Fantasy football advice, Week 16: Who to start/sit for New York Jets vs. New England Patriots

Fantasy owners know what’s at stake at this point of the season, and when the Patriots take on the Jets, there are lots of volatile options that won’t sit well in the nervous stomachs of those competing for fantasy league championships. Let’s take a look at the options for one of Saturday night’s games:

So, remember what Matt Moore did to the Jets in Week 15? Now they will have to do battle with Tom Brady, who poses an even greater, obvious threat. For fantasy owners who made it this far despite Brady being held in check by the Broncos pass defense, they could potentially see Brady go off against his division rivals. Brady and Julian Edelman are must-starts against a shell of a Jets team that has little left to play for.

Fantasy owners may have seen a changing in the guard amid the Patriots backfield on Sunday. Dion Lewis, who could be a focal point in an offense that no longer has Rob Gronkowski, parlayed 20 touches into 104 yards against the Broncos after getting just 13 touches in his previous two contests combined. It’s an indication that Lewis is fully over his ACL injury after being eased into action upon his return, but the Patriots’ backfield situation remains a murky one. Lewis and LeGarrette Blount remain flex options, but fantasy owners have to be aware of the chance of the Patriots’ backfield going with the hot hand.

With Martellus Bennett at less than 100 percent, and with James White ceding touches to Lewis, neither are advised starts even in a good matchup.

Bilal Powell is the new No. 1 back in New York with Matt Forte listed as doubtful due to a knee injury. With Forte increasingly unlikely to take the field on Saturday, Powell remains the lead back and could potentially even be the Jets’ leading receiver after catching 11 passes in a blowout loss to the Dolphins. Though it’s an unfavorable circumstance for the Jets to have to rely on Powell so much, fantasy owners who got him on the cheap won’t complain. Powell is an RB1, and wide receiver Robby Anderson can also be started as a flex after garnering a heavy share of targets with Bryce Petty at the helm.

Brandon Marshall hasn’t been much of a fantasy factor in weeks, and remains out of the fantasy conversation with Petty in for Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fantasy owners will also not have to rely on the young quarterback in a tough matchup on the road.