Sit/Start Week 16: Reviewing All the Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Giants@Redskins

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, December 22nd at 1:00 PM EST

Location: FedExField, Landover, MD

Betting Odds: WAS -2.5, 42 total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Sleeper Spotlight: Terry McLaurin

 

New York Giants

 

Quarterbacks:

• Eli Manning (Sit)
• Daniel Jones (Sit)

 

The teams first win since Week 4 (!), and Eli Manning was under center in front of the home crowd. Surely it felt like a farewell game for the New York lifer, but it’s quite possible Manning finishes out the season as Daniel Jones nurses his ankle injury. Jones did practice last week, but I just don’t see any reason to bring him back in these final two games. No matter who is starting, despite the plus matchup against the Redskins, I wouldn’t pivot to either in my league(s).

 

Running Back:

• Saquon Barkley (Start, RB2 with RB1 upside)

 

There are the Saquon Barkley owners have been waiting on all season. If you’ve made it this far with him on your squad, congrats. Barkley went off against the Dolphins, carrying the ball 24 times for 112 yards and two scores. He also had four receptions on five targets for 31 yards. I’m banking on Barkley to have similar success against the Redskins, as the two enter the game with the same record of 3-11.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight End:

• Darius Slayton (Start, FLEX)
• Sterling Shepard (Start, WR3)
• Golden Tate (Start, WR3)
• Kaden Smith (Sit)
• Rhett Ellison (Sit)

 

Rookie Darius Slayton is having a solid season all things considered; QB changes and being on an overall bad team. He’s been able to find the end zone eight times and could do so again. His target share was low against Miami, only have been looked at three times. He’s better suited with Jones’ stronger arm, but I would consider him a FLEX option at best. Both Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate are on the WR3 radar, giving Sterling the edge because of recent target share counts.

 

Evan Engram was placed on IR on Tuesday, making Kaden Smith the only healthy tight end with Rhett Ellison still in the concussion protocol. Smith is nothing more than a touchdown-dependent TE2.

 

Washington Redskins

 

Quarterback:

• Dwayne Haskins Jr. (Sit)

 

In his finest game to date, Dwayne Haskins Jr. went toe-to-toe with Carson Wentz, almost leading Washington to an upset over the Eagles. Haskins kept clean of the ball, throwing two touchdowns in the first half and 261 yards total on the day. He gets a nice matchup at home against the Giants, but he’s certainly not a recommended start.

 

Running Backs:

• Adrian Peterson (Start, RB2)
• Chris Thompson (Sit)

 

With Derrius Guice out of the picture, Adrian Peterson has taken full control of the Washington backfield. Age has been just a number for AP, as he’s posted double-digit fantasy points in full-PPR formats since Week 13, and scored in all three games. With Chris Thompson a non-factor behind him, Peterson will remain a reliable source in the Redskins offense.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight End:

• Terry McLaurin (Start, WR3 with WR2 upside)
• Steve Sims Jr. (Sit)
• Jeremy Sprinkle (Sit)

 

This list is a short one. Terry McLaurin appears back on the map after scoring in back to back games. Against the Eagles porous secondary, he blew up catching all five of his targets for 130 yards and a touchdown. The Giants’ defense has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, so this is a prime spot for McLaurin to continue producing. Steve Sims Jr., even with Trey Quinn now on IR, is not on the fantasy radar. Tight end Jeremy Sprinkle remains a non-factor.

-Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)