🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

10 Lineup Busts and Avoids for Week 16

Top 10 potential lineup busts to avoid starting in fantasy football. Justin lists NFL players to consider sitting or benching as Week 16 lineup disappointments.

It's championship week for many of you, a week where you need to make sure you avoid making any big mistakes in a must win circumstance. The pressure is on! I've gone through all the games this week and identified ten players to watch out for in Week 16, players who have the potential to struggle in tough match-ups.

I always struggle in Week 16 as a fantasy player when it comes to figuring out what and who to trust with my lineup. It's the week where I look at other people's advice and say nah, I got this and then ultimately end up not having it. It's the week where I fall back too much on the players who got me there and don't take the risks I need to take. It's the week where I probably would start a key offensive player against the Jaguars if this was the me from a few years ago. This time, though, I'm weighing all the options. I'm not going to be afraid to bench someone if the match-up calls for it.

Below are ten lineup busts and avoids for Week 16 of NFL action.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge #2 is back with a massive $100,000 grand prize and $203,250 total prize pool, paying down to 100th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 8 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 17th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $100,000! Sign Up Now!

 

Top 10 Busts - NFL Week 16

Jimmy Garoppolo (Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers)

Jimmy G has been playing well since taking over as the 49ers quarterback, though the touchdowns--just two in three starts--haven't been there. Despite the fact that Garoppolo is trending upwards, you're sitting him for Week 16 because San Francisco gets the great reward of playing the Jacksonville Jaguars, which is not something you want your championship week quarterback to be doing.

Matt Ryan (Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons)

Matt Ryan has been one of this year's biggest disappointments at quarterback. He's currently outside the top ten scorers at the position and he plays New Orleans this week, a team that picked him off three times in Week 14. That game was in Atlanta, by the way--it's not outside the realm of possibility that Ryan performs just as bad on the road this week. Ryan's not worth starting in a must win situation.

Marshawn Lynch (Running Back, Oakland Raiders)

Hmm. The Eagles are allowing the second fewest points to opposing running backs this season, which makes Lynch a risky play this week. Even when the Philadelphia defense struggled last week against the Giants, the run defense still played well, limiting the damage there to just one short yardage touchdown. Look for the Raiders to go to the air in this one and for Lynch to see a limited amount of touches.

Mike Davis (Running Back, Seattle Seahawks)

Yeah, it does seem like we JUST collectively had the talk about how the Seahawks had found a starting running back in Davis, but it's already time to hold the horses just a bit. Davis had just six carries for 19 yards in Seattle's blowout loss to the Rams. That one can partially be attributed to game flow, but isn't it also tough to trust a back who is so reliant on game flow? Davis being a good receiver helps, but the Cowboys have only allowed eight touchdowns--six rushing and two receiving--to running backs this season.

Carlos Hyde (Running Back, San Francisco 49ers)

You're going to notice a trend this week. The Jaguars keep improving against the run and now have allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Hyde has five rushing touchdowns on the season, but those were concentrated in just three games. He's rushed for 54 or less yards in three of his past four games and has stopped being a factor in the passing game.

Marquise Goodwin (Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers)

I'm obviously skeptical of the 49ers this week. Goodwin has been a major player for the 49ers over their past five games, but JACKSONVILLE. He's still startable for the volume alone, but I've got him down as a low tier flex option this week who's very bustable against a defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season.

T.Y. Hilton (Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts)

Hey, it's our old buddy again! Hilton's season totals don't look too bad when you consider that Andrew Luck missed the entire season--WR25 in Standard scoring--but he's had some of the lowest lows imaginable, with four double-digit weeks boosting his overall scoring. Hilton can't be trusted in a tough match-up with the Baltimore Ravens, who have allowed just five touchdowns in wide outs in 2017.

Jamison Crowder (Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins)

Like Hilton, Crowder has had some peaks and some very, very low valleys this season--he's put up negative points in Standard scoring twice, which is pretty wild. Washington plays the Broncos, who have given up the least receiving yards to wide receivers of any defense this year. It's hard to trust any Washington receiver this week, but Crowder gets the nod here because his floor can be rough. (Plus there are concerns about his hamstring.)

Stephen Anderson (Tight End, Houston Texans)

There was hype a few weeks back, but Anderson has disappeared since then, totaling two catches for 16 yards over the past two weeks. Don't expect that to get back on track against the Steelers, who have given up just two touchdowns to tight ends this season.

Jason Witten (Tight End, Dallas Cowboys)

Another visit here from Jason Witten. There have been six games this season in which Witten totaled just one catch, though in two of those games that catch went for a touchdown. He's difficult to trust against Seattle, who have a top ten defense against fantasy tight ends. Witten feels like a guy who has finally hit that wall in his career. That's not the kind of guy I'd be trusting my fantasy fate to.

 

More Week 16 Lineup Prep




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Robert Thomas

Out Tuesday
Luguentz Dort

Ruled Out For Tuesday's Matchup With Spurs
Jake Walman

Available Against Predators
Troy Terry

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Justin Sourdif

Won't Play Tuesday
Jaxson Hayes

Unavailable Against Hawks
Jakob Chychrun

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Morgan Geekie

Available Tuesday
Luke Kennard

Sidelined Tuesday
Bryan Rust

Returns to Action Tuesday
Erik Karlsson

Penguins Place Erik Karlsson on Injured Reserve
LeBron James

Considered Questionable For Tuesday
Zaccharie Risacher

Slated to Miss Third Straight Game on Tuesday
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Questionable For Tuesday
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Fire Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman
Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Tomlin Stepping Down as Steelers Head Coach
CFB

Georgia Tech the Favorite to Land Justice Haynes?
Luke Kennard

Uncertain for Tuesday Against the Lakers
Saddiq Bey

Upgraded to Probable
Anthony Davis

Likely to Undergo Surgery on Hand
Nolan Arenado

Cardinals Trade Nolan Arenado to Diamondbacks
Julian Phillips

Downgraded to Questionable Tuesday
Tom Kim

Desperately Needs a Solid Week at Sony Open
Billy Horschel

Hoping For a Fast Start to New Season at Sony Open
Corey Conners

Looks to Have a Return to Form in 2026
PGA

Chris Gotterup a Decent Play at Sony Open
Philip Broberg

Likely Out Tuesday
Jacob Trouba

on Track to Return Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Could Prosper at the Sony Open
Will Smith

Upgraded to Day-to-Day
Connor McDavid

Stretches Point Streak to 19 Games
Keith Mitchell

Unlikely to Contend at Sony Open
Teuvo Teravainen

Makes Early Exit Monday
Robert MacIntyre

Looking for a Good Performance at the Sony Open
Nicholas Robertson

Hurt Versus Avalanche
Brayden Point

Injured in Monday's Win
Michael Kim

Hopes to Start Sony Open Better This Week
Tom Hoge

Tries to Erase Poor 2025 Second Half in Hawaii
Herbert Jones

Considered Day-to-Day
Saddiq Bey

Could Be an Option Tuesday
Brian Harman

Seeks Fresh Start in Hawaii
Dorian Finney-Smith

Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith Out Tuesday
Eric Cole

Looks to Last Year for Success at Sony Open
Zaccharie Risacher

Iffy for Tuesday
Kristaps Porzingis

Sits Out Tuesday's Game
Devin Vassell

Remains Out Tuesday
Daniel Berger

Starts Off 2026 at Sony Open
Isaiah Hartenstein

Still Out Tuesday
Myles Turner

Battling Illness, Questionable Tuesday
Nico Collins

Suffers Concussion Against Steelers
Nico Collins

Carted to Locker Room for Concussion Evaluation
Christian Braun

Unavailable Tuesday
Aaron Gordon

Probable to Play Tuesday
Jamal Murray

in Danger of Missing Another Game Tuesday
Kyle Tucker

Mets Meet With Kyle Tucker
Dalton Kincaid

"Should be Fine" for Divisional Round
Conor Garland

Returns From Five-Game Absence
Kiefer Sherwood

Out Monday, Could Miss Several Weeks
Marco Rossi

to Miss 2-3 More Weeks
Louis Crevier

Back for Blackhawks Monday
Jordan Eberle

Available Against Rangers
Joel Eriksson Ek

Out Monday
Brooks Koepka

Officially Returning To PGA Tour
Tucker Kraft

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1 of Next Season
CFB

Georgia Lands Kentucky Transfer Dante Dowdell
Matthew Stafford

has "Little Sprain," Should be "Good to Go"
CFB

Sam Leavitt Expected to Sign with LSU
Green Bay Packers

Packers Expected to Work Out New Deal With Matt LaFleur in the "Coming Days"
CFB

Dylan Raiola Commits to Oregon
CFB

Isaiah Horton Landing with Texas A&M
George Kittle

Suffers Torn Achilles on Sunday
Omarion Hampton

Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots
George Kittle

Ruled Out After Non-Contact Achilles Injury
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Request Interview With Ejiro Evero
Los Angeles Rams

Mike LaFleur to Interview With Raiders and Cardinals
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Re-Signing Aaron Rodgers?
Matthew Stafford

X-Rays Come Back Negative
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
Freddie Freeman

Withdraws from World Baseball Classic
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP