Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 16

We’re rounding the home stretch RosterWatch Nation! Here’s the skinny on what you need to know for Week 16….

 

 

Jets – 21 @ Ravens – 42

 

• Jamison Crowder(6/90/2) had his best game since Week 11 against the Ravens, and I feel like the Steelers will pose a similar defensive challenge this week, so I like Crowder the most as far as Jets receivers are concerned. 

 

• Robby Anderson had 66 yards on the day, but he doesn’t make for an enticing play against the Steelers this week. We’d have to hope on a big play most likely, and that may not come. 

 

• 5 different pass catchers scored TDs for the Ravens, but only Mark Andrews had more than 4 targets on the day(7). He’s the only player other than Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram that I’d take into Week 16. 

 

Eagles – 37 @ Redskins – 27

 

• Miles Sanders(25/172/2) had a monster game at the perfect time for fantasy owners, but it was against the Redskins. He’ll face a Cowboys team that just shut down the Rams, so he’s not a lock to put up big fantasy numbers, but he’s one of the few effective offensive pieces available to the Eagles right now, so he’ll get plenty of opportunities, especially since Jordan Howard may sit once again. 

 

• Boston Scott(13/65) had another serviceable day playing behind Miles Sanders, and I could see him being implemented similarly this week against the Cowboys if Jordan Howard sits. With only 1 WR catching a pass in Week 15, he could be worth flexing in deep leagues. 

 

• That 1 WR who caught a pass was Greg Ward(7/61/1), who matched his 9 targets from Week 14. With Alshon Jeffery gone for the season, Ward looks like the go-to at the receiver position for the Eagles. He’ll have a tough job against the Cowboys, but he’ll likely see double digit targets or close to it. 

 

• Terry McLaurin did his damage(130/1) on just 5 targets, scoring in back to back games now. He’s risky taking into what is the fantasy championships for most, but the Redskins are hosting the Giants so he’s safe to flex, as is Adrian Peterson. 

 

• Steven Sims(5/45/1) is the no.2 option in Washington. He had 11 targets on Sunday and 7 the week before. There’s a pretty good chance he’s serviceable this week, but that’s not a risk I want to take in the fantasy championships. 

 

Texans – 24 @ Titans – 21

 

• Carlos Hyde(104/1) has his second highest output of the season on Sunday, carrying the ball 26 times. It’s an encouraging line, but he faces Tampa this week, so he’s a middling flex at best. 

 

• Will Fuller(5/16) came away without reaggravating his hamstring, so that’s good news. He has the matchup of the season against Tampa this week, but paying Fuller always carries the risk of him pulling up lame at some point. He’s a sky high flex. 

 

• 2 TDs for Kenny Stills, but he only had 3 targets on the day and 35 yards. Any Texans WR is an enticing play this week, but Stills is as boom/bust as they come. 

 

 

• It’s hard to say whether Derrick Henry(21/86) is 100% or not, though it seems unlikely that a RB who touches the ball as often as he does could be totally healthy at this point in the season. You have to start him against New Orleans this week in a must win for the Titans. 

 

• A.J. Brown is the no.1 WR in fantasy over the last 4 weeks. He’s a must start in all formats. 

 

Dolphins – 20 @ Giants – 36 

 

• Patrick Laird(14/54) was his decent floor, low ceiling self again this week, but Myles Gaskin(11/72) was involved as well – involved enough to keep Laird out of my lineups this week. 

 

• Mike Gesicki(4/47) is averaging 6 targets a game over the last 7 weeks, which is pretty solid for a TE. He’s the Miami only receiver after DeVante Parker that I would risk playing this week. 

 

• Darius Slayton(2/31/1) was targeted on 3 times on Sunday, as Eli Manning struggled with turnovers(3) and defaulted to Sterling Shepard(9/111) – his most familiar option. Daniel Jones started practicing this week, but Manning may still finish out the season under center, making Slayton a feast or famine option this week against the Redskins. 

 

Broncos – 3 @ Chiefs – 23

 

• Noah Fant(2/56) is producing despite a startlingly low number of targets – 3 on Sunday. The Broncos play Detroit this week so his odds are better than normal, but a 1 point game like in Week 13 isn’t out of the question. 

