NFL Week 16 Predictions: Projecting the Best Fantasy Football Starters

For those still alive in the fantasy football playoffs, the games are even more intense than before. Chances are, your league is now waiting to crown a champion for 2011.

That being said, here are four of the best fantasy football starts you can make in Week 16.

Cam Newton: QB, Panthers (vs Tampa Bay)

The first time the two teams met, Cam Newton only threw for over 200 yards and a TD, but he added 54 rushing yards and three TDs. Not surprising, Carolina also won the game.

This time around, the Panthers get the Buccaneers at home and still put a top-10 offense against arguably the NFL's worst defense. So, expect Newton to dish the rock around well and take off running when needed.

Tampa Bay lacks a pass rush, coverage and the ability to stop the run. Therefore, in virtually every facet of offensive football, Cam Newton will thrash the Bucs as he did in Round 1.

Ray Rice: RB, Ravens (vs Cleveland)

Thanks to the Browns having one of the worst rush defenses this season, Ray Rice gained over 200 yards on the ground when Baltimore played at Cleveland a few weeks ago.

In Round 2 at home, you can expect an encore performance from Rice and another win for the Ravens. Last time Ray ran over, through, around and between Cleveland's front seven.

That will happen again—expect more between the tackles to really wear down the Browns defense. The more you run inside also makes it easier to set up the play-action pass. Regardless of whether they go deep or not, expect Rice to have some success in receiving yards as well.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense (vs St. Louis)

Here we have one of the NFL's best defenses against arguably the NFL's worst offense. St. Louis struggles to move the chains, put up points even when opportunities arise and maintain a balanced attack.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, can stop the run with just their front seven and stop the pass with just their secondary, thus allowing defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to use his LBs in multiple ways.

The Steelers will blitz and confuse the Rams while forcing turnovers, not allowing points and winning the field position battle all at once. Expect the Rams to keep the ball on the ground as that will minimize the damage as much as possible, but still not enough to warrant any shot at scoring.

Wes Welker: WR, Patriots (vs Miami)

Way back in Week 1, the New England Patriots traveled to Miami on Monday night and we saw Tom Brady throw for over 500 passing yards.

One hundred sixty of those yards, as well as two TDs, came from WR Wes Welker, including a 99-yard TD that proved to be the stake that drove through the Dolphins defense's heart. You can anticipate a similar performance in Week 16.

Miami is definitely an improved team, but they still struggle at defending the pass and have no LB or DB that can cover Welker one-on-one. So, Wes will get a lot of targets over the middle and some solid yards after the catch.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @Sportswriter27