Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover elite NFL players like Patrick Mahomes, Jonathan Taylor, Davante Adams, or Travis Kelce. Instead, I’ll look at the players you have the most questions about to help you set up the most effective starting lineup possible. For all your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings, which will be updated daily throughout the 2021 NFL season.
Conference Championship Round: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em
Start ‘Em Quarterback
Joe Burrow on Chiefs (3 p.m. ET, CBS): Burrow’s fantasy totals have dropped over the past two weeks, throwing just two touchdowns with an interception and scoring a total of 29.9 points. Still, I like the second-year quarterback when he takes on the Chiefs in what should be a barn. In their last eight games, including the playoffs, their defense has allowed 18 total touchdowns and the most points to opposing quarterbacks.
DFS Bargain: Matthew Stafford on the Buccaneers ($6,300)
Feel ’em Field Marshal
Jimmy Garoppolo at Rams (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox): Garoppolo helped lead the 49ers to a win at Green Bay last week, but it wasn’t because of his stats. In fact, he finished with 3.2 points and has now scored fewer than 10 combined fantasy points in two postseason games. He was also limited to fewer than 13 points against the Rams in Week 18, and his defense has given up the fewest points to quarterbacks since Week 12.
DFS Fading: Jimmy Garoppolo on the Rams ($5,400)
start running backwards
Cam Akers vs. 49ers (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox): Akers is coming off a forgettable game last week, scoring just 5.8 fantasy points and losing a couple of fumbles. However, he saw a heavy workload as he had 27 touches and a 47 percent touch share in a win over the Buccaneers. That volume makes the Akers worth checking out this week against the Niners, who are tough against the run but gave up 26 points to Aaron Jones last week.
DFS Bargain: Cam Akers vs. 49ers ($5,000)
sit them running backwards
Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. Bengals (3 p.m. ET, CBS): Edwards-Helaire returned to action last week against the Bills, but he didn’t play a prominent role in the Chiefs’ offense again. In fact, Jerick McKinnon played more snaps, saw more bunts and scored more fantasy points. The matchup against the Bengals isn’t bad on paper, but I’m worried about Edwards-Helaire with McKinnon playing well right now.
DFS Fading: Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. Bengals ($5,300)
Start ‘Em Wide Receiver
Tee Higgins at Chiefs (3 p.m. ET, CBS): Higgins bounced back from a stinky Wild Card Round to produce a fantasy 16.6 points in last week’s win over the Titans. It should present another good stat line in what could be a high-scoring tilt against the Chiefs. His defense has struggled against enemy wide receivers of late, allowing the second-most touchdown receptions (14) and third-most points at the position since Week 12.
DFS Bargain: Byron Pringle vs. Bengals ($4,300)
Wide Feel Receiver
Brandon Aiyuk at Rams (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox): I don’t necessarily think Aiyuk is a must-have this week, even after he was scoreless against the Packers. He had scored more than 11 points in his previous four games, including 16.7 against this week’s opponent, the Rams. Still, Aiyuk is probably the riskiest fantasy option among the better-known wide receivers on the conference championship-round schedule.
DFS Fading: Van Jefferson vs. 49ers ($3,900)
Start ‘Em Tight End
George Kittle at Rams (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox): Kittle is coming off his best stat line since Week 15, scoring 10.3 fantasy points in a win over the Packers. He has also had a lot of success against the Rams in his NFL career, scoring 16 or more points in six of his last seven games, including three games with 20-plus points. He also recorded a combined 62 goals against them in those seven contests, so give Kittle the start.
DFS Bargain: Tyler Higbee vs. 49ers ($3,700)
Feel ’em tight end
CJ Uzomah on Chiefs (3 p.m. ET, CBS): Uzomah hasn’t been a hit in the playoffs, scoring a combined 32.5 fantasy points over Cincinnati’s two wins. However, he remains the least attractive of the tight ends this round, and a matchup against the Chiefs makes him an even tougher sell. His defense has allowed no touchdowns and the third-fewest fantasy points for the position in his last six games, so Uzomah fades.
DFS Fading: CJ Uzomah at Chiefs ($3,400)
Start ‘Em Kicker
Robbie Gould at Rams (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox): Gould has done well in the last month, scoring 42 points in his last four games, including 22 in the postseason. He should post another good stat line against the Rams, who allowed him nine points in two games earlier this season and have given up 8.8 points per game to kickers since Week 12.
sit kicker
Evan McPherson on Chiefs (3 p.m. ET, CBS): McPherson has been the best kicker in the league, scoring 10 or more points in six straight games, including 31 points in two postseason games. However, he has the worst matchup among all kickers this week, as the Chiefs have allowed the fewest points at the position since Week 12.
start the defense
Chiefs D/ST vs. Bengals (3 p.m. ET, CBS): This week’s game between the Bengals and the Chiefs has an over/under 54 on SI Sportsbook, so there’s a good chance the score will light up frequently. The Bengals allowed nine sacks to Joe Burrow a week ago, but the weakness makes the Chiefs D/ST a good option.
DFS Bargain: Chiefs D/ST vs. Bengals ($3,000)
Sit ‘Em Defense
Bengals D/ST at Chiefs (3 p.m. ET, CBS): Starting a defense against the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes hasn’t been a great idea in the second half of the season. Their offense leads the league in points scored per game (32.4) and is second in yards per game (400.8) since Week 10, so they would be beating the Bengals D/ST in a big way this weekend.
DFS Fading: Bengals D/ST at Chiefs ($2,600)
miguel fabian is an award-winning fantasy football analyst in Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all of his articles here at SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Y Instagram for your latest fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.