has just 7 all season. For what it’s worth when Zappe played QB for New England he had 5 passing TDs in 4 games. But that’s not the point. The point is Stevenson is your best bet for any Patriots. Everyone else has a comfy spot on the bench.
Lions @ Panthers (SATURDAY)
Start – Amon-Ra St. Brown – Amon-Ra has continually exceeded expectations all season long. The top WR for Detroit has 60+ receiving yards in 10 of his 13 games played. He also has 8+ targets in all but 2 games this season. St Brown also has caught at least 66% of his targets every week with the exception of week 6 where he caught 4 of 9 targets against Green Bay. Can’t get much more consistent as a WR1 in the NFL. Now we just have to get him in the end zone more frequently. 6 TDs on the year isn’t bad but imagine the possibilities if Jamaal Williams didn’t vulture TD after TD in Detroit. Carolinas defense just let Diontae Johnson hit 98 receiving yards last week and the week before they gave up a receiving TD to 3 different WRs from the Seahawks.
Sit – D’Onta Foreman – Foreman and Chuba Hubbard are splitting time in the backfield for the Panthers. The Lions have been a solid rush defense this year giving up only 2 rushing TDs to RBs since week 8 and no multi-TD games for RBs or any games with 75+ rushing yards since week 7. Foreman and Hubbard are both hit or miss players that are almost boom or bust and TD dependent. When the game flow is in favor of Carolina RBs, they will both gt chances to run. Hubbard is the better receiving back so he probably will have a higher ceiling this week. My thoughts are that Detroit will lead and Carolina will need to air it out to stay competitive.
Falcons @ Ravens (SATURDAY)
Start – JK Dobbins – SEE START OF THE WEEK TOP OF PAGE
Sit – Cordarrelle Patterson – Going with Patterson in my sit spot and the same could go for Tyler Allgeier. The matchup favors Baltimore since they defend the run very well. The Ravens have allowed only 7 rushing TDs to RBs all season and 1 receiving TD. No RB has 2 scores on them in a game and have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher. Patterson will get touches and ‘m going to assume Allgeier will as well, but the matchup is not great, and these teams are going in different directions.
Commanders @ 49ers (SATURDAY)
Start – Jahan Dotson – Taking a shot with Dotson this week as the Commanders take on the tough 49ers defense. 49ers are likely to cruise to a win in SF this weekend making it inevitable that Heinicke will need to throw to stay in the game. Regardless of the score I believe Dotson can get nice stats. Dotson has 6 receiving TDs this season which is 3 more than any other Commander despite Jahan only playing in 9 games. In the rookies last 2 games he has scored 2 receiving TDs and totaled 159 rushing yards. 49ers might focus more on Terry McLaurin leaving Dotson with more opportunities.
Sit – Antonio Gibson – If you are starting a Washington RB its most likely going to be Robinson. Robinson has been rushing very well lately and Gibson’s opportunities are dwindling. Gibson has under 10 carries in each of his last 3 games and hasn’t scored a TD in over a month. The SF defense has allowed a RB to score just 1 time since week 7 and just 5 total TDs to RBs the entire season. Fading Gibson seems a little too obvious. Go Robinson or go with a different RB.
Eagles @ Cowboys (SATURDAY)
Start – Eagles DST – The Eagles defense has been on a tear lately. Yes, the offense is explosive, but the defense has been showing out as well. They have only allowed 20+ points in 5 games this season and have a streak of 3 games with 6+ sacks. If the Eagles want a good chance at the upset over Dallas with starting QB Minshew, then the defense will need to wreak havoc on Dak Prescott in Dallas. I also like Minshew as a solid streaming QB this week. Gameplan might change but the weapons the Eagles have to throw to haven’t.
Sit – Michael Gallup – Gallup has had 2 good games this season; when he scored twice in week 13 and when he reached 63 receiving yards in week 12. Other than those 2 games he hasn’t exceeded 49 receiving yards in a game, hasn’t exceeded 4 receptions in a game, and his only other score came in his first game of the season in week 4. In the first matchup against Philadelphia, he caught 2 passes from Cooper Rush and went for 18 receiving yards. This time around he will have Dak as an upgrade, but the Eagle’s secondary can hold their own and I’m willing to bet CeeDee Lamb gets the majority of targets in this game.
