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The week Ezekiel Elliott returns also happens to be Super Bowl week for fantasy football owners, as those left alive have one final set of start 'em, sit 'em decisions to make while league championships hang in the balance.
Elliott's journey through 2017 is a fitting personification of the year as a whole for the fantasy realm. Regulars like New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady have looked fine as usual, but unexpected elements such as playing several members of the Jacksonville Jaguars on a non-garbage-time basis have provided a fresh feel to the action.
Said action will carry the same feeling again into an interesting Week 16 slate, where would-be spoilers should put up more of a fight than usual and teams in the playoff hunt will use desperation to win.
With the holidays a busy time, let's provide an assist by comparing some of the gameweek's top matchups to formulate rankings before outlining some key start-sit decisions.
Quarterback
Start: Case Keenum, MIN (at GB)
Even with so much on the line, it isn't the time to shy away from Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum.
The 29-year-old has been one of the year's bigger surprises, proving a 28.56-point outburst in Week 3 wasn't an anomaly. He's tallied 10 double-digit outings, seven of those in a row. Even better, he's thrown multiple touchdowns in four consecutive games with only two interpretations over the same stretch.
It bodes well for a Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers, the team allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks on average this year. Keenum posted 14.06 points against the unit back in Week 6, though with the way he's hitting his stride and with Green Bay is downtrodden after playoff elimination, he could post one of the best lines of this season.
Sit: Matt Ryan, ATL (at NO)
Normally, a player like Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan against a team like the New Orleans Saints sounds like an easy fantasy decision.
Except nothing has come easy for Ryan owners this year. He hasn't surpassed the 20-point mark once this season, and two of his past three outings were of the single-digit variety.
One of those outings came against these Saints in Week 14, when Ryan tossed one score and three interceptions at home to settle on 9.84 points. Thinking Ryan will hit the road a few weeks later against the same team and improve while both sides have so much to play for is how leagues are lost.
Ryan has thrown multiple touchdowns in a game just five times this year and most recently in Week 11, so thinking he will do so against a defense allowing the 12th-fewest points to quarterbacks is a bad idea.
Running Back
Start: Melvin Gordon, LAC (at NYJ)
Quietly, Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has put on a show for fantasy owners this year, not only hitting double digits 10 times but also going north of the 20-point mark a trio of times.
Gordon, coming off a 22.9-point outburst on the road in Kansas City, looks like a guy in a tough matchup in Week 16 thanks to a game against the New York Jets, a team allowing the 17th-fewest points to backs on average.
In reality, though, the fact Gordon has five games in a row with at least 19 carries should encourage owners. His looks aren't going anywhere, especially when his team is far from home and will look to grind out a win.
With two touchdowns over as many games lately, Gordon will need one score to give owners a huge return.
Sit: Lamar Miller, HOU (vs. PIT)
This season has been a wash for Lamar Miller, who, like his Houston Texans, has had minimal bright spots overshadowed by the unfortunate.
Miller has four double-digit outings on the year. A shame, too, because he goes into Week 16 on paper looking like a good play thanks to a game against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense permitting the 13th-most points to backs.
But only on paper.
Miller hasn't hit double digits since Week 12, and he only saw nine carries in a blowout Week 15 loss. Here the forecast seems to call for another blowout as the Steelers pull away early, eliminating Houston's willingness to run the ball.
Wide Receiver
Start: DeAndre Hopkins, HOU (vs. PIT)
DeAndre Hopkins looks like a play regardless of matchup.
The man known as Nuk continues to thrive despite a miserable situation under center, boasting double-digit outings in seven of his past eight games, including a high of 28.4 points. In Week 15, he even got the best of elite Jacksonville corner Jalen Ramsey to the tune of 14 points on four grabs for 80 yards and a score.
Given the above, a game against the Steelers and a defense allowing only the 10th-fewest points to opposing wideouts shouldn't cause owners to blink.
Gifted 13 or more targets in each of his past three outings, Nuk should have another explosive day as the entire offense runs through him.
Sit: Demaryius Thomas, DEN (at WAS)
A lost season nearly ending with a game on the road near a holiday?
Such is the situation surrounding Denver Broncos wideout Demaryius Thomas in Week 16. He has single-digit outings in three of his past four games, and while the exception was a 15.3-point showing, the overall outlook just doesn't look great here.
Thomas has to deal with the Washington Redskins, too. Not only is it a long trip, those Redskins allow the 13th-fewest points to wideouts on average.
While Thomas does have eight or more targets in eight consecutive games, the lack of production despite the usage says quite a bit heading into a disastrous scenario. Were it not for the name recognition, Thomas wouldn't even get a mention here.
Tight End
Start: Delanie Walker, TEN (vs. LAR)
It hasn't always been the best season for Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, but such a line of thinking could apply for most at the position this year.
Walker has caught fire as of late, though, scoring a touchdown in three out of his past four games. Adding to this is his nine or more targets in two consecutive games, nice budding trends to know ahead of his Week 16 encounter with the Los Angeles Rams.
Those Rams allow the 13th-most points to tight ends, which doesn't sound great. But Los Angeles is a few weeks removed from letting Philadelphia tight end Trey Burton post 19.1 points.
Therefore, a known commodity like Walker should have a big day in what otherwise looks like a bland matchup, as the running and short-passing game should be keys.
Sit: Jimmy Graham, SEA (at DAL)
Talk about a disaster of a season for Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham.
The tight end's struggles are a reflection of the reeling Seahawks as a whole. He didn't score a point in Week 14 on two targets and then turned three Week 15 targets into minus-.10 points.
While Graham does have four double-digit outings this year and remains one of the most gifted players at his position, there's no reason to think he turns it around against a Dallas Cowboys defense allowing the 14th-most points to tight ends.
More likely than not, Graham's offense will hit the road and struggle to protect quarterback Russell Wilson or run the ball as usual, making him a non-factor in a predictable attack.
All scoring info, points-against info and ownership stats courtesy of Yahoo standard leagues.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
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