Starts & Fades 16.24

This article is intended to highlight some players who may have a positive or negative weekly outlook relative to their baseline value. 

“Starts” are players who might generally be on fantasy benches but might have a terrific perceived matchup or game script/environment, or the potential for an expanded role.

“Fades” are players who were likely drafted as fantasy starters or have performed as automatic starters recently, but face a particularly tough week due to a poor matchup or a lack of short-term role clarity due to an injury, etc. 

Here are a few of my notable starts and fades for Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season, with some notes on my thought process included:

QB

Start: Drake Maye, NEP (at BUF)

• As noted in Mike’s “First Look” yesterday, Maye has at least 18 fantasy points in six of his nine starts. He’s accounted for at least one TD in every career start and shown a solid floor for a rookie QB while playing with a fairly anonymous supporting cast on offense.
• The Pats head to Buffalo this week to take on MVP favorite Josh Allen and a Bills team that has tied an NFL record, scoring 30+ points in eight straight games. The Bills are two-touchdown favorites in a game with an implied point total of 46.5. The 11-3 Bills play from ahead often, and their opponents attempt over 34 passes per game against them, the seventh most in the league.
• Maye gets his first career shot at the class of the AFC East in Allen and the Bills this week as a huge road underdog. If you’re in a semi-final matchup with a pocket-passing QB who is banged up or in a challenging matchup, I like Maye as a streamer who can provide a nice spot start.

Fade: Justin Herbert, LAC (vs DEN)