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Kacey's quarterback start 'em, sit 'em picks for fantasy football playoffs - Week 16 (2024). Expert QB lineups advice for fantasy football start/sit decisions.
If you are reading this, you are probably in the fantasy football playoffs. Congratulations! If you didn't get that far, it may have been due to your quarterback situation, as many underperformed.
Now is when we all sweat bullets, hoping our quarterbacks won't have a dud performance like some did last week. C.J. Stroud, Kyler Murray, and Matthew Stafford are examples of quarterbacks who scored under 12 fantasy points in Week 15.
I left Purdy in and kept Rodgers on my bench. I will now lose the Fantasy playoffs because of it 😔 https://t.co/G1u3i1N75M
— . (@the_bxisburning) December 16, 2024
Yes, it was kind of a mess for the playoff push. Should we depend on any of those quarterbacks to lead us to victory this week? What players are primed for big games, and who should find a spot on your bench?
Week 16 Starts - Fantasy Football Booms
Kyler Murray - QB, Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
If you started Kyler Murray in the fantasy playoffs last week, I hope you were able to advance to the next round. He posted just 10.06 PPR points in Week 15.
For those who advanced, you may wonder if you should start Murray again this week, as he disappointed in a contest that looked good on paper. I am here to tell you he should stay in your starting lineup.
KYLER MURRAY HOUSE CALL 🏠
pic.twitter.com/omXgy7p4LW— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) October 6, 2024
Overall, Murray is currently the QB11 and has tallied six top-12 QB performances this season.
Arizona takes on the Carolina Panthers this week. Carolina has allowed 27 passing touchdowns this season, tied for the most in the NFL. Backup quarterback Cooper Rush just had three touchdown tosses against Carolina. Look for the Oklahoma product to bounce back in this contest, possibly finding the end zone multiple times.
Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets
If you are looking for a quarterback to start who has posted a top-10 QB performance in three of his last five games, take a look at Matthew Stafford. Yes, even after his most recent performance.
The veteran QB has been productive this season, but last week's contest saw him tally just 8.2 fantasy points against the 49ers. He threw 27 passes, connecting on 16 of them for 160 yards. He tossed no touchdowns in that match, with the weather partially to blame.
MATTHEW STAFFORD TO Demarcus Robinson FOR THE WIN 😱
ONE-HANDED SNAG FOR THE WALK OFF TD 🔥
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/LeBVCjbrZI— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 4, 2024
Stafford should find success in Week 16's matchup with the Jets. In the season's first nine games, the Jets conceded an average of 182.1 passing yards to opposing quarterbacks through the air. Over the last five matches, the Jets have given up an average of 273.8 passing yards per game.
With New York surrendering two passing touchdowns in each of its last two contests, Stafford has a good shot of hitting weapons like Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp in the end zone. The quarterback should return to his top-10 ways in this one.
Cooper Rush - QB, Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Look, Cooper Rush has been effective. Effective enough to be in your starting lineup this week? Yes, if you are in desperation mode. Rush has had two top-10 fantasy performances this season, and Week 15's 19.06 fantasy points were enough to be QB9 on the day.
The Cowboys backup had a solid day in that contest with the Panthers, connecting on 18-of-29 passes for 214 yards. A huge bump to his value came via three touchdown tosses. This was the second game in a row where Rush hurled multiple scores.
Wonder who Cooper Rush will choose to induct him into the Hall of Fame
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/tgxm9euvx9
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) December 15, 2024
Another great matchup is on deck as the Cowboys stay home to face the Buccaneers. Rush may be able to post a few more touchdowns in this contest, as Tampa Bay has conceded three passing and two rushing scores to quarterbacks over the last three games. It has additionally given up the fourth-most passing yards to QBs this season.
If you need a replacement quarterback this week, Rush should be on your radar. He might not have a high ceiling, but the potential to air it out in this one is too good to pass up. He is a good start in 2QB and superflex leagues this week.
Week 16 Concerns - Fantasy Football Busts
Tua Tagovailoa - QB, Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers
What to do with Tua Tagovailoa? The quarterback had four consecutive games of more than 23.0 fantasy points before his game against the Texans.
In Week 15, the Texans ended that streak, allowing Tagovailoa to throw for 196 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. He had four total turnovers as he also coughed up a fumble, ending his day with a lowly 3.84 fantasy points. That showing helped knock some fantasy managers out of the playoffs.
If you roster the 26-year-old, pivoting to another QB this week might be necessary. Tua and company take on the 49ers in Week 16, a defense that has conceded the fewest passing yards to opposing quarterbacks this season. They have also surrendered the eighth-fewest fantasy points to the position.
A noteworthy situation to monitor is Tagovailoa's hip injury he suffered in Week 15. The injury does not concern the Dolphins, but it is something to monitor as fantasy managers. While it does seem difficult to sit Tagovailoa this week, you don't want to post a dud in the playoffs.
Patrick Mahomes - QB, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans
If you were concerned that Patrick Mahomes won't play on Saturday (yes, Saturday), Adam Teicher of ESPN reports the QB does not have an injury designation. Now that we know he will be active for Week 16, should he be your starting quarterback?
The short answer is no, not this week. I'm not good with short answers, so let me explain it further. Mahomes has not scored more than 17 fantasy points in his past three contests. Now, he takes on the Texans, a defense surrendering the second-fewest fantasy points to the position over the last four weeks.
The Texans have picked off quarterbacks five times and given up the ninth-fewest passing yards to the position in that period. The defense has intercepted quarterbacks 19 times this season, the second most in the league. And over the last four games, it has recorded five interceptions.
Though the QB can throw TDs in this game, there is also a good chance he turns the ball over. It could be one of those games where you constantly check your phone to see how his point total fluctuates. Hopefully, you have a good alternative you've been stashing for this moment.
C.J. Stroud - QB, Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
The other quarterback in the matchup between the Texans and Chiefs is C.J. Stroud, who has not been living up to expectations this season. That was evident in Week 15 against the Dolphins.
In that contest, Stroud tossed 18 completions on 26 attempts. He lost a fumble in that match and rushed for just four yards on six attempts. Fantasy managers who depended on Stroud to get them the playoff win saw the QB post a mere 11.64 points.
Now, he faces a Chiefs defense conceding the fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs over the last four weeks. Combined with Stroud's play this season, that is a recipe for trouble.
The Houston quarterback has had only two top-10 fantasy finishes this season, back in Weeks 1 and 4. He finished as QB21 or worse in seven games. And the QB has just one contest of over 20 fantasy points this season, so temper your expectations and keep him benched.
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