A new spate of injuries brings a new slate of start/sit debates and we're here to answer them all for every matchup on the slate. There are players you should start and sit and matchup-based sleepers who could provide unexpected production plus big names who could flop based on these matchups. Every week we'll break down every game on the slate and pinpoint the players you need to know in every matchup.
All lines from Caesars Sportsbook.
Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Bust Candidate
Projections powered by
Sportsline
This will sound funny given the history of his opponents, but Foreman's matchups against the Patriots and Steelers were both favorable going in and were only successful because he had at least 20 touches in each. But those run defenses pale in comparison to the 49ers, who this season have allowed nearly a full yard per carry less than the Patriots and more than a full yard per carry less than the Steelers. In their past four games, they've contained Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon and Cordarrelle Patterson with two rushing scores allowed (none to those three names). It's a tall order for the Niners to play on the road on a short week against a physical bunch like the Titans, but their track record is awfully impressive. If you start Foreman, you're hoping he finds another 20 carries against a tough defense and has enough explosive runs or finds the end zone (he's had eight carries inside the 10-yard line with one score since Derrick Henry's injury in Week 8).
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Flex Starter in Non-PPR
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Wilson ran well last week against a declining Falcons run defense. It helped that he had plenty of opportunities to go with the grade-A blocking from his O-line. This week is a tougher challenge for him and his front five as the Titans have allowed the fewest Fantasy points per game to running backs on the year. Of the eight rushing touchdowns running backs have scored on them, only three have come in their past nine games. Also, only one guy (James Robinson) has run for over 100 yards and four backs have over 100 total yards. The Niners love to run the ball, and Wilson could easily score, but the yardage seems to be tough to trust, even on a short week.
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Sit Him
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Aiyuk has a target problem. Last week he saw just two (one from Deebo Samuel) and has been below seven targets in 10 of 14 games. He also has just nine red-zone targets on the season. Should he be getting more? The guy gets open considerably but isn't frequently Jimmy Garoppolo's first read; George Kittle has understandably been that guy lately for the Niners. Playing on the road on a short week in what feels like a grind-it-out type of game further impacts Aiyuk's upside.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Sneaky Sleeper
Projections powered by
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With Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the sideline for this matchup, Lazard should see an uptick in targets and have a shot to make up for last week's end-zone misses. On two occasions, Lazard had a shot at scoring but couldn't quite reel in the football on either throw from Aaron Rodgers, including one he was wide open on. It's that touchdown potential you have to hope for because Lazard's never been a yardage guy (two in his career with 80-plus yards), but he's actually tied for the Packers lead in end-zone targets with nine and ranks 16th in the NFL in that category. The Browns pass defense has given up just three touchdowns to wide receivers in its past eight games, but they're in a tough spot on the road after playing on Monday against the potential league MVP, likely without starting rookie cornerback Greg Newsome. It's a huge opportunity for Lazard, who should file in as at least a No. 3 Fantasy receiver and solid DFS choice.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Start Him
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There's no doubt Jonathan Taylor will get a ton of touches, but it's hard for me to believe the Colts will be in a position to lean on him as much as they did last week, just as it's hard for me to believe the Cardinals offense will struggle like it did at Detroit. Carson Wentz won't be asked to throw just 12 times, and Pittman won't get ejected like he did last week. But please note that before his ejection, Pittman had five targets on the 11 routes he ran. He's obviously their best pass-catcher and would certainly see a lot of throws from Wentz if the Colts found themselves trailing or in a competitive matchup. The Cardinals pass defense has started to struggle lately, allowing five touchdowns and three 75-plus-yard performances to wide receivers in their past two games. On the year, Arizona's given up 19 touchdowns to receivers, just not many to No. 1 types like Pittman. Ultimately it's Pittman's assumed volume that keeps him appealing as a high-end No. 2 Fantasy receiver.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Flex Starter in PPR
