Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Wide Receivers Fantasy Football Week 16: Rashee Rice Will Run Roughshod Over Raiders

The Chiefs' rookie delivers a Christmas Day gift for fantasy managers.

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Fabs’ Top 10 Wide Receivers

1. Tyreek Hill vs. Cowboys
2. CeeDee Lamb at Dolphins
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown at Vikings
4. A.J. Brown vs. Giants
5. Justin Jefferson vs. Lions
6. Cooper Kupp vs. Saints (Thur.)
7. Michael Pittman Jr. at Falcons
8. Stefon Diggs at Chargers (Sat.)
9. Mike Evans vs. Jaguars
10. DJ Moore vs. Cardinals

Week 16 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Week 16 Start ’Em: Wide Receivers

Start of the Week

Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

Rashee Rice vs. Raiders (Mon. 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Rice has been spectacular in recent weeks, scoring at least 14 points in four straight games including two with more than 20 points. One of those games came against this week’s opponent, the Raiders. Their defense has allowed 18-plus points to at least one wide receiver in four of their last five games, which makes Rice an attractive No. 2 wideout.

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Start ’Em

Garrett Wilson vs. Commanders (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Wilson has failed to score double digits in two of his last three games, but it’s still tough to ignore this week’s matchup against the Commanders. Their defense has been awful against wideouts this season, allowing 22 touchdowns and the second-most fantasy points to the position. It also allowed the second-most PPR points to perimeter receivers.

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Seahawks (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Hopkins is coming off a real stinker, scoring just 4.1 PPR points in a loss to the Texans. He had scored 15-plus points in three of his previous four games, however, and a matchup against Seattle is a positive one. Their defense has allowed the fifth-most points to opposing wide receivers, making Hopkins a viable No. 2 fantasy option this weekend.

Calvin Ridley at Buccaneers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Ridley has struggled in the last three weeks, failing to score more than 9.3 points. Still, he’s in a good spot to rebound when the Jaguars face the Buccaneers. Their defense has struggled when it comes to defending the perimeter, allowing seven touchdowns and the ninth-most points per contest. That makes Ridley an attractive flex option this week.

Jordan Addison vs. Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Addison is coming off a big game, scoring a pair of touchdowns and 29.1 PPR points with Nick Mullens under center. He’s also found a lot of success when Justin Jefferson is drawing attention, and that will be the case again versus the Lions. Their defense has allowed the ninth-most points per game to wide receivers, so Addison is a terrific flex option.

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More Starts

Tee Higgins at Steelers (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
Diontae Johnson vs. Bengals (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
Zay Flowers at 49ers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Jordan Addison vs. Lions ($6,000)
Garrett Wilson vs. Commanders ($5,800)
Tyler Lockett at Titans ($5,600)

Week 16 Sit ’Em: Wide Receivers

Sit of the Week

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Terry McLaurin at Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS): McLaurin, who was listed as a start ’em last week, put up a huge stat line in a loss to the Rams. I wouldn’t chase the points this week, though, as McLaurin faces Sauce Gardner and a Jets defense that’s tough on wideouts at home. In fact, their defense has allowed just two touchdowns and the second-fewest points to the position while playing at MetLife Stadium.

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Sit ’Em

Drake London vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, Fox): London, also a sit ’em last week, was held to just 4.4 PPR points in a loss to the Panthers. He’s also failed to post double digits in three of his last five games, and a matchup against the Colts looks tough on paper. Their defense has allowed just one touchdown and the seventh-fewest points to receivers over the last four weeks, so London is a risk-reward flex.

George Pickens vs. Bengals (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, NBC): Pickens has been a dud in the stat sheets for fantasy managers, scoring fewer than 10 points in seven of his last eight games. He could also be in the doghouse of head coach Mike Tomlin a week after standing around instead of making a block on a play near the end zone last week. The Bengals also held Pickens to a meager eight points in Week 12.

Jakobi Meyers at Chiefs (Mon. 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Meyers is coming off a solid game, scoring 15.7 points in a win over the Chargers. He had been held to single digits in three of his previous four games, though, and a matchup against Kansas City isn’t favorable. Their defense has allowed seventh-fewest points to wideouts, and it's given up the third-fewest points to opposing receivers at Arrowhead.

Noah Brown vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Brown put up a huge game last week, scoring 22.2 points in a win over the Titans. He had failed to score a single point in each of his previous two games, however, and the potential return of Nico Collins would hurt his target share. Brown also faces a bad matchup against Cleveland, as their defense has allowed the second-fewest points to wide receivers in 2023.

More Sits

Joshua Palmer vs. Bills (Sat. 8 p.m. ET, Peacock)
Marquise Brown at Bears (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Demario Douglas at Broncos (8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Adam Thielen vs. Packers ($5,900)
Terry McLaurin at Jets ($5,700)
Jayden Reed at Panthers ($5,400)