Raiders @ Steelers (SATURDAY)
Start – Josh Jacobs – Jacobs is your season leader in rushing yards in the NFL at the moment with nearly 1500 yards. He is on a 5-game streak of 90+ rushing yards. Josh has 6 games with over 100 rushing yards and that doesn’t include a 99 rushing yard game. Pittsburgh has allowed 2 RBs to reach triple digit rushing and those were Nick Chubb and JK Dobbins. It has been 7 games since Jacobs didn’t get at least 21 carries, so the volume is there. Vegas seems to be within a score at the end of most games so keeping it close results in plenty of rushing chances.
Sit – Derek Carr – Going with my gut here, benching Carr. I think Jacobs is the play here as written above in the start spot. Carr is coming off a 3 TD game vs the Patriots but failed to throw a TD the week before against the Rams. Carr has 6 INTs in his last 4 games and the Steelers haven’t looked as bad defending QBs like they did the first half of the year. In fact, the Steelers have allowed 1 passing TD or less in 9 games this season including their last 4 games. I think this game should be run heavy on both sides of the ball.
Packers @ Dolphins
Start – Tua Tagovailoa – Tua should be in for a solid game with a matchup against Green Bay in Miami. Location makes all the difference for Tua. Waddle and Hill are both currently healthy and off injury reports meaning Tua should have plenty of passing yards and both Hill and Waddle should have good game with yards as well. The Packers defense held Baker Mayfield to 1 TD and held Justin Fields to 1 rushing TD. Prior to those 2 last games the Packers had allowed 2+ passing TDs in 6 consecutive games. I like Tua to make it into the playoffs and that starts with exposing the Green Bay secondary on Christmas.
Sit – Aaron Rodgers – Yes, the matchup is pretty great facing the Dolphins who allow a ton of passing yards and passing TDs to opposing teams, but Rodgers just hasn’t performed well enough in a fantasy perspective. In his last 3 games (Eagles, Bears, Rams) he has 4 passing TDs, 3 INTs, and an average of under 185 passing yards per game. Rodgers hasn’t been mathematically eliminated from the Playoffs just yet, but him and the Packers have a hill to climb and it’s looking steep.
Broncos @ Rams
Start – Broncos DST – The Rams offense has been bad most of the season. They have scored 20 points or less in 7 of their last 8 games. Broncos’ offense isn’t much better, but the play here is for the defense. Bronco’s defense has allowed under 23 points in all but 2 games this season. The Denver defense also has at least 5+ combined sacks and INTs in each of their last 3 games. Broncos are a solid top 3 DST this week.
Sit – Greg Dulcich – Greg Dulcich gets a matchup with the Rams in LA. LA defense has allowed just 5 TE TDs this season. No opposing TE has even reached 70 receiving yards in a game and only 3 have surpassed 50 receiving yards. Russel Wilson may have thrown 3 passing TDs last game which was only his 2nd multi-passing TD game of the season. Wilson hasn’t passed for 300+ yards since week 1 and this game has low scoring written all over it with an over/under of 36.5. Not many plays in this game.
Buccaneers @ Cardinals
Start – Tom Brady – Brady needs to win, and he needs to win now. Will he go down swinging or will the GOAT get something brewing? He hasn’t looked too good for a whole 4 quarters but has shown he can still get it done. The Cardinals are eliminated from the playoffs already and the Bucs are division leaders with a sub .500 record. Brady and Godwin should connect all game and get up a lead they hopefully won’t blow. The Cardinal’s defense has allowed 4 different QBs to reach 3+ passing TDs against them this season.
Sit – Marquise Brown – Brown has been targeted 8 times in each of his 3 games since returning from injury. Sound good right? He even converted 50% or targets into receptions in those 3 games. Unfortunately, the yards he went for were 46, 34, and 19. Regressing each week and he now has who throwing to him? Trace McSorley. Trace hasn’t thrown a TD this season, hasn’t hit 100 passing yards in a game, and has 3 INTs. Not a good spot for a struggling Brown and struggling Cardinals.