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It's fun that St. Brown has posted 11-plus targets, eight-plus receptions and 70-plus yards per game over the last three weeks. But it's problematic to keep expecting that kind of volume with D'Andre Swift expected back this week. In games with Swift, St. Brown has seen more than seven targets three times, more than four receptions three times and has zero games north of 70 yards with no touchdowns. To be fair, those games also included T.J. Hockenson, who is out for the year. Making the outlook worse is Tim Boyle handling the quarterback duties this week with Jared Goff ill. Boyle has a perfect 100% completion rate on his four targets to St. Brown, but for just 18 yards. These situational changes are massive and have turned St. Brown into a low-upside No. 3 full-PPR receiver.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Start Him
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Even though Brown's been on the shelf for the past eight games, the Buccaneers have little choice but to lean on him following the injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Brown seemed close to healthy when he was suspended three weeks ago, so health shouldn't be an issue anymore. He also had a terrific 69% catch rate and 8.4 target average in the five games he played with Brady (and the other receivers) back in September and October. It's absolutely possible that Brown blows the lid off the Panthers with a 10-target, 90-yard, one-score game, stats he's exceeded in three of his five. Carolina's allowed nine touchdowns to wideouts over their past eight games including three touchdowns to Bills wide receivers last week (and two on shut-down cornerback Stephon Gilmore).
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Start Him
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There's literally only one stat keeping Brown relevant in Fantasy -- and it's the one that matters. Brown has seen at least seven targets in 10 of his past 12 games. That's cool, but it's a lack of explosive plays (two in his past five games) and end-zone targets (two in his past six games) that have rendered him a Fantasy disappointment after a scorching start. Against a tougher opponent, Brown would be a must-sit even if Lamar Jackson was back. But against the Bengals, Brown has some potential. Cincinnati has allowed a score to a receiver in six of its past eight games, and a dozen wideouts have had at least 80 yards on the Bengals this season. Moreover, Brown has managed a touchdown in each of four career games against Cincy and 75-plus yards in three of those four. There are a lot of receivers who are struggling like Brown but seeing five or six targets per game. Brown's better than those guys and makes the cut as a No. 2 option, even in non-PPR.
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Start Them
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Even with their depleted pass defense, the Ravens are sticking with plenty of man coverage. Maybe they dial it back some against the Bengals since they were shredded by Burrow in their first meeting (Baltimore played man coverage 66.7% of their snaps in Week 7), but it feels like it's in their DNA to play plenty of man coverage regardless of opponent. That's when Burrow should be at his best and make good use of his stud receivers. Last week was a dud against a very good schematic defense, but Higgins still offers massive upside (at least seven targets and 100-plus yards in three of his past four games), as does Chase even though he's been under 80 yards in each of seven games since his 201-yard masterclass against the Ravens in Week 7. Expectations for the Bengals passing game are fairly high regardless of Joe Mixon's status because Baltimore has proven to be capable of slamming on the run, plus the Ravens offense should force the Bengals to put the ball in the air a little bit. I'm good trusting all three of these guys.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Sit Him
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The matchup is so good this week, but Williams has been so tough to trust. Justin Herbert gave him not one, not two, but THREE targets in or right in front of the end zone on the Chargers first drive last week and he came up empty. That makes Williams now 3 of 12 on targets from 10 yards or closer to the goal line. Eventually, Herbert's going to stop throwing him the ball. The Texans have allowed 10 total touchdowns to wide receivers over their past eight games, but only half have come from 10 yards or closer. It's Houston's run defense that will draw plenty of attention from the Chargers, hurting a lot of the upside for Williams. That makes the wideout decidedly a nerve-wracking flex at best who may fall out of favor sooner than later.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Start Him
Projections powered by
Sportsline
I can't definitively say Beckham had a bad game versus Seattle because they played a ton of zone coverage, but it did seem like Matthew Stafford was okay with shorter, easier throws on most of his attempts. There were a few times where Stafford missed an open Beckham on intermediate routes, but it's clear Stafford wanted to get the ball out quick most of the time, and when he took deep shots he trusted Cooper Kupp the most. The Vikings play a lot of zone coverage like Seattle, so there's a chance Stafford again settles for short throws, but their pass rush isn't as good and the Vikings offense isn't as bad. That combination might lead to a higher-scoring game which in turn might create more opportunities for Beckham. Better yet, the Vikings have ceded six touchdowns and six 75-plus-yard games to wide receivers in their past five games. I'd expect a better game from Beckham.
