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Fantasy Mads Libs: Starts and Sits for Week 16

As I write my last "Fantasy Mad Libs" of the season, I wanted to, in lieu of writing funny Christmas song parodies related to fantasy or going over my best and worst picks of the year (one of those will be my post-season column) thank the RotoBaller team. I was thrilled to write at least once a week for the team, and next year will be excited to write even more articles.

I've also enjoyed every single one of you: the writers who I've befriended through the internet while doing this column, the random dudes who tweet at me for an hour before game time kicks off, and the people who text me saying "Your column is bad, your advice is bad, etc." God bless you all. As I go home to visit my family this week and because no one of any value still plays fantasy football in Week 17, this will be my last column for the season. But there will be more to come, with probably worse advice! See y'all on Twitter, where you can find me at @cliffclinton.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive BOTH our full season NFL and NBA Premium Passes for free, a $119.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Passes.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 3 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

Running Back

LeGarrette Blount will either be on my bench or will ruin my week.

If you are in the championships and you went zero RB, you probably have some shares of LeGarrette Blount. Blount is a top-10 RB, and faces a decent matchup against the New York Jets, but Blount is problematic thanks to two words: Dion Lewis. I don't think Lewis takes over as RB1 until the actual playoffs, but there's a decent chance that Blount is a less-than-favorable option in a week where you need really great options. He's a flex at best, and a bench player if you happen to have two better options. Then again, if you went zero RB, you probably have zero options.

Dear Jordan Howard, do you like like me? I like like you this week.

When you read the articles at the end of the year that list which fantasy players were on the teams that made or won the playoffs most frequently, Howard has a very decent chance of being on that list. Howard has been very reliable in matchups, both good and bad, since Week 10. In a favorable matchup vs the Redskins front-seven, Jordan Howard will be started in confidence.

Am I going to really start Paul Perkins in Week 16? (less than 20% of leagues)

It can't be stated enough that this is a bad week to get cute, but Perkins has a decent match-up vs a Philly team giving up at least one touchdown to a lead back in the last few weeks, and Perkins may be this week's lead back with Shane Vereen back on IR.

 

Wide Receiver

Don't hand me my money back, I'm going double-or-nothing on Golden Tate

Tate is another name destined for the "Here's who all the fantasy winners had" column. Tate has been flighty during the season, but an incredibly bankable WR2 in the playoffs. Detroit will be locked in a shootout with the Cowboys this weekend, and the Cowboys secondary will not be able to shut Tate down completely. Start him with a drink in hand and a smile on your face.

I will be discarding my Terrelle Pryor Sr. and replacing him with two cards from the deck

Terrelle Pryor may have gotten you to the playoffs, but with a torn ligament in his finger and two straight subpar performances, I would move on from the young receiver. He's not only not startable for this week, he's droppable for the rest of the season in non-keeper leagues.

 

Tight End

Parachute? I don't need no parachute, I have Cameron Brate

It's another rare double down. If you danced with Cameron Brate and he got you this far, you've gotta stick with him. Brate will be a big part of Tampa Bay's shootout with New Orleans, and considering the Saints will be focused on keeping Mike Evans out of the game, Brate is good for an end zone target or two.

Don't cry kids! We will bury Jordan Reed in the yard

He's moving slowly, he's making poor decisions in play (and, you know, not in play), and he's primarily on the field as a decoy. Any scoring opportunity for him is more of a dumb luck happening then the Redskins' strategy, and he is also droppable in all non-keeper leagues.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nico Collins

Won't Play Against Colts in Week 18
Jamal Murray

Expected to Play Against Nets
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Tobias Harris

Out at Least Two Weeks with Hip Sprain
Jalen Duren

to Miss at Least One Week with Ankle Injury
Vince Williams Jr.

