It’s Week 16, which means you are either in your semifinals matchup or in a league with 18 weeks. Either way, Belly Up is here to bring your that starts and sits you need to know to win your matchup. The journey is almost completed, and your championship dreams are one step closer to fulfillment. So we at Belly Up are here to push you in the right direction to win your league and obtain your title.

Quarterbacks

Starts

Matt Ryan vs Detroit Lions

After a year of beating yourself up for selecting Matt Ryan, you finally have a matchup for him to excel. The Lions have given up the seventh most TDs (23) while getting to the QB the second-fewest times (22). This game is an excellent matchup for Ryan, who has been sacked 29 times this year and has had some of his best games when the pressure is off him. So I’m looking for Ryan to produce as a QB2 with QB1 potential on the semifinals weekend.

Joe Burrow vs Baltimore Ravens

Peyton Manning breaking down Joe Burrow’s "awesome" ability to fake out DBs with just his shoulders 😎 #Bengals pic.twitter.com/i5r8XVOo8a

— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) December 18, 2021

Joey B went for 416 yards and three touchdowns in their first meeting back in Week 7. This time around, the Ravens will be short-staffed at crucial positions, and this is a matchup that should be ripe for the picking. The Ravens’ secondary is nowhere near as good as it once was, and all of the Bengals’ weapons are still intact. Look for this to be at least a QB2 week if not QB1 week for the Bengals young quarterback,

Sits

Davis Mills vs LA Chargers

The Davis Mills has been fun in the NFL as well as fantasy. He’s been the only real QB this team has had all year long and has even put up quite a few QB2 performances. Unfortunately, this week will not be one of those performances as they play the Chargers, who have allowed the quarterback the seventh-fewest yards (3,302) to the quarterback. The terrifying situation is that Mill loses his biggest and maybe only weapon in Brandin Cooks. This should make Mills a sit this week.

Derek Carr vs Denver Broncos

Suppose you have Carr in fantasy going into this week, then congrats to you. He has done nothing for fantasy managers since the Thanksgiving game against Dallas. This week is tricky because the last time he played Denver, he blew them up for 341 yards and two touchdowns, but that was also when they had Henry Ruggs. Since losing Ruggs, the Raiders and Carr have been pretty putrid to watch, and I expect this to be a tight AFC West matchup. So look to not start Carr in Week 16.

Running Backs

Starts

Justin Jackson vs Houston Texans

Jackson had his biggest game of the season last week, going for 86 yards on 13 carries. This week he’ll be the starter for the Chargers and has the Texans’ defense to play against. The Texans have allowed the most rushing yard (1,752) and the second-most TDs (16) to running backs this season. Look for Jackson to be an excellent play this week that could get you into your fantasy championship game.

James Robinson vs New York Jets

Are you excited for James Robinson’s matchup vs the Jets this week?

Stats vs the #Texans:
18 Carries
75 Yards
1 TD

16 Yard Long
3/6 Targets
13 Yards
5 Yard Long

⬇️Every Touch vs Houston⬇️#DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/BcF10gHWdp

— Dynasty Nerds 🎄 (@DynastyNerds) December 24, 2021

In Robinson’s first game sans Urban Meyer, he went for 75 yards and a TD, So I think it’s safe to say you can trust him going forward. This week is a gift for Robinson’s managers as he gets to play the Jets. The team allows the second-most yards (1,702) and the most TDs (21) to running backs. I like Robinson’s chances of finishing in the top 5 in fantasy this week, so he’s a must-start this week.

Sits

Ronald Jones II vs Carolina Panthers

I might get some flock for this, but I don’t like playing Rojo against the Panthers. The Panthers have allowed the sixth-fewest TDs (9) and the eighth fewest fantasy points/game (16.2) to running backs. If he can get into the endzone, Rojo has upside in this game, but this defense is stout, and I think they will give Tampa a serious challenge this week.

Myles Gaskin vs New Orleans Saints

Not only does Gaskin have to deal with one of the best run defenses in the game, but he also has Duke Johnson coming off one of his better career games. The Saints have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points/game (14.4) to running backs. I don’t expect this week to be any different; both teams are playing for the playoffs and will be showing up to win. Don’t start Gaskin this week.

Wide Receiver

Starts

Antonio Brown vs Carolina Panthers

Matt Ryan to Kyle Pitts for 49 yards!! #Falcons pic.twitter.com/ApEgHoTHyZ

— ✯✯✯✯✯ (@FTB_Vids_YT) December 19, 2021

He’s back after serving his suspension, and he’s ready to win you a title. The Bucs will be without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Week 16. Opening the door for Brown to show that he’s still a WR1 in this league. At the same time, the Panthers have been good this year against receivers allowing the fourth-fewest yards (1,839) and sixth-fewest fantasy points/game (19.6). Brown is a rare talent and has been significant in these moments when given a chance in the past. Look for Brown to be a WR1 in this game.

Adam Thielen vs LA Rams

Thielen returns this week in a must-win game for the Vikings as they try to stay in the playoff hunt against the LA Rams. I expect this game will be a firefight until the end, which should elevate Thielen’s chances of scoring a TD this week. Look for Thielen to be a solid WR2 this week that brings that WR1 upside.

Sits

Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Atlanta Falcons

No Jared Goff this week mixed with D’Andre Swift coming back sounds like this will be a cool-down week for the Lions stud rookie receiver. I don’t think St. Brown gets 11 targets from Tim Boyle this week, so he goes back to being a sit without the volume.

Rashod Bateman vs Cincinnati Bengals

Bateman is another guy whose QB will limit in this game. As COVID and injuries have left one guy to be the Raven’s QB, and that man is Josh Johnson. Now don’t get me wrong, Johnson has proven to be a good backup in the past, but Bateman is the third option on this team, so I think Mark Andrews and Hollywood Brown will have more problems, but Bateman will most likely be the odd man out yet again.

Tight Ends

Starts

Kyle Pitts vs Detroit Lions

Matt Ryan to Kyle Pitts for 49 yards!! #Falcons pic.twitter.com/ApEgHoTHyZ

— ✯✯✯✯✯ (@FTB_Vids_YT) December 19, 2021

If there’s ever a week to exploit a player’s apparent abilities and physical gifts over an interior defense, it’s this week. Kyle Pitts against the Lions has championship sealing potential, and the Falcons need to get the ball to their star. The tight end has averaged 6.78 targets a game and will be going into this game as a significant threat to go off for a big game. So I’m predicting a TE1 day for the physical specimen.

Sits

Dalton Schultz vs Washington Football Team

Coming off a big game, I think Schultz calms down in this one. On their previous meeting with the Football team, the Cowboys’ defense nearly single-handedly won the entire game for Dallas. Schultz had three targets in that game, and I don’t expect this game to be a whole lot different. If Dallas wins, I expect it’ll be more because of their running attack and defense than their tight end. For those reasons, I’m sitting Schultz.

Conclusion

This is the biggest week of fantasy football and Belly Up is here to make sure you get all the right information on who to start and who to sit. We hope that the list we’ve given you continues to make your roster decisions easier and help propel you to your championships. Have a good weekend guy, enjoy Week 16 football and let’s get that DUB everyone.

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