Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Audric Estime, RJ Harvey, Terry McLaurin

Week 16 fantasy football is here, which means the margin for error is thinner than your FAAB budget in October. Most leagues are deep into the second round of the fantasy playoffs, where one bold start or one ill-timed dud can be the difference between a championship run and aggressively pretending you “didn’t really care this year anyway.” There’s no room left for vibes-only lineup decisions. Now it’s about squeezing every last edge out of matchups, roles, and trends.

That’s where this list comes in. Below, you’ll find Week 16 sleepers and duds pulled directly from our Featured Pros, highlighting players they’re confident can swing matchups in either direction. Whether you’re chasing upside or just trying to avoid a catastrophic zero, these expert-backed start/sit insights are designed to help you survive another week — and keep the dream alive.

Fantasy Football Week 16 Start/Sit Advice

Sleepers

Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is a good sleeper start, and why do you think he has upside this week?

Audric Estime (RB – NO)

“I was shocked to see Audric Estime looking so explosive with some late-game receiving work against Carolina. With Devin Neal ruled out, I’m interested in Estime as a sneaky play against the Jets.”
– Scott Pianowski (Yahoo! Sports)

“If the Saints are down both Alvin Kamara and Devin Neal in Week 16, Audric Estime could make for an interesting Flex play. The Jets have given up the second-most points to running backs this year, and are just coming off a week in which they conceded four touchdowns to the position, three receiving scores from Travis Etienne Jr. and one from Bhaysul Tuten. If Estime can get the lead snaps, he will face competition from Evan Hull. Estime could make for a worthwhile start in the fantasy semi-finals this week.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

“Devin Neal and Alvin Kamara owners need to pick up Audric Estime. When Neal went down last week, Estime came in and had three receptions for 39 yards and 11 rushing yards on three carries. If Neal and Kamara don’t play, Estime could be elevated to the No. 1 RB role and be a decent Flex option for teams limping through the playoffs against a downtrodden Jets defense.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

“A strong sleeper start for round two of the fantasy playoffs is Audric Estime. With Devin Neal dealing with a hamstring injury and Alvin Kamara sidelined, Estime played 20 snaps and operated as the Saints’ primary receiving back last week. Even in a near 50/50 split with Evan Hull, Estime’s passing-game role raises his weekly floor, which is valuable for avoiding a dud. The matchup further boosts his upside, as the Jets rank 30th in defensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), 26th in points allowed and are the second-easiest defense against running backs this season. If Neal and Kamara miss this week, volume combined with an exploitable matchup makes Estime a viable plug-and-play running back option in a pinch.”
– Ryan Linkletter (Blitz Sports Media)

“I suspect that Audric Estime won’t be outside of the top 100 in ECR by Sunday. Devin Neal is banged up, and Alvin Kamara might not be ready to come back for the Saints, who have an attractive Week 16 matchup against the Jets. Estime and Evan Hull split work last week after Neal left the game, and it was actually Estime who was more involved as a pass-catcher, with three receptions for 39 yards. If Neal and Kamara are both out, Estime will be a viable starter in fantasy semifinals week.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

“Audric Estime. If Devin Neal can’t go, I’d expect the former Notre Dame product to seize a decent-sized role in an awesome matchup. Estime ended out-touching Evan Hull last week after Neal’s departure while edging him out in total snaps (36% versus 32%). The Jets have allowed five straight top-10 fantasy finishes to running backs. Estime played 45% of the third-down snaps, which suggests he should remain involved in the passing game. He is also the more physically imposing back, measuring at 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Duds

Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?

RJ Harvey (RB – NO)

“RJ Harvey is a fantasy landmine this week. While he’s been a breakout star, his late-game rib injury is a big red flag, especially as the Broncos scrambled to claim Cody Schrader off waivers, making Harvey’s status shaky. Even if he does happen to suit up, he’s up against a brick wall; the Jaguars are the second-stingiest defense in the entire league when it comes to giving up fantasy points to running backs. Let’s be real, the injury plus a matchup against an elite rush defense equals a fantasy disaster. It’s a low-floor gamble that’s almost guaranteed to shatter your playoff dreams.”
– Luke Renton (The Franchise Tag UK)

“Not only is RJ Harvey dealing with an injury that could sideline him completely, but if he plays, he’ll be facing a Jacksonville front that has ceded just the 2nd-fewest fantasy points to opposing backs. And while their pass rush has been solid, it really has been their ability to shut down the run that has highlighted their rise in the AFC South over the past few weeks. Their five-game win streak is highlighted by limiting Tony Pollard, Jonathan Taylor and Breece Hall to a combined 172 total yards and one touchdown over the past three weeks. Harvey faces an uphill battle to even play, then an uphill battle to produce in an awful matchup. I’m sitting him everywhere I can this week.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)

Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)

“Over the last three weeks, the Eagles haven’t allowed a receiver to score more than 7.6 PPR points, which means I’ll be avoiding all Commanders wideouts this week, specifically Terry McLaurin. Since his Week 13 return, McLaurin has scored twice and has delivered a top-10 and top-20 finish. However, this is the time of the year to trust the matchup data and pivot elsewhere if your roster has a better play on paper.”
– Matt De Lima (Athlon Sports)