| |  | | Sunday, December 26, 2021 | | Should you start your studs in Week 16? Well, as with anything, there's no "one weird trick" that's going to provide the right answer to every single lineup question, so be wary of anyone who tries to tell you there is. Your lineup, the matchups, and your own personal willingness to take risks will determine your decision making process, as always. | | However, I will say, "start your studs" is probably more right than wrong. Obviously, that doesn't mean you should start Saquon Barkley over Alexander Mattison with Dalvin Cook out just because of their draft prices, but that's because Mattison is a stud in his own right! But, given the stakes at this point in the season, it's easy to overthink your lineup decisions. I just had someone on Twitter ask me if they should start Justin Jackson over Tyreek Hill, and I can sort of see the logic that would get you to that point; Hill is coming off a bout with COVID and the Chiefs offense has been more miss than hit lately, while Jackson's got a great matchup against the Texans. | But think of it this way: Who would you feel stupider about having on your bench if they blow up? Yeah, exactly. You don't always need to start your studs, but when in doubt, lean in that direction. That's why, despite the fact that they almost ruined my season last week, I'm going right back to my Joe Mixon/Tee Higgins/Ja'Marr Chase combination in one league. Sometimes, in the immortal words of The Hold Steady, you've gotta dance with who you came to the dance with. | Of course, that doesn't mean that's an easy answer for every lineup decision. We're here to try to help you with the tough questions, and the first thing you should do is read the rest of this newsletter for all the injury updates and my latest rankings. The next thing you should do is reach out directly to us for help. Adam Aizer, Frank Stampfl and I are going live on the Fantasy Football Today YouTube channel at 11:30 to answer as many of your questions as we can -- literally hundreds of them. Come watch the stream, get your questions in, and let's get you some answers. | And, of course, Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath are on CBS Sports HQ until kickoff of the 1 p.m. games to answer your questions and keep you updated on all of the news you need to know on the FFT live show. You can also go to Twitter and use the hashtag "#AskFFT", where our whole team will be answering questions all morning. That's what Sunday morning is all about. | | Here's the rest of our preview content to get you ready, and check out my updated position rankings at the bottom of the newsletter to help with any early lineup dilemmas you may have: | | | | | | |  | | | | Quarterbacks | | Injury Report | - Out: Daniel Jones (neck), Lamar Jackson (ankle), Tyler Huntley (COVID), Taysom Hill (COVID), Teddy Bridgewater (concussion), Jared Goff (COVID), Trevor Siemian (COVID), Andy Dalton (hand)
| | So, that means Ian Book will be getting his first taste of NFL action for the Saints Monday against the Dolphins, while Josh Johnson will start for the Ravens against the Bengals, Drew Lock will start for the Broncos against the Raiders, and Tim Boyle will start for the Lions against the Falcons. None are recommended starters, but Book might be the most intriguing of the bunch for his rushing abilities. | - Questionable: Justin Fields (ankle)
| | Fields is questionable for Sunday's game, but Nick Foles has already been named the starter for the game against the Seahawks. Fields should get his starting job back in Week 17, but you can't use him this week -- and Foles is just a low-end QB2. | |
It's also worth noting that Sam Darnold is off the IR after overcoming his shoulder injury and could see significant playing time this week, rendering Cam Newton unusable in all formats. | | Week 16 QB Rankings | - Justin Herbert @HOU
- Tom Brady @CAR
- Josh Allen @NE
- Jalen Hurts vs. NYG
- Patrick Mahomes vs. PIT
- Matthew Stafford @MIN
- Dak Prescott vs. WAS
- Russell Wilson vs. CHI
- Joe Burrow vs. BAL
- Tua Tagovailoa @NO
- Kirk Cousins vs. LAR
- Matt Ryan vs. DET
- Ben Roethlisberger @KC
- Derek Carr vs. DEN
- Trevor Lawrence @NYJ
- Ian Book vs. MIA
- Nick Foles @SEA
- Mac Jones vs. BUF
- Josh Johnson @CIN
- Drew Lock @LV
| | Running backs | | Injury Report | - Out: Dalvin Cook (COVID), Austin Ekeler (COVID), Leonard Fournette (hamstring), J.D. McKissic (concussion), Rhamondre Stevenson (COVID), D'Andre Swift (shoulder)
| | Alexander Mattison is my No. 2 RB for the week even against a tough matchup against the Rams. He's just been too good (and has gotten too many touches) when Cook is out to not view as an absolutely elite Fantasy option. Justin Jackson (@HOU) and Ronald Jones (@CAR) aren't far behind with Cooks and Fournette out respectively, as both are top-12 RBs for me. I would start both over, among others, Ezekiel Elliott, Javonte Williams, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Miles Sanders. | - Legitimately questionable: Antonio Gibson (toe), Damien Harris (hamstring), Brandon Bolden (knee), David Johnson (quad)
| | Gibson would be in the RB2 range if they play but wouldn't necessarily be must-start options given questions about their potential usage even if they do play. Gibson in particular looks risky given the nature of his injury and the fact that he dealt with a similar injury that lingered for months last year. Even if he plays, I would rank him behind, among others, Michael Carter, Myles Gaskin, and Devin Singletary. | | If Harris plays, he'll be in the high-end RB3/low-end RB2 range for me. He should see plenty of carries, but the Bills are still a tough matchup and he'll always be pretty touchdown dependent because of his limited passing game role. He's a solid RB2 in non-PPR formats, thought. | | Week 16 RB Rankings | - Alexander Mattison vs. LAR
- James Robinson @NYJ
- Joe Mixon vs. BAL
- Alvin Kamara vs. MIA
- Josh Jacobs vs. DEN
- David Montgomery @SEA
- Najee Harris @KC
- Nick Chubb @GB
- Justin Jackson @HOU
- Ronald Jones @CAR
- Ezekiel Elliott vs. WAS
- Javonte Williams @LV
- Cordarrelle Patterson vs. DET
- Miles Sanders vs. NYG
- Sony Michel @MIN
- D'Andre Swift @ATL
- Saquon Barkley @PHI
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. PIT
- Devin Singletary @NE
- Melvin Gordon @LV
- Myles Gaskin @NO
- Michael Carter vs. JAX
- Damien Harris vs. BUF
- Devonta Freeman @CIN
- Antonio Gibson @DAL
- Ameer Abdullah vs. TB
- Chuba Hubbard vs. TB
- Rex Burkhead vs. LAC
- Rashaad Penny vs. CHI
- DeeJay Dallas vs. CHI
- Darrel Williams vs. PIT
- Jamaal Williams @ATL
- Darrell Henderson @MIN
- Brandon Bolden vs. BUF
- Le'Veon Bell @CAR
- Mike Davis vs. DET
- Joshua Kelley @HOU
- Latavius Murray @CIN
- Jordan Howard vs. NYG
- Tevin Coleman vs. JAX
| | | | Wide receivers | - Out: Mike Evans (hamstring), Chris Godwin (knee; IR, out for season), Brandin Cooks (COVID), Mike Williams (COVID), Cole Beasley (COVID), Gabriel Davis (COVID), Allen Robinson (COVID), Sterling Shepard (Achilles; IR), Breshad Perriman (COVID), Nelson Agholor (concussion), Jamison Crowder (calf), Tajae Sharpe (foot), Devin Duvernay (ankle), Laviska Shenault (COVID), John Ross (COVID), Jakeem Grant (concussion)
- Legitimately questionable: Kadarius Toney (oblique), Curtis Samuel (hamstring), N'Keal Harry (hip), Tre'Quan Smith (shoulder), Josh Reynolds (thigh), Marquise Goodwin (foot), Kalif Raymond (shoulder),
- Expected to play: Adam Thielen (ankle), D.J. Moore (hamstring),
| | So, wide receiver is where the most questions are this week, though there aren't actually that many real questions here. Or at least, there aren't many waiting for answers, since most of the relevant names have been ruled out already. Antonio Brown is a top-five WR for me with Evans and Godwin out, and Emmanuel Sanders is in the high-end WR3 discussion with Davis and Beasley out; Josh Palmer becomes an intriguing flier in PPR leagues with Williams out, though not more than a WR4 in 12-team leagues. The rest of the absences (or potential absences) are among pretty low-end guys, so there isn't much to be concerned about there. | | Moore and Thielen, however, represent some pretty tough questions. I'm likely going to start both unless I have multiple really good options. I have Moore ranked ahead of, among others, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marquise Brown, and Russell Gage, because he continues to see a ton of targets and is still averaging 70 yards per game in Cam Newton's four starts. Thielen ranks just behind him and that group because his yardage totals have been pretty lackluster even when healthy -- he'll need to find the end zone to have a great game, though he's more reliable in that regard than most. He's a top-24 WR for the week. | | Week 16 WR Rankings | - Cooper Kupp @MIN
- Davante Adams vs. CLE
- Justin Jefferson vs. LAR
- Tyreek Hill vs. PIT
- Keenan Allen @HOU
- Stefon Diggs @NE
- Antonio Brown @CAR
- Diontae Johnson @KC
- Hunter Renfrow vs. DEN
- Tyler Lockett vs. CHI
- Jaylen Waddle @NO
- CeeDee Lamb vs. WAS
- Tee Higgins vs. BAL
- D.J. Moore vs. TB
- Amon-Ra St. Brown @ATL
- Marquise Brown @CIN
- Russell Gage vs. DET
- Adam Thielen vs. LAR
- Ja'Marr Chase vs. BAL
- Terry McLaurin @DAL
- D.K. Metcalf vs. CHI
- Jarvis Landry @GB
- Amari Cooper vs. WAS
- Emmanuel Sanders @NE
- Chase Claypool @KC
- DeVante Parker @NO
- Odell Beckham @MIN
- Mike Williams @HOU
- Braxton Berrios vs. JAX
- Jakobi Meyers vs. BUF
- Jerry Jeudy @LV
- DeVonta Smith vs. NYG
- Van Jefferson @MIN
- Michael Gallup vs. WAS
- Tyler Boyd vs. BAL
- Allen Lazard vs. CLE
- Darnell Mooney @SEA
- Kenny Golladay @PHI
- Nico Collins vs. LAC
- Marvin Jones @NYJ
- Adam Humphries @DAL
- Rashod Bateman @CIN
| | Tight ends | - Out: Darren Waller (knee/back), Travis Kelce (COVID), Pat Freiermuth (concussion), Donald Parham (concussion; IR), Adam Trautman (COVID), Juwan Johnson (COVID), Will Dissly (concussion)
| | Kelce is the biggest issue here, because there's just no possibility of replacing him with anyone you'd feel good about. Your top choices are probably Jared Cook, Gerald Everett, or James O'Shaughnessy, if they are available. If you really want to take a big swing, Evan Engram plays the Eagles, who have allowed the second-most receptions, yards, and touchdowns to tight ends. He had just three catches for 37 yards last time he faced the Eagles, but teammate Chris Myarick did find the end zone. Maybe that'll be Engram this time around. | | Week 16 TE Rankings | - Mark Andrews @CIN
- Rob Gronkowski @CAR
- Kyle Pitts vs. DET
- Dallas Goedert vs. NYG
- Dawson Knox @NE
- Dalton Schultz vs. WAS
- Gerald Everett vs. CHI
- Tyler Higbee @MIN
- James O'Shaughnessy @NYJ
- Ricky Seals-Jones @DAL
- Foster Moreau vs. DEN
- Jared Cook @HOU
- Mike Gesicki @NO
- Tyler Conklin vs. LAR
- Hunter Henry vs. BUF
- Cole Kmet @SEA
- Evan Engram @PHI
- Noah Fant @LV
- Brevin Jordan vs. LAC
- C.J. Uzomah vs. BAL
| | Flex Top 150 | | | | |  | |  | | | | | The 2021/22 UEFA Season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and thrilling in recent times! Watch Europe's Top clubs battle on the road to glory exclusively on Paramount+. Watch Live
| | ✔Scores & Highlights ✔Fantasy and Betting Advice ✔Interviews with Top Athletes CBS Sports HQ has you covered. Stream anywhere, anytime, on any device. Watch Now
|
| | | | |  
|
|
