Week 16 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Advice on Fantasy Football Stars to Play or Bench

Week 16 is about to begin with a thrilling matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. Both NFC West foes have looked like title contenders this season and are vying for divisional control.

Like L.A. and Seattle, many fantasy football enthusiasts will be battling for high stakes. The fantasy playoffs are underway in most season-long leagues, meaning every lineup decision will be important.

Here you'll find a look at some of the best and worst matchups of Week 16 for point-per-reception (PPR) play.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett

Start: Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Managers who scooped up Jacoby Brissett off the waiver wire have gotten one of the more consistent QBs in fantasy this season. The Arizona Cardinals' backup-turned-starter has topped 18 fantasy points in every one of his starts this season.

Brissett has topped 20 points in each of his last three games, and he'll have a great chance to do so again against a middling Atlanta Falcons defense.

Atlanta has surrendered an average of 17.4 fantasy points to opposing QBs this season.

Sit: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott can typically be viewed as the sort of reliable streamer that Brissett has become. However, he faces the sort of matchup that will make him a massive risk in a playoff week.

The Cowboys are set to host the Los Angeles Chargers, who have become a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Los Angeles has surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to the position this season.

Prescott is coming off a disappointing outing that included just 12 fantasy points. He could have a similar performance this week against L.A.

Running Back

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Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving

Start: Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Like many fantasy managers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are fighting to stay alive in the postseason race. Their Week 16 matchup with the Carolina Panthers will determine first place in the NFC South.

Expect Tampa to lean heavily on running back Bucky Irving in this one. Quarterback Baker Mayfield isn't at 100 percent, and Carolina has been susceptible to the run this season.

The Panthers have surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs.

Sit: Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton has been back in the Chargers' lineup for two weeks, but he hasn't resumed every-down duties. While Hampton had a solid 14.7 fantasy points in Week 14, he yielded just 7.5 fantasy points last week.

Kimani Vidal has maintained a significant workload since Hampton's return. He logged 13 touches to Hampton's 16 last week.

This week, managers should look to avoid both Chargers backs if possible. While the Cowboys have struggled against the run in 2025, they've been better since adding Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson at the trade deadline. Last week, Dallas held Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason to a combined 12.4 fantasy points.

Wide Receiver

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Chargers WR Ladd McConkey

Start: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

While Dallas' defense has gotten better against the run, its secondary remains one of the least reliable units in the entire NFL. The Cowboys rank dead-last in passing yards allowed and 31st in passing touchdowns allowed.

Dallas has also surrendered more fantasy points to opposing wide receivers than any other team.

Expect the Chargers to lean heavily on the pass this week, which should allow Ladd McConkey to have a bounce-back performance. The second-year receiver has tallied just 6.2 fantasy points over the last two weeks combined but should be back to double digits in this matchup.

Sit: Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers might be able to run Shane Steichen's offense effectively, but he isn't going to regularly stretch the field. That's bad news for Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

Pittman yielded just 5.6 fantasy points last week and is unlikely to fare much better this week against the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco has a middle-of-the-road pass defense and has surrendered the 14th-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. However, Indy should look to lead with Jonathan Taylor and the ground game while limiting Rivers, who attempted only 27 passes in his 2025 return.

Tight End

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Eagles TE Dallas Goedert

Start: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles offense got back on track in Week 15 and should have another strong performance against a suspect Washington Commanders defense this week. While the matchup should benefit all Philadelphia fantasy options, it could be particularly fruitful for tight end Dallas Goedert.

Goedert, by the way, has racked up more than 15 fantasy points in each of the past two weeks.

Washington, meanwhile, has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Sit: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry fell flat against the Buffalo Bills last week, tallying just 2.8 fantasy points. Of course, it's worth noting that Buffalo has been stout against opposing tight ends. No other team has surrendered fewer fantasy points to the position.

Unfortunately, this isn't the week to bank on a bounce-back performance from Henry.

The Baltimore Ravens have surrendered the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Expect Henry to have another down week before potentially rebounding against the New York Jets in Week 17.

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.