The 2023 NFL Season is here, and with it comes some lineup questions. Which moves should you make to maximize your points? Let this weekly post be your guide as I offer one start and one sit suggestion at QB, RB, WR, and TE. These suggestions are based on my rankings against consensus each week. And because we want to measure our success, check back each week for a recap on how I did.
For the purposes of this project, a start is a player I think will finish Top 12 at QB or TE and Top 24 at RB or WR. A sit is a player I suspect will finish outside those metrics. Before we move forward, let’s look at last week’s picks. All finishes courtesy of Fantasy Pros.
Week 15 Starts
QB: Matthew Stafford, QB12 Hit. It wasn’t as big as I’d thought, but Stafford was a QB1.
RB: Rachaad White, RB6 Hit. White and the Buccaneers are on a heater.
WR: Deebo Samuel, WR11 Hit. Deebo has been on fire.
TE: Trey McBride, TE3 Hit. McBride has hit it off big with Kyler Murray.
Start Record: 4-0
Week 15 Sits
QB: Trevor Lawrence, QB21 Hit. Lawrence and the Jaguars are struggling.
RB: Najee Harris, RB74 Hit. Harris has been an unsteady bet this season.
WR: Calvin Ridley, WR44 Hit. Ridley isn’t coming up big of late.
TE: Logan Thomas, TE53 Hit. There isn’t enough consistent volume in Washington.
Sit Record: 4-0
Now, on to the Week 16 Picks!
Quarterbacks
Start: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
About: This might feel like a no-brainer, but it’s been a couple of rough weeks for the Eagles. In fact, the team has lost three straight games. But Hurts has remained solid, largely thanks to his rushing efforts. In two of the last three weeks, the Eagles face a Giants squad that hasn’t had a good year. That includes in Week 16. The Eagles are back home and desperate for a win. I expect a huge day from Hurts.
Sit: Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
About: Flacco has been an amazing story. He went from out of the league to starting for a team that is cruising toward the playoffs. And he’s been a steady presence, putting up yards and touchdowns. He’s also put up some turnovers. That was a problem that plagued Flacco in Week 15 against the Bears, where he threw three interceptions. And it could have been more. This week the Browns are on the road against a good Texans’ defense. He’s a consideration in Superflex, but I don’t see him as a Top 12 option.
Running Backs
Start: James Cook, Buffalo Bills
About: Did you know that Cook is RB7 on the season? He’s on a phenomenal run of late, too, as the Bills are making a push for the playoffs. Cook has had 15 or more points in each of his last four games, with more than 25 points in his last two. The Bills have a Saturday night game against a reeling Chargers squad that just gave up 63 points to the Raiders. Yeah, I like Cook a lot this week.
Sit: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
About: Mattison has had an up-and-down season. He’s RB33 on the season and hasn’t had double-digit fantasy points since Week 9. He is banged up, which forced him to miss Week 15. And now the Vikings are facing a tough Detroit Lions team. Add to that the fact that Ty Chandler looked great filling in last week and it’s likely that Mattison will be splitting the workload. I’m not trusting him as a Top 24 option.
Wide Receivers
Start: Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
About: Higgins had two huge touchdown receptions in Week 15. They were both great, but one of them was a highlight reel play. He’s peaking at the right time as the Bengals are fighting for a playoff spot. And they’ll need his offense in Week 16 against the Steelers. That’s especially true with Ja’Marr Chase likely to miss the week. I like Higgins as a borderline Top 12 play.
Sit: Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
About: Thielen began the season on fire. He was one of the few bright spots in the Panthers’ offense. His pace has cooled considerably in the second half of the season. Since Week 9, he’s just WR42 on the season, averaging less than nine points per game. Could he return to form in Week 16? It’s possible. But I’d rely on him more as a flex than the top-end WR2 he was early in the season.
Tight Ends
Start: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
About: No one seems to love tight ends more than Flacco, which has meant great things for Njoku. Since Week 12, he is TE3 averaging 17.3 points per game. Flacco has leaned on Njoku during his time as a starter, and I think that continues in a crucial game in Houston on Sunday. I’m starting Njoku.
Sit: Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
About: The Chargers are a wreck. Nothing has panned out as expected, and that included Everett, who was a trendy late tight-end pickup. Even with the Chargers in need of weapons, Everett hasn’t been reliable. He’s just TE21 on the season, averaging less than eight points per game. You have better options.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
