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Week 16 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Matchups to Exploit and Avoid
- Updated: December 24, 2016
The NFL has pulled out all the stops for a Week 16 holiday slate—providing a challenge befitting a champion as fantasy football owners play for titles.
The schedule has, among other things, divisional showdowns and encounters between playoff hopefuls, not to mention games on Saturday and Sunday before a Monday finale.
In order to make the best of a tricky situation around the holidays, owners need to hit the matchups homework harder than usual. This isn’t the easiest task around while traveling for the holidays and celebrating, so here is a helpful guide that showcases matchup value comparisons and some situations to exploit and avoid.
Quarterback
Matchup to Exploit: Matt Ryan, ATL (at CAR)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is in for another huge day against the Carolina Panthers.
Back in Week 4, Ryan casually threw for 503 yards and four touchdowns against the Panthers, good for 35 points. Those Panthers haven’t changed much since, with the tally standing at six opposing quarterbacks reaching 16 or more points against the unit.
On the road, look for Ryan to have another big day as he tries to keep his Falcons in playoff contention. Carolina will look to play the spoiler, but so have most of his recent opponents—and he’s hit on 17 or more points in three of his last four outings.
Maybe Ryan doesn’t hit 35, but the upside paired with a secure floor makes him a great option.
Matchup to Avoid: Russell Wilson, SEA (vs. ARI)
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This one hurts, but owners don’t want to lean on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in Week 16.
Many who have of late have burns to show for it. Over his past four games, Wilson has scored 10, 15, four and 20 points. That’s too inconsistent when it matters most.
On Saturday, Wilson has to deal with the Arizona Cardinals, the team allowing the eighth-fewest points to opposing quarterbacks on average.
While Arizona has looked unpredictable, Wilson only managed nine points against the unit in Week 7. At home, the Seahawks will be content to keep the ball on the ground and grind out a win.
Running Back
Matchup to Exploit: Jordan Howard, CHI (vs. WAS)
Owners have come to quickly fall in love with Chicago Bears rookie back Jordan Howard.
Howard has assumed the starting role for the Bears and over his last four outings has 12, 29, 10 …