 

• DeSean Hamilton(2/13) and Tim Patrick(3/26) saw 9 and 7 targets on Sunday, but Drew Lock is too erratic to chase those targets. 

 

• The Chiefs backfield is a full blown timeshare with 3 RBs getting at least 6 carries but no more than 8. I’m staying away from all of them this week against the Bears. 

 

Bears – 13 @ Packers – 21

 

• Anthony Miller(9/118/1) has been on fire the last 5 weeks, and though K.C. poses a considerable challenge for most WRs, Miller is not most WRs. He’s a high floor WR3 this week. 

 

• Tarik Cohen had 10 targets on the day in addition to 8 carries for 85 yards in all. I see him as being a major component of the offense against KC this week. He’s a high floor flex. 

 

• Davante Adams and Aaron Jones are the only startable Packers – aside from Aaron Rodgers. That won’t change this week against Minnesota. 

 

Buccaneers – 38 @ Lions – 17

 

• Breshad Perriman(5/113/3) swooped in where Mike Evans left out, and demolished the Lions secondary with just 5 receptions. He’s just as viable as Chris Godwin this week, and should be in all lineups against the Texans this week.

 

• O.J. Howard led the Bucs with 8 targets despite only posting 4 receptions for 46 yards. Cameron Brate was right behind him with 7 targets. I give Howard the edge over Brate against Houston this week, but the ceiling is high for really any Buccaneer pass catcher with these kind of targets. 

 

• You can’t start either Tampa RB this week, but you already knew that. 

 

• David Blough has been in decline since his first week as a starter. That’s good news for Danny Amendola(8/102) who has been somewhat of a safety blanket for Blough now that Marvin Jones is on IR. He’ll probably be a safe PPR flex this week against Denver, as Kenny Golladay(3/44) will have his hands full with Chris Harris. Golladay’s fantasy outlook is saved only by Jones’ absence.

 

• RB Wes Hills(12/22/2) was elevated from the practice squad just in time to lead the Lions in carries in Week 15, scoring twice in the process. Chase Hills if you want, but Bo Scarbrough is likely to be back this week, and he would be the starter against Denver. 

 

Patriots – 34 @ Bengals – 13

 

• The Pats won with ease, but Tom Brady was all over the place with his arm. With Buffalo on the plate this week, James White(6/62/1), Sony Michel(20/103) and Rex Burkead(8/59/1) are all reasonable plays. 

 

• Mohamed Sanu(2/13) had 8 targets on the day, but couldn’t get on the same page with Brady. He’s not an advised play against Buffalo. Julian Edelman(2/9) was terrible too, but he should still get enough action underneath next week to keep him in lineups. 

 

• The Bengals were useless in the passing game, as can be expected against the Pats. They face the Dolphins this week though, so Tyler Boyd, Alex Erickson and even John Ross are in the mix – in that order. 

 

Seahawks – 30 @ Panthers – 24

 

• Josh Gordon has been suspended(the 5th time) for banned substances. It’s probably the last we’ve seen of him in the NFL unfortunately. I’d say there was some WR who’d benefit from his absence, but the Seahawks run the ball too much for that to be the case. Tyler Lockett and D.J. Metcalf are the only WRs who you can play. 

 

• TE Ian Thomas(2/23) regressed from last week, but he was in on 69 of 72 offensive plays. I still think he’s a decent streamer this week against the Colts. 

 

• Curtis Samuel(5/31/1) had a nice day in fantasy, but he’s too TD dependent and Kyle Allen is too erratic with his deep ball to rely on him in Week 16. 

 

Vikings – 39 @ Chargers – 10

 

• Dalvin Cook, almost lasted a full season, but we knew something had to give with all the touches he’s been getting. His shoulder injury will keep him questionable all week most likely. The Vikings play on Monday night, so have a plan in place in case he can’t go. No word on Alexander Mattison yet, so Mike Boone and then Ameer Abdullah in case you can’t get Boone, should be added. 

 

• No Vikings WR did much Sunday, but then they didn’t have to with a comfortable lead in place. What’s good is that Adam Thielen didn’t have any setbacks. Fire him up along with Stefon Diggs this week.

 

• Mike Williams(4/71/1) is finally getting enough volume to play with some consistency in fantasy. He’ll be a WR2 against Oakland this week.

 

• Hunter Henry has been up and down the last several weeks, with Austin Ekeler being used in the short passing game, but you have to like his chances against the Raiders, who he scored on in Week 10, this week. He should be in lineups.

 

Jaguars – 24 @ Raiders – 16

 

• Chris Conley(4/49/2) led the Jags in targets with D.J. Chark sidelined. Keelan Cole(3/76) led in yardage, but 55 of those yards came on one play. Chark will practice this week, so there’s a chance Conley and Cole will be irrelevant this week. If Chark sits, Conley is the preferred play.

 

• Tyrell Williams(2/45/1) had his best game in 7 weeks on Sunday, but that’s because he managed to find the end zone, something he hadn’t done since, well, 7 weeks ago. He goes up against his old team the Chargers this week, but he only had 25 yards against them in their first meeting. He needs to be on your bench this week. 

 

Browns – 24 @ Cardinals – 38

 

• Ricky Seals-Jones(3/29/2) had his second best output of the season, but this was the Cardinals so that was expected. The Browns play the Ravens this week, and if there’s a silver lining here it’s that RSJ had his best day of the season against them in Week 4(3/82/1). 

 

• Odell Beckham had his worst game of the season against the Ravens in Week 4(2/20). He’s a low floor flex this week. 

 

• Kenyan Drake(22/137/4) terrorized the Browns on the ground Sunday in what will probably go down as the best fantasy game of his career. David Johnson wasn’t a factor –  Neither was Chase Edmonds. Drake is a must start this week, while DJ’s best days may be behind him. 

 

• Damiere Byrd(6/86) led the Cardinals in receiving on a day where no one else went above 42 yards. 55 of Byrd’s yards came on one play though, so I’m not considering him for Week 16. 

 

Falcons – 29 @ 49ers – 24

 

• Julio Jones(13/134/2) was the Falcons offense, but you don’t get many options against SF. Devonta Freeman(14/55) and Austin Hooper(3/20) should have a much easier time against the Jaguar defense this week.

 

• SF showed again why they’re so volatile an offense on Sunday, with no one but George Kittle and Raheem Mostert contributing anything worthwhile. Those two are the only 49ers I’m considering in Week 16 against the Rams. 

 

Rams – 21 @ Cowboys – 44

 

• The Rams were able to salvage a few decent fantasy performances Sunday in comeback mode against the Cowboys, but all bets are off for Week 16. Jared Goff threw for just 78 yards against the 49ers in their first meeting this season. I suppose you have to start Todd Gurley and Cooper Kupp, but don’t expect much. 

 

• I do think Tyler Higbee(12/111) may be worth a go this week. He’s been a like preserver for Goff in recent weeks, and he’ll be needed against SF. 

 

• Don’t get caught up in Tony Pollard’s 14/143/1 line. The ‘Boys were walloping the Rams, so he just pulled clean up duty. He won’t be a viable option against Philly this week.

 

• Amari Cooper(1/19) may have doomed quite a few teams with his near goose egg Sunday, but he should be a fine play this week against Philly – if you’re still playing for anything. He just wasn’t needed on Sunday. 

 

Bills – 17 @ Steelers – 10

 

• Cole Beasley(⅙) had his worst game of the season on Sunday. He’s had a very stable floor most of the season, but he’s not one to follow into Week 16 against the Pats.

 

• Devin Singletary(23/89) should maintain his fantasy production though. If Joe Mixon can feast against the Pats on the Bengals, Singletary should be able to post decent fantasy numbers. 

 

• James Washington(5/83) bounced back this week to lead the Steelers in receiving after floundering in Week 15. He’s a solid PPR flex against the Jets this week.

 

• James Conner(12/51/1) was back to being the focal point of the Steelers offense on Sunday, and he came away unscathed. Fire him up against the Jets this week.