Week 16 Start Em Sit Em: Plaxico Burress and Sleeper WRs Deserving of a Start

For many, Week 16 marks the final week of their fantasy league's playoffs, or at the very least the first leg of a two-week finals matchup. Any way you slice it, Week 16 is absolutely huge in fantasy circles.

With that said, there are plenty of decisions to be made, some of which may go against your usual line of thinking.

Some may think that the best course of action in the finals is to play it safe and go with what you know. I'm more of the thinking that you should go big or go home with the title on the line, however.

If you have a tough decision to make a wide receiver this week, here are three sleeper wideouts worth starting in the biggest week of the year.

Demaryius Thomas - Denver Broncos

With Tim Tebow at quarterback, the Denver Broncos may not have the most prolific passing offense in the league, but wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has developed into a major fantasy contributor as of late.

Over the past three weeks, Thomas has caught 18 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns, making him one of the league's best during that stretch. While starting him doesn't come without risk, he has a nice, cushy matchup against the Buffalo Bills this week.

At 6'3" and 235 lbs., Thomas is a matchup nightmare and precisely the type of player that the Bills' smaller corners struggle against. Thomas is capable of getting down the field and outleaping defenders, so he has the potential for some big plays if Tebow can get him the ball.

Denver will keep the ball on the ground for the majority of the game, but Thomas will be the main beneficiary through the air and should have a solid game.

Jabar Gaffney - Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins wide receiver Jabar Gaffney has never been the flashiest player, but he has been effective wherever he has gone. That continues to be true this season, as he leads the Redskins in receiving with 852 yards and four touchdowns.

While there is a cap on his scoring potential to some degree, Gaffney has become very valuable in PPR leagues due to the volume of passes that come his way.

Since Rex Grossman re-assumed the starting quarterback gig in Washington, Gaffney has been extremely consistent, reeling in at least five catches and 72 yards in four of his past five games. He figures to exceed those numbers this week, as he will work against the Minnesota Vikings and their 30th-ranked pass defense.

He should be open plenty on Saturday, and I'm sure Grossman will be able to find him.

Plaxico Burress - New York Jets

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress has certainly been a solid player for the New York Jets this season, albeit an inconsistent one. Much of that has to do with the erratic play of quarterback Mark Sanchez, but at the very least, Burress is a main red-zone target, as evidenced by his eight touchdowns.

Much of Plax's value relies on his ability to reach pay dirt, but I think he's in line for his most complete game of the season against the New York Giants.

For one, the Giants have had an awful time stopping opposing passing attacks this season. They rank 29th in the league in that regard. On top of that, this will be Burress' first game against his former team, and while the Giants didn't exactly turn their backs on him after his prison term, he should still be motivated.

Burress only has one catch over the past two games, so starting him isn't for the faint of heart, but this matchup is too good to pass up.