RADIO
Must-Start: Courtland Sutton, WR - Denver Broncos
Calling Courtland Sutton a top-25 wide receiver this year (he is WR25 in half-PPR points per game) is not giving him the props he deserves for what he has been doing lately. He scored 10 or fewer points in four of his first five games. He was not good during the time that he and Bo Nix developed a rapport.
Since Week 6, Sutton is WR13 in points per game and he has seven straight games with at least eight targets. Sutton’s 26% target share has moved into elite territory and he is eighth in the NFL with a 40% air yards share.
Must-Start: Ladd McConkey, WR - Los Angeles Chargers
When healthy, Ladd McConkey has proved to be one of the best young PPR options in fantasy football. He has at least six targets in five of his last six healthy games and has 100 yards or a touchdown in three of his last four games. Patrick Surtain II (assuming he plays) is unlikely to shadow McConkey in the slot.
Solid Start: Bo Nix, QB - Denver Broncos
In that same span that Courtland Sutton has been so good (since Week 6), Bo Nix is also the QB7 during that time. Funny how things work out like that. Despite not running nearly as much as he did early in the season, Nix is getting the job done with his arm. He has 12 touchdown passes in his last five games.
Solid Start: Justin Herbert, QB - Los Angeles Chargers
While not quite to the same level as Bo Nix, Justin Herbert has quietly been very effective since Week 8 and ranks as the QB15 in that time with almost 18 fantasy points per game. He is supplementing his cannon of an arm with rushing yards each game. Expect something in the neighborhood of 215 yards and two touchdowns.
Solid Start: Quentin Johnston, WR - Los Angeles Chargers
Quentin Johnston has been a roller-coaster ride for the past seven weeks, which is why he can’t be a full-throated endorsement as a must-play. He has a floor of zero fantasy points in that span but also has tantalized with 20 points in one game and two with around 14 points.
Solid Start: Kimani Vidal, RB - Los Angeles Chargers
While it didn’t necessarily translate to the box score, Kimani Vidal’s usage exploded in Week 15, as he played 67% of snaps. That was far and away a season-high, and even though he only had five touches, it’s clear he is gaining the trust of the coaches. Gus Edwards only played 27% of snaps and was once again ineffective.
Solid Start: Stone Smartt, TE - Los Angeles Chargers
If Will Dissly does not play again in Week 16, Stone Smartt has proved he can be a tight-end streamer in 12- or 14-team leagues. He has back-to-back weeks with at least 50 yards and he caught five balls on six targets in Week 15. He is ascending in the receiving pecking order on this team.
Sit: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, RBs - Denver Broncos
How bad were these three running backs against Indianapolis in Week 15? Combined, they touched the ball 24 times for 65 yards. That’s 2.7 yards per touch. And it’s not just the inefficiency with these running backs, it’s also the inconsistent playing time. None of them have played more than 56% of snaps since Week 8.
Sit: Devaughn Vele, Marvin Mims Jr., and Troy Franklin, WRs - Denver Broncos
Predicting the performance of the WR2, WR3, and WR4 for Denver has become a difficult exercise. One week, it’s Marvin Mims’ turn, and then it might be Troy Franklin’s turn. In Week 11, Franklin caught a touchdown. In Week 12, it was Vele with a big game, followed by Mims in Week 13. None of them performed well in Week 15 and they are best left on benches this week.
Sit: Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins, TEs, Denver Broncos
Both of these tight ends scored in Week 15, so why the hesitation to start them in Week 16? In case you haven’t grasped the theme, it’s “inconsistency.” Trautman played 43% of snaps and Adkins played 46%. Neither of those instills confidence. And despite the touchdowns, neither has eclipsed 20 yards in a game since Week 10.
Sit: Gus Edwards, RB - Los Angeles Chargers
Edwards did see that drop to just 27% of snaps last week, but it wasn’t just a one-week slide. This has been coming for several weeks. Edwards played 52% in Week 13, then 43% in Week 14, and down to 27% in Week 15. He is not explosive this year and has just gotten lucky to stumble into the end zone twice in the last five weeks.
Sit: Joshua Palmer, WR - Los Angeles Chargers
The only excellent fantasy performance Joshua Palmer has this season came in Week 14 when he caught six balls for 78 yards. But that production came with Ladd McConkey out of the game. In the five games before and since, Palmer does not have more than 38 yards in a game. Johnston and McConkey are the clear top two in this offense.
