By Andy Goddard @Godsy1985
If you have made it to your fantasy league Championship game, congratulations! However, this is the toughest week of all! We again have games on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday to help ease you through the Christmas weekend so don’t forget to set your line-ups early. Do you rely on the players that have got you this far, or are there some players on the waiver wire that could catapult you to championship glory?
If you aren’t lucky enough to be involved in a fantasy game this weekend why not have a look at DFS? Either way this is the most important weekend of the fantasy football season so lets have a look as those essential starts and sits for Championship weekend. Good luck!
Don’t forget to keep your #EyesPeeled for tomorrow’s podcast where we dive into a full preview of the weekend games and make sure you head over to Twitter (@F10YFantasy) for “Start ‘em, sit ‘em, GIF ‘EM!”.
Sunday Late Games
Carolina Panthers @ Washington Football Team
Start of the Game
J.D. McKissic (RB) – Washington Football Team
McKissic had a useful day in the week 15 loss against Seattle, carrying the ball 13 times for 51 yards and adding nine catches for a further 51 yards and a touchdown. With Antonio Gibson side-lined, McKissic had double digit carries in back to back games. If Gibson is still missing this week, McKissic is a definite starter and even if Gibson returns, he should still hold some flex value in PPR formats as he is currently second in the NFL in targets for a running back.
Other Notable Starts
Carolina Panthers – Robby Anderson (WR), D.J. Moore (WR)
Washington Football Team – Terry McLaurin (WR), Logan Thomas (TE), D/ST
Sit of the Game
Mike Davis (RB) – Carolina Panthers
In the week 15 loss to the Packers, Davis rushed 14 times for 59 yards and caught both of his targets. His workload has been limited in recent weeks and this matchup is not a favourable one. McCaffrey may also be active for this one which could limit him further.
Other Notable Sits
Carolina Panthers – D/ST
Washington Football Team – N/A
Denver Broncos @ LA Chargers
Start of the Game
Justin Herbert (QB) – LA Chargers
Herbert completed 22 of 32 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns in the win against the Raiders. He also added 14 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground to seal the win in overtime. After a couple of frustrating weeks, the rookie was back to his early season form and that should continue against a wilting Broncos defence.
Other Notable Starts
Denver Broncos – Melvin Gordon (RB), Noah Fant (TE)
LA Chargers – Austin Ekeler (RB), Keenan Allen (WR), Tyron Johnson (WR), Hunter Henry (TE)
Sit of the Game
Jerry Jeudy (WR) – Denver Broncos
Jeudy managed to haul in just one of his five targets in week 15. In fact, Jeudy has only managed to catch 45.1 percent of the 91 passes thrown his way in the 2020 season! To compound matters further, he hasn’t had more than two receptions since week 11 when he caught three passes. On championship weekend, you are going to need more production than what he can offer!
Other Notable Sits
Denver Broncos – Drew Lock (QB)
LA Chargers – N/A
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
Start of the Game
Jalen Hurts (QB) – Philadelphia Eagles
The rookie QB threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to the Cardinals whilst adding 63 yards and another touchdown on the ground. Hurts has provided a much needed spark for the Eagles offence and the Cowboys defence isn’t scaring anyone right now.
Other Notable Starts
Philadelphia Eagles – Miles Sanders (RB), Dallas Goedert (TE)
Dallas Cowboys – Tony Pollard (RB), Ceedee Lamb (WR)
Sit of the Game
Dalton Schultz (TE) – Dallas Cowboys
Schultz caught both of his targets for 14 yards and a touchdown in the win over the 49ers. Schultz has seen just 11 targets over the past four games so you should have better options in your fantasy team. Any fantasy value is touchdown dependant.
Other Notable Sits
Philadelphia Eagles – D/ST
Dallas Cowboys – N/A
LA Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Start of the Game
Jared Goff (QB) – LA Rams
Goff completed 22 of 34 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the surprise defeat to the Jets. He is currently in a little bit of a slump but in the first meeting between the two sides, Goff threw for over 300 yards. With Cam Akers struggling due to an ankle injury, more emphasis may be put on the passing game which could lead to a big game for the Rams QB!
Other Notable Starts
LA Rams – Robert Woods (WR), Cooper Kupp (WR), D/ST
Seattle Seahawks – Chris Carson (RB), DK Metcalf (WR), Tyler Lockett (WR)
Sit of the Game
Russell Wilson (QB) – Seattle Seahawks
Wilson started the season in MVP form but is back to his late season fantasy form and slumping in tough matchups. The Rams may have gifted the Jets their first win of the season but this game doesn’t provide you with much hope that Wilson will turn it around against a strong defence. He threw for just 121 yards against Washington in week 15 and just isn’t trustworthy enough right now.
Other Notable Sits
LA Rams – Darrell Henderson (RB), Malcolm Brown (RB), Tyler Higbee (TE)
Seattle Seahawks – D/ST
Sunday Night Football
Tennessee Titans @ Green Bay Packers
Start of the Game
Ryan Tannehill (QB) – Tennessee Titans
Tannehill had a big day in week 15 throwing for 273 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Detroit Lions. He completed 21 of 27 passes and added two more touchdowns on the ground. The task isn’t easy against a good Packers defence but they will have to stop Derrick Henry first which will give opportunities to Tannehill on play action passes.
Other Notable Starts
Tennessee Titans – Derrick Henry (RB), A.J. Brown (WR)
Green Bay Packers – Aaron Rodgers (QB), Aaron Jones (RB), Davante Adams (WR), Robert Tonyan (TE)
Sit of the Game
Corey Davis (WR) – Tennessee Titans
Davis recorded four receptions on six targets for 110 yards and a touchdown in week 15 against the Lions. Davis has the potential to score big but I just don’t like the matchup in this one as he will be tailed by Jaire Alexander.
Other Notable Sits
Tennessee Titans – Jonnu Smith (TE)
Green Bay Packers – D/ST
Monday Night Football
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
Start of the Game
Sony Michel (RB) – New England Patriots
Sony Michel will be the lead back with Damien Harris still out injured. He rushed for 74 yards in the loss to Miami and the only way the Pats look likely to score points, or move the ball, is on the ground.
Other Notable Starts
Buffalo Bills – Josh Allen (QB), Devin Singletary (RB), Stefon Diggs (WR), D/ST
New England Patriots – Jakobi Myers (WR)
Sit of the Game
Cam Newton (QB) – New England Patriots
The Cam Newton experiment in New England hasn’t exactly worked out. He is struggling to throw and isn’t really picking up many yards on the ground either. With the Pats out of playoff contention, they may even decide to see what they have with Jarrett Stidham but either way, don’t put any hopes on Cam.
Other Notable Sits
Buffalo Bills – Cole Beasley (WR)
New England Patriots – James White (RB)
For the latest on each player’s start and sit status, make sure you checkout @F10YFantasy on Twitter. Remember, keep those #EyesPeeled.