Fantasy Start 'Ems, Sit 'Ems Week 16: Start Geno Smith, look out for bad weather, and more tips for the fantasy football weekend
Tyler Lauletta
- The NFL season is approaching the home stretch.
- Each week, we're listing players to start or sit in fantasy football.
START: Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Week 16 opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,800 / FanDuel — $7,600
Why you should start him: Geno Smith has struggled with turnovers a bit in recent weeks, but he has still thrown at least two touchdowns in a remarkable seven of his past eight games. Against the Chiefs, chances are the Seahawks will have to throw the ball quite a bit to keep pace.
SIT: Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Week 16 opponent: vs. New York Giants
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,300 / FanDuel — $7,700
Why you should sit him: After pulling off the biggest comeback in NFL history against the Colts, it feels like the Vikings are due for a down week. Kirk Cousins put up huge numbers against Indianapolis, but going down by 33 points will help any fantasy passing unit. Barring a similar deficit this week, Cousins likely won't be producing like that again.
START: Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
Week 16 opponent: vs. Houston Texans
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $8,600 / FanDuel — $9,800
Why you should start him: If you have Derrick Henry in your fantasy leagues, you're obviously starting him. That said, if there was ever a week to overpay for Henry in daily fantasy games, it's this one. Henry is up against the worst rushing defense in the league and rushed for a season-high 219 yards when the Titans faced off against the Texans earlier in the year.
SIT: Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Week 16 opponent: at Baltimore Ravens
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,800 / FanDuel — $6,200
Why you should sit him: Cordarrelle Patterson is not getting the touches he was earlier in the year. Last week, Patterson only had 14 carries to Tyler Allgeier's 17, and Allgeier outgained Patterson by more than 80 yards. Patterson still has the big-play explosiveness that can make a fantasy day, but with less opportunity, it may be best to look elsewhere in the championship rounds.
START: Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 16 opponent: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,700 / FanDuel — $6,700
Why you should start him: Isiah Pacheco hasn't had the breakout games that Jerick McKinnon has had of late out of the Chiefs backfield, but there's reason to think that Pacheco is due. While he's not as involved in the passing game, Pacheco is getting more carries than McKinnon and could be used to run all over the Seahawks defense.
SIT: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
Week 16 opponent: at San Francisco 49ers
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,400 / FanDuel — $6,600
Why you should sit him: Brian Robinson Jr. has emerged as a solid rookie starter for the Commanders, but it's tough to like his chances against a stout 49ers defense that has allowed opponents an average of just 57.3 rushing yards over the past three weeks.
START: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Week 16 opponent: vs. Washington Commanders
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,300 / FanDuel — $6,800
Why you should start him: Despite being on their third quarterback of the season, the 49ers don't appear to have changed their game plan much with Brock Purdy under center. Given that Deebo Samuel is nursing an injury, Brandon Aiyuk has a chance to show off what he can do as the top receiving threat in the San Francisco offense this week.
SIT: Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Week 16 opponent: vs. New York Giants
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,300 / FanDuel — $6,600
Why you should sit him: Adam Thielen finished last week with a huge fantasy day but didn't get a look in the Vikings offense until the fourth quarter. He didn't appear to be a part of the Minnesota game plan until they trailed big. Further, the weather could be a big factor this week in New York, leaving both offenses struggling to throw the ball.
START: Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
Week 16 opponent: at San Francisco 49ers
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,200 / FanDuel — $7,000
Why you should start him: Terry McLaurin has found his rhythm in recent weeks after a somewhat slow start to the year, going off for more than 100 yards in three of his past seven outings. He's due for a few touchdowns and might get them this week in San Francisco. He's a receiver you can trust to produce in one of the few games that won't be affected by the weather this week.
SIT: Gabe Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills
Week 16 opponent: at Chicago Bears
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,000 / FanDuel — $6,400
Why you should sit him: Gabe Davis has averaged just three receptions per game over the past three weeks. Chances are the temperature will be in the single digits at kickoff time in Chicago this week. While the Bills offense can produce in any weather, chances are you have better options than Davis.
START: DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Week 16 opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $7,100 / FanDuel — $8,000
Why you should start him: If you're looking for a player to stack alongside Geno Smith, DK Metcalf is your man. The Chiefs can't match his size, and he's scored a touchdown in two of his past three games.
SIT: Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders
Week 16 opponent: at San Francisco 49ers
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $4,400 / FanDuel — $5,600
Why you should sit him: Curtis Samuel has seen his targets drop off a cliff through the course of the season. While the Commanders have gotten him more involved in their rushing attack, that type of trickeration isn't likely to work on a San Francisco defense that is well-practiced in it.
START: Chig Okonkwo, TE, Tennessee Titans
Week 16 opponent: vs. Houston Texans
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $3,500 / FanDuel — $5,400
Why you should start him: Chig Okonkwo has gotten at least five targets in four straight games after not getting more than three through the season's opening weeks. His role in the Titans offense is continuing to grow, and with tight end as thin as it is, he's worth a flyer.
SIT: Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Week 16 opponent: at Dallas Cowboys
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $4,500 / FanDuel — $6,200
Why you should sit him: If you've been waiting for Dallas Goedert to return in your fantasy league, chances are you have to start him, but it's always nerve-wracking to take a player in their first game back from injury. Further, with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew likely starting for the Eagles, it's unclear how much the team's game plan will change.
START: Philadelphia Eagles defense
Week 16 opponent: at Dallas Cowboys
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $2,200 / FanDuel — $4,400
Why you should start him: The Cowboys have been scoring a ton of points in recent weeks, but this Eagles defense has been pretty stingy all season and should be ready to play up against a divisional rival.
SIT: Cincinnati Bengals defense
Week 16 opponent: at New England Patriots
Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $3,400 / FanDuel — $4,000
Why you should sit him: The weather in New England is going to leave this game unpredictable. While the Bengals defense has looked sharp of late, there are better options on the board.
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