The San Francisco 49ers close out their 2016 road schedule in Week 16 as they travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams. The game kicks off at 1:25 p.m. PST on Saturday. We are officially into the fantasy football championship game for most fantasy leagues out there. If you are in a league with a Week 17 title game, change leagues! Here is a look at numerous start/sit options in the 49ers-Falcons game, and around the league. Don’t forget that most NFL games are on Saturday this week!
Quarterbacks
49ers-Rams: Colin Kaepernick was looking like a seriously viable fantasy quarterback heading into Week 13, but he has struggled since. He bounced back with a decent effort in Week 15 thanks to no turnovers, but against a bad Falcons defense, it was still disappointing. He faces a shaky Rams defense, but that might not be enough reason to start him unless you’re desperate. Jared Goff appears to have cleared the concussion protocol, but even against a bad 49ers defense, I don’t see how you can justify starting him. Start: ; Maybe start: Colin Kaepernick; Sit: Jared Goff
Starts: It has been up and down for Andrew Luck and the Colts, but look for a shoout out in Oakland. I have to choose between Luck and Kap in a league, and I’ll be going with Luck ... Blake Bortles has been inconsistent for extended stretches, but the Titans have given up the fourth most fantasy points to quarterbacks ... Russell Wilson had a bad game in Arizona in October, but look for him to bounce back against a Cardinals team that is bad on the road.
Sits: It has been a tough year for Ben Roethlisberger, and he gets a tough matchup this week against Baltimore. You generally will start him, but lower your expectations ... People like the Titans matchup in Jacksonville, but the Jaguars have given up the seventh fewest points to quarterbacks. Beware with Marcus Mariota ... Andy Dalton and the Bengals have had a rough year, and they have to travel to face a solid Texans defense in Week 16.
Running Backs
49ers-Rams: Carlos Hyde and Todd Gurley entered this season as intriguing options. Hyde missed half of last season with a foot injury, but has managed to stay mostly healthy this season. He had a sprained AC joint, but otherwise is healthy, and closing in on 1,000 rushing yards. He is inconsistent, but has had some big games heading into this matchup against a tough defensive front. Gurley had first round RB1 potential in standard leagues, while Hyde was an injury question mark, but still viewed as incredibly talented. It has been a mostly lost season for Gurley, who has only four double digit performances in standard leagues. Of course, he faces an awful 49ers defense, and even though they shut him down in Week 1, I think he bounces back big. Start: Todd Gurley; Maybe start: Carlos Hyde; Sit: Everyone else
Starts: Frank Gore gets a soft Raiders defense this week ... Robert Kelley faces a Bears defense that is getting shredded on the ground ... Jeremy Hill is interesting in a, “he’s going to get plenty of work” kind of way.
Sits: Adrian Peterson is back on the field, but there was not much to write home about last week. Expectations should remain low ... Dwayne Washington got starting work with Theo Riddick out, and was a disappointment. The Cowboys have given up the second fewest fantasy points to running backs, so he is not a good option ... Jay Ajayi is struggling to do much, and it shouldn’t get any easier in Buffalo.
Wide Receivers
49ers-Rams: The 49ers lost Quinton Patton to a broken foot, and Torrey Smith is unlikely to play due to a concussion. That leaves Jeremy Kerley as the leading receiver, with Chris Harper, Rod Streater, Aaron Burbridge, and DeAndre Smelter behind him. Yep. On the other side, you’ve got Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin, and Brian Quick as Goff’s primary recievers. Yep. Start: None; Maybe start: None; Sit: Everybody
Starts: Take your pick of Saints receivers at home this week ... Go to town on Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree against a bad Colts defense. I expect a shootout ... I’d like to see Cleveland upset San Diego, but I won’t hold my breath. Cash in with Tyrell Williams.
Sits: The Jets are a mess and they have sunk Brandon Marshall’s fantasy value ... What happened to Allen Robinson? ... Larry Fitzgerald remains a decent PPR play, but on the road against Seattle is a bad matchup.
Tight Ends
49ers-Rams: I thought the wide receivers were bad, and then I looked at the tight ends. The 49ers will send out Garrett Celek, Je’Ron Hamm, and Jim Dray. The Rams will send out Lance Kendricks and Tyler Higbee. Seriously? Start: None; Maybe start: None; Sit: Everybody
Starts: Eric Ebron has not found the end zone since Week 1, and has struggled the past three weeks, but consider it a hunch as he goes against a Cowboys team giving up the seventh most fantasy points to tight ends ... Vernon Davis could be a value play with Jordan Reed not looking nearly 100 percent ... If C.J. Fiedorowicz is cleared from his concussion, he has a plus matchup against the Bengals.
Sits: Houston has given up the third fewest fantasy points to tight ends, and Tyler Eifert is sufficiently inconsistent that you should lower your expectations ... Ladarius Green is in the concussion protocol, but even if he does play, he has a bad matchup with Baltimore.