Scott Engel's Lineup Spotlights are a highlighted weekly feature on RotoBaller.com for the 2024 fantasy football season. Every week, he zooms in on players to go with as starting options when you are dealing with close lineup decisions.
The lineup picks included in this rundown are based on Scott's Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter the promo code KING at checkout for an additional discount and access his player rankings in all formats. Plus, you will unlock a full menu of tools and analysis for fantasy football playoff usage.
When considering the players included here for lineups, also consult our staff fantasy football rankings to see if they are ranked higher or lower than your other possible starters. The skill position analysis is tied to Scott's Week 16 PPR rankings.
Update: I am always looking to improve the Lineup Rankings, and have started to progressively incorporate more research into the process. Vegas odds are now strongly considered along with more data from 3rd party sources. The rankings are now optimized for even better possible results for the fantasy playoffs.
Overthinking lineup decisions in the fantasy playoffs can lead to losing decisions. That is the danger with benching Mixon for a much lesser option in Week 16. Yes, the Chiefs are the top-ranked defense in allowing Fantasy Points Per Game to RBs, but Mixon has averaged the second-most FFPG among RBs this season, only behind Saquon Barkley.
Benching Mixon for Rhamondre Stevenson or Ameer Abdullah is a panicky type of move that can backfire and increase the chances of your team being eliminated in Week 16. The defense does not always win the matchup, as evidenced by Mixon's 17 points against the Lions in Week 10. Detroit has been among the top units in allowing FFPG to RBs all season.
Mixon is off the injury report and is arguably delivering the best season of his career. I do lower him to RB2 status because of the matchup, but sitting him would be an overreaction. Play your best players when attempting to advance to a fantasy Super Bowl.
Mixon is the type of RB who is capable of overcoming a challenging matchup to produce quality fantasy totals. The Texans will lean on Mixon to keep them in the game and expect him to run hard.
The Jets' RB is off the injury report, so fantasy players should feel more comfortable about starting him as an RB2 this week. Over the past four weeks, the Rams rank 27 in FFPG allowed to RBs. Rams-Jets may be a higher-scoring affair, as both passing games should move the ball well. Hall will be positioned to finish off a scoring drive with a TD run, and you can expect him to post at least adequate fantasy totals.
He is defying the critics, coming off three consecutive 100-yard games. The Buccaneers, however, rank first in FFPG allowed to RBs over the past four weeks. Lingering critics of the Dallas RB will all point to him posting good numbers in very exploitable matchups.
While Dowdle did need to perform well in those matchups to prove he is a respectable RB, the Buccaneers are rolling and present a tougher draw. Dowdle has earned fantasy RB2 status, but he doesn't crack the top 15 this week.
Metcalf is frustrating fantasy players, as he did not finish as a top-25 fantasy WR in the past five weeks. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is heavily benefiting from the defensive attention Metcalf commands. The six-year veteran, however, is still the main focus of defensive game plans and gets a good matchup to take advantage of this week.
Minnesota allows the most FFPG to WRs, and Ryan Grubb expressed a strong desire to get Metcalf rolling this week. Rain and wind could complicate the passing outlook, but the Seahawks are used to such conditions. Metcalf will have an upside for Week 16 unless the weather dramatically dampens the outlook.
Meyers could be a difference-maker who boosts your team to a fantasy Super Bowl appearance this week. I actually rank him inside the top 20 this week, ahead of Zay Flowers, Smith-Njigba, and Terry McLaurin.
Meyers was targeted 45 times in the last four games and now gets a matchup where he will make the most of his opportunities. Jacksonville allows the third-most FFPG to WRs this season.
The Raiders' top pass-catcher might finish as a top 5 fantasy WR this week. In any tight lineup decisions involving Meyers and another WR3 type, he should unquestionably be started over the other option.
The rookie is taking over the Chris Godwin role in impressive fashion. He finished with 18-plus PPR points in each of the last two games, with a total of three TD receptions.
Dallas ranks 29 in FFPG allowed to WRs, and the Tampa Bay offense is clicking right now. McMillan is a must-start fantasy WR3 this week, and he is another unique lineup pick that can help you earn a fantasy Super Bowl berth.
The Falcons are a consistently good matchup for WRs in fantasy football. Malik Nabers will be targeted frequently and might finish with PPR totals at least in the mid-teens.
Many fantasy leaguers drafted Murray as a projected promising QB1 this year. The results have been discouraging, and while the Arizona QB takes on the Panthers this week, it's hard to put a lot of faith in him in any matchup right now. He finished as a top 10 fantasy QB twice in his last seven games.
Carolina ranks 37 in FFPG allowed to QBs, so Murray does carry some starting appeal for this week. Like Harrison, the floor might be shaky. The rushing upside is always there, though, and he is ranked as my No. 10 QB for the week, ahead of Jayden Daniels, Sam Darnold, and Tus Tagovailoa.
Don't steer away from Jared Goff in cold conditions at Chicago. The Detroit offense will get the job done in any environment. ... Brock Purdy can rebound at Miami, as the weather held him down last week. ... Jayden Daniels gets the obvious tough draw against the Eagles, so I rank him outside the top 10. ... San Darnold is not a QB1, as the running game might lead the way at Seattle.
Strange showed brief glimpses of potential earlier this season and then busted out for a career-high 11 receptions last week. Las Vegas ranks 29 in receptions allowed to TEs this season. Mac Jones moved the ball well enough against an overrated, yet still respectable Jets defense last week, and Strange was one of his primary reads.
Unless you roster another surefire top TE, Strange should be started this week. At the most unreliable position in fantasy football, ride with the flashes of statistical promise and the good matchup.