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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.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Baby Gorilla Tournament is now open, featuring a $100,000 grand prize and a $675,450 total prize pool! This 12-team, Tight End Premium contest uses a 20-round draft format, with the overall winners determined by total points scored during Weeks 15–17. Get $25 to use toward your first entry by signing up through our link. Grab your team now! Sign Up 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.




REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

MLB

Reds-Cardinals Game Postponed on Friday
New York Giants

Giants, GM Joe Schoen Agree on a Multi-Year Extension
Andrew Thomas

Giants Managing Multiple Injuries for Andrew Thomas
Cam Ward

Loses 10 Pounds in the Offseason
Trevor Story

has Hernia Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-10 Weeks
Roman Anthony

Dealing With Sprained Ligament in his Finger
Tucker Kraft

a Top Trade Target in Dynasty Leagues?
Cedric Tillman

Falling Out of Favor in Cleveland
Emmett Johnson

the Handcuff to Roster in Kansas City?
Devaughn Vele

Could Dynasty Managers Sell High on Devaughn Vele Early in the Season?
Brenen Thompson

a Perfect Fit for Chargers, Rising in Dynasty Leagues?
Jonathan Taylor

Is Jonathan Taylor Still a High-End Dynasty Option?
Malik Nabers

' Recovery Timeline Still Unclear
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Comfortably Into His Dynasty Prime
Saquon Barkley

Still a Capable League-Winner at a Sunken Dynasty Cost
Jack Campbell

Signs Four-Year Extension with Lions
Matthew Stafford

Signs One-Year Extension with Rams
Evan Mobley

Fills the Box Score in Game 2 Loss
James Harden

Held to Two Assists Thursday
Donovan Mitchell

Leads Cavaliers in Scoring in Game 2 Defeat
Karl-Anthony Towns

Records Double-Double in Game 2 Win
Sebastian Aho

Picks Up an Assist in Series-Opening Loss
Mikal Bridges

Adds 19 Points as Knicks Grab 2-0 Lead
Jalen Brunson

Hands Out 14 Assists in Game 2 Win
Seth Jarvis

Needs 33 Seconds to Score in Game 1 Loss
Josh Hart

Erupts for Playoff Career-High 26 Points in Game 2
Jaccob Slavin

Struggles in Game 1 Against Canadiens
Jakub Dobes

Sharp in Game 1 Victory
Cole Caufield

Bags Two Points in Impressive Road Win
Juraj Slafkovsky

Opens Conference Finals With Three-Point Performance
Nick Suzuki

Notches Three Assists in Game 1 Win Over Hurricanes
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Exits Early, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Jrue Holiday

Wants to Stay in Portland
Ayo Dosunmu

Timberwolves Hope to Bring Back Ayo Dosunmu
Dylan Harper

Considered Questionable for Friday Night
De'Aaron Fox

Listed as Questionable for Game 3
Jalen Williams

Questionable for Game 3 Against Spurs
Alex Tuch

Hopes to Remain in Buffalo
Sidney Crosby

Wants to Play for "as Many Years as Possible"
Troy Terry

Could Miss Start of Next Season Due to Hip Surgery
Arber Xhekaj

Scratched for Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals
Jakub Dobes

Seeks More Success Against Hurricanes
Frederik Andersen

Looks to Stay Undefeated Thursday
Calvin Ridley

Not Taking Part in OTAs as Value Continues to Plummet
Carnell Tate

Receiving Early Buzz at OTAs
Ashton Jeanty

Bigger Role Could be Coming for Ashton Jeanty in Year 2
Robby Snelling

Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Malik Nabers

' Goal is to be Ready for Start of the Season
De'Von Achane

Dealing With Injury at OTAs?
Dalton Kincaid

Says he Feels "Really Good"
Keenan Allen

Door isn't Closed for Keenan Allen in Los Angeles
Devin Vassell

Contributes 22 Points in Wednesday's Loss
Stephon Castle

Tallies Team-High 25 Points in Game 2 Loss
Victor Wembanyama

Records Eighth Postseason Double-Double
Isaiah Hartenstein

Bounces Back With Double-Double
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads Thunder to Game 2 Victory WIth 30 Points
Dylan Harper

Exits Game 2 Early Due to Right-Leg Injury
Jalen Williams

Suffers Another Hamstring Injury
Valeri Nichushkin

Ends Scoring Slump in Game 1 Loss
Nathan MacKinnon

Extends Point Streak With an Assist
Brett Howden

Pots Another Goal in Game 1 Win Against Avalanche
Tomas Hertl

Extends Point Streak to Four Games
Pavel Dorofeyev

Scores in Fourth Straight Outing
Carter Hart

Records Third Consecutive Win
Timothy Liljegren

Capitals Re-Sign Timothy Liljegren to Two-Year Extension
Jackson Merrill

Tweaks his Back on Wednesday, Pulled Early
Chicago Bulls

Jerry Stackhouse Emerges as Bulls Head-Coach Candidate
Cooper Flagg

Kon Knueppel Headline All-Rookie Team
Jiri Kulich

Aims to Return Next Season
CFB

Lincoln Riley Believes USC is Ready for Playoff Run
CFB

Notre Dame-Stanford Rivalry Renewed Through 2028
CFB

Ahmad Hardy Says He's "Back to the Road to Success"
CFB

Texas Tech Graduate Judge Recuses Himself from Brendan Sorsby Case
CFB

UCLA Tackle Jordan Davis Officially Eligible for 2026 Season
CFB

Bret Bielema Supports Significant College Football Playoff Expansion
Michael Thorbjornsen

Brings High Upside to CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Luke List

Carrying Poor Form Into CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Tom Kim

Hoping to Build on Strong Myrtle Beach Finish
PGA

Sungjae Im Brings Upside to TPC Craig Ranch
Billy Horschel

Looking for Turnaround at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Adam Hadwin

Difficult to Trust at TPC Craig Ranch
Tony Finau

Looking for Consistency at TPC Craig Ranch
Luke Clanton

Searching for Form at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Aaron Rai

Withdraws From CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Wyndham Clark

Can Wyndham Clark Find Form at CJ Cup?
Si Woo Kim

Looks To Stay Hot at CJ Cup
Scottie Scheffler

to Defend CJ Cup Byron Nelson Title This Week
Jordan Spieth

Looking For Victory at TPC Craig Ranch
PGA

Matti Schmid Looks to Keep Recent Momentum Going at TPC Craig Ranch
Brooks Koepka

a High-Upside Play at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Yandy Díaz

Yandy Diaz Exits Early on Tuesday After Being Hit By Pitch
Chris Kirk

Continues Search For Putting Form at TPC Craig Ranch
Rasmus Hojgaard

Looking to Shake Off Poor Major Showing at TPC Craig Ranch
Joel Dahmen

is of No DFS Consideration This Week in Dallas
Pierceson Coody

is Not The Fun DFS Play He Used to Be
Gerrit Cole

to Make Season Debut on Friday Against Rays
Drake Baldwin

Braves Place Drake Baldwin on Injured List With Oblique Strain
CFB

Ezavier Crowell has Immediate Opportunity at Alabama
CFB

Mark Bowman a Day 1 Impact Player for USC?
CFB

Bill Belichick Says Relationship with First North Carolina Team "Wasn't Great"
CFB

Kemario Taylor a Breakout Candidate at Quarterback
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss the Undisputed Top SEC Quarterback Entering 2026?
CFB

Rocco Becht The "Unifier" of Penn State's Roster
Jackson Holliday

Orioles Reinstate Jackson Holliday From Injured List on Monday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Braves Reinstate Ronald Acuna Jr. From Injured List on Monday
Jose Altuve

Astros Put Jose Altuve on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Corey Seager

Going on Injured List With Back Injury
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Reinstated and Starting on Monday Against Twins
Melquizael Costa

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 117
Arnold Allen

Bounces Back
Daniel Santos

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
MMA

Dohoo Choi Wins His Third Consecutive Fight
Malcolm Wellmaker

Suffers His Second Loss In A Row
Juan Diaz

Scores Second-Round Submission
Christian Edwards

Defeated At UFC Vegas 117
CFB

Transfer Running Back Arnold Barnes Visiting Iowa State on Monday
Modestas Bukauskas

Gets Split-Decision Win
Jhostynxon Garcia

Expected to Join the Pirates on Tuesday
Colt Emerson

Mariners Promoting Top Prospect Colt Emerson to Major Leagues
Munetaka Murakami

Fantastic First Season Continues With Two More Homers
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Dazzles With 13-Strikeout Complete Game on Saturday
Blake Snell

to Undergo Elbow Surgery on Tuesday
Clay Holmes

Could Miss Around Three Months
Jose Altuve

Exits After Swing
RANKINGS
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1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

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RB
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DEF