Week 16 Quarterback Starts & Sits: Fantasy Playoffs Decisions On Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers & More!
Welcome to Week 16. I hope this article finds you in your fantasy football playoffs! Otherwise, why are you here?! Just kidding. Even if you’re just playing in your consolation bracket, that’s cool too! This info still applies to you, my friends.
In case you’re new to the column, here’s a quick explainer of what we’re trying to do here (skip down if you’ve been here before). We’re here to wrestle with the decisions that are keeping us up at night. Do you bench a struggling player you took in the second round? Do you take a chance on the guy who has seemingly been playing over his head? Do you sit the high-floor/low-ceiling player for the low-floor/high-ceiling player? We won’t know the “correct” answers until the games are over. But we’re going to do our best to talk through it.
With the end of the fantasy football season near, let’s dive into the Week 16 quarterback start/sit decisions that are keeping us up at night.
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Quarterback
Start ‘Em
START OF THE WEEK: Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I’ve been down on Brady for most of the season, but he’s coming around at the perfect time. Coming off one of his best games of the year last week, Brady will get to face a horrible Cardinals defense in Week 16. There’s a bit of a risk here as Brady has now thrown two interceptions in his past two games, but I’m all systems go on the GOAT as he makes what is likely the last playoff push of his career.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Goff has had one of the strangest up-and-down seasons I’ve ever seen, but he looks to be safe (well, as safe as Jared Goff can be) right now. Goff has thrown for over 300 yards in two of his last three games and, amazingly, hasn’t thrown an interception in his last six games. Goff will face a mediocre Panthers defense this week and has a very good chance at finishing as a top-10 QB in Week 16.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
My man Danny Dimes failed me last week, but I’m going to be a glutton for punishment here. While Jones put up a stinker in Week 15, he still rushed 10 times and will continue to provide a bit of a high floor due to his rushing ability. He’ll face a Vikings defense this week that has given up a lot of fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and will also be indoors in Minnesota so the elements that seemingly gave him some issues last week won’t be an issue.
Sit ‘Em
SIT OF THE WEEK: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
I keep seeing Rodgers ranked near the top 10 this week and I’m not sure why. Yes, he has a good (on paper) matchup against the Dolphins. However, we’re still talking about a guy who hasn’t finished inside the top 10 quarterbacks in a given week all year. And we’ve gone through 15 weeks! I realize he’s the reigning MVP, but Rodgers hasn’t thrown for more than 291 yards in a game all year and this just isn’t the week to bet that will change.
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
I’ve been on the Carr train for a few weeks (and he was good last week), but I’m going to disembark this week. While Carr has been surprisingly consistent this year, he’ll be facing a tough Steelers defense this week. The Steelers haven’t allowed an opposing team to score more than 17 points in their last four games, and the weather is shaping up to be COLD in the northeast this weekend (and yes, I realize Pittsburgh could be considered Midwest). While I wouldn’t run away from Carr screaming, I just don’t like the way this week is shaping up for him.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy has been surprisingly serviceable through his first career starts (in which he is 2-0), but I’m having a tough time pulling the trigger on him this week. Purdy has finished as QB8 and QB14 in his last two games (that’s good!). And he has a great supporting cast (that’s good too!). But he’s coming up against a tough Commanders defense that has limited opposing teams to 20 points or less in each of their past four games. I wouldn’t blame you if you take a chance on Purdy, but it’s just way too risky to take a shot on him this week (in my humble opinion).
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