It’s fantasy championship week, folks! Let’s set those fantasy lineups and take home a championship! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups in a given week for fantasy football leagues. Each week, I’ll examine the quarterbacks who could either exceed or fail to meet expectations based on their weekly opponent.
For your final lineup decisions, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them daily! Also, make sure you subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt Podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and me, as we break down all things fantasy football five days a week!
Key Starts for Championship Week
When it comes to wide receivers, you want to make sure you’re starting the right players in your championship lineup. Here are some of the top options to consider:
Start of the Week: Terry McLaurin vs. Falcons
Terry McLaurin vs. Falcons (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): McLaurin is low-hanging fruit as far as fantasy predictions, but the matchup against the Falcons makes him a potential top-five wideout this week. Their pass defense has allowed eight touchdown catches, 14.5 yards per catch, and the most fantasy points to opposing perimeter receivers over the last eight weeks. In what could be a shootout on Sunday night, McLaurin should post huge totals.
Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Titans
Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Thomas Jr. is the hottest wide receiver in fantasy football, scoring a combined 60.7 points in his last two games. He’s a virtual set-it-and-forget-it player in championship week, as he faces a Titans defense he beat for eight catches, 86 yards, and 16.6 fantasy points back in Week 14. Thomas Jr., who has a very high first-read rate from Mac Jones, could be a major fantasy league winner.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Bears
Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Bears (Thurs. 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video): Smith-Njigba had yet another big stat line last week, scoring 24 points. He has now finished with no less than 19.6 points in six of his last seven games, and he’s seen a whopping 24 targets in the last two weeks. He should remain a must-start player against the Bears, who have allowed three touchdowns and the sixth-most fantasy points to slot receivers since Week 13.
Courtland Sutton at Bengals
Courtland Sutton at Bengals (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network): Sutton has seen his point totals decline in three straight weeks, culminating in a 10-point stat line in last week’s loss to the Chargers. I’d continue to start him this week, however, as Sutton has a great matchup against the Bengals next on the schedule. Their defense has allowed 13-plus points to wideouts 15 times, including 10 who have beaten them for 18-plus points.
Jakobi Meyers at Saints
Jakobi Meyers at Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Meyers has seen his stats decline in each of his last five games, but he should bounce back in a favorable matchup against the Saints. Over the last eight weeks, their defense has given up eight touchdown catches and the seventh-most points per game to perimeter receivers. So, even though Meyers has not put up great numbers lately, he’s still worth a look as a flex starter in championship week.
Wide Receivers to Avoid
While there are plenty of players to start, there are also some who should be kept on the bench this week. Here are the wide receivers to avoid:
Sit of the Week: Marvin Harrison Jr. at Rams
Marvin Harrison Jr. at Rams (Sat. 8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network): Harrison Jr. was likely my biggest preseason whiff. Despite all the things that seemed to line up for him, he’s been held to single digits in three straight games and four of his last five. He’s averaging just 10.9 points per game this year. So, while he did beat the Rams for 130 yards and 29 points back in Week 2, it’s impossible to trust him in championship week.
Jerry Jeudy vs. Dolphins
Jerry Jeudy vs. Dolphins (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Jeudy was one of the hottest wide receivers in fantasy football, but Jameis Winston’s benching has thrown cold water on his stats. In Week 16, with Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center, Jeudy scored just four points. That’s a far cry from the 21.1 points per game he averaged with Winston. If DTR gets the call again this week, Jeudy will once again be a sit ‘em, this time against the Dolphins.
DeAndre Hopkins at Steelers
DeAndre Hopkins at Steelers (Wed. 1 p.m. ET, Netflix): Hopkins has seen his numbers tumble in the last three weeks, scoring no more than 13.2 fantasy points while putting up single digits in each of his last two games. Last weekend’s return of Hollywood Brown has also created more confusion in terms of the target share in what is suddenly a crowded Chiefs pass attack, so Hopkins will be tough to trust in fantasy championship week.
Michael Pittman Jr. at Giants
Michael Pittman Jr. at Giants (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Pittman Jr. continues to struggle in the stat sheets, as he’s failed to score double digits in three straight games and seven of his last eight games overall. A matchup against the Giants isn’t great on paper either, as their defense has allowed five touchdowns and the eighth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in the last eight games. Keep Pittman Jr. on the sidelines this weekend.
Jameson Williams vs. 49ers
Jameson Williams vs. 49ers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Williams is coming off a huge 26-point performance in a win over the Bears. That makes it tough to sit him, and a game against the 49ers could turn into a shootout. Still, the Niners have allowed just 64.4 yards per game to perimeter receivers, not to mention the third-fewest points to the position in the last eight weeks. That includes holding Tyreek Hill to a mere 29 yards one week ago.
This week is crucial for your fantasy teams, so make those lineup decisions carefully. Whether you’re starting a potential star or sitting a struggling player, every point counts. Good luck, and may your fantasy championship dreams come true!
