Week 16
Games through December 22

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START

QB:

Tommy Maddox, Pit: The fantasy playoffs are obviously not the time for experimenting with your starting lineup, but if one matchup looks ripe for the picking, this is it. The Chargers are incredibly weak against the pass, and this could turn into Maddox’s best game of the season.

Steve McNair, Ten: Normally, Steve McNair is a no-brainer start, but his injuries make him a risk in this critical week. He may turn out to be a gametime decision, the bane of all fantasy coaches. Follow his status closely, but chances are that McNair, the ultimate gamer, will not only be on the field, but will once again shine. If anyone in the league has proven that he can play through pain, it’s Steve McNair.

Others to start:
Tom Brady, NE
Drew Bledsoe, Buf
Michael Vick, Atl
Brett Favre, GB
Jeff Garcia, SF

No-brainers:
Marc Bulger, StL
Donovan McNabb, Phi
Brad Johnson, TB
Trent Green, KC
Jon Kitna, Cin
Matt Hasselbeck, Sea
Peyton Manning, Ind
Daunte Culpepper, Min

RB:

Tyrone Whealey, Oak: Wheatley remains Oakland’s feature back, and so far, he has done nothing wrong that would cause him to be demoted from that spot. Oakland’s season may be long over, but the Raiders showed last week that they still have a bit of fight left. Monday’s game might be more challenging for Green Bay than it might look on paper, and Wheatley is one reason why.

Thomas Jones, TB: Tampa Bay’s slim playoff hopes are still alive, and a home game against the Falcons might be just what the doctor ordered. Jones has emerged as a good fantasy RB recently, and should again be a solid start against a weak Atlanta defense.

Others to start:
Tiki Barber, NYG
Travis Henry, Buf
Jerome Bettis, Pit
Ricky Williams, Mia
Troy Hambrick, Dal
Anthony Thomas, Chi
Eddie George, Ten

No-brainers:
Jamal Lewis, Bal
Ahman Green, GB
LaDainan Tomlinson, SD
Deuce McAllister, NO
Stephen Davis, Car
Shaun Alexander, Sea
Priest Holmes, KC
Michael Bennett, Min
Marshall Faulk, StL
Edgerrin James, Ind
Fred Taylor, Jax

WR:

Peter Warrick, Cin: A shootout between two strong offensive teams may well be the result when Cincinnati visits St. Louis, and the Peter Warrick should be a nice addition to your lineup this week. Chad Johnson may still be the main man in the Bengals’ receiving corps, but Warrick is becoming more and more reliable.
UPDATE: Warrick is definitely out for this week after minor knee surgery. TJ Houshmandzadeh will be given the chance to start in Warrick’s place and might be worth a look for owners desperate for WR help – particularly those with no adequate substitute for Warrick.

Plaxico Burress, Pit: See Tommy Maddox; this should be a great game for an otherwise unreliable offense (with the notable exception of Mr. Hines Ward). Burress has spent the year underachieving, but if you have a WR spot available, he’s worth taking a chance on this week.

Others to start:
Deion Branch, NE
Santana Moss, NYJ
Rod Smith, Den
Chris Chambers, Mia
Koren Robinson, Sea
Keenan McCardell, TB
Anquan Boldin, Ari
Laveranues Coles, Was
David Boston, SD
Donald Driver, GB

No-brainers:
Randy Moss, Min
Chad Johnson, Cin
Terell Owens, SF
Marvin Harrison, Ind
Joe Horn, NO
Derrick Mason, Ten
Isaac Bruce, StL
Torry Holt, StL
Darrell Jackson, Sea
Hines Ward, Pit
Steve Smith, Car

TE/K/D:

Itula Mili, TE, Sea: The Seahawks have a lot at stake as they try to remain in the wild-card picture and will try to rebound from two straight losses. Mili saw quite a few looks last week, and should again be a factor against a Cardinals defense that has allowed the most points in the league.

Shayne Graham, K, Cin: Will we see a shootout in St. Louis? It’s hard to envision this contest as a defensive battle… Besides, it’s indoors. This looks like a great game to start a kicker, and while Jeff Wilkins presumably isn’t be available in your league, Graham may well be.

Chicago: The Redskins were shut out by Dallas last week and looked like a team playing out the stretch. The Bears on the other hand, are still playing with heart, and might actually be worth considering this week if your primary defense faces a tough matchup.

 
BENCH

QB:

Chad Pennington, NYJ: Last week, we saw what bad weather can do to an otherwise reliable Pennington. This week, even though the weather should be fine, we’ll see what a strong New England defense can do – and that might be an even greater challenge than dealing with Mother Nature’s whims.

Aaron Brooks, NO: Brooks was sensational last week, but might come back down to earth on Sunday. The Jaguars are playing well on defense, and Brooks has an annoying habit of disappearing against stronger units. Risky…

RB:

TJ Duckett, Atl: As if facing Tampa Bay’s defense isn’t bad enough, Duckett’s numbers might also be limited by the Buccaneers’ offense. If Atlanta falls behind early, the Falcons might have to take to the air, diminishing Duckett’s production. At least that’s what logic would dictate; then again, when was the last time Duckett didn’t find the endzone? (Answer: October 19)

Shawn Bryson, Det: Bryson has made good progress in recent weeks, but still is too inconsistent to be handed the ball during the fantasy playoffs. The Panthers are strong against the run, and if you’ve made it this far into your fantasy playoffs, you presumably have safer options.

WR:

Amani Toomer, NYG: Not only are the Giants among the worst teams in the NFL right now, but they also face one of the league’s strongest defenses this week, the Cowboys. Dallas shut out Washington last week; do you really feel confident about taking a chance on Toomer?

Az-Zahir Hakim, Det: Don’t be fooled by last week’s performance: Hakim still is not the fantasy star in Detroit some expected him to be. Playing against the Panthers, who are still in the race, might bring out the other Hakim again – the one you vowed never to start again after he disappointed one time too many.

TE/K/D:

Anthony Becht, TE, NYJ: Becht has struggled recently due to the overall poor play of the Jets offense, and this doesn’t look like a good week for that trend to reverse itself (see Chad Pennington).

Olindo Mare, K, Mia: With strong, cold winds possibly blowing in Buffalo and the Bills playing well on defense, starting Mare is a relatively high risk this week. There are better kickers available, several of whom are playing in a dome or in the south.

San Francisco: The Niners have been like Jekyll and Hyde this season, playing great football at home, but looking like a completely different team away from San Francisco. With the Eagles on a roll, this game in Philadelphia doesn’t seem like the best opportunity for you to use this defensive unit.

 
Fantasy Football Cafe’s Start & Sit lists are suggestions intended to give fantasy football players an edge in their weekly matchups. Savvy owners will see these lists not as an absolute ranking, but as an indication of possible outcomes of a given week, and use them together with their own opinions and hunches to field the lineup that will give their team the greatest odds of winning. The Start & Sit lists are compiled by Dan Spazierer (not Madame Zelda). For more insights and additional fine-tuning, visit our Who to Start/Bench forum section as well as Charles Budd and Steve Maluk’s weekly Player Projections.