Let’s dive into some news and notes around the league, my top fantasy plays and favorite picks for Week 16.
Notes:
• The schedule-makers have made my head hurt with the randomness of games the last few weeks. This week, we have our traditional Thursday night game, two Saturday games, the usual Sunday games and three Monday games. Monday is Christmas Day, so make sure your lineups are ready to go if you have plans for the day.
• My priority add last week was Vikings running back Ty Chandler, and fantasy owners were rewarded with 23.2 points in half-PPR scoring. Chandler had all but one carry for the Vikings, running for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 25 yards. That type of usage and efficiency will shoot him up my rankings this week. He’s a must start as long as Alexander Mattison is out of action.
• Tyreek Hill did not play in Week 15, but the Dolphins’ passing game didn’t miss a beat as Jaylen Waddle racked up 142 yards and a score on eight receptions. Waddle hasn’t lived up to his early-round draft status, but that’s more of a byproduct of Hill being the incredible talent that he is. If Hill misses this week as well, Waddle is a top-five receiver. Regardless, Waddle needs to be in your lineup.
• It was an interesting week for quarterback play, to say the least. Here are your top 12 scorers in Week 15, in order of points: Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Brock Purdy, Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, Derek Carr, Easton Stick, Matthew Stafford, Jake Browning, Joe Flacco, Jordan Love and Nick Mullens. Most of them are backup QBs who are hardly rostered by fantasy owners. You’re sticking with Patrick Mahomes or Tua Tagovailoa if you roster them, but despite all the injuries around the league, there are still options if you’re desperate.
• We are going to have an interesting discussion next year about the top tight end in fantasy. Sam LaPorta has put himself in the conversation to be the top tight end selected after a three-touchdown performance against the Broncos on Saturday. It was the second time in three weeks LaPorta scored more than 26 points, and the rookie has nine touchdowns in his short career. Travis Kelce has the history of being the most consistent tight end, but he’s got real competition next year.
• Matchups are key as we enter crunch time of the fantasy season, so it’s important to find the best defenses and kickers each week as every point matters. Targets kickers who play in domes or warm-weather cities. As far as defenses go, look for units that are going against the league’s worst offenses. In Week 15, some of the top defenses were the Dolphins, Saints and Colts. Their opponents were the Jets, Giants and Steelers, respectively. Target defenses playing bad teams. For example, the Packers have Carolina and Minnesota the next two games. The Bills, Ravens and Cowboys have a rough stretch of opponents during the fantasy playoffs.
Thursday Game: Saints vs. Rams
Sunday Night Game: Patriots vs. Broncos
Monday Night Game: Ravens vs. 49ers
Top Pickups of the Week: Ty Chandler, Zamir White, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Trey Sermon, Hunter Henry
Send to the Waiver Wire: Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, Keaton Mitchell, Logan Thomas
Start ‘Em:
Quarterback: Jordan Love
Running Back: Ty Chandler
Wide Receiver: Noah Brown
Tight End: Hunter Henry
Defense: Broncos
Sit ‘Em:
Quarterback: Gardner Minshew
Running Back: Jerome Ford
Wide Receiver: Adam Thielen
Tight End: Dalton Schultz
Defense: Ravens
Sleepers:
Quarterback: Jake Browning
Running Back: Trey Sermon
Wide Receiver: Curtis Samuel
Tight End: Tucker Kraft
Defense: Packers
NFL Picks for Week 16:
Weekly Pick ‘Em (Season Record: 139-84)
Rams (vs. Saints)
Bengals (vs. Steelers)
Bills (vs. Chargers)
Colts (vs. Falcons)
Packers (vs. Panthers)
Texans (vs. Browns)
Seahawks (vs. Titans)
Commanders (vs. Jets)
Lions (vs. Vikings)
Buccaneers (vs. Jaguars)
Dolphins (vs. Cowboys)
Bears (vs. Cardinals)
Broncos (vs. Patriots)
Chiefs (vs. Raiders)
Eagles (vs. Giants)
49ers (vs. Ravens)
Five Picks Against The Spread (Season Record: 36-38-1)
Bengals -2 vs. Steelers
Colts -1.5 vs. Falcons
Commanders +3 vs. Jets
Buccaneers -1.5 vs. Jaguars
Chiefs -10 vs. Raiders
Five Over-Under Totals (Season Record: 35-40)
Saints-Rams under 44.5
Colts-Falcons under 44.5
Browns-Texans under 42.5
Commanders-Jets under 38
Cowboys-Dolphins over 51
One Bold Prediction for the Week
Week 1: Sam Howell finishes as a top-five fantasy QB against Cardinals. (miss)
Week 2: Michael Thomas leads all players in receiving yards in the two Monday night games. (miss)
Week 3: Justin Fields leads the league in rushing yards in an effort to keep up with the Chiefs. (miss)
Week 4: Travis Kelce has more receiving yards than Zach Wilson has passing yards in the “Sunday Night Football” game. (miss)
Week 5: The Bills put up 50-plus points against the Jaguars in London. (miss)
Week 6: Josh Jacobs has more total scrimmage yards than Mac Jones has passing yards. (miss)
Week 7: The Eagles hold Tyreek Hill to under 50 receiving yards. (miss)
Week 8: The Jets and Giants score more points than the Patriots and Dolphins. The Jets-Giants total is 36.5, while Patriots-Dolphins total is the highest of the week at 47. (major miss)
Week 9: Tee Higgins leads all receivers in yardage against Bills. (miss — finished fifth)
Week 10: With Travis Kelce on a bye, a tight end leads the league in receiving. (miss)
Week 11: Jordan Love is a top-five QB in fantasy this week. (miss)
Week 12: Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen combine to score four rushing touchdowns in the Bills-Eagles matchup. (finally got one!)
Week 13: Rachaad White leads the league in scrimmage yards. (miss)
Week 14: Jared Goff and Justin Fields throw for more combined yards than Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes in their respective games. (miss)
Week 15: Kyren Williams posts more than 175 scrimmage yards. (miss)
Week 16: Ty Chandler leads all running backs in rushing yards.
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