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Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 16: Smart Sleepers to Exploit and Lineup Advice

Fantasy Football
December 22, 2015

Fantasy football owners still in the hunt have little time to celebrate making it this far going into Week 16.

After a week in which out-of-nowheres such as Kirk Cousins, Teddy Bridgewater and Danny Woodhead came close to topping the leaderboard, start ’em, sit ’em decisions will be as difficult as ever.

One thing not changing? The necessity of stars and sleepers. Last week, everyone knew to ride Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and got 41 points. Folks who unearthed Jacksonville Jaguars sleeper quarterback Blake Bortles got 23.

Here’s a look at value comparisons for the top 16 names and some stars and sleepers to exploit.

 

QB      

Star to Know: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (at BAL)

It seems almost impossible to stop Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger now. 

In two of his last three games, Big Ben has posted 21 or more points while leaning on a deep wideout corps headed by Antonio Brown. He’s tossed eight touchdowns in that span, even posting solid numbers against strong Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos secondaries.

So what happens when Big Ben faces a defense with more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese? Owners are about to find out in Week 16 when he takes on the Baltimore Ravens, the team that entered last weekend allowing the second-most points to the position.

 

Sleeper to Exploit: Kirk Cousins, Washington (at PHI)

Washington’s Kirk Cousins falls into sleeper territory still because owners just don’t seem to trust him yet, hence his ownership percentage sitting at an even 25 percent.

Owners needing a streaming option would be smart to take advantage, though. Cousins has 21 or more points in three out of his last four and four out of his last six with both DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed healthy.

Now Cousins takes his show on the road for a date with the Philadelphia Eagles, a defense he already torched once this season to the tune of 21 points back in Week 4.

Philadelphia hasn’t changed much after entering last weekend allowing the fourth-most points to the spot.

 

RB   

Star to Know: Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. CHI)

Some might not realize it, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin sits as fantasy’s third-highest scorer at the position.

Martin’s had a superb rebound campaign and looked great as of late, scoring nine or more points in each of his last six outings.

Next up for Martin is a dance with the Chicago Bears, a team that ranked poorly before this past weekend, when it allowed Minnesota Vikings backup running back Jerick McKinnon to post 14 points.

Owners can bank on Martin flirting with a such a number for himself against such an exploitable unit.

 

Sleeper to Exploit: Christine Michael, Seattle Seahawks (vs. STL)

With Marshawn Lynch out of the way and Thomas Rawls now joining him on the sidelines, it appears the bulk of the work in the Seattle backfield will go to Christine Michael. 

Michael’s had a hard time getting it going after plenty of draft hype, but he came through for the Seahawks this past Sunday with 16 carries for 84 yards, good for eight points.

For owners in need this looks like the perfect situation this time of year. Michael’s owned in just 8.5 percent of leagues heading into a Week 16 encounter with the St. Louis Rams, a team that allowed the ninth-most points to the position entering the weekend.

Some might fear a committee, but it’s hard to imagine the Seahawks will ignore how well Michael ran last week.

 

WR   

Star to Know: Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins (vs. IND)

Outside of guys such as Brown and DeSean Jackson, who are obvious starts this week, owners need to know about Miami Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry. 

The Dolphins might be a running joke right now, but Landry certainly isn’t with his eight or more catches in three of his last four contests and seven times total this year.

Landry just finds ways to score, which is what most do against the Indianapolis Colts. Their defense allowed the third-most points before allowing nine to Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins Sunday.

A target hog and a threat to score from anywhere on the field, Landry should post massive numbers on the road against a fading team and defense.

 

Sleeper to Exploit: Travis Benjamin, Cleveland Browns (at KC)

It’s been a while since fantasy owners have heard from Cleveland Browns wideout Travis Benjamin. 

Benjamin looked like one of the league’s breakout players after showings of 14 and 29 points over the first two weeks of the season, but he has hit 10 or more points just three times since and has six total over his last three games.

It’s rebound time, though, and owners would be wise to hop on board. It wasn’t too long ago the Kansas City Chiefs topped the list in terms of defenses allowing points to wideouts, and last week the unit found a way to let Kamar Aiken of the Baltimore Ravens—without Joe Flacco under center—post 18 points.

Long story short, all the negatives go out the window when one encounters the Chiefs.

 

TE   

Star to Know: Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars (at NO)

Julius Thomas is the next tight end in line to take advantage of the New Orleans Saints. 

Entering Week 15, the Saints allowed the most points to the position with 10 touchdowns allowed and four sets of opposing tight ends breaking the 100-yard mark.

Thomas, on the other hand, has gained steam all season after returning from an injury and touts an incredible floor with seven or more points in each of his past five games.

Pair the consistency at a position without a whole lot of it and an incredible ceiling thanks to the matchup, and Thomas stands as the start of the week.

 

Sleeper to Exploit: Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings (vs. NYG)

There was a time when Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph looked to be on his way to inhabiting a “star” placement in fantasy content.

Instead, Rudolph has found himself fitting more in a sleeper role after not carving out a niche for himself in the Teddy Bridgewater-led offense. He has just one trip to double digits this year and four touchdowns overall.

Rudolph should be able to make a bit of a comeback for himself in Week 16, though, thanks to a matchup against the New York Giants. Those Giants entered Week 15 surrendering the third-most points to the position before Carolina’s Greg Olsen posted 13.

It’s a ballpark number for Rudolph with the Vikings surely understanding the opponent’s weakness.

 

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats as of December 21. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com.  

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