It is the semifinals of most season long fantasy leagues, and we want to congratulate those who have advanced to this point. Your team is clearly good, but many more players were injured causing lineup decisions to be more interesting than we would like to be at this point of the season. You can always reach us for your last minute decisions, but while you think of who you should sit or start, be sure to check out our suggestions below.
Quarterbacks
Start: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders. He has been a turnover machine of late, but Rivers has also been throwing touchdowns at a ridiculous rate. He has thrown multiple touchdowns in the last six straight weeks, even though his yardage totals haven’t been great. We all know the Raiders defense is really, really bad right? Well, the last time that Rivers played them he threw for 359 yards and four touchdowns. He might not quite match that, but 300 yards and three scores is well within realistic expectations.
Sit: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants. Stafford has been one of the better, and most clutch quarterbacks in the league this year. However, it hasn’t been translating to fantasy football in the last two months. Since Week 7, Stafford has only thrown more than one touchdown in a game twice, and only topped 300 yards once. He tore ligaments in his throwing hand this past week which he will continue to play through, which isn’t a good thing. Couple that with playing a hungry, swarming, physical Giants defense and this doesn’t look like a good week to play Stafford.
Running Backs
These two are going to be a lethal combination on Sunday vs. the 49ers
Start: Tevin Coleman AND Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons vs. San Francisco 49ers. You are probably starting whichever one you have this week anyway. However, they are playing the Niners. Over 170 yards per game allowed on the ground. Bilal fucking Powell made them look silly last week. Get all of the Falcons in your lineup!
Start: Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills. Despite some rough patches throughout the season, Crowell was able to break off some long runs last week against the Browns towards his third 100 yard game this season. This week the Browns face the Bills who were just TORN UP by Le’Veon Bell last week for over 200 yards and three rushing touchdowns. I’m not comparing Crowell to Bell by any stretch, but the Bills have allowed the second most rushing touchdowns this season. I’m sure they will make some adjustments after last week, but look for Crowell to gash the Bills for another 100 yard game, as Buffalo is fading fast.
Sit: Ryan Mathews, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens. It turned into quite the MASH unit for the Eagles backfield on Sunday as they lost both Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood to injury during the game. In an amazing shock, it was Ryan Mathews who stood as the lone healthy back! It is unsure if Sproles will clear concussion protocol, and if Smallwood will be good to go. You might be tempted to play Mathews here but I urge against it. I know that LeGarrette Blount had a good game on Monday vs. the Ravens, but their defense is no joke, and the Eagles offense is NOT New England’s.
Sit: Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys. Martin had a decent game last week against the lowly Saints, but was able to get into the endzone to salvage the game for his owners. However, he still does have Jacquizz Rodgers and Charles Sims to (somewhat) split carries with. The Cowboys have allowed the second fewest number of rushing yards this season, and only four scores have come against them on the ground. I can see you giving him a go if you have no better option, but you have to just be praying for a touchdown if you are starting Martin.
Wide Receivers
Start: Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns. Watkins has 10 catches in the three games he has played in since returning from injury, with a single touchdown. He is playing the Browns this week. Do I need to say more? The Browns SUCK! AWFUL! They could give up a passing touchdown to my eight year old daughter! Sammy Watkins should be a shoe in to not only score but to have his best game to date.
Sammy Watkins’ snap rate since returning three games ago: 45.5%, 68.1% and then 94.2% yesterday. Browns up next.
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) December 12, 2016
Start: Jeremy Kerley, San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons. The Niners will ABSOLUTELY be way behind this week against the Falcons, which means that they will need to throw PLENTY throughout the day. Kerley has been the top receiver for the 49ers this season, as pathetic as that sounds. I completely expect him to have six or seven catches for 75 or more yards and likely a touchdown.
Sit: Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals. I know it hurts to think about sitting a guy you may have drafted as your top receiver, but it has been four weeks since Cooks has caught a touchdown pass. He is still getting the targets and the receptions, but he hasn’t had over 100 yards receiving since Week 6. Despite the awful season, the Cardinals pass defense has still been very good. Since I own Drew Brees in a money league, I’m hoping that this is wrong, but I’m not expecting a good game from Cooks.
Sit: DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars. WOW! Here’s another receiver that was taken very early, and I took him in one league seventh overall. No one could have guessed that against the awful Colts pass defense that Hopkins would have just two catches last week. The Jags pass defense has actually been good, allowing about 205 passing yards per game and 16 passing touchdowns in 13 games. I probably wouldn’t sit Hopkins if I had him because I like him so much, but all of the signs point to another disappointing week on Sunday.
Interesting stat: RB @DavidJohnson31 has more receiving yards than DeAndre Hopkins & Allen Robinson
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) December 3, 2016
Tight Ends
Start: Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings vs. Indianapolis Colts. I think I have put Rudolph in my “sit” portion of this article more times than I’d like to admit. However, as the Vikings passing game has continued to struggle, Sam Bradford has been depending on Rudolph more and more. He has 19 catches with a touchdown in the last three weeks. This week the Vikings face the Colts who should be the biggest bunch of patsies on defense they have seen in a while. I think Rudolph could have seven catches for over 85 yards and a score on Sunday.
Sit: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. Eifert has four touchdowns in the last three weeks, but I am here to tell you that was aided in a way by the loss of A.J. Green. He also has been dependent on those touchdowns, because he hasn’t topped five catches or 68 yards in any of those games. It should be an absolutely bruising game against Pittsburgh this week, against a team that is on a roll right now. The Steelers have had a bend but don’t break philosophy on defense against the pass as they allow over 250 yards per game through the air, but have permitted just 17 passing touchdowns in 13 games. I like Eifert, but don’t think this will be a good week for him.
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