Fantasy Football Week 16 Start Decisions Involving Rams: Matthew Stafford, Colby Parkinson, Kyren Williams and More

We just put together a DFS lineup for the Thursday night game between the Rams and Seahawks, and are now going to break down each team's best fantasy options and some trending start/sit decisions. Let's start with the Rams.

Check back in a bit for a story on the Seahawks.

Having trouble deciding who to start? Let the FantasySP start/sit tool help you make a decision.

Matthew Stafford Start Decisions

Stafford is the first Ram in a ton of trending start/sit decisions.

We'll compare him to Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, Houston's C.J. Stroud, Denver's Bo Nix, Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield, Baltimore's Lamar Jackson, New Orleans' Tyler Shough and San Francisco's Brock Purdy.

Stafford has a tough matchup tonight, but he's delivered enough this season to trust him in these kinds of matchups. I have him ranked eighth among starting quarterbacks in week 16.

In the decision with Burrow, fantasy owners are taking Burrow. I would too, as I ranked Burrow fifth this week going into a favorable test against the Dolphins.

Fantasy owners are taking Stafford over Stroud in lopsided fashion. I have Stroud ranked 12th heading into an average test against the Raiders, so while it's close, I'd take Stafford over Stroud this week.

Owners are taking Stafford over Nix this week. I have Nix down at No. 16 heading into a slightly above-average test against Jacksonville, so I'm taking Stafford pretty easily here, even after Nix starred last week.

Fantasy owners like Stafford over Mayfield by a decent margin. I have Mayfield down at No. 18 heading into a tougher test against Carolina. With both in tougher tests, I'm taking the better fantasy QB this season, and that's Stafford, by a decent margin.

Fantasy owners are taking Stafford over the slumping Jackson. I'm down on Jackson too, ranking him 19th. Jackson is capable of more, but Stafford is just the safer fantasy option right now.

I was surprised to see Shough in these trending decisions - fantasy owners like Stafford. I do too, with Shough ranked 22nd. The rookie is trending up, but even in a favorable matchup against the Jets, I'm not taking him over Stafford.

Finally, fantasy owners are taking Purdy over Stafford. Purdy ranks sixth for me this week, so I too am taking him over Stafford, although it's close. Purdy has a slightly more favorable matchup than Stafford, so that's why he gets the edge in my eyes.

Colby Parkinson Start Decisions

Parkinson is coming off a big game and might be asked to do more if Davante Adams ends up missing the contest.

Parkinson is in trending decisions with Indianapolis' Tyler Warren, Kansas City's Travis Kelce, Dallas' Jake Ferguson, Cleveland's Harold Fannin, Los Angeles Chargers' Oronde Gadsden, Las Vegas' Brock Bowers, Houston's Dalton Schultz, Philadelphia's Dallas Goedert, Buffalo's Dalton Kincaid and Miami's Darren Waller.

Parkinson has a top-five fantasy matchup coming against the Seahawks. He scored against them in the first meeting between the teams. Parkinson got my No. 13 ranking for week 16, and I was tempted to put him several spots higher.

Fantasy owners like Parkinson over Warren. The Colts' tight end ranked seventh for me heading into a pretty favorable matchup. I understand not wanting to start Warren, but Parkinson is a risk as well.

Fantasy owners are taking Kelce over Parkinson. Kelce checks in eighth for me heading into a favorable matchup against the Titans. Again, the matchup is just too good to support starting Parkinson over Kelce.

Fantasy owners like Parkinson over Ferguson this week. I have Ferguson ranked 12th heading into a tougher test against the Chargers. This one is a coin flip to me, but if you are chasing the matchups, Parkinson is the easy choice here.

Parkinson is also favored over Fannin. I have Fannin ranked sixth this week despite a tougher test against the Bills. He's been heavily involved of late, so I'm high on the Cleveland rookie tight end.

Gadsden is starting over Parkinson, but it's close. I have Gadsden ranked 14th going into an average test against Dallas. I'd chase the matchup here and start Parkinson over Gadsden.

Fantasy owners like Bowers over Parkinson. I have Bowers ranked third, even though he's been a bit underwhelming of late, and heading into a tougher fantasy test. Bowers' upside is just too good to pass on, so I'm taking him over Parkinson.

Fantasy owners like Schultz over Parkinson in week 16. Schultz ranked 10th for me heading into a tougher test against the Raiders, so I understand why some like Parkinson more.

Goedert is a pretty heavy favorite over Parkinson. Goedert is ranked fourth in my rankings heading into a very favorable fantasy test, so he's an easy choice over Parkinson again.

Fantasy owners barely like Parkinson over Kincaid. I have the Bills' tight end ranked way down at No. 23 heading into a below-average matchup this week. Give me Parkinson over Kincaid, and it's not all that close this week.

In the last matchup, fantasy owners are taking Waller over Parkinson. I have Waller at No. 9 as he prepares for the best fantasy matchup a TE could have. The only thing working against Waller is having Quinn Ewers now throwing to him, so the decision between Waller and Parkinson really comes down to how much you trust Ewers.

Kyren Williams Start Decisions

Williams is the other Ram in a bunch of trending start/sit decisions.

He's up against New England's TreVeyon Henderson, New York Jets' Breece Hall, LA Chargers' Omarion Hampton and Carolina's Rico Dowdle.

Williams has been splitting the Rams' backfield with Blake Corum of late, but it hasn't stopped the lead back's fantasy production. A tougher test awaits tonight, but down Adams probably, I see Williams (and Corum) both delivering solid fantasy results on volume alone.

I have Williams ranked 20th this week. Corum checks in 30th. 

Fantasy owners prefer Williams over Henderson, but are starting both 67% of the time. Henderson is way up at No. 12 for me heading into an above-average matchup, so I'd take him over Williams, but still try to start both backs in most leagues.

Owners like Williams over Hall, and are starting both 74% of the time. Hall is ranked 21st heading into an average test against the Saints, so this is a very tight decision in my eyes. I'd give Williams the edge because I simply trust his offense more, but both should be starting in a lot of leagues. 

Fantasy owners are taking Williams over Hampton, with both starting in 63% of leagues. Hampton is ranked 18th for me heading into a favorable test against Dallas. I'm taking Hampton over Williams this week, but again, am trying to start both fantasy backs.

Fantasy owners are taking Williams over Dowdle every time, but also starting both back 44% of the time. I have Dowdle ranked 16th heading into a pretty favorable test against Tampa Bay, so I'd take him over Williams, but also be trying to start both backs in most leagues.

Other Starting Options

We covered a good majority of the team's top fantasy players in Stafford, Williams and Parkinson.

You also know that Adams is doubtful to play because of an injury. I see Parkinson and Corum being the biggest recipients as fantasy assets.

It might seem risky to trust Corum (the team's No. 2 back) in a tougher test, but he's been a pretty nice fantasy asset of late, and should be more involved with Adams not around tonight. That's why I have Corum ranked 30th, meaning he could start in some standard leagues, along with all deeper leagues.

Puka Nacua is the team's top fantasy asset. I have him as fantasy WR1 if Adams is out tonight. Nacua is already a must-start player, and he'd have an even higher fantasy outlook without Adams around.

The matchup for the team's wide receivers is also a tough one. 

After Nacua, no other wideouts are standard league options in my eyes. I could see a secondary wideout like Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington or Xavier Smith helping out, but they are more desperation plays in really deep leagues.

Maybe a second tight end could step up behind Parkinson. Terrance Ferguson played 56 snaps last week, while Davis Allen was at 54. Those two are just deep-league options, but in the favorable matchup, could finish with decent fantasy marks.

Harrison Mevis is the team's kicker, and is projected for eight fantasy points. This game has an over/under of 42 points, and I see it being a bit more low scoring, so I'm not super high on Mevis this week.

The Rams DST is another fantasy option I'm not super high on. The unit is projected for seven fantasy points.

Both Mevis and the DST are fine options in deeper leagues, but I think you could do better in standard leagues this week.