Start em or sit em? Fantasy football start or sit decisions can be excruciating. While it feels great to make the right call and cruise to fantasy glory, it hurts just as much when you have someone erupt while on your bench. You can use our Who Should I Start? tool to gauge advice from fantasy football experts as you make your lineup decisions. And you can also sync your fantasy football league for free using our My Playbook tool for custom advice, rankings and analysis.
Let’s dive into our start/sit lineup advice and outlook for a few of the top fantasy football waiver wire pickups of the week.
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Fantasy Football Start’em, Sit’em Lineup Advice
Michael Carter (RB – ARI)
Bam Knight was carted off the field with an ankle injury against the Texans in Week 15. With Knight out, Michael Carter was the lead back. Although the Cardinals’ offense met its match against an elite Texans defense, Carter finished with 14 carries for 56 yards on the ground and four receptions for 38 yards. Considering that he did this against the Texans, Carter could very well provide RB2 numbers against the Falcons and Bengals over the next two weeks. Monitor Knight’s status and adjust bids accordingly, but with Trey Benson now on season-ending injured reserve (IR), Carter and Emari Demercado are basically the only backs left in Arizona. Carter out-snapped Demercado 53-7 in a negative game script, suggesting that Carter might be a rare plug-and-play running back this late in the season.
Blake Corum (RB – LAR)
The Rams’ offense is rolling, and Blake Corum has seen double-digit carries in each of his last two games. He’s also scored four touchdowns in his last three games. The Rams also lost Davante Adams to a hamstring injury on Sunday. As a result, this team may be forced to lean on its one-two running back punch of Corum and Kyren Williams. Even against a stout Lions defense, Corum had 11 carries for 71 yards and a score. Meanwhile, Williams also came through with 15 carries, 78 yards and two scores on the ground. This week, the Rams have a massive divisional game against the Seahawks. Corum has proven to be a reasonable Flex option late in the regular season.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WSH)
It seems fitting to end the season with Jacory Croskey-Merritt being an attractive pickup after he was such a popular player in August. With Chris Rodriguez Jr. missing Week 15 with a groin injury, Croskey-Merritt was the Commanders’ primary ball-carrier. He finished with 18 carries for 96 yards and a score in the Commanders’ 29-21 win over the Giants, turning in his best game since Week 5. Without Rodriguez, Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols split carries 32-30, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Despite playing nearly identical snaps, McNichols had only 10 touches for 22 total yards. If Rodriguez misses additional time, Croskey-Merritt will be a solid Flex play against the Eagles in Week 16, with the Cowboys on deck in Week 17. The Eagles have given up an average of 107.8 rushing yards a game to opposing running backs over the last five weeks. Croskey-Merritt offers little as a pass-catcher, but his rushing volume should be ample if Rodriguez remains out.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
