The holidays can be a very special and also very stressful time of the year. So can the fantasy playoffs. I’m here to ease that stress for you with some guaranteed to be correct start/sit picks (disclaimer: not actually guaranteed).
QB START OF THE WEEK: Trevor Lawrence, JAX @ TB (ECR: 20, my rank: 7)
This ranking is obviously contingent on Lawrence clearing concussion protocol. He is practicing Friday, so there’s hope he will play on Sunday. If he does, you should start the Jacksonville signal caller against a poor Tampa Bay secondary.
QB SIT OF THE WEEK: Russell Wilson, DEN vs. NE (ECR: 13, my rank: 21)
I’m breaking the rules here, but I want to make sure you all know that you should not be starting Wilson in 1QB leagues under any circumstances. New England is still a good defense and the Broncos could barely move the ball against a leaky Lions defense last week.
RB START OF THE WEEK: James Conner, ARI @ CHI (ECR: 26, my rank: 19)
Conner is healthy again, which means you should be starting him in virtually all cases. He gets most of the work in the Arizona backfield and all of the goal line RB touches.
OTHER RB STARTS:
Austin Ekeler, LAC vs. BUF (ECR: 25, my rank: 20)
Javonte Williams, DEN vs. NE (ECR: 29, my rank: 23)
RB SIT OF THE WEEK: Ty Chandler, MIN vs. DET (ECR: 23, my rank: 31)
Chandler has had one (1) career good game. The Lions are the best team in the league at preventing opposing running backs from scoring fantasy points. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. Minnesota will have to throw to move the ball consistently on Sunday.
OTHER RB SITS:
David Montgomery, DET @ MIN (ECR: 24, my rank: 29)
De’Von Achane, MIA vs. DAL (ECR: 22, my rank: 26)
WR START OF THE WEEK: Jordan Addison, MIN vs. DET (ECR: 26, my rank: 22)
Speaking of throwing the ball against the Lions! Addison will likely get one-on-one matchups with either Kindle Vildor or Khalil Dorsey most of this game, which should be exploitable for a talent like Addison.
OTHER WR STARTS:
Courtland Sutton, DEN vs. NE (ECR: 25, my rank: 23)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA @ TEN (ECR: 35, my rank: 24)
WR SIT OF THE WEEK: DeAndre Hopkins, TEN vs. SEA (ECR: 21, my rank: 28)
Yes, I am advocating in favor of starting JSN over Hopkins. Seattle’s defense has been statistically poor against the pass this season, but they just shut down Philadelphia’s passing game on Monday night. The Titans don’t scare anyone through the air, and Hopkins has just three top 24 finishes in his last seven games.
OTHER WR SITS:
Amari Cooper, CLE @ HOU (ECR: 22, my rank: 31)
TE START OF THE WEEK: Hunter Henry, NE @ DEN (ECR: 16, my rank: 8)
Denver just gave up three touchdowns to Sam LaPorta and now they face Hunter Henry, who has scored three touchdowns in his last two games. Current Patriots starting QB Bailey Zappe has shown a willingness to target Henry in the red zone much more often than Mac Jones did. Good matchup plus high-value usage equals ideal streamer.
TE SIT OF THE WEEK: Cole Kmet, CHI vs. ARI (ECR: 11, my rank: 18)
Remember when Arizona used to be horrendous against tight ends? Those days are gone. The Cardinals are the fourth-worst matchup for opposing TEs this season, making Kmet a risky play in a week where you desperately need production from your entire lineup.
GOOD LUCK IN THE FANTASY PLAYOFFS!!!
