Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 16

December 23, 2023

Should I start Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, or Joe Flacco for Week 16? Fantasy football start em, sit em picks and recommendations for the 2023 NFL season.

Week 16 is underway, and fantasy managers alike are forced to make crucial start ‘em, sit ‘em decisions as they either navigate the playoffs or try to avoid a last-place finish.

Baker Mayfield, Joe Flacco, and Jared Goff are all hot-name QBs that fantasy managers may be unsure of what to do in their lineups this weekend.

Should you start Mayfield, Flacco, or Goff in Week 16? Let’s dive in.

Should I Start Baker Mayfield for Fantasy Football?

Mayfield was phenomenal in the team’s Week 15 win against the Green Bay Packers, even from a historical perspective. The former No.1 overall pick is the first visiting player to record a perfect passer rating (158.3) in the history of Lambeau Field.

Mayfield completed 22 of his 28 pass attempts, netting 381 total yards through the air and four touchdowns.

Now, he gets ready to try and keep the Bucs’ NFC South title hopes alive when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16.

Jacksonville has been a great matchup for opposing fantasy QBs this season. They allow the third-most points to the position while also allowing the fourth-most passing yards this season. The last three QBs they faced in Lamar Jackson, Joe Flacco, and Jake Browning, all had top-ten fantasy outings in their respective matchups.

The former Heisman winner’s recent form and a favorable matchup against this Jacksonville secondary make him worth a start in Week 16. He is currently the QB15 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

Should I Start Jared Goff for Fantasy Football?

Speaking of No.1 overall picks and excellent Week 15 outings, look no further than Lions QB Jared Goff. Goff was Week 15’s fantasy QB1, completing 24 of his 34 passes for 278 yards and FIVE touchdowns in the team’s win against the Denver Broncos.

Now he gets ready to go on the road to face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. Minnesota’s defense is no joke, currently holding the league’s seventh-best scoring defense allowing just under 20 points a game. Their secondary however hasn’t been as strong, falling directly in the middle of the pack at 16th in passing yards allowed and fantasy points to opposing QBs.

Goff isn’t necessarily a matchup-dependent fantasy option, as he is QB9 this season. With the likes of WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, TE Sam LaPorta, and RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, Goff and this offense are one of the most high-caliber in the league.

This NFC North divisional matchup has an implied point total of 47, one of the highest in the league in Week 16. Expect both teams to come out swinging early, which plays well to this Detroit team’s strengths.

While he likely won’t have another QB1 finish this week, he’s still a strong play at the position, and fantasy managers can look to start him accordingly. He is currently the QB9 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

Should I Start Joe Flacco for Fantasy Football?

In-season acquisition QB Joe Flacco has been a sneaky good fantasy play in his first few games as a starter this season. In his three starts this season, he’s averaging over 300 passing yards per game and finished with 20+ fantasy points in each of his starts.

Now he gears up for a Week 16 matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans’ defense makes for a solid matchup for Flacco, as they allow the ninth-most points to the position. Their secondary also allows 239 passing yards per game, good for the eighth-highest mark in the league.

Despite the decent matchup on paper, fantasy managers might want to look elsewhere for a QB option in Week 16. While Flacco has a reasonably safe floor with his volume through the air, he provides very little upside with his essentially non-existent rushing usage and turnover issues.

The former Super Bowl MVP has thrown five interceptions in his three starts, most recently throwing for three total in the team’s Week 15 win against Chicago.

In addition, two of his three starts this year have come in games where the Browns have been trailing by seven or more points in the fourth quarter. This has led to a considerable chunk of Flacco’s fantasy points as the team increased its passing volume to play catchup. The Browns visit Houston as 2.5-point favorites on Sunday, so it’s unclear if the team’s game script will be as favorable for Flacco as in weeks past.

While he might make for a decent option in 2QB/Superflex leagues, the 38-year-old is a longer shot as a QB1 this week. He is currently the QB20 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.