Fantasy football advice, Week 16: who to start/sit for Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers

Fantasy owners know what’s at stake at this point of the season, and when the Falcons take on the Panthers, 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’s games:

Julio Jones is not even on the Falcons injury report, which is welcome news for fantasy owners who were fortunate to make it this far in the playoffs without him. As a reward, Jones will face the same defense he tagged for 300 yards in their last meeting. Even though Jones is coming off of a toe injury, fantasy owners cannot afford to do without his upside in the most critical week of fantasy football. Jones’ floor may be lower than usual, but he is still a WR2 that needs to be in lineups. Matt Ryan’s upside can be considered greater with Jones in the lineup at any capacity, which makes him a top-flight QB1 against the NFL’s 32^nd ranked pass defense. Devonta Freeman can also remain in lineups as usual as a solid RB2.

If Jones resumes his post atop of the pecking order from targets, things could get muddy for the rest of the Falcons receiving corps. Taylor Gabriel and Mohamed Sanu are expected to be in the mix as usual, but either disappearing from the stat sheet is just as likely as them posting huge totals. With the Panthers’ woeful pass defense lining up across from them, either make for upside flex plays, but ones with severe downside as well.

With the Panthers’ dominant run defense being a rare bright spot amid a lost season, there may not be enough fantasy value in the Falcons running game to trickle down to Tevin Coleman. He would be a desperate flex option at best in a less-than-ideal matchup.

Week 15’s shellacking of Washington’s defense was a “get right” spot for the slumping Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, and Jonathan Stewart, and all should remain in starting lineups against a Falcons defense that ranks 29^th in pass defense and is surrendering 4.4 yards per carry.

Kelvin Benjamin just cannot be trusted, as he hasn’t separated himself from the rest of the Panthers receivers over the last five weeks, failing to eclipse 56 yards in a game or find the end zone in that span. Ted Ginn has instead been surprisingly serviceable in four of his last five contests, scoring touchdowns in four of those games and logging 64 yards or more in three of them. If a Panthers receiver is going to be counted on for championship week, it’s Ginn, although fantasy owners have to be aware of his obvious downside regardless of matchup.

Benjamin, Devin Funchess, and Philly Brown can remain out of consideration for Week 16’s slate of fantasy championship games, even in a favorable matchup.