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Christmas Gift: Start/Sit fantasy football playoff quarterbacks

By Darwin (Deni) Martin

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals scrambles out of the pocket away from linebacker Tae Crowder #48 of the New York Giants in the first quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on December 13, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals scrambles out of the pocket away from linebacker Tae Crowder #48 of the New York Giants in the first quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on December 13, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Christmas is a season for giving, so here are the best quarterbacks to start and the quarterbacks you should sit in week 16 (the playoffs) of the fantasy football season.

Tier 1 Starting Quarterbacks

We’ll start with the top tier (8 starters) at quarterback and highlight the “Surefire Starters” for week 16 in that group .

  1. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals quarterback – Start.  Previous Tier 1 rating – No. 2.  Overall – No. 1.  Murray’s 33.14 fantasy football points (FFP) against Philadelphia pushed him ahead of Patrick Mahomes into the No. 1 spot at quarterback.  Expect around 20 points against division-rival San Francisco in week 16.
  2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City  Chiefs quarterback – Surefire Starter.   Previous Tier 1 rating – No. 1.  Overall – No. 2.  Mahomes slipped to No. 2 simply because Murray scored 8 more FFP in week 15.  Plus when you are the No. 1 quarterback in the NFL facing playoff contenders every weekend, the likelihood of posting 30+ points is significantly reduced.  This week the Chiefs face the Falcons and Atlanta’s secondary is vulnerable.  Expect Mahomes to catch and pass Murray this holiday weekend.
  3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills quarterback- Surefire Starter.  Previous Tier 1 rating – No. 3.  Overall – No. 3. Allen outscored Murray, 37.66 to 33.14 FFP, in week 15 and clinched the AFC East Division championship.  Expect Allen to keep pace with Murray and score 20+ points against New England.
  4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers quarterback – Start.   Previous Tier 1 rating – No. 5.  Overall – No. 4.   Rodgers has scored at least 21 FFP per game 11 out 14 GAMES week 7.  Look for him to post 20 points against the Titans in week 16.
  5. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback – Start.  Previous Tier 1 rating – No. 4.  Overall – No. 5.   Week 16 opponent – Los Angeles Rams.  Projection – 18 FFP.
  6. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans quarterback – Start.  Previous Tier 1 rating – No.6.  Overall – No. 6.   Week 16 opponent – Cincinnati Bengals.  Projection – 20  FFP.
  7. Ryan Tannehill,  Tennessee Titans quarterback – Start.  Previous Tier 1 rating – No.7.  Overall – No. 7.   Week 16 opponent – Cincinnati Bengals.  Projection – 18 FFP.
  8. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback, – Start.  Previous Tier 2 rating – No. 2.  Overall – No. 8.   Week 16 opponent – New York Giants.  Projection – 20 FFP.

Tier 2 Starting Quarterbacks

This group of quarterbacks is averaging 15-20 FFP per week, though there may be a “sleeper”” among them.

  1.  Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback – Start.  Previous Tier 1 Rating – No. 8. Overall – No. 9. Week 16 opponent – Denver Broncos.  Projection – 20 FFP.
  2. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback– Surefire Starter.  Previous Tier 2 Rating – No. 1. Overall – No. 10. Week 16 opponent – Detroit Lions. Given the weakness of the Lions defense, Brady should have no trouble scoring points in this week 16 game.  Projection – 23+ FFP.
  3. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings quarterback – Sit. Previous Tier 2 Ranking – No. 4.  Overall – No. 11. Week 16 opponent – New Orleans Saints.   Projection – 15 FFP.
  4. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons quarterback –  Sit. Previous Tier 2 QB Rating – No. 6.  Overall – No. 12.  Week 16 opponent – Kansas City Chiefs.  Projection – 18 FFP.
  5. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback – Sit. Previous Tier 2 Rating – No. 3. Overall – No. 14. Week 16 opponent –Indianapolis Colts.  Projection – 17 FFP.
  6. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions quarterback – Sit. Previous Tier 2 Rating – No. 5. Overall – No. 14. Week 16 opponent –Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Projection – 16 FFP.
  7.  Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams quarterback – Sit. Previous Tier 3 Rating – No. 1. Overall – No. 15. Week 16 opponent –Seattle Seahawks. Projection – 15 FFP.
  8. Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers quarterback – Sit. Previous Tier 3 Rating – No. 3. Overall – No. 16. Week 16 opponent –Washington Football Team. Projection – 15 FFP.

Tier 3 Starting Quarterbacks

This group of quarterbacks is averaging 10-15 FFP per week.

  1. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns quarterback – “Sleeper” pick because the Browns are playing the Jets and need a victory to stay in the playoff  hunt..
  2. Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts quarterback – Sit.
  3. Cam Newton, New England Patriots quarterback – Sit.
  4. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback – Sit.
  5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints quarterback – Sit.
  6. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins quarterback – Sit.
  7. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback – Sit.
  8. Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears quarterback – Sit.

Next. NBA DFS picks December 25. dark

Tier 4 Quarterbacks

This group of quarterbacks should be “riding the bench”.

  1. Gardner Mishner, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
  2. David Jones, New York Giants quarterback
  3. Drew Lock, Denver Broncos quarterback
  4. Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
  5. Nick Mullens, San Francisco 49ers quarterback
  6. Sam Darnold, New York Jets quarterback
  7. Mike Glennon, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
  8. Brandon Allen, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
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