It’s championship week for fantasy football owners and we’re giving our best bets for the best quarterback options for week 16.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is always a good start, and lately Kirk Cousins and Tyrod Taylor have been almost as good.
Here’s our start ’em, sit ’em guide for week 16 in fantasy football for quarterbacks.
Daily fantasy start of the week
Matthew Stafford vs. San Francisco 49ers
We could go with Newton in this spot again, and that wouldn’t be a bad thing against the Atlanta Falcons, but his price tag is just too high. He’s due for a bit of a down week, so we’re punting on Newton, and going with a big of an off-the-radar type.
Stafford has been hot lately for the improved Lions.
He has 12 touchdowns compared to only one interception in the last four games. His passing yards aren’t great, with only two occasions in the past four games with more than 250 yards passing. However, with the reduced turnover rate, he’s a solid option to continue this hot streak with throwing touchdowns.
The 49ers are going on the road, and so far this season, they’ve been competent in only two road games – against the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears. In the other five road games, the 49ers have been atrocious, especially against the pass. This is a team in the last road game against the Browns that gave up 270 yards passing to Johnny Manziel.
The Lions keep the momentum from Monday night going and cruise past the 49ers.
Start
Teddy Bridgewater vs. New York Giants
We’ve been waiting for that Bridgewater to show up this season.
Last week was Bridgewater’s best fantasy performance this season with 32.40 points against a Chicago Bears team that didn’t show up for the matchup. With another home game this week, this time against the worst pass defense in the NFL, Bridgewater looks like a viable option for fantasy owners.
Part of Bridgewater’s recent ascension, with double-digit performances in the last two weeks, is because Adrian Peterson isn’t putting up as many yards as normal. He’s been to less than 70 yards in four of the last five games, allowing the Vikings to utilize Bridgewater more. Expect that to be common against the Giants.
The Giants have allowed more than 20 points to quarterbacks in three of the previous four games. We’re expecting the Vikings to have their way offensively against New York, giving Bridgewater the green light to several fantasy opportunities.
Blake Bortles vs. New Orleans Saints
Technically the Jaguars are still alive in the playoff race, even after a disappointing loss last week to Atlanta, so we’re not giving up just yet on the offense’s potential against the Saints.
New Orleans has been awful against the pass this season, ranking worst in yards per completion at 8.6 yards per completion. That should fit into Bortles’ hands with the Jaguars still employing a vertical passing game.
And recently, Bortles has found paydirt with big passing days. He’s gone for more than 290 yards passing in three of past four games, and tallied 11 touchdown passes compared to two interceptions in the last four games.
Also, don’t be scared of the Saints at home. New Orleans had a decent three-game winning streak in the middle of the season at home, but since that point, New Orleans is 0-3 at home and opposing quarterbacks have gone for 371, 331 and 254 yards passing respectively in those games, and thrown for 12 combined touchdowns.
The only homefield advantage in New Orleans is for the quarterbacks. Bortles should have the same success.
Daily fantasy sit of the week
Russell Wilson vs. St. Louis Rams
Wilson has been shredding defenses lately, so this could be a head-scratcher. But we have a hunch that his price tag won’t fit his production this week.
The Rams are starting to turn it around defensively, and have held two decent quarterbacks to sub-par performances in the last two weeks. The pass rush is getting better, which has been Wilson’s main issue this season. If teams can apply some pressure and keep him contained, he’s stoppable.
We believe the Rams can keep Wilson quieter than usual. Also, we’re concerned with wide receiver Doug Baldwin’s health, as he will be a game-time decision. There’s not many options at wide receiver in Seattle, so eliminating the best option in the last few weeks, would be a major blow to the Seahawks’ passing game.
Sit
Matt Ryan vs. Carolina Panthers
We know Carolina’s defense went a bit off-kilter last week, but that could actually be a problem for Ryan and the Falcons.
Atlanta will get the Panthers’ full attention on defense and after the last matchup when the Falcons failed to get out of the first quarter with the game being close, Ryan can ill-afford the opposition’s best effort.
Ryan has been atrocious this season for fantasy owners and has to be considered one of the biggest busts this season among fantasy quarterbacks. In his last four games, his highest point total is 13. During that time, he has two single-digit efforts.
That won’t work well against the Panthers’ defense, which has stifled opposing quarterbacks this season. Steer clear of Ryan during this round of the fantasy playoffs.
Brock Osweiler vs. Cincinnati Bengals
At this juncture of the season, there are some really bad options at quarterback available. That’s why if you have to choose one of the bottom feeders this week, avoid Osweiler.
The Denver quarterback had a monster first half last week against the hapless Pittsburgh Steelers pass defense. It was a different story in the second half, giving us pause to believe he will repeat that first half again this week.
The Bengals defense is a different monster than the Steelers, intercepting more passes than it has allowed in touchdowns.
This will be one of those games where viewers should expect a lot of runs and defense. With two backup quarterbacks going at it, don’t expect a lot of points or passes.