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Flex Starter
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It's easy to forget that Jefferson entered Week 15 with touchdowns in three straight games and at least seven targets in four of five. Unfortunately, it's just as easy to notice that Jefferson has five targets in his past two games combined. Like with Beckham, Jefferson didn't benefit at all from the Rams' short-area passing against a zone-heavy Seattle defense. More of the same type of basic coverage is expected against the Vikings, but the outlook is a little bit better for Stafford to have time to throw farther than 10 yards downfield. I think it's fair to assume a modest up-tick in targets for Jefferson with a decent shot to score.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Sneaky Sleeper
Projections powered by
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The Bills will positively run their offense through Josh Allen, but I can't help but wonder if they'll try to emphasize their run game after failing to flex their muscles against the Patriots three weeks ago in that minor hurricane they played in. If that happens, Singletary appears to be the back the coaching staff has settled on. In the two games since the wind storm, Singletary has played at least 80% of the snaps and come away with at least 89 total yards per game (once on 10 touches at the Bucs, once with 23 touches versus Carolina). That's a reliable minimum to count on from him against a Patriots run defense that's allowed over 100 total yards to a back in nine of its past 12 games. Singletary's effective receiving skills also put him in play as at worst a flex in PPR leagues; only 12 of his 41 targets have come in blowout Buffalo victories.
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Start Him
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With Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined, Harris should lead the Patriots on rushing downs and on short-yardage and goal-line snaps outside of the 2:00 offense. Against a Bills defense that's given up two 100-yard rush games and three total touchdowns in its past three games, that sounds pretty good. In fact, the Bills have afforded a running back to get at least 10 non-PPR Fantasy points in all but three games since Week 6 (the Dolphins, the Saints without Alvin Kamara and the Jaguars without James Robinson). Harris has 10 games this year with at least 10 carries and has a minimum of 9 non-PPR Fantasy points in nine of those games. He has 100-yard, one-score potential, making him at worst a high-end No. 2 running back provided that hes active after missing last week with a hamstring injury.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Sit Him
Projections powered by
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Carter saw a slim majority of snaps and running back touches for the Jets in his first game back from injury, but he grossly underwhelmed against a good Dolphins defense. Not that he didn't look spry, but his workload is far from where he was before his high-ankle sprain. It only makes sense for the Jets to ease him back in and use Tevin Coleman as his primary backfield mate. Coleman played five of seven snaps from 10 yards or closer to the goal line last week and might stick in that short-yardage role, erasing plenty of Carter's upside. That keeps him from being a top-30 running back in my rankings, even against the Jaguars. Problems with the Jets O-line and Zach Wilson's inability to target his running backs further dim Carter's upside.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Sit Him
Projections powered by
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While it's true that the Eagles gave up a pair of rushing touchdowns on Tuesday night against Washington, I still think they're one of the toughest run defenses in the league. Only one guy (Mark Ingram) has totaled over 100 yards against them in the last seven weeks, and only Las Vegas totaled over 100 rush yards as a team against them. That brings us to Barkley, who has seen his playing time dip to under 60% of the Giants snaps over the past two weeks. That's a pretty big issue, especially since Devontae Booker hasn't looked awful. He seems to be running a tad tentatively, in large part because his offensive line cannot make much room for him from play to play. That, along with whatever injury issues that are lingering, is making Barkley look more like a rumbling plow-back rather than an explosive, elusive one. A better offensive line might prove that statement wrong, but that seems unlikely to emerge in this matchup. With only three games on the year with 90-plus yards, and four total touchdowns, it's hard to count on Barkley as much more than a low-end No. 2 runner who will try to escape defenders while working alongside, presumably, Jake Fromm.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Start Him
Projections powered by
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It got a whole lot harder to trust Penny after Tuesday's loss to the Rams. Between an abdomen injury and negative game script, Penny watched DeeJay Dallas not only see more playing time (nearly a 60-40 split) but also score from short yardage. Dallas had a lock on passing downs and didn't look too sluggish on his carries. Penny also had his fair share of nice runs, but it's clear that he'll be involved in some kind of workload management that could expand into a three-headed group with Alex Collins expected to play. Chicago's run defense looked pretty solid on Monday against the Vikings and has held all but four running backs to under 100 total yards on the year. It makes for a very tricky spot for Penny, even though he's at home and with his coach voicing displeasure with the lack of running overall. If you start Penny, you're counting on explosive plays to help rack up Fantasy numbers.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Sit Him
Projections powered by
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The Chiefs pass defense has started to sag over the last two weeks, but their player personnel has played a major role. Slot corner L'Jarius Sneed has been out with a personal issue and D-line goliath Chris Jones wasn't around to hamper quarterbacks last week. As a result, Keenan Allen and Hunter Renfrow each saw 10-plus targets and each had a great game for Fantasy. They represent two of the three wideouts who have caught a touchdown on Kansas City since Week 11. It's a good defense and if at full strength, will make things difficult on secondary passing targets like Claypool. As it turns out, Claypool has drawn plenty of defensive attention this year, resulting in high-target, low-production results or low-target, low-production results in eight of his 12 outings. And after collecting just two targets last week, it's hard to feel confident in Claypool's role in the Steelers offense. He's a massive risk for Week 16 lineups.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Start Him
Projections powered by
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If you think Gordon's grip on splitting everything down the line with Javonte Williams is slipping away, that's because it is. Gordon played a season-low 41% of the snaps in Week 15 and has been below 50% in three of the last four weeks. But we've seen numerous times this year that when the Broncos have a good matchup and/or win, Gordon sees more touches. That's what I'm expecting this week against a brutal (and tired) Raiders run defense that's yielded 10-plus non-PPR Fantasy points to a running back in 10 of its past 11. There's plenty of meat on the bone for Williams (who has RB1 upside) and Gordon to each score and accumulate north of 60 yards.
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Start 'em
10.0-7.00
6.99 - 5.01
5.00 - 0
Sit 'em
Sit Him
Projections powered by
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Even with Taylor Heinicke, McLaurin is tough to trust beyond the flex range. Even though the wideout has seven-plus targets from Heinicke in 10 games this season, he's dominated (over 100 yards and a touchdown) in four of them and failed to get even 70 scoreless yards in six. McLaurin also has one score since Week 6. The only flicker of hope involves the deep ball -- the Cowboys pass defense has yielded four touchdowns of 20-plus yards to receivers over its past five games with 12 overall completions of 20-plus yards to receivers (fifth-most). That boom or bust upside might be worth taking a chance on if you're playing against a Fantasy league rival who consistently puts up a lot of points, but there are many safer receivers you could consider over McLaurin, including Russell Gage and Allen Lazard. Given all of Washington's injuries, the Cowboys are certain to focus on containing McLaurin.
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Sit Him
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Patterson draws attention as a desperation RB option if and only if Antonio Gibson is ruled out. But don't expect Patterson to handle every single snap -- Washington also has Jonathan Williams to help him out. Last week Patterson didn't flash much burst until he got a handoff on the final play of the game for 13 garbage-time yards. The youngster has an explosive first step, but there's no record of breakaway speed nor refined skills in the passing game including as a pass protector. Williams definitely looks like the better physical back.
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