Week 16 Starts/Sits: Sparkling with Andre

I wish I could say I was among those still working towards a fantasy title this week, but, alas, I was knocked out in a couple leagues in the aftermath of a bloody Sunday in Week 15 in which many big names came up short (Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, Josh Gordon, I'm looking at you). That said, I still have some scratch on the line in some consolation contests, which means I'm still working hard to uncover this week's likely booms and busts. So, for the final time this season I offer you the players that jump out to me for looking better or worse than usual this week. Best of luck in your championship matchups, and happy holidays!

[Join FanDuel.com's $2M Week 16 fantasy league: $25 to enter; top 17,475 teams paid]

STARTS

QB – Joe Flacco, Bal at Hou –  If I somehow found myself in need of a QB in this fantasy championship week, I'd feel comfortable streaming Flacco (40 percent available) against a Houston defense that has allowed the sixth-most passing yards and the ninth-most passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks - that looks a lot worse when you factor in how many "non-threatening" quarterbacks the Texans have faced (E.J. Manuel, Derek Carr, Titans QBs twice, Brian Hoyer, Blake Bortles, RGIII). Considering the matchup, and the fact that Flacco has been a top 5 fantasy QB over the past three weeks, he's a pretty safe play this weekend.

RB – Tre Mason, 

StL vs. NYG –   Mason has been quiet the past two games, but expect him to make some noise this week against a Giants defense allowing 4.8 YPC to the RB position. Also, the G-Men's ability to get after the QB is among the best in the league, which poses a potentially serious problem for the immobile Shaun Hill. It makes a lot of sense for the Rams to go ground-heavy and exploit the Giants run defense as opposed to putting Hill in harm's way via the passing game. Mason has 100 yards and a TD written all over him.

RB – Lamar Miller, Mia vs Min –  No running back has faced a tougher schedule than Miller over the past six weeks, which explains why he has just two touchdowns and has failed to reach 100 yards from scrimmage in that span. This week, though, the schedule finally turns soft, as the Vikings have allowed 4.5 YPC to opposing backs. They also allow the eighth-most yards from scrimmage to the RB position. With Minnesota exceling in pass defense, look for QB Ryan Tannehill to hand the ball off to Miller early and often on Sunday.

WR – Andre Johnson, Hou vs Bal – Things are lining up for Johnson to have a big day in Week 16. Teammate DeAndre Hopkins is looking very iffy to play because of an ankle injury, so Johnson's status as this week's go-to guy is unquestioned. And with QB Case Keenum expected to start, the history card reads very well for the veteran wideout - Johnson averaged 100 yards and scored all five of his touchdowns in '13 in the eight games in which Keenum was Houston's QB. Against a Baltimore defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to the WR position, Johnson needs to be deployed for your fantasy championship.

[Week 16 rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Receiver | Tight End | Kicker | DST]

WR – DeSean Jackson, Was vs Phi –  Thank you very much, Jay Gruden. The Washington head coach called out his receiver this week, saying that he's a "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" coach, and that Jackson hasn't delivered in that respect. It's a perfect lead-in scenario for Jackson, as he faces his old team, the Philadelphia Eagles, this week. In Week 3, he went for five catches, 117 yards and a TD against the Eagles. And Philly hasn't improved much in pass defense since then as it currently sits as the most generous unit in fantasy to the WR position. Look for Jackson to answer Gruden's call to action.

TE - Jason Witten, Dal vs Ind –  It's hard not to like Witten this week coming off a solid 7-69 line in Week 15 and now facing Indy's defense that is the fifth-most generous in fantasy to the TE position. With DeMarco Murray dealing with a broken hand, that should curb his participation in the passing game, which could lead to a few more looks for Witten. And when Colts CB Vontae Davis is lined up against Dez Bryant, that's also a scenario that could force QB Tony Romo to look Witten's way. And, of course, it doesn't hurt Witten's cause that Indy has little to play for given that its playoff situation is pretty much set.

SITS

QB –

Philip Rivers, SDG at SF – I'm sure a lot of Rivers owners already had their fantasy championship hopes dashed, thanks to a six-game slump in which Rivers has averaged 237.6 passing yards and has posted a 7:8 TD-to-INT ratio. Still, Rivers currently sits as the 11th-most started QB this week. If you're a Rivers owner, you should do your part to reduce that Start% number. Go with Flacco (above) if you can. I'd even roll the dice on RGIII in an advantageous matchup against Philly. With Rivers' go-to receiver Keenan Allen out (ankle), and traveling to face a San Francisco defense allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, you'll want nothing to do with Rivers this week.

RB – LeSean McCoy, Phi at Was –  Most everyone who owns Shady is currently starting him (94%). Not sure how that can be justified considering he ranks No. 35 among running backs in total fantasy points scored over the past two weeks - he was a big reason why my team in which I own McCoy was bounced from my league's playoffs. Also, McCoy put up just 22 yards on 20 carries in Week 3, when last he faced Washington, a defense that ranks among the very best at defending the run. McCoy is not getting goal line carries nor opportunities in the passing game. His ceiling this week is about as high as that of LesterCorp's seventh-and-a-half floor.

RB – Isaiah Crowell, Cle at Car  – Don't let anyone convince you that Crowell has RB2 upside this week. He's barely a top 30 RB option, in my opinion. First of all, Carolina has tightened things up quit a bit in run defense compared to early in the year. Over the past five weeks, the Panthers are allowing 30 percent fewer fantasy points to the RB position than the league average. And considering how awful rookie QB Johnny Manziel was last week in the passing game, count on Carolina overplaying the run in an effort to force Manziel to throw the ball, where tunrover opportunities abound. Crowell could very well finish with his third sub-5 point fantasy line in the past four games.

WR – Sammy Watkins, Buf at Oak –  Watkins is currently sitting among the top 25 most started wide receivers, which simply should not be the case. Unless you are a major underdog in your championship matchup and need a high-ceiling, swing-for-the-fences type, Watkins is best avoided. He's finished under 4.0 fantasy points in eight games this season, which means he's more likely to give you that kind of tally than one that you'll be excited about. Oakland isn't much to fear on the defensive side, but it has been so bad against the run that that (the ground game) is where teams usually attack it most, which certainly limits Watkins' upside.

WR – Alshon Jeffery, Chi vs Det –   If you watched Johnny Manziel's NFL starting debut last week, you should have a pretty good idea of what Bears QB Jimmy Claussen looked like on a regular basis the last time he was allowed to start NFL games (2010) - let's just say, it wasn't pretty. If Claussen was the QB last week, Jeffery doesn't score that back-shoulder garbage time TD against the Saints, because he wouldn't have been able to make the throw that Jay Cutler did on that play. Simply put, I have no faith in the Bears passing game this week, especially against a Lions defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the WR position.

TE -  Larry Donnell, NYG at StL – I thought Donnell would be a solid play last week against a Washington team that he scored three touchdowns against in the first meeting. I was wrong. Donnell managed just two catches for 11 yards in the rematch, and he's now gone four straight games without a TD catch. Against the Rams superb defensive front this week, don't be surprised if Donnell is held out of the end zone yet again. With Donnell being ranked (by ProFootballFocus) as one of the best pass blocking tight ends in the game, I expect that role to be enhanced in an effort to keep Robert Quinn, William Hayes and company at bay.