Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 16 Of The NFL Season

 

One more week of league-long fantasy for most, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do to get our rosters right for the Championship! If you’re reading this, you’ve still probably got a shot, so let’s prepare to make the necessary moves this week to bring home the gold! 

 

Chargers – 30 @ Raiders – 27

 

• With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams hobbled, Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson led the Chargers WR attack with 91 yards for Guyton and 61 yards and a TD for Johnson. Depending on the statuses of Allen and Williams this week, both players could be implemented in the fantasy finals, as Justin Herbert flourishes regardless of who his targets are.

 

• Kalen Ballage scored on Thursday but had just 11 yards on 8 carries. Justin Jackson was a healthy scratch, so Ballage’s role seems safe, but he’s too TD dependent to rely on in the finals.

 

• Derek Carr suffered a groin injury that takes him out of consideration this week. Marcus Mariota came in and played admirably in a losing effort, and he’ll get the start this week against Miami. Although Mariota has a built in floor with his rushing ability, Miami has one of the better defenses in the league and is not a team I’d gamble with Mariota against outside of super-flex formats.

 

• Josh Jacobs banged up his knee on Thursday, and he was already dealing with an ankle injury. Jacobs has more time to heal than normal, as it was a Thursday night game, but you should probably hold onto Booker until we know Jacobs is out of the woods. 

 

Bills – 45 @ Broncos – 19

 

• Stefon Diggs left the game late with a foot injury, making him questionable for week 16. With John Brown already on IR, the potential loss of Diggs would make Cole Beasley, Gabriel Davis and even Dawson Knox all viable options for the fantasy finals.

 

• Devin Singletary ended up with 68 yards and a TD, but his line was largely misleading as 51 yards and the TD came on a garbage play when the Broncos defense was already checked out. Zack Moss played as the lead back for the majority of the game(81 yards) and is the better option in Week 16.

 

• Phillip Lindsay got the start due to Melvin Gordon dealing with a shoulder injury, but Gordon outplayed Lindsay once again. Lindsay hasn’t looked right for weeks and can’t be depended on in the finals.

 

• Drew Lock‘s inconsistancy is maddening. Noah Fant is the only pass-catcher you can even consider for the finals, as the TE position is so shallow anyway. 

 

Panthers – 16 @ Packers – 24

 

• The Panthers play the Redskins this week, so I’m hesitant to advise playing any of them. If you have to choose one, DJ Moore would be the best option. 

 

• Yes, Davante Adams only came away with 42 yards in Week 15, but if that didn’t sink you, he did get 10 targets so he’s still a must start in Week 16 against Tennessee.

 

• Jamaal Williams left the game in the first half with a quad injury, which led to a monster fantasy day for Aaron Jones. If Williams can’t go this week, Jones is a league winner.

• Allen Lazard looks to be more involved in the Packers passing attack than Marquez Valdes-Scantling right now. He’s a desperation flex against a porous Titans secondary this week. 

 

49ers – 33 @ Cowboys – 41

 

• Raheem Mostert left the game with an ankle injury, leaving Jeff Wilson to shoulder the load for the 49ers. Wilson is completely capable of being a workhorse, so fire him up if Mostert is out or even just hobbled this week.

 

• Kendrick Bourne ended up leading the 49ers in receiving on Sunday with 86 yards and a score. It was only on 4 targets, while Brandon Aiyuk and Richie James had 13 and 7 targets on the day. If George Kittle returns this week, all bets are off anyone other than him and Aiyuk. If Kittle remains out, all three receivers could pop against Arizona, though Aiyuk is the only certainty/ 

 

• