The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 16

Semifinals week is upon us, and the pressure is mounting each day! If you are like me, every decision you have made all year seems to be under a microscope as the games get closer this week. If it weren’t for The Ballers and their insight and tools, I would be tilting my face off, and I encourage you to find solid ground in their wisdom as well. On Thursday’s episode, Andy and Jason laid out their Starts of the Week (Mike was sick). To catch the entire episode on YouTube, click below:

There are, of course, more tools to utilize on the website or the mobile apps. All you have to do to access these tools is head to jointhefoot.com and become a member of the FootClan. That also will set you up perfectly next week after you win your championship to claim your #FootClanTitle swag to show off to your league-mates.

But so that we don’t get too ahead of ourselves, let’s dive into The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 16 so that we can first make sure we make it to the championship.

Andy’s Starts of the Week

QB – Jordan Love vs. NO

It is essential to recognize that this game is at Lambeau because when at home, Love has been a machine! He averages 19 fantasy points per game, 263 yards, and 2.5 passing touchdowns. He walks into a matchup against a Saints defense that, in the last six weeks, is ranked 26th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs and 28th in passing yards allowed. The matchup is nice and the environment is right. Love should give you a good game as the Packers continue their fight to make it into the playoffs.

RB – Jerome Ford vs. CIN

Last week, Ford was the RB10 with just nine opportunities, one of which was an incredible 62-yard touchdown run. Nick Chubb has been shut down for the season, meaning Ford should see most of the work, especially without Jameis Winston and his 2,000 passing attempts per game. The offense will need to lean on him, which means he needs to be in flex consideration for your lineups, especially against a Cincinnati defense that ranks 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs over the last six weeks.

WR – Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. MIN

There is worry about Geno Smith from a health standpoint, which could make many worried about Smith-Njigba, but Andy wants to encourage you not to pivot. JSN leads all WRs in the NFL in slot receptions with 70 and is on pace for 85. That would be the second most slot receptions in the last decade. In a PPR league, he is un-benchable, especially when facing the Vikings’ defense.  Minnesota’s opponents are throwing a league-high 64% of the time, ranking 32nd in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. There is no reason to run from JSN this week; he helped you get here, and you can keep depending on him.

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TE – Sam LaPorta @ CHI

Last week, LaPorta had eight targets, catching seven passes for 111 yards which helped get him into the top 12 for the third straight week. His usage has steadily increased over the last month as he has grown to a 21% targets per route run rate compared to just 16% in the first 11 weeks. Now they face a Bears defense that ranks 24th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs on the year. This week, it is a simple recipe: the Lions need LaPorta in the offense, and the Bears struggle to stop TEs. Stay in the flames, and hope against a LaPortapotty performance this week.

Jason’s Starts of the Week

QB – Jayden Daniels vs. PHI

There have been so many questions about Daniels on the website, Discord, and through the Start/Sit tool. He has been a fantasy difference-maker all year, except for Week 11, which is burned into everyone’s minds when he played the Eagles. He only scored 13 fantasy points, and most of that came in garbage time. However, since that game, he has been the QB1, QB3, and QB7. He is also on pace for the most scrambles of all time, which is fantasy gold. This game should be a bit different as Daniels is playing at home. He also always has the rushing floor of safety, but he could be a true fantasy cheat code in a competitive game like this. Daniels is another player who got you this far, so you need not abandon him now when it counts.

RB – James Conner @ CAR

Conner was the RB1 overall last week, and he has a real chance to go back-to-back with that title. He is touching the ball on over a third of Arizona’s offensive plays, and this week, it could be even higher. Carolina is dead last in almost every metric imaginable: schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs, rushing touchdowns allowed to RBs, and total yards allowed to RBs. Keep Conner in, which you were probably already doing, but keep it up!

Bonus RB – Breece Hall vs. LAR

You probably are not a Breece Hall manager who is still fighting for a championship because he has been a major disappointment for most of the season. If you are, however, this is a week you need to force him into your lineup. The Rams are allowing the fifth most rushing yards per game, and opponents are running the ball vs. the Rams at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. The Rams are also 28th in EPA per rush over the last six weeks. Hall is getting healthier and healthier, according to the coaches, and there is a good chance he will see 15+ touches at home, with a good opportunity to see the end zone, especially in a matchup with a 46.5 over/under. Breece might finally show the talent that had him so highly drafted at the beginning of the season.

WR – Malik Nabers @ ATL

Jason talked up Nabers on The Fantasy Footballers Dynasty Podcast, which is even easier to do in a dynasty world. Still, it is because Nabers has been incredible this year. He has cooled off since the beginning of the year, but he is still on pace for the most targets and receptions ever for a rookie, and he missed two games. Whoever the QB is for Nabers, it hasn’t mattered. Throw it to him, and he will make plays for the offense. Nabers now faces a Falcons secondary ranked 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs and dead last in receiving TDs allowed to WRs. In the playoffs, you need guys who can go nuclear, and Nabers has already proven he can do that for you, so you have to keep him in your lineup.

TE – Travis Kelce vs. HOU

It has been a rough stretch for Kelce over the last month, with four straight games outside the top 12 of TEs. However, during that stretch, he still saw a 23% target share and the third most targets among all TEs. The Chiefs’ passing game has not been very valuable, and Kelce hasn’t scored touchdowns, which has hurt his fantasy finishes. This week, it will be against Houston, who ranks 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs. The Texans allow 3.8 points above expectation at the position. All this means is that you must not run away from one of the greatest TEs ever to play; keep him in your lineup and enjoy what he can do for your roster.