Assessing Week 16 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Decisions Involving Courtland Sutton and Ladd McConkey
Helping fantasy football owners determine which wide receiver should be in their week 16 starting lineups.
The Thursday night NFL matchup between the Chargers and Broncos is a critical one for playoff purposes, but there’s not a ton of great fantasy starting options from the game.
Outside the two quarterbacks in the game, which we covered in a story earlier in the week, the only other players from the game to appear on the FantasySP start/sit tool are wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Ladd McConkey.
Let’s discuss those two wideouts and help fantasy owners make a decision on the best starting options.
Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.
Thursday Wide Receiver Outlooks
Sutton has 878 receiving yards and six touchdowns across 66 receptions and 113 targets this season. He scored 12 fantasy points last week, which was his lowest mark over the past seven contests.
Sutton has at least eight targets in every outing in that seven-game span, and he’s scored four of his touchdowns. Last week was the first time in that span that he hasn’t gone for at least 70 yards.
Sutton’s matchup against the Chargers is pretty average. He went for 53 yards and a touchdown on four catches and six targets in the team’s first meeting back in week 6.
McConkey has 873 yards and five scores across 63 catches and 88 targets for the season. He returned to the field in week 15 after missing a game with an injury and had 58 yards and a touchdown on five grabs and seven targets.
McConkey has scored at least 14 fantasy points in the past four games he’s played in. He has at least six targets and five catches in that span.
His matchup against the Broncos is a much tougher one, as Denver is one of the top defenses in slowing fantasy wideouts. Back in week 6, the rookie wideout went for 43 yards on four receptions and eight targets against Denver.
Both receivers are projected for 16 PPR fantasy points.
Other Wideouts to Consider
In my story on the top Thursday starting options, I listed Sutton as the best fantasy wideout in the Thursday game and thought he should be starting in most fantasy leagues, while McConkey was closer to the start/sit line.
Instead, it’s Sutton who is appearing in more trending decisions in the start/sit tool. He’s up against DeVonta Smith, Khalil Shakir, Drake London, Terry McLaurin and George Pickens, while McConkey is in trending decisions with McLaurin and Tyreek Hill.
Smith, who is working through a back injury, has 662 receiving yards and six scores across 56 receptions and 74 targets this season. He’s scored 14 and 28 fantasy points since getting back on the field after an injury.
Smith takes on the Commanders in week 16, which is a slightly below-average matchup on paper. He’s projected for 14 PPR fantasy points and went for 29 yards on four grabs and six targets in the team’s last meeting.
Sutton is his team’s No. 1 passing target, while Smith is the Eagles’ No. 2. So with Sutton having a bit better matchup and having a more positive outlook, I’m taking him over Smith, and fantasy owners agree.
Shakir has 774 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 71 catches and 88 targets this season. He’s scored 16 and 22 fantasy points the past two weeks.
Shakir faces the Patriots this week, which is another average matchup for a wide receiver. He’s projected for 14 PPR points.
This start/sit decision is closer than the Sutton, Smith debate, in my opinion. I like Sutton’s total body of work more, so I’m taking him over Shakir, and many fantasy owners are in agreement.
London is up to 919 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 receptions and 118 targets. He has scored at least 12 fantasy points in three straight games, and that was while the Falcons’ offense was struggling mightily.
Atlanta made a quarterback change this week and will be starting Michael Penix instead of Kirk Cousins. London will go up against the Giants, who are actually a below-average matchup for a wide receiver. The Atlanta wideout is set for 15 PPR points.
I like London a bit more most weeks, but in Penix’s first start and a bit tougher matchup, I actually like Sutton more. Fantasy owners do not agree with me, although this is another situation in which I’d try to get both wideouts in my starting lineup.
Pickens is still dealing with his hamstring injury, so that needs to be factored in if you are deciding between Sutton and Pickens before tonight’s game. Pickens has 850 yards and three touchdowns on 55 grabs and 90 targets despite missing the past two games.
Pickens would take on the Ravens this week if he plays. It’s a pretty favorable matchup on paper, and he went for 89 yards on eight catches and 12 targets in the team’s first meeting. Pickens is projected for 12 PPR points, but that would likely increase if he’s active.
If Pickens was active, I’d be starting him over Sutton. However, it doesn’t sound like Pickens is going to play.
With a decision needed before Thursday’s game kicks off, I’m taking Sutton over Pickens. Fantasy owners agree, but if Pickens ends up playing, I’d do my best to get him into my lineup too.
McLaurin has 969 yards and 11 touchdowns on 68 receptions and 92 targets this season. He’s scored at least 21 fantasy points in three straight games.
McLaurin faces the Eagles in week 16, which is a very tough matchup on paper. He was held to just 10 yards on a catch and two targets against Philly back in week 11. McLaurin is projected for 17 PPR points.
I know his last game against the Eagles was a tough one, but as a top-five PPR fantasy wideout this season, it’s really hard for me to sit McLaurin. While I’d try to get McLaurin and Sutton in my starting lineup together, I do prefer McLaurin over Sutton, and fantasy owners are in agreement.
Seeing as I like Sutton over McConkey, I like McLaurin that much more over McConkey. Fantasy owners agree. The only difference between this decision and the McLaurin, Sutton one is that here, McConkey isn’t necessarily someone I’d still try to get into my starting lineup.
Hill is still listed with a wrist injury, but he’s been playing through it and performing fairly well most weeks. He has 805 yards and five scores on 67 catches and 103 targets this season. Hill had just six fantasy points last week, but went for 28 and 20 the previous two games.
Hill takes on the Niners in week 16, which sets up as a very tough matchup. He is projected for just 14 PPR fantasy points, which is a very low mark for Hill.
Despite having a tougher matchup and being projected for less points, Hill is still the preferred fantasy starter over McConkey, and it’s not all that close. I think this is a much closer decision than fantasy owners are making it out to be, but I also prefer Hill ever so slightly. His fantasy upside is just too high to sit him in favor of McConkey.
I do think McConkey should be starting in a good amount of standard leagues, but the matchups on the start/sit tool simply don’t favor him today. Use the tool and insert your players against McConkey if you have more questions involving the Chargers’ wideout.
