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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

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Max Strus Replaces Dean Wade in Starting Lineup Sunday
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Iffy for Monday
Larry Nance Jr.

Won't Play Sunday
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Listed as Questionable for Monday's Action
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Officially Available for Game 1 Against Spurs
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

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Jonah Coleman

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Mariners Promoting Top Prospect Colt Emerson to Major Leagues
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Mike Conley

Hints He Will Continue Playing Next Season
Kevin Huerter

Iffy for Sunday Night
Caris LeVert

Questionable for Game 7
Duncan Robinson

Back on Injury Report Ahead of Game 7
Larry Nance Jr.

Likely Out Sunday Due to Illness
Munetaka Murakami

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Cristopher Sánchez

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

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Clay Holmes

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Exits After Swing
Corey Seager

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Mark Stone

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Heading to Injured List With Elbow Bone Bruise
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College GameDay Set for First Three Weeks
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Jeremiah Smith Aiming For Ohio State Receiving Records
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Keshaun Singleton Projects as Auburn's WR1
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Jeremiah Cobb Impresses New Auburn Staff
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Alberto Mendoza Very Likely to Start for Georgia Tech
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Charles Woodson Jr. Commits to Michigan
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Juan Diaz

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Lane Hutson

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Virginia Tech Lands Commitment from Four-Star QB Peter Bourque
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Scratched on Thursday With Hip Soreness
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NFL Veteran Tom Moore Joins Iowa Coaching Staff
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ACC, Big 12 Support 24-Team College Football Playoff
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Patrick Reed

Looking to Make Another Run at PGA Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Looks to Build on Strong Finish at Truist Championship
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Must Keep Ball in Play at PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth

Looks to Complete Career Grand Slam at Aronimink
Brandt Snedeker

Not the Best Option for the PGA Championship
Rasmus Hojgaard

a Volatile Option at PGA Championship
Maverick McNealy

Seeking Better Start in Philadelphia
Harry Hall

a Boom-or-Bust Option at Aronimink
Hideki Matsuyama

Attempts to Improve Over 2025 PGA Championship
Scottie Scheffler

Looks to Defend PGA Championship at Aronimink
Nicolai Hojgaard

Wants to Keep Momentum Rolling in Philadelphia
Ben Griffin

Attempting to Bounce Back After Truist Championship
CFB

Transfer Defensive Lineman Devarrick Woods Commits to Clemson
Harris English

Will Need His Putter to Thrive at Aronimink
Akshay Bhatia

Creative Flair Could Show Itself in Philadelphia
Keegan Bradley

Knows the Aronimink Golf Club Well
Si Woo Kim

Struggles at Truist Championship
Gary Woodland

Can Continue Incredible 2026 Season at PGA Championship
Xander Schauffele

In Excellent Form Heading to PGA Championship
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF