Quick Grades Week 16 (Fantasy Football Start or Sit Advice)

Happy Friday everyone! We didn’t have any Thursday night games this week but we’ve got three right around the corner tomorrow before Sunday’s full slate of games. It is now time to look ahead to all of the weekend’s start/sit decisions. This article is for those of you who would love to sit down and read a detailed start/sit article for 90 minutes but just can’t carve out the time at this stage in your life. Instead, I’ll give you all the information without any of the words. Here is how it works: it’s quick-hitting advice with an overall grade and start/sit recommendation for every fantasy-relevant player based on four simple criteria: Matchup, expected volume, fantasy ability and surrounding talent.

Matchup
Unsurprisingly, Chris Conley put up a big game in a great matchup against Oakland last week

Expected Volume
Latavius Murray piled up fantasy points when he had the bulk of the Saints workload

Fantasy Ability
Tom Brady is a superior real-life quarterback to Josh Allen, but QBs who can run are a fantasy cheat code

Surrounding Talent
It certainly didn’t hurt Jameis Winston to have Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to throw to

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The grades listed below range from 1 to 25 with overall grades made to mimic a school grade (1-100 with letter grades). The four grades will not add up to the overall grade since each position weights the four criteria differently. For instance, volume is king for running backs, but matchups are much more important for quarterbacks. The start/sit recommendations are for 12-team half-PPR, 1-QB leagues. Slight adjustments would be made for moderate rules changes. Additionally, I’ll name a start of the week, stream of the week and fade of the week at each position. Obviously the #1 player from each player is the top start so rather, start of the week refers to a player you wouldn’t always start. Stream of the week is a player you can typically pick up off the waivers if you are desperate for a fill-in so don’t be surprised if they are down at the bottom of a table since most useful players are already rostered. Fade of the week is the opposite of start of the week, as it is a player you would typically start, but shouldn’t this week because of matchup or game script. Because the tables are a screenshot of an excel table, I’ve added a quick search/find list at the bottom of the article in case you are looking for one or two immediate answers. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on Twitter @BobbyFantasyPro.

Quick Link to view the entire spreadsheet and search for players quickly at this link.

Running Backs

- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
  - Regarding the Vikings backfield: If we do not know for sure that Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison are out by Sunday, I’d move Boone down to a B, Should Start
    - If you can, get yourself a backup plan for Mike Boone on Monday Night in case Cook or Mattison plays instead one of your useless bench plays
    - If Dalvin starts, he is a B+, Strong Start and Boone drops to a C-, Shouldn’t Start
    - If Dalvin is out and Mattison starts, he is a B, Should Start and Boone is a C, Could Start
- Start of the Week: Mike Boone (remember, this is a player you wouldn’t always feel comfortable starting, not the best player)
- Stream of the Week: Patrick Laird (remember, this doesn’t mean he is a great start, it means he is the best of what is available on waivers)
- Fade of the Week: Ronald Jones II
Break in the chart is between RB40/RB41
Implied refers to how many points Vegas is projecting their team to score

Wide Receivers

- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
  - If D.J. Chark is active, he leaps to a B, Should Start and Chris Conley/Dede Westbrook drop to C-, Shouldn’t Starts
- Start of the Week: Breshad Perriman
- Stream of the Week: Justin Watson (remember, this doesn’t mean he is a great start, it means he is the best of what is available on waivers)
- Fade of the Week: Darius Slayton
Break in the chart is between WR40/WR41

Quarterbacks

- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
- Start of the Week: Ryan Tannehill
- Stream of the Week: Gardner Minshew
- Fade of the Week: Josh Allen

Tight Ends

- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
- Start of the Week: Jacob Hollister
- Stream of the Week: Mike Gesicki
- Fade of the Week: Greg Olsen

Search, Find and Player Cards

Michael Thomas (WR – NO): 120, A+, Must Start
DeAndre Hopkins (WR – HOU): 114, A+, Must Start
Travis Kelce (TE – KC): 100, A+, Must Start
Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR): 100, A+, Must Start
Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL): 100, A+, Must Start
Davante Adams (WR – GB): 99, A+, Must Start
Chris Carson (RB – SEA): 99, A+, Must Start
Deshaun Watson (QB – HOU): 99, A+, Must Start
Ezekiel Elliott (RB – DAL): 98, A+, Must Start
Julio Jones (WR – ATL): 98, A+, Must Start
George Kittle (TE – SF): 97, A+, Must Start
Zach Ertz (TE – PHI): 97, A+, Must Start
Joe Mixon (RB – CIN): 97, A+, Must Start
Saquon Barkley (RB – NYG): 96, A+, Must Start
Russell Wilson (QB – SEA): 96, A+, Must Start
Keenan Allen (WR – LAC): 95, A, Must Start
Tyler Lockett (WR – SEA): 94, A, Must Start
Mike Boone (RB – MIN): 93, A, Must Start
Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC): 93, A, Strong Start
Amari Cooper (WR – DAL): 93, A, Must Start
Leonard Fournette (RB – JAC): 93, A-, Must Start
Tyreek Hill (WR – KC): 92, A-, Must Start
Dak Prescott (QB – DAL): 92, A-, Should Start
Kyler Murray (QB – ARI): 92, A-, Should Start
Marlon Mack (RB – IND): 92, A-, Must Start
Devante Parker (WR – MIA): 91, A-, Must Start
Alvin Kamara (RB – NO): 91, A-, Must Start
Devonta Freeman (RB – ATL): 90, A-, Must Start
Darren Waller (TE – OAK): 89, A-, Must Start
Stefon Diggs (WR – MIN): 89, A-, Must Start
Derrick Henry (RB – TEN): 89, A-, Must Start
D.J. Moore (WR – CAR): 89, B+, Strong Start
Ryan Tannehill (QB – TEN): 88, B+, Could Start
Nick Chubb (RB – CLE): 88, B+, Strong Start
A.J. Brown (WR – TEN): 88, B+, Strong Start
Julian Edelman (WR – NE): 88, B+, Strong Start
Mark Ingram (RB – BAL): 87, B+, Strong Start
Adam Thielen (WR – MIN): 87, B+, Strong Start
Jameis Winston (QB – TB): 87, B+, Could Start
Matt Ryan (QB – ATL): 86, B+, Could Start
Miles Sanders (RB – PHI): 86, B+, Strong Start
Drew Brees (QB – NO): 86, B+, Could Start
D.K. Metcalf (WR – SEA): 86, B+, Strong Start
Will Fuller (WR – HOU): 86, B+, Strong Start
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN): 85, B, Should Start
Allen Robinson (WR – CHI): 85, B, Should Start
Aaron Rodgers (QB – GB): 85, B, Could Start
Tyler Boyd (WR – CIN): 84, B, Should Start
Kirk Cousins (QB – MIN): 84, B, Could Start
Phillip Lindsay (RB – DEN): 84, B, Should Start
Aaron Jones (RB – GB): 84, B, Should Start
Michael Gallup (WR – DAL): 84, B, Should Start
Austin Hooper (TE – ATL): 84, B, Strong Start
Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS): 84, B, Should Start
Jarvis Landry (WR – CLE): 84, B, Should Start
Todd Gurley (RB – LAR): 83, B, Should Start
Le’Veon Bell (RB – NYJ): 83, B, Should Start
Philip Rivers (QB – LAC): 83, B, Could Start
Melvin Gordon (RB – LAC): 83, B, Should Start
Raheem Mostert (RB – SF): 83, B, Should Start
Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC): 83, B, Should Start
Adrian Peterson (RB – WAS): 83, B, Should Start
James Conner (RB – PIT): 83, B, Should Start
Carson Wentz (QB – PHI): 83, B, Could Start
Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR): 82, B-, Should Start
Robert Woods (WR – LAR): 82, B-, Should Start
Hunter Henry (TE – LAC): 82, B-, Should Start
David Montgomery (RB – CHI): 82, B-, Could Start
Breshad Perriman (WR – TB): 82, B-, Should Start
Jacob Hollister (TE – SEA): 82, B-, Should Start
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR – CLE): 81, B-, Should Start
T.Y. Hilton (WR – IND): 81, B-, Should Start
Mike Williams (WR – LAC): 81, B-, Should Start
Gardner Minshew (QB – JAC): 81, B-, Could Start
DeAndre Washington (RB – OAK): 81, B-, Could Start
Christian Kirk (WR – ARI): 80, B-, Should Start
Devin Singletary (RB – BUF): 80, B-, Could Start
Emmanuel Sanders (WR – SF): 80, B-, Should Start
Kenyan Drake (RB – ARI): 80, B-, Could Start
Kenny Golladay (WR – DET): 80, B-, Should Start
Sterling Shepard (WR – NYG): 80, B-, Should Start
Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB – MIA): 79, B-, Could Start
Dede Westbrook (WR – JAC): 79, C+, Could Start
Mark Andrews (TE – BAL): 78, C+, Could Start
Anthony Miller (WR – CHI): 77, C+, Could Start
Marquise Brown (WR – BAL): 77, C+, Could Start
John Brown (WR – BUF): 77, C+, Could Start
Justin Watson (WR – TB): 77, C+, Could Start
Deebo Samuel (WR – SF): 77, C+, Could Start
Curtis Samuel (WR – CAR): 76, C+, Could Start
Carlos Hyde (RB – HOU): 76, C+, Could Start
Chris Conley (WR – JAC): 76, C+, Could Start
Dallas Goedert (TE – PHI): 75, C, Could Start
James White (RB – NE): 75, C, Could Start
Andy Dalton (QB – CIN): 75, C, Shouldn’t Start
Larry Fitzgerald (WR – ARI): 74, C, Could Start
Golden Tate (WR – NYG): 74, C, Could Start
Jamison Crowder (WR – NYJ): 74, C, Could Start
James Washington (WR – PIT): 74, C, Could Start
Sony Michel (RB – NE): 74, C, Could Start
Kenny Stills (WR – HOU): 74, C, Could Start
Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT): 74, C, Could Start
Royce Freeman (RB – DEN): 73, C, Could Start
Kareem Hunt (RB – CLE): 73, C, Could Start
Sammy Watkins (WR – KC): 73, C, Could Start
Jimmy Garoppolo (QB – SF): 73, C, Shouldn’t Start
Greg Ward (WR – PHI): 73, C, Could Start
Randall Cobb (WR – DAL): 72, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Cole Beasley (WR – BUF): 72, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Darius Slayton (WR – NYG): 72, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Jared Cook (TE – NO): 72, C-, Could Start
Tyler Higbee (TE – LAR): 72, C-, Could Start
Jacoby Brissett (QB – IND): 72, C-, Crazy Start
Mitch Trubisky (QB – CHI): 72, C-, Crazy Start
Latavius Murray (RB – NO): 72, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Jack Doyle (TE – IND): 72, C-, Could Start
Tarik Cohen (RB – CHI): 72, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Danny Amendola (WR – DET): 71, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Corey Davis (WR – TEN): 71, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Ronald Jones II (RB – TB): 71, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Mike Gesicki (TE – MIA): 71, C-, Could Start
Patrick Laird (RB – MIA): 71, C-, Shouldn’t Start
O.J. Howard (TE – TB): 71, C-, Could Start
Zach Pascal (WR – IND): 71, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Drew Lock (QB – DEN): 70, C-, Crazy Start
Noah Fant (TE – DEN): 70, C-, Could Start
Jamaal Williams (RB – GB): 70, C-, Shouldn’t Start
John Ross (WR – CIN): 70, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Russell Gage (WR – ATL): 70, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Kerryon Johnson (RB – DET): 70, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Matt Breida (RB – SF): 70, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Kyle Rudolph (TE – MIN): 70, C-, Could Start
Josh Allen (QB – BUF): 69, C-, Crazy Start
LeSean McCoy (RB – KC): 69, C-, Shouldn’t Start
Daniel Jones (QB – NYG): 69, C-, Crazy Start
Will Grier (QB – CAR): 69, C-, Crazy Start
Nyheim Hines (RB – IND): 68, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Tyrell Williams (WR – OAK): 68, D+, Crazy Start
Kelvin Harmon (WR – WAS): 67, D+, Crazy Start
Allen Lazard (WR – GB): 67, D+, Crazy Start
Keelan Cole (WR – JAC): 67, D+, Crazy Start
Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN): 66, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Greg Olsen (TE – CAR): 66, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Boston Scott (RB – PHI): 66, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Peyton Barber (RB – TB): 66, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Robby Anderson (WR – NYJ): 66, D+, Crazy Start
Jonnu Smith (TE – TEN): 66, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Gus Edwards (RB – BAL): 66, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Albert Wilson (WR – MIA): 66, D+, Crazy Start
Steven Sims (WR – WAS): 66, D+, Crazy Start
Alex Erickson (WR – CIN): 65, D, Crazy Start
Tevin Coleman (RB – SF): 65, D, Crazy Start
Ted Ginn (WR – NO): 65, D, Crazy Start
Chris Thompson (RB – WAS): 65, D, Crazy Start
Darwin Thompson (RB – KC): 65, D, Crazy Start
Irv Smith Jr. (TE – MIN): 64, D, Crazy Start
D.J. Chark (WR – JAC): 64, D, Crazy Start
Jalen Richard (RB – OAK): 64, D, Crazy Start
Baker Mayfield (QB – CLE): 64, D, Crazy Start
Allen Hurns (WR – MIA): 63, D, Crazy Start
Mohamed Sanu (WR – NE): 63, D, Crazy Start
Brandin Cooks (WR – LAR): 63, D, Crazy Start
Myles Gaskin (RB – MIA): 63, D-, Crazy Start
Wes Hills (RB – ARI): 62, D-, Crazy Start
Spencer Ware (RB – KC): 61, D-, Crazy Start
Mecole Hardman (WR – KC): 61, D-, Crazy Start
Christian Blake (WR – ATL): 61, D-, Crazy Start
Marcus Johnson (WR – IND): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Rex Burkhead (RB – NE): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Duke Johnson (RB – HOU): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Jason Witten (TE – DAL): 60, D-, Crazy Start
David Johnson (RB – ARI): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Phillip Dorsett (WR – NE): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Darren Fells (TE – HOU): 59, D-, Crazy Start
Tom Brady (QB – NE): 58, F, Crazy Start
Cameron Brate (TE – TB): 58, F, Crazy Start
Kaden Smith (TE – SF): 57, F, Crazy Start
Jordan Akins (TE – HOU): 57, F, Crazy Start
Jared Goff (QB – LAR): 55, F, Crazy Start
Devlin Hodges (QB – PIT): 54, F, Crazy Start
Tyler Eifert (TE – CIN): 53, F, Crazy Start
Jimmy Graham (TE – GB): 51, F, Crazy Start
Hayden Hurst (TE – BAL): 51, F, Crazy Start
Dwayne Haskins (QB – WAS): 50, F, Crazy Start
Blake Jarwin (TE – DAL): 49, F, Crazy Start
Dawson Knox (TE – BUF): 49, F, Crazy Start
Derek Carr (QB – OAK): 48, F, Crazy Start
David Blough (QB – DET): 41, F, Crazy Start
Sam Darnold (QB – NYJ): 40, F, Crazy Start

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NFL Chris Conley Latavius Murray Tom Brady Josh Allen Jameis Winston Chris Godwin Mike Evans Dalvin Cook Alexander Mattison Mike Boone Patrick Laird D.J. Chark Dede Westbrook Breshad Perriman Justin Watson Darius Slayton Ryan Tannehill Gardner Minshew Jacob Hollister Mike Gesicki Greg Olsen Michael Thomas DeAndre Hopkins Travis Kelce Christian McCaffrey Lamar Jackson Davante Adams Chris Carson Deshaun Watson Ezekiel Elliott Julio Jones George Kittle Zach Ertz Joe Mixon Saquon Barkley Russell Wilson Keenan Allen Tyler Lockett Patrick Mahomes Amari Cooper Leonard Fournette Tyreek Hill Dak Prescott Kyler Murray Marlon Mack Devante Parker Alvin Kamara Devonta Freeman Darren Waller Stefon Diggs Derrick Henry D.J. Moore Nick Chubb A.J. Brown Julian Edelman Mark Ingram Adam Thielen Matt Ryan Miles Sanders Drew Brees D.K. Metcalf Will Fuller Courtland Sutton Allen Robinson Aaron Rodgers Tyler Boyd Kirk Cousins Phillip Lindsay Aaron Jones Michael Gallup Austin Hooper Terry McLaurin Jarvis Landry Todd Gurley Le’Veon Bell Philip Rivers Melvin Gordon Raheem Mostert Austin Ekeler Adrian Peterson James Conner Carson Wentz Cooper Kupp Robert Woods Hunter Henry David Montgomery Odell Beckham Jr. T.Y. Hilton Mike Williams DeAndre Washington Christian Kirk Devin Singletary Emmanuel Sanders Kenyan Drake Kenny Golladay Sterling Shepard Ryan Fitzpatrick Mark Andrews Anthony Miller Marquise Brown John Brown Deebo Samuel Curtis Samuel Carlos Hyde Dallas Goedert James White Andy Dalton Larry Fitzgerald Golden Tate Jamison Crowder James Washington Sony Michel Kenny Stills Diontae Johnson Royce Freeman Kareem Hunt Sammy Watkins Jimmy Garoppolo Greg Ward Randall Cobb Cole Beasley Jared Cook Tyler Higbee Jacoby Brissett Mitch Trubisky Jack Doyle Tarik Cohen Danny Amendola Corey Davis Ronald Jones II O.J. Howard Zach Pascal Drew Lock Noah Fant Jamaal Williams John Ross Russell Gage Kerryon Johnson Matt Breida Kyle Rudolph LeSean McCoy Daniel Jones Will Grier Nyheim Hines Tyrell Williams Kelvin Harmon Allen Lazard Keelan Cole Boston Scott Peyton Barber Robby Anderson Jonnu Smith Gus Edwards Albert Wilson Steven Sims Alex Erickson Tevin Coleman Ted Ginn Chris Thompson Darwin Thompson Irv Smith Jr. Jalen Richard Baker Mayfield Allen Hurns Mohamed Sanu Brandin Cooks Myles Gaskin Wes Hills Spencer Ware Mecole Hardman Christian Blake Marcus Johnson Rex Burkhead Duke Johnson Jason Witten David Johnson Phillip Dorsett Darren Fells Cameron Brate Kaden Smith Jordan Akins Jared Goff Devlin Hodges Tyler Eifert Jimmy Graham Hayden Hurst Dwayne Haskins Blake Jarwin Dawson Knox Derek Carr David Blough Sam Darnold