Start or sit? Week 16: Kendre Miller, Javonte Williams, Isiah Pacheco

So you think you’re hot stuff because you made it to the second round of the fantasy playoffs, right? Well, you haven’t achieved anything yet. However, advancing to the next round brings you one step closer to glory and we here at Footballguys want to help you achieve this. Last week we talked about some players and two of the three performed as expected. Unfortunately, Najee Harris and Tank Bigsby had disappointing games in the first week of the playoffs. I just hope they didn’t cost you your victory. At the 15th week there was a separation of boys and men; I’m speaking to you, Seahawks, because some teams have shown they’re not ready for prime time. Here are some thoughts on whether these players are worth starting or if you should look elsewhere this week.

Kendre Miller (No Time for Miller)

The Saints have been hit hard by injuries to some of their key offensive players this season, and that trend continued in Week 15 when Alvin Kamara suffered a groin injury. Kendre Miller has stepped in to replace Kamara and I have to say he has some impressive moves and can accelerate quickly. However, this week he faces a Packers team that has been performing well of late, and it seems many of us are overlooking them. The Packers have been one of the best teams at stopping running backs recently, allowing just 66 rushing yards to running backs over the last three games. If that stat doesn’t impress you, consider that the Packers give up the fifth-fewest rushing yards at home, averaging just 99 yards allowed at Lambeau Field. The Saints will have a lot of work to do, and Miller has never carried the ball more than 12 times in a game. While Taysom Hill is unavailable, Jamaal Williams is still in the game and has a reputation as a touchdown vulture. For alternative options in Week 16, consider moving to Jerome Ford, Rhamondre Stevenson or Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Recommendation: Sitting.

Javonte Williams (No “Te” today)

NFL coaches are sometimes difficult to trust, and Broncos head coach Sean Payton is at the top of the list here. We should have known something was wrong when Coach Payton compared Bo Nix to Ferris Bueller. Bo Nix is ​​more like Jeff Spicoli. Seriously, if you have Javonte Williams on your roster, look elsewhere this week. He had no more than 10 carries in five straight games:

• Week 10, 1 wear
• Week 11, 9 wears
• Week 12, 8 wears
• Week 13, 4 wears
• Week 14 Bye
• Week 15, 6 wears

His teammate Jaleel McLaughlin, who had limited opportunities in the team’s first practice before the game against the Chargers, had 10 touches in Week 15. Don’t forget rookie Audric Estime. The Chargers’ run defense tells a different story; They were the best team in the NFL at preventing their opponents from scoring touchdowns, as they only conceded six touchdowns that season. I prefer Jaylen Warren, Tyjae Spears or Travis Etienne Jr. over Williams.

Recommendation: Sitting.

Isiah Pacheco (Pachec-NO)

The Chiefs are preparing for their three-goal attempt and are focused on staying as healthy as possible in January. However, this strategy has led to a frustrating time share among their running backs. For example, in Week 15, the Chiefs split carries evenly between Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, with each player receiving 13 carries. This isn’t the only concerning trend for the Chiefs backfield. Over the last three games, they have averaged just 25 rushing attempts per game. If Pacheco and Hunt continue to split carries, 12 touches may not be enough to rely on.

AdditionallyCarson Wentz could start for the Chiefs this week due to Patrick Mahomes II’s ankle injury. Even if Mahomes, who trained intensively earlier in the week, plays, it won’t change the fact that the Texans are currently one of the best defensive teams. The Texans pride themselves on shutting down their opponents’ running game, allowing the second-fewest rushing touchdowns this season. An impressive statistic is that opposing teams score a touchdown on the road against the Texans only 10% of the time, which is the best rate in the league. Given these factors, I recommend considering Tony Pollard, Rachaad White or Jerome Ford this week.

Recommendation: Sitting.

One step closer…

No pressure, but you are one step closer to the championship. We at Footballguys are here to help you. Use Footballguys tools to help you reach the championship and who knows, maybe you’ll win the trophy too.

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