Week 16 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Candidates: Quarterbacks
Wondering whom to start and sit at quarterback this week? Below are two top-notch start and two sit options at the quarterback position for Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season.
Week 15 Review – half-PPR scoring
Starts
- QB Mike White (New York Jets) vs. Detroit Lions – N/A fantasy points (N/A)
- QB Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 22.24 fantasy points (QB8)
Sits
- QB Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns) vs. Baltimore Ravens – 12.64 fantasy points (QB21)
- QB Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders) vs. New England Patriots – 20.24 fantasy points (QB10)
Quarterback – Starts
Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) @ Miami Dolphins
The Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins’ week-high 49.5-point over/under is exceptionally notable in a slate containing seven games totaled at less than 40.0 points.
Aaron Rodgers excitingly got one of his go-to wide receivers, rookie Romeo Doubs, back from a high-ankle sprain in Week 15. The electric Doubs stormed his way to a 50.0% targets per route run rate and a 5.5 yards per route run rate which topped the charts among NFL wide receivers with at least five targets in Week 15, per 4for4’s NFL Player Stats Explorer.
Miami’s pass defense is allowing 20.2 half-PPR points per game to opposing quarterbacks, the fourth most in the NFL per 4for4’s Hot Spot: Team-Level SOS. Miami’s 243.6 passing yards allowed per game are the seventh most in the NFL per 4for4’s NFL Team Stats Explorer.
Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs game is totaled at 48.5 points, the second highest over/under on the slate.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith gets the position's fifth-softest matchup this week. Kansas City is allowing 19.7 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and Smith brings with him a top-10 passing EPA per play rate (0.1) and a top-five adjusted yards per pass attempt rate (8.09). His services will be required from start to finish as Kansas City’s No. 1 ranked offense (428.0 passing yards per game) pushes the pace.
Though Smith will be playing without No. 2 wide receiver Tyler Lockett (broken second metacarpal), backup wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (1.55 yards per route run) can suffice in his stead.
Kansas City’s defense is allowing 228.9 passing yards per game, the 11th most in the NFL, and their 8.2% explosive pass plays allowed rate ranks 13th most.
Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) vs. New York Giants
The Minnesota Vikings boast a 25.75-point implied team total versus the New York Giants. The game features a healthy 48.0-point over/under.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins is averaging 7.03 adjusted yards per pass attempt (No. 13) and 17.6 fantasy points per game (No. 12). Minnesota’s high-flying offense is averaging a top-five 9.3% explosive passing plays rate which pairs nicely with New York’s 9.0% explosive passing plays allowed rate, tied for the seventh highest average in the NFL.
*Check out the full QB Rankings here.
Quarterback – Sits
Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders) @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers game is totaled at a lowly 39.5 points and Pittsburgh is limiting opposing quarterbacks to just 13.9 fantasy points per game, the ninth fewest in the NFL.
Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr has struggled versus the blitz this year, -0.102 EPA per play when blitzed, ranking 22nd among 33 qualifying quarterbacks.
Pittsburgh’s 9.3% six-rusher rate trails only the New York Giants’ 10.0%. Edge rusher T.J. Watt has made his presence felt since returning to the lineup in Week 10, boosting Pittsburgh’s quarterback pressure rate (23.4%) to No. 7 in the league.
