Skip to main content
Advertising
Presented by

Fantasy Football Insider: Week 16 Fantasy Football Super Bowl Guide

Seahawks.com Fantasy Insider Scott Engel offers a look at who to start heading into Fantasy Football Super Bowl week.

If you are reading this column with a heavy focus, it means you enjoyed a successful Week 15 and won your Fantasy Football playoff quarterfinal game. Those who won their matchup while watching the Seahawks this week also saw the team vault back to the top of the NFC playoff seedings, so it was a good week for them as both as Fantasy owners and NFL fans.

So here you are in Fantasy Football Super Bowl week, and you may be putting more pressure on yourself than at any other time this season. But don't overthink your decisions now. After making it this far you should be brimming with confidence about winning it all. Now is not the time to start stressing out and becoming more anxious.

As legend has it, Russell Wilson asked Terry Bradshaw before Super Bowl XLVIII what it would take to win the title. You should apply Bradshaw's advice to your own Fantasy Football Super Bowl mentality.

"You've got to be really cool," Bradshaw said. "Don't let the moment catch up with you."

Week 16 Fantasy Football Super Bowl Guide

Usually in this space, we give you a jump-start on waiver players to consider. But with only two teams left playing in your league and not many injuries of significance affecting outlooks after Week 15, we will combine any possible waiver adds with highly recommended one-week plays for your Fantasy Super Bowl lineups. At this point, you know who your key starters and must-plays are, but we help you build around them to create the optimum squad to win your championship this week. We feature any free agent targets remaining along with strongly suggested players you may not start consistently who belong in your lineups for your championship showdown.

Running Back Adds and Recommended Starters

Add Mike Boone, Vikings: Owned in only 0.2 percent of NFL.com leagues, Boone delivered when he was pressed into action in Week 15, rushing for 56 yards and two TDs on 13 carries. Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) are both injured, so Boone may be a useful streamer as the Vikings take on the Packers in a major NFC North showdown in Week 16.

Add Kerryon Johnson, Lions: He only has 31.8 percent ownership, as many cut him when he went down with a knee injury earlier this season. Johnson is reportedly targeting a Week 16 return as he has sufficiently recovered from a surgical procedure. Monitor reports on his progress this week, but he could be useful at least as a flex play.

Start Devonta Freeman: Jacksonville has consistently been one of the best teams to start RBs against this season. Freeman could have one of his best games of the season on his home turf.

Start Melvin Gordon: Expect him to rebound from a down week, as he lost two fumbles against Minnesota. Gordon rushed for 108 yards and a TD vs. Oakland in Week 10 and will bounce back vs. the Raiders.

Wide Receiver Adds and Recommended Starters

Add and Start Breshad Perriman, Buccaneers: He is only owned in 5.9 percent of leagues and will be the hottest waiver add of the week. Perriman had a career day against the Lions in Week 15, and was the second-highest-scoring Fantasy WR of the week with 34.60 points. The Buccaneers may now be without Chris Godwin after already losing Mike Evans, and Perriman will likely become Jameis Winston's top target in a viable matchup with Houston on Saturday.

Add Anthony Miller, Bears: Owned in 10.5 percent of leagues, Miller had a season-best 26.80 Fantasy points in Week 15 and has been surging lately as the Bears passing game has started to find new life. He faces the Chiefs in Week 16 and Mitchell Trubisky may try to trade some offensive punches with Patrick Mahomes. He will keep Miller involved, and you should add him for Fantasy WR3 or flex consideration.

Start DK Metcalf, Seahawks: His picturesque 19-yard TD catch on Sunday started the scoring off for the Seahawks in their win over the Panthers on Sunday. Metcalf has earned regular consideration for Fantasy lineups in his rookie season and should certainly be started as he faces the Cardinals. Arizona has one of the most vulnerable pass defenses in the league.

Start Michael Gallup, Cowboys: He was held to one catch for six yards in the Week 16 win over the Rams, but should quickly bounce back in Week 16. The running game led the charge for the Cowboys on Sunday, but look for them to attack the Philadelphia secondary this upcoming week. Gallup is going to get some big-play and scoring chances in a highly anticipated matchup that can decide who will be the NFC East champion.

Tight Ends

Start Jacob Hollister, Seahawks: At TE, there is no one you should add off the waiver wire and plug into your starting lineup at this point. Go with what and who you know. The Cardinals have been a top team to start your tight ends against all year long. Hollister has become worthy of regular starting consideration for your lineups and the matchup is ideal.

Start Austin Hooper, Falcons: He only has 56 receiving yards since he returned to action in Week 14, but Hooper was targeted twice for game-winning scores on the final drive at San Francisco in Week 15. Matt Ryan is trying hard to get him involved in the offense again and Hooper was a top Fantasy TE1 earlier this season. Look for him to recapture his better form in your championship week.

Quarterbacks

Start Carson Wentz, Eagles: This is not really a week to stream QBs that you usually would not start, as the better ones seem to have the ideal matchups in most cases. Wentz is not a surefire starter, but someone you need to consider if you have been rotating starters every week. He has to deliver at least two TD passes in a game of major importance.

Start Matt Ryan, Falcons: He is another borderline starter type, but as you are seeing in this article, the Falcons have a good draw against the Jacksonville defense this week. The Jaguars have been one of the more generous AFC teams against the pass over the past month-plus.

Fantasy Football Super Bowl Week Tips

-Do not overthink your lineup decisions. Don't second, third and fourth guess yourself. Make the most informed calls possible and realize that you cannot control what happens after the games start.

-Only use matchups to govern decisions between similarly ranked players. Don't start a less proven or reliable player over one who has been producing all year based only on an opposing draw.

-Don't bench your superstars because of matchups or weather concerns. Patrick Mahomes survived the snow to throw for 340 yards in Week 15. Winds above 15 mph or major storms are the only certain detrimental factors.

-Don't concern yourself with your opponent's lineup. You cannot control who they start or how they produce. Unlike the real NFL, you cannot gameplan to limit the opposition. Don't base your lineup decisions on who the other team starts. While pregame projections are also fun to review, they do not provide a true picture of how the game will turn out.

-Be patient and let the games play out before assuming anything. Last week, many owners assumed they would lose to teams who rostered Lamar Jackson on Thursday night. But somecame back to win on Sunday. The 2013 Seahawks generated two of the biggest comebacks in team history, from 21 and 17 points down. You must be patient with your squad and let all the NFL games develop before you start truly believing that you are winning or losing.

-Read my Fantasy Football Playoff Guide to Survival and Sanity to mentally prepare yourself for this big week.

Game action photos from the Seattle Seahawks' Week 15 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

Related Content

Advertising