Scott Engel is in his 14th year as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis and weekly fantasy football rankings at RotoBaller.com and he is also a host on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio.

We will enter the second round of the fantasy football playoffs in most leagues in NFL Week 16. Once again, we remind you to not overthink your lineup decisions and lean mainly on the players that have brought you this far.

Don't play a less reliable guy based on a better matchup over your most established point producers. Make lineup decisions that can maximize the scoring output, and don't consider who the other team is starting when evaluating your own lineups. The goal is to simply outscore the other team. You cannot control the output of the opponent.

As we get closer to fantasy football championship week, many fantasy leaguers who have gotten this far can thank NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Jason Myers for his important role in helping them advance in Week 14.

The Seahawks' kicker was the No. 1 player at the position entering Week 16, with 182 points, which was over 21 points ahead of the second-most productive kicker. Myers also leads in average points per game for kickers, at 13.0. His six made field goals against the Colts totaled 24 fantasy points.

Fantasy players who are making deep playoff runs have paid attention to kicker trends throughout the season. When some of the skill position players don't produce as hoped, a strong outing from a kicker can boost a fantasy team to a win.

Here are our players to ride with in Week 16 when faced with tight lineup calls. The analysis is mainly based on PPR formats, and players are listed in order of starting lineup preference at their respective positions.

NFL Week 16: Running Backs To Start

START Jonathan Taylor: Some fantasy players might be questioning whether to start Taylor, because major quarterback issues are affecting the Colts' offense. In Week 15, Indianapolis scored only 16 points in a loss to the Seahawks. Taylor averaged 3.5 yards per carry and did not register a rushing touchdown for the third time in four games.

Still, the Colts' star carried the ball 25 times and totaled 99 yards from scrimmage. Taylor will continue to see a heavy volume, which should at least give him a respectable statistical floor. Expect another conservative offensive approach this week against the 49ers that heavily features Taylor. The workload will mark him as a decent RB2 play, and he does have the talent and abilities to deliver a bigger play at any time.

Reserving Taylor for a less reliable RB could be the type of move that may backfire in a very important fantasy week. Not every player in your lineup needs to provide significant upside. Some must be capable of supplying adequate production, and that is what Taylor will provide.

START Omarion Hampton: The Chargers' rookie carried the ball 15 times last week, tying his second-highest rushing attempts total for the season. He will be playing in his third game since returning from an ankle injury, and Los Angeles will likely want to rely on its running game to control the clock against Dallas.

The Cowboys rank 24^th in Fantasy Points Per Game Allowed to RBs over the past four weeks. Hampton is sharing some work with Kimani Vidal, but he has shown flashes of promise in his last two games. The Chargers rank 13^th in the NFL in run plays per game (27.5) and might aim to win the time of possession battle rather than getting involved in a full shootout.

START Tony Pollard: The Tennessee offense is showing signs of life recently, scoring 24-plus points in three of its last four games. Pollard has seen more running room open up, as he has rushed for 365 yards and three TDs in his last two games. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry in Week 14 and 7.4 yards per carry in Week 15.

Per PlayerProfiler.com, Pollard is third in the NFL in carries against stacked defensive fronts, but Cam Ward is starting to progress more as a passer, which helps the Tennessee running game. Kansas City's offense won't be as fearsome without Patrick Mahomes this week, and the Chiefs defense may spend more time on the field. Pollard can be started as a quality low-end RB2/flex option.

START Aaron Jones: The Minnesota veteran is a viable flex play because of a favorable matchup. The Giants have allowed the most rushing yards to RBs among NFC teams this season. Jones is sharing carries, yet he remains versatile, as he caught 20 passes in four games recently (Weeks 11 to 13). He can provide double-figure PPR production this week. .

NFL Week 16: Wide Receivers To Start

START DK Metcalf: The Steelers are making a strong bid to take the AFC North title, and Metcalf has re-emerged as a true playmaking threat in the past two games. He caught 12 passes for 148 yards in Week 14 and notched his sixth TD reception of the season last week. Over the past four weeks, the Lions have allowed the most Fantasy Points Per Game to opposing WRs.

Pittsburgh will certainly have to throw the ball often enough to keep pace with Detroit. Metcalf should be viewed as a must-start fantasy WR2 for the second round of the fantasy football playoffs.

START Jauan Jennings: Over the past four weeks, the Colts have allowed the most receiving yards to WRs among AFC teams. The 49ers will be looking to keep pace in the NFC West, and Brock Purdy is coming off a three-TD performance. Jennings caught two of those scoring passes and has four TD receptions over the past four games.

This could be a week when you get good yardage totals and a TD catch from Jennings as a WR3/flex play.

START Courtland Sutton: Denver's top pass-catcher finished as the No. 4 WR in fantasy football last week, catching seven passes for 113 yards and a TD. Sutton has been targeted 20 times in the past two games. The Broncos rank sixth in team pass plays per game (37.3), and over the past four weeks, the Jaguars have allowed the most receptions to WRs among AFC teams.

START Jayden Higgins: This is a recommendation for those needing a deeper play at WR or a flex spot. Before last week, Higgins was targeted five-plus times in five consecutive games, with three outings of seven-plus targets. Las Vegas ranks 27^th in FFPG allowed to WRs. Per PlayerProfiler, the Texans rank eighth in passing plays per game (37.1), and C.J Stroud should spread the ball around effectively this week.

NFL Week 16: Quarterbacks To Start

START Jared Goff: Detroit is looking to keep its playoff hopes alive and will aggressively attack a Steelers defense that ranks 26^th in FFPG allowed to opposing QBs. Goff has finished as a top 10 fantasy QB in three of his last four games, and he is aiming to pass for 300-plus yards for the third consecutive week.

START Jacoby Brissett: The Arizona QB has been a pleasant fantasy surprise this season, and can be relied on in the fantasy playoffs. Brissett has finished as a fantasy QB1 in nine consecutive games. He passed for three TDs last week against the formidable Houston defense. Opponents often look to the air against Atlanta, which ranks 26^th in passing completions allowed to QBs over the past four weeks.

Whether the Cardinals are staying in a game or playing from behind, they will rely heavily on Brissett, who has logged 40-plus passing attempts in six straight games.

NFL Week 16: Tight Ends To Start

START Darren Waller: Miami is making a QB change, and rookie Quinn Ewers' TE should be dependable. Cincinnati has been the best fantasy matchup for opposing TEs all season, and a proven target like Waller will be a necessary safety outlet for the new Dolphins starter.

START Juwan Johnson: If you are searching for a decent streaming TE for Week 16, consider Johnson. The Saints will be without starting WR Devaughn Vele this week, and Johnson might be busy against the Jets. New York's pass defense has allowed 25 TD passes this season, which is tied for 27^th in the league.

Week 16 Defenses To Stream: New Orleans (vs. New York Jets), San Francisco (vs. Indianapolis), Minnesota (vs. New York Giants), Tampa Bay (vs. Carolina).