Week 16 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Drew Brees and LeSean McCoy, or to bench Seneca Wallace and Joseph Addai in your championship game? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 16 of the 2011 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons at Saints. With seven TD passes and no interceptions over the past two weeks, Ryan is among the hottest QBs in the land. He’ll need to keep up the blistering pace on Monday night as he duels Drew Brees in what is sure to be a fantasypalooza.

Ryan Mathews, RB, Broncos at Lions. Coming off a week in which he gashed the Ravens’ elite defense for 90 yards and two scores, Mathews now gets to pick on Detroit’s vulnerable run defense. He could score as a rusher and receiver in this high-flying contest.


Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks vs. 49ers. Call it a hunch, or pure confidence in a tailback who hasn’t failed to reach the end zone since Week 3. Not only wouldn’t I sit Lynch against the NFL’s top-ranked run defense; I’ll bet he posts the first rushing score of the year on them.

Plaxico Burress, WR, Jets vs. Giants. The cross-town smack talk is in full swing, but the Giants’ porous secondary won’t be able to muzzle the chatter, or the scoring. Look for Burress to penetrate the end zone at least once against his former team, and add some nice yardage along the way.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles at Cowboys. He’s been hindered in recent weeks by hamstring and shoulder injuries, but Maclin appears reliably healthy now. He notched 54 yards and a TD in the teams’ first meeting, and similar or better production awaits in what should be a high-scoring rematch.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Stafford, Cam Newton, Tony Romo, Michael Vick, Matt Moore, Tim Tebow; RBs Michael Bush, Reggie Bush, Kevin Smith, Willis McGahee, Rashard Mendenhall, C.J. Spiller, Shonn Greene, Cedric Benson, Beanie Wells; WRs A.J. Green, Nate Washington, Vincent Jackson, Steve Smith, Mike Williams (Bucs), Percy Harvin, Dwayne Bowe, Stevie Johnson, Jordy Nelson, Santonio Holmes.

Roll ‘em back

Rex Grossman, QB, Redskins vs. Vikings. Grossman is at the top of many sleeper lists this week since he’ll be facing Minnesota’s generous secondary. That might make sense if (a) he hadn’t underachieved in other juicy matchups, and (b) he didn’t have the capacity to implode at any given moment. Don’t pin your title hopes on one of the most unreliable passers on the planet.

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers vs. Buccaneers. In three of his last four games, Williams has scored at least once and rushed for 61 or more yards. But he stunk it up in the other contest, in Tampa Bay. Unless Williams breaks another long TD run Sunday, you may be left cursing Cam Newton for stealing all the goal-line glory.

Roy Helu, RB, Redskins vs. Vikings. A lower leg injury presumably was the cause of his poor productivity last week, and it could limit his touches on Sunday, too. You know how skittish Mike Shanahan can be with his rushers. Evan Royster could be this week’s favored son. Helu comes with considerable risk against a solid run defense.

Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens vs. Browns. With news that Anquan Boldin is out due to knee surgery, Smith will be the primary receiver in this matchup. That means he’ll be blanketed by Joe Haden, who is playing at an elite level.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams at Steelers. Whether or not Sam Bradford (ankle) suits up, Lloyd can’t be trusted against the stingiest pass defense in the league.

More thumbs down: QBs Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Matt Hasselbeck, Alex Smith, Kyle Orton, Carson Palmer; RBs Marion Barber, Steven Jackson, Donald Brown, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Toby Gerhart, Jonathan Stewart, Peyton Hillis, Jackie Battle, Ben Tate, Brandon Jacobs; WRs Eric Decker, Greg Little, Steve Breaston, Reggie Wayne, Denarius Moore.

Taking a flier

Kahlil Bell, RB, Bears at Packers. Looking for a sneaky flex play? Marion Barber is quickly wearing out his welcome in Chicago, and he’s been sitting out practice this week with a calf injury. Green Bay has coughed up at least one rushing TD per game for six straight weeks. Bell is a decent bet to make it seven.

Don’t be the bonehead who…heads out for last-minute Christmas shopping and forgets that Saturday is the new Sunday. A full slate of 13 games will be played on Christmas Eve this year. Be sure to lock in your championship game lineup by Saturday morning.

Week 16 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Michael Vick and Arian Foster, or bench Jerome Harrison and Terrance Copper? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for real help with your starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 16 of the 2010 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs vs. Titans. He made it through last week’s game at the Rams without setback, and returns home for a tantalizing matchup against the Titans’ soft secondary. Cassel and Dwayne Bowe should have a field day, while Tennessee is forced to respect KC’s explosive backfield tandem.


Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks at Buccaneers. Lynch has been up-and-down in recent weeks, but he’s a great bet against the league’s 29th-ranked run defense. The Bucs have given up 369 rushing yards over the past two games.

Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys at Cardinals. Only Denver has coughed up more fantasy points to opposing rushers than Arizona. Even if Marion Barber returns, he’ll poach carries from Tashard Choice, not Jones. The featured back should roll on Christmas night.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts at Raiders. With Austin Collie out for the season, Garcon will again be Peyton Manning’s No. 2 receiver. Oakland has surrendered the third-most passing TDs in the NFL, and shut-down corner Nnamdi Asomugha will be focused on Reggie Wayne.

Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks at Buccaneers. Despite the poor quarterbacking in Seattle, a healthy Williams is still getting a remarkable number of targets. The Bucs’ pass defense is vulnerable, making Williams a great start, especially in PPR leagues. For that matter, the Bucs’ Mike Williams is a solid play against Seattle’s porous secondary, too.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers, Jon Kitna, David Garrard, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tim Tebow; RBs Mike Tolbert, LeGarrette Blount, Ryan Torain, Brian Westbrook, Ronnie Brown, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Darren McFadden, Fred Jackson, Matt Forte, Rashad Jennings (if Jones-Drew sits); WRs Vincent Jackson, Steve Johnson, Hakeem Nicks, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Sims-Walker, Brandon Lloyd, Jacoby Ford, Jeremy Maclin, Santana Moss, Brandon Marshall.

Roll ‘em back

Eli Manning, QB, Giants at Packers. In the bone-chilling conditions of the frozen tundra, Manning will face off against the NFL’s third-ranked pass defense. He was terrific last week against the Eagles, but that followed two games in which he had just one total TD pass and three interceptions.


Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals vs. Chargers. Coming off his best game of the season, it’s tempting to let Benson ride this week. But San Diego sports the league’s second-toughest run defense, and Benson is unlikely to get much cover from Cincinnati’s depleted air attack.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns vs. Ravens. He has missed practice time with a knee injury and his body appears to be breaking down due to the heavy workload. Even worse, Ray Lewis has vowed that Hillis’ huge game against the Ravens in Week 3 “won’t happen again.” Cleveland’s workhorse hasn’t scored in the past three games, so it’s not crazy to consider sitting him.

Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets at Bears. He’s dealing with a turf toe injury, while Mark Sanchez has a cartilage tear in his throwing shoulder. They’re both facing the swarming Bears defense at frigid and windy Soldier Field. No thanks.

Chad Ochocinco, WR, Bengals vs. Chargers. Ocho himself says he may only take half the snaps in Sunday’s game due to painful bone spurs in his ankle. He’s a risky start against the league’s top pass defense even without the injury; and especially with Terrell Owens sidelined and unable to distract the opposing secondary.

More thumbs down: QBs Mark Sanchez, Shaun Hill, Matt Hasselbeck, Kerry Collins, Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer; RBs Maurice Jones-Drew, LaDainian Tomlinson, Tim Hightower, Pierre Thomas, Anthony Dixon, Broncos RBs, Lions RBs; WRs Malcom Floyd, Sidney Rice, Johnny Knox.

TAKING A FLIER

Joseph Addai, RB, Colts at Raiders. He’s back at practice and has been targeting a Week 16 return from his neck injury since November. If Addai plays, he should be in line for plenty of carries, including those in the red zone, as well as passes out of the backfield. Oakland’s rush defense is nothing to write home about.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…forgets to set your lineup for Saturday’s game. You’ve gotten used to the Thursday night matchups by now, but don’t let the Yuletide gaiety distract you from assigning the appropriate spots to your Cowboys and Cardinals for the Christmas night contest.

Week 16 Starters & Benchwarmers

You don’t need me advising you to start Drew Brees and Chris Johnson, or to bench Keith Null and Ted Ginn. So I’ll leave the obvious recommendations to the network bozos and focus instead on players typically on the bubble of most fantasy lineups. Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 16.

Watch ‘em roll

Brett Favre, QB, Vikings at Bears. His widely anticipated late-season swoon is in full swing. Look for at least a temporary reprieve under the Monday night lights against a Bears secondary that he torched for 392 yards and 3 TDs just four weeks ago.

Jerome Harrison, RB, Browns vs. Raiders. He’s not likely to break more records this week, but there’s every reason to believe he’ll put up gaudy numbers against one of the NFL’s rushing doormats. A 100-yard, 2-TD outing is well within reach.

Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals vs. Rams. Why recommend him two weeks running? Because too many of you didn’t believe me last week when I told you his time had come. Trust me, he’ll keep the good times rolling Sunday while Tim Hightower fades further into the background. Only the Raiders have allowed more rushing TDs than the Rams.

Braylon Edwards, WR, Jets at Colts. Coming off his best game of the season, Edwards should continue to prosper against a secondary that has played poorly lately and will probably be resting its starters early. New York still has playoff aspirations, so you know they’ll fight to the final buzzer.

Antonio Bryant, WR, Buccaneers at Saints. One thing seems certain: Tampa Bay will be forced to the air early and often as it desperately attempts to keep pace with the Saints. That could lead to plenty of mistakes by rookie Josh Freeman, but also a lot of targets for Bryant against New Orleans’ vulnerable secondary.

More thumbs up: QBs Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Alex Smith, Matt Schaub; RBs Cedric Benson, Pierre Thomas, Frank Gore, Jamaal Charles; WRs Greg Jennings, Vincent Jackson, Percy Harvin, Santana Moss.

Roll ‘em back

Peyton Manning, QB, Colts vs. Jets. If I thought he would play the entire game, I wouldn’t worry so much about his matchup against the NFL’s toughest pass defense. Put the two together, and even the great Peyton is a risky start.

Quinton Ganther, RB, Redskins vs. Cowboys. He came back down to Earth last week against the Giants, salvaging an otherwise terrible outing with a late touchdown run. Expect more of the same against Dallas’ tough run defense, but without the garbage time heroics.

Matt Forte, RB, Bears vs. Vikings. Don’t even think about it.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions at 49ers. Sorry Megatron, but I just don’t have a good feeling about Drew Stanton against Mike Singletary’s defense. This game has shut-out written all over it, and Johnson will be fortunate to see more than a handful of catchable balls.

Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts vs. Jets. The only thing worse than being blanketed by Darrelle Revis all day is getting just two quarters to try to beat him. Manning is risky enough, but at least he can target other receivers. Wayne won’t have that luxury.

More thumbs down: QBs Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Matt Hasselbeck; RBs Joseph Addai, LeSean McCoy, Maurice Morris, Julius Jones, Knowshon Moreno, Arian Foster; WRs Terrell Owens, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Roy Williams, Hines Ward.

TAKING A FLIER

Justin Snelling, RB, Falcons vs. Bills. For some reason, Atlanta is pushing Michael Turner to play Sunday, despite aggravating his high ankle sprain last week for the second time. With nothing to play for, that’s just ridiculous. Snelling should get the bulk of the workload against the absolute worst rush defense in the NFL. Even if Turner or Jerious Norwood poach some carries, there should be enough left over for Snelling to reward those owners brave enough to gamble on him.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…gets so caught up with all the merriment that he fails to notice the NFL scheduled a game for Friday night. That’s right, the Chargers face the Titans on Christmas night, so make sure you set your lineup before you set out the cookies for Santa.