Fantasy Football Start and Bench Advice: Week 16

Below is our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em Advice for week 16 of the 2007 season. Also, make sure you check out our Weekly Projections for Week 16, and if that isn’t enough, swing by our Start and Bench Forum, where Tavaner, Craphonso and Smitty attack all of your questions daily.

Smitty’s Week 16 Studs & Duds

Smitty

STUD: Derek Anderson
QB	(@CIN)	305 yards, 3TDs, 0 INTs
Derek Anderson owners have been given a early gift this holiday season, as the Browns face the Bengals in Week 16. The Bengals are 24th in the NFL against the pass and they are 29th in the NFL in giving up TD passes (25 in 14 games). I’m expecting a monster day out of that Cleveland passing attack, which means you will see a whole lot of Braylon Edwards as well.

DUD: Clinton Portis
RB	(@MIN)	55/4 yards, 0TDs
Clinton Portis is a top 10RB and has played well for most of the year, but he couldn’t have a worse match-up in Week 16. Portis and the Redskins face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, the league’s toughest rushing defense. Now, Ryan Grant proved earlier this season that it is possible to run against Minnesota if a team is determined, but with a mediocre Todd Collins under center, I highly doubt that the Redskins will be running much come the second-half of this one. Lower your expectations if you are forced to start Portis in Week 16. If you have other options, swing by our FFX Forums and get some advise!

STUD: LenDale White
RB	(vs. NYJ)	125/10 yards, 1TD
I know, I know… it is so hard putting your faith in LenDale White come Super Bowl week, but his match-up is outstanding against the Jets. The Jets rushing defense surrenders 141.1 rushing yards per game. Since this game is in Tennessee, I think it is pretty safe to say that White will hit the 100-yard mark (just as long as he stays healthy). He should also find the end zone at least once. White is a solid RB2 this week in larger leagues.

Other Players Who Could Struggle In Week 16

RB Dominic Rhodes (@JAC) – Facing a top 5 rushing defense and this game is in Jacksonville
RB Frank Gore (vs. TB) – That Tampa D is much better than the stats suggest; SF may not run a ton in 2nd-half
QB Marc Bulger (vs. PIT) – Facing a top 3 passing defense could limit the Rams passing attack in Week 16
WR Torry Holt (vs. PIT) – Again, the Rams face a top 3 passing defense this week; Even the Rams rushing attack could be limited in this contest if the Rams end up down early and are forced to try and pass (“try” being the key word here)

Other Players Who Could Explode In Week 16

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (vs. DEN) – Facing the league’s 29th ranked rushing defense
RB Fred Taylor (vs. OAK) – Facing the league’s 2nd worst rushing defense
RB Ryan Grant (@CHI) – Facing the league’s 25th ranked rushing defense

Be sure to check out all of our Weekly Projections!

Ask The Experts: Who Do I Start?

Fred Taylor (vs. OAK) or Frank Gore (vs. TB) ?

ASK THE EXPERTS – A questioned asked by a FFX Forum user.

If someone told me in Week 1, or at any point during last off-season, that I’d be considering a healthy Fred Taylor over a healthy Frank Gore in Week 16, I would have called that person crazy. How things change! Taylor had a monster 147-yard/1TD effort against the Steelers D last week, and he has rushed for over 100 yards in four straight games. If you’re thinking that the ride is over, think again! Taylor faces the league’s 2nd worst rushing defense on Sunday, a unit that surrenders 143.8 yards per game on the ground. And if that isn’t enough, the Raiders’ defense has given up a league worst 21 rushing TDs in 14 games this year. As for Frank Gore, he faces a very tough Tampa Bay Bucs defense, that is only ranked 14th against the run, but they’re better than that… especially as of late. The entire defense is on the rise, especially the passing defense (2nd in the entire league)… so I have a funny feeling that the Bucs will get off to an early lead, thus forcing the 49ers to abandon the run. Now, I don’t think the 49ers will succeed through the air this Sunday, but the fact that Gore may not see a ton of 2nd-half touches makes this a no-brainer in my opinion. Start Fred Taylor.

Tough one because Taylor is on fire and his match-up is great. Wow. It is tough sitting Gore, even though he has been very inconsistent all year long, but you can’t put Taylor on the bench. Start Fred Taylor.

Marshawn Lynch (vs. NYG) or Laurence Maroney (vs. MIA) ?

ASK THE EXPERTS – A questioned asked by a FFX Forum user.

	The Giants are 12th against the run and the Dolphins are 32nd… If Maroney were a lock to get the carries I’d consider him despite the differences in match-ups, but because we can’t trust that Maroney will get the touches, Lynch is the smart play here no question. Start Marshawn Lynch.
	This game should be a blow-out and Maroney should have another 100-yard game. Lynch is a pretty good start as well, but you still have Fred Jackson getting carries in Buffalo. Start Laurence Maroney and hope New England keeps giving him the rock.

Andre Johnson (@IND) or Greg Jennings (@CHI) ?

ASK THE EXPERTS – A questioned asked by a FFX Forum user.

	The Colts are #1 against the pass and the Bears 26th against the pass. That makes this an easy call if you ask me. I love AJ and I probably wouldn’t bench him unless forced into a situation like this, but given my two options and that I have to pick one… Start Greg Jennings.
	Games in Chicago are rough this time of year, so I’m going to go with AJ. AJ is one of the most gifted WRs in the game and I can’t bench him in this situation. Can you start both receivers and bench someone else? If so, get on our Forums and ask this question again because this one is tough.

Marion Barber (@CAR) or Brandon Jacobs (@BUF) ?

ASK THE EXPERTS – A questioned asked by a FFX Forum user.

Jacobs faces the Bills (22nd against the run) in Week 16 and Barber faces the Panthers (17th). Since both match-ups are similar, I’m going with Barber. Jacobs scares me, as he is always getting banged up and I just don’t trust him to finish the game. I also think Dallas is going to dominate the Panthers this weekend, so they should run the ball a lot. Start Marion Barber this week. I think he may have one of those multiple-TD games.

I like both of these guys about the same, but Dallas should put up a lot of points in Wk 16. Go with the more productive offense and start Marion Barber.

Need Advice before kickoff? Swing by our FFX Start / Bench Forum and post your “tough calls” there!

Week 16 Fantasy Football Player Projections

Broncos @ Chargers

Monday at 8pm EST

Player	Match-Up	Week 16 Projections
QB Philip Rivers	vs. DEN	200 yards, 1TD, 1 INT
RB LaDainian Tomlinson		140/15 yards, 2TDs
RB Michael Turner		0/0
WR Vincent Jackson		4 rec, 45 yards
WR Chris Chambers		4 rec, 47 yards
WR Craig Davis		0/0
TE Antonio Gates		5 rec, 65 yards, 1TD

Player	Match-Up	Week 16 Projections
QB Jay Cutler	@SD	240 yards, 1TD, 1 INT
RB Travis Henry		0/0
RB Selvin Young		75/25 yards, 1TD
WR Javon Walker		4 rec, 40 yards
WR Brandon Marshall		6 rec, 90 yards, 1TD
WR Brandon Stokley		3 rec, 35 yards
TE Tony Scheffler		4 rec, 43 yards