Start 'em, Sit 'em Week 16: Ground the Jets and Other QB/TE/DST Fantasy Advice

I'm definitely feeling a bit Zen for the Week 16 start/sit fantasy advice for quarterbacks, tight ends, and defense/special teams (DSTs).

In my primary league, I got off to a not-so-auspicious start of 1-5. The vultures were circling. I was being flooded by offers from owners hoping I was ready to give up and trade my studs for potential keepers.

But I remained pretty steadfast as many of my fellow owners thought I was being over-optimistic. Yet my conviction was rewarded as I snagged the last playoff spot after making a historic run. And not only did I snag the last playoff spot, but I also beat my first playoff opponent last week, validating my finish.

Felt great. Naturally however in this great yin-yang world of ours, I am now dealing with the aftermath of Jalen Hurts potentially not playing this week. My opponent this week is the No. 1 seed of course. Yet as everything has balance, he has Lamar Jackson on his team and other roster-related issues to deal with.

Point is that like our everyday lives, fantasy football has its ups and downs. It also rarely remains at one extreme for very long. But hopefully, I can keep your success moving in a positive direction.

Week 16 Positional Rankings: QB I RB I WR I TE I DST I K I Flex 

As a reminder, the options I am looking at for this column are those in the "QB2/TE2/DST2" range, i.e. those ranked from around 13 to 24. That's the tier I will be evaluating. And as more often than not, I'll try to give you a lower-ranked option for whom to start and a higher-ranked option for whom to sit when possible. Let's look at some of those options.

START This QB

Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sat.)

To be honest, you could have told me Carr's fantasy ranking was seventh, 17th, or 27th and I would have believed you. I looked it up and he happens to be the 15th-best fantasy QB this season. Nothing too special. But when you consider that some of the quarterbacks ahead of him like Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts might not play this week, Carr all of sudden becomes a definite QB1 possibility.

He will be facing the Steelers, who are in the bottom dozen in preventing fantasy points to quarterbacks. Only the Chiefs, Titans, and Cardinals have allowed more TD passes. And with Darren Waller now back in the mix, it gives Carr one more weapon.

He did after all throw three touchdown passes against a pretty good New England defense last week. Carr might be a borderline QB1 this week, but he's definitely an option for those without a top-10 QB this week.

Related: Week 16 Start/Sit Fantasy Advice for RB/WR

SIT This QB

Mac Jones, New England Patriots vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Sat.)

So the opponent that I mentioned above has Jones on his bench and I am really hoping that is whom he plays. Jones has a miserable 7:8 TD-to-INT ratio this year and has just one touchdown pass over his last three weeks. That might be okay if he was a really good scrambler, but he has all of 97 rushing yards this year and averages less than 10 rushing yards per game.

And to make matters worse, Cincinnati is fighting for a home playoff game and is one of the better defenses in the league. The Bengals have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. They are allowing the league's second-lowest completion rate (60.0 percent). 

Most of you are probably not even considering starting Jones, but for those of you who are, I'd look elsewhere. Unless you are my buddy that I am playing against this upcoming weekend. Then I would definitely play him.

START This TE

Gerald Everett, Los Angels Chargers at Indianapolis Colts (MNF)

Everett does not exactly jump off the page, I know. If you are looking for the high upside play, you could go with one of my favorites deeper down the rankings, Chigoziem Okonkwo. But Treylon Burks could be back this week and I'm not so sure how much confidence I have in whoever is under center for the Titans. 

But Everett has very quietly been pretty useful. He has 20 targets over the last three weeks, which he has turned into 14 catches for 150 yards. Indy is just a middle-of-the-pack defense when it comes to tight ends. Everett makes for a sneaky low-end TE1 this week who is definitely in my top dozen. At the very least, I'd put him ahead of the option below.

SIT This TE

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns vs. New Orleans Saints (Sat.)

I honestly can't believe how high I'm seeing Njoku ranked this week. He is averaging more than 50 receiving yards per game, but that's heavily weighted by an 89- and an 88-yard day in two of the first five weeks. The three touchdowns on the year aren't horrible, but it's not exactly anything exemplary either.

And New Orleans has been really strong against tight ends this season. They have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. There are at least 15 TEs I'd start over Njoku this week. My guess is that if you are still playing, you either have one of them or can go get one. Feel free to let go of Njoku.

START This Defense/Special Teams (DST)

Los Angeles Chargers at Indianapolis Colts (MNF)

The Chargers are typically right on the cusp between a DST1 and a DST2 this week, but I've got them as a top-10 option.

First off, Indianapolis will be without Jonathan Taylor. And if you think the drop-off from Taylor to Zach Moss will be negligible, are you trying to convince yourself or me? Perhaps Moss could find room to run... if the passing game had to be taken seriously. The Colts have five touchdown passes in their last seven games. They haven't topped 230 passing yards since Week 6. 

The Chargers meanwhile are getting healthier on defense and it shows. They've allowed just 31 points in their last two games combined and are coming off a four-sack effort against the Titans last week.

Los Angeles might even be available on your waiver wire. Depending on which DST you have, you might want to consider picking up the Chargers for this week.

SIT This Defense/Special Teams (DST)

New York Jets vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (TNF)

The Jets are a very good defense. But Jacksonville is an even better offense. The Jaguars are averaging 2.7 TDs per game on the season, 11th in the league. But they've been even better lately. In their last three games, Jacksonville is averaging 3.3 TDs a game, good for eighth overall in that span. And need I remind you that the Jags scored five touchdowns against the Cowboys last week?

The Jets meanwhile are good, allowing just 18.8 points per game, fourth in the league. However, they are trending in the wrong direction, having given up 22.3 points in their last three contests. 

New York has seen its sacks per game drop precipitously since the middle of the season and has just one turnover in the last four games. There is still plenty of talent on this defense and I think the Jets can do just enough to carry this team to the playoffs. But wins and fantasy points are not always in sync. I'd sit the Jets this week.

— Written by Mark Strausberg, a member of the Athlon Network Contributor, who despite his youthful exuberance and good looks has been playing fantasy sports before Wildcats or Hoosiers even made it to VHS. Got a fantasy sports question or thought? Hit him up on Twitter @MarkStrausberg.