Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 16: Advice for Fringe Flex Fantasy Football Starters

If you're in the fantasy football championship, you have obviously made some good calls to this point, but now, you have one game left to put together the best lineup possible.  

There are a lot of tough calls heading into Week 16, and you don't want to spend the next few months agonizing over making the wrong pick. You can't predict the future, but you can make the best possible decisions for your roster based on what the players have done to this point as well as the matchups ahead of them.

Here is a look at what you should do with a number of borderline options heading into the weekend.

Start 'Em

Pos.	Players	Team	Opp
RB	Charcandrick West	Kansas City Chiefs	CLE
RB	Christine Michael	Seattle Seahawks	STL
RB	Bilal Powell	New York Jets	NE
RB	Frank Gore	Indianapolis Colts	MIA
WR	Rueben Randle	New York Giants	MIN
WR	Kamar Aiken	Baltimore Ravens	PIT
WR	T.Y. Hilton	Indianapolis Colts	MIA
WR	Stefon Diggs	Minnesota Vikings	NYG
TE	Zach Ertz	Philadelphia Eagles	WAS

Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

The past few months haven't been great for Frank Gore as a fantasy player. He hasn't had more than 60 rushing yards in any of the last five games while managing only a single touchdown in that stretch. The result has been four games with six or fewer fantasy points in standard leagues.

Despite this lack of production, Gore at least remains a regular fixture in the Indianapolis Colts offense with an average of 16.1 rushing attempts per game. Josh Moore of 4for4 Football breaks down just how much usage the veteran has been getting:

This hasn't led to much efficiency lately, but that could change with a favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins. That defense has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL this season, including 140 to the struggling San Diego Chargers offense last week. Running back Danny Woodhead even scored four touchdowns.

With enough touches, Gore can find some open space and finally put together a strong showing for fantasy owners.

Kamar Aiken, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Although the Baltimore Ravens have dealt with tons of injuries throughout the year, one of the positives down the stretch has been the play of Kamar Aiken. A week after totaling a season-high 90 receiving yards in Week 14, he came through with 128 yards and a touchdown on eight catches in Week 15.

A lot of that production came on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half, but the play still took a lot of athleticism and some impressive body control to come down with the touchdown.

Head coach John Harbaugh has enjoyed the receiver's recent play:

Even with backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen throwing the football, it's clear the Ravens lack many legitimate weapons in the passing game, leaving Aiken as a clear go-to option. Against a porous Pittsburgh Steelers secondary, the 6'2", 215-pound receiver can have some more big plays.

Sit 'Em

Pos.	Players	Team	Opp
RB	Ronnie Hillman	Denver Broncos	CIN
RB	Giovani Bernard	Cincinnati Bengals	DEN
RB	DeMarco Murray	Philadelphia Eagles	WAS
RB	Javorius Allen	Baltimore Ravens	PIT
WR	Anquan Boldin	San Francisco 49ers	DET
WR	Tavon Austin	St. Louis Rams	SEA
WR	James Jones	Green Bay Packers	ARI
WR	Brandon LaFell	New England Patriots	NYJ
TE	Heath Miller	Pittsburgh Steelers	BAL

Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver Broncos

Don Wright/Associated Press

The Denver Broncos are struggling offensively, and the run game has not helped. Ronnie Hillman managed only 48 rushing yards on 14 carries Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers and wasn't at all involved in the passing attack.

Over the last three games Hillman has just 124 total rushing yards at just 2.76 yards per carry. Although quarterback Brock Osweiler has received a lot of the blame for the Broncos' struggles, the lack of balance is just as big of a problem.

Meanwhile, running back C.J. Anderson still has a role in the offense and is always capable of taking over carries if he starts off well, something he has done quite a few times this year.

Against a solid Cincinnati Bengals run defense, Denver will likely have to turn to the pass once again, and Hillman will be left without a chance to produce.

Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis Rams

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

There is no denying Tavon Austin's dynamic ability as a receiver and a runner. He had two touchdowns last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gliding through defenders like on this play:

The problem is it's tough to rely on such a boom-or-bust player in the fantasy football championships. While he does have two 15-point performances in standard leagues in the past four weeks, the other two games featured just a combined eight points. The two games prior to this stretch featured a combined zero points.

There also won't be too many openings against the Seattle Seahawks, one of the best tackling teams in the NFL. The team ranks No. 2 in the league in both points and yards, and it will lead to a slow day for the Rams offense.

Despite Austin's upside, it is better to find a safer option for your team this week.

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