Playoff football starts or sit is back this week! The League Winners crew are looking at a few tough decisions to help you make it to Championship week. Let’s dive right into Fantasy Football 2023: Start or Sit Week 16.
Fantasy Football Start or Sit Week 16 – Start
Drake London, WR – Atlanta Falcons vs Indianapolis Colts (Sheldon Hand)
It isn’t a great matchup, the Colts are middle of the road team against fantasy WRs. However, the Falcons playoff hopes are on the line, Arthur Smith’s job is on the line. I expect London to be involved heavily in a must-win game. Heinicke being named the starter inspires more hope in the passing game than Ridder. Look for Heinicke to lock into his #1 WR and trust London in your must-win matchup, he should provide a safe floor and upside if he finds paydirt!
Trey McBride, TE – Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears (Harry Prskalo)
Trey McBride has been Kyler Murray’s #1 guy since he returned. Since Week 10, McBride’s had four games with 9 or more targets. The only other game he had less was Week 11, which was 7 targets. This week he gets to play against the Bears defense which is ranked 30th for fantasy points allowed to TEs.
Ezekiel Elliot, RB – New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos (Brandon Haye)
I know Ezekiel Elliot is not the same back he once was, but he is getting a ton of volume, especially in the passing game. He has had 19 targets in the last three games and has finished in the top 15 in two out of the last three weeks. The Broncos are giving up the second most fantasy points to running backs and this game script should allow the Patriots to stick with the run.
Chuba Hubbard, RB – Carolina Panthers vs Green Bay Packers (Erika Brown)
Over the last five weeks, Hubbard has been a top-25 running back. He’s seen more than 20 opportunities with three touchdowns. His counterpart, Miles Sanders, has all but disappeared with the new offence. The Panthers are leaning heavier on the run game, and the Packers are a bottom-half defence regarding running backs. Hubbard should have a good game.
Fantasy Football Start or Sit Week 16 – Sit
George Kittle, TE – San Francisco 49ers vs Baltimore Ravens (Sheldon Hand)
It is tough to sit someone like Kittle in a must-win game. However, the Ravens are one of the best teams at shutting down TEs. This could be a low-scoring game and there is a chance Kittle will be used as a blocker to slow down the Ravens pass rush. Pivot options are tough, but Darren Waller looked good in his return. Dalton Schultz has a tough matchup, but Texans are limited in passing options.
Josh Downs, WR – Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons (Harry Prskalo)
Josh Downs has been very disappointing recently. Despite being on the field for more than 58% of the past 4 games, that has not meant good things for his fantasy output. Downs has not reached over a 10-point fantasy game since Week 8, and this week against the Falcons, that can very well happen again.
Devin Singletary, RB – Houston Texans vs Cleveland Browns (Brandon Haye)
Devin Singletary has been on a nice run for the Houston Texans and has taken over the main running back spot. He has two straight top-16 finishes and in three out of his last six games he has a top-10 finish. This week he gets the Cleveland Browns who are tough against the run and give up the 9th fewest points to running backs. With CJ Stroud looking to miss another week, the Browns will load the box and make the Texans beat them through the air.
Kyler Murray, QB – Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears (Erika Brown)
Since coming back from injury, Murray has been a top-10 quarterback in two of the five weeks. He isn’t the same Kyler Murray as he was a year ago before the injury. He’s had seven touchdowns five interceptions, and a total of five fumbles. This week the Cardinals face a Chicago Bears defense that has 14 interceptions on the year, and a better defense over the last few weeks. If they can shut down Murray, the Cardinals are in trouble.
Erika Brown
Erika Brown is a fantasy football writer for The League Winners. A journalism graduate from Oklahoma State University, she enjoys watching OkState football games and writing about college football.