Misses Eighth Straight Game
Maxime Raynaud

Cleared to Play Sunday After Knee Scare
Isaiah Hartenstein

Remains Out Versus Suns
Nathan MacKinnon

Takes Over Scoring Lead With Four-Point Effort
Herbert Jones

Misses Seventh Straight Game
Nikita Kucherov

Bags Five Points Against Sharks
Saddiq Bey

Ruled Out Versus Heat
Darren Raddysh

Celebrates Hat Trick in Big Win
Jordan Binnington

Logs First Shutout of Season
Nicolas Claxton

Sidelined Versus Nuggets
Bennedict Mathurin

Ruled Out Sunday with Thumb Sprain
Auston Matthews

Becomes Maple Leafs' All-Time Goals Leader
Kyshawn George

Misses Fifth Straight Game
Jake McCabe

Exits Loss Early
Philip Rivers

Expected to Interview for NFL Head Coaching Jobs
Tom Wilson

Escapes Serious Injury
Brock Purdy

Suffered a Stinger in Week 18 Loss
Jaylen Waddle

Not Expected to Suit Up in Week 18
De'Von Achane

Not Expected to Play Against Patriots in Week 18
Lauri Markkanen

Back on Saturday Night
Keyonte George

Available Versus Golden State
PJ Hall

Starting Again on Saturday Night
Joel Embiid

Upgraded to Available on Saturday
Karl-Anthony Towns

Returning on Saturday Night
George Kittle

Officially Active for Week 18
Ricky Pearsall

Inactive for Saturday's Game
Joel Kiviranta

Misses Road Trip
Gavin Brindley

Out Saturday
Casey DeSmith

Granted Leave of Absence
Tanner Jeannot

Remains Absent Saturday
Trevor Moore

Won't Play Saturday Night
Shayne Gostisbehere

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William Nylander

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Wan'Dale Robinson

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Breece Hall

Ruled Out, Ending His Season
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DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Kyle Tucker

Blue Jays "Remain the Favorite" to Sign Kyle Tucker
Jalen Suggs

to Undergo Further Testing on Knee Injury
Devin Vassell

to Miss "More Than a Few Games"
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Lauri Markkanen

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Danila Yurov

Scores Twice in Friday's Win
Alexis Lafrenière

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Mika Zibanejad

Produces Historic Winter Classic Performance
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Placed on Injured Reserve
Seth Jones

Sustains Upper-Body Injury in Winter Classic Loss
Linus Karlsson

Celebrates New Contract With Goal
T.J. Watt

Cleared to Play in Week 18
Isiah Pacheco

Could be Rested Against Raiders
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Officially Questionable for Week 18
De'Von Achane

Doubtful to Face the Patriots
Aaron Jones Sr.

Won't Play in Week 18
Omarion Hampton

Ruled Out for Week 18
Dallas Goedert

Ruled Out With Knee Injury
J.J. McCarthy

Will Start in Week 18
Javonte Williams

Ruled Out for Sunday
Alvin Kamara

Will Remain Out in Week 18
Davante Adams

Questionable to Play in Week 18
CFB

Joey Aguilar Undergoes Surgery to Remove Tumor on Friday
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Texas the "Team to Beat" for Transfer Running Back Isaac Brown
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Rocco Becht to Follow Matt Campbell to Penn State?
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Texas Targeting Cam Coleman in Transfer Portal
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Former Texas Running Back CJ Baxter Visiting Kentucky
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Beau Pribula Visiting Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal
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Lane Kiffin Interested in Sam Leavitt, Brendan Sorsby at LSU
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Deuce Knight Officially Entering Transfer Portal
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Kewan Lacy Expected to Be Full-Go Against Georgia
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Chip Kelly Named Northwestern Offensive Coordinator
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Penn State Working to Hire D'Anton Lynn as Next Defensive Coordinator
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Omar Cooper Expected to be Full-Go for Rose Bowl
CFB

Marcus Freeman Staying with Notre Dame for 2026 Season
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Star Wideout Cam Coleman Entering Transfer Portal

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