Ho Ho Ho, Merry Start/Sit-mas. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and an even better semifinals weekend. This article isn’t the full version of my weekly start and sits, it’s just the Saturday edition. This means I’m just putting out players from tonight’s, Browns @ Packers, and Cardinals vs. Colts games. So stay tuned for tomorrow’s starts and sits for more of that championship material.

Quarterbacks

Starts

Aaron Rodgers (QB1)

Kyler Murray (QB1)

Carson Wentz (QB2)

Sits

Baker Mayfield

10 years ago today, Aaron Rodgers tossed 5 TD passes and owned the Bears like usual 💰

Packers -13 ✅ pic.twitter.com/Ef7YuqRaYg

— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 25, 2021

Aaron Rodgers and Kyler Murray are locked and loaded starters for this week. So don’t get cute and try to bench one of these guys. This week, Baker Mayfield has a tall task coming back to the team after missing Week 15 with COVID. There should be an opportunity for Baker to excel in this game against the Packers, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year. That being said, Baker hasn’t been super productive for your team this year. Look for that to continue with this game; I’d sit him this week; better backup QBs are playing this week for fantasy. Carson Wentz may be called upon for more than 58 passing yards in this game. The Colts will be without two guards and their center in this game which makes me wonder if Jonathan Taylor will be “MVP-like.” If he is struggling early, then the Colts will need a strong outing from Wentz to keep the Colts afloat against the Cardinal. He’s a very solid QB2 on Saturday.

Running Back

Starts

Nick Chubb (RB1)

Aaron Jones (RB2)

AJ Dillon (Flex)

Chase Edmonds (Flex)

Sits

James Conner

D’Ernest Johnson

The @NickChubb21 Checklist
1,000 yards rushing ✅
Third straight Pro Bowl ✅
Really good at football ✅ pic.twitter.com/t3yCCvJKkF

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 22, 2021

Nick Chubb is my only locked and loaded start at RB1. All the other runningbacks have some questions marks. The Green Bay duo is not only going against a healthier Browns defense but one that’s hungry for the playoffs. The Browns have allowed the 11th fewest fantasy points to the running back position. They have also given up the sixth-fewest rushing TDs (9) while allowing the third-most receiving TDs (4) to opposing RBs. That being said the Packers have been using Aaron Jones in a situational role and AJ Dillon had been taking on 50 percent of the downs prior to last week. So this makes me wonder about Dillon’s role if the Browns can stuff the run. So this is why I have Jones as an RB2 and Dillon as a Flex this week. The Arizona Cardinals situation is a little different in the sense that James Conner is a game-time decision and hasn’t practiced all week. Chase Edmonds on the other hand is healthy and coming off a six-carry, 53-yard day. I think this game will see Conner either sit or be limited, so I’m sitting him in favor of Edmonds.

Wide Receivers

Starts

Davante Adams (WR1)

Christian Kirk (WR3/Flex)

Jarvis Landry (WR3/Flex)

Michael Pittman (WR2)

AJ Green (WR3/Flex)

Allen Lazard (WR3/Flex

Sits

Donovan Peoples-Jones

Rondale Moore

TY Hilton

Christian Kirk WELCOME TO THE BEARSS!!! pic.twitter.com/utesOacjOX

— yer (@WheefoTootho) December 19, 2021

Davante Adams is in your lineup, no question… let’s move on. His running mate Allen Lazard is an interesting option this week. Lazard has gotten 17 targets in the past three weeks and without Marquez Valdes-Scantling this week should be a solid Flex option against the Browns.

Christian Kirk will look to be the gift that keeps on giving this week as he looks to replicate his 9 reception, 94 yards, TD Week 15 performance, on Christmas day. Kirk had 12 targets last week and if his slot role continues this week, I’d expect his targets to continue to soar. AJ Green is a good play this week getting 18 targets over the past two weeks, while the Colts have given up the second most TDS (17) to receivers. Green should be a good WR3/Flex this week. He’s going to be a WR3/Flex option for me this week with WR2 potential. While I think I’d leave Rondale Moore on the bench due to lack of production.

Jarvis Landry is always the number one option in this offense and even if he’s not putting up number one receiver options, there aren’t many more places for the ball to go. Landry is a WR3/Flex option on Christmas day. Donovan Peoples-Jones has been getting more consistent numbers lately but against a good Packers secondary, I don’t think he’ll be my guy in the semi-finals.

Michael Pittman had a rough game last week, as he was ejected after having a difficult game against the Pats secondary. He’s got a much easier task this week against the Cardinals. The Cards have surrendered the most TDs to opposing receivers and this week the Colts could rely more on their passing game to beat the Cardinals with their interior line beat up. Look for Pittman to put up WR2 numbers this week. TY Hilton has been a no-show this season and I don’t think this is the game to wake him up.

Tight End

Starts

Zach Ertz (TE1)

Austin Hooper (TE1)

Sits

Jack Doyle

Mercedes Lewis/Josiah Deguara

ZACH ERTZ 47-YARD TD CATCH. @ZERTZ_86 #NationalTightEndsDay #RedSea

📺: #HOUvsAZ on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/3Xx5qgQoIz

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2021

Hooper could get some work in this week against the Packers, with the secondary playing well. This should open the door for Hooper to get five or more targets in this game, giving him a chance to be a TE1. Ertz should be a great start this week, getting 11 targets last week without DeAndre Hopkins. Look for him to get a bulk of the targets again this week, especially with the Colts allowing the fourth-most fantasy points (10.5) to tight ends. Ertz Is a must-start this week and should be a TE1. This week I don’t want any part of Doyle or the Packer’s tight ends, all three don’t offer game-winning potential so they’ll be on the bench in the semis.

Conclusion

Congratulations on making it your semi-finals matchup, and welcome to the most important matchup of the year. This game will determine whether your into the big money matchup. So we at Belly Up are here to give you to yuletide advice for your Week 16 matchup. I hope you guys have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Semifinals Weekend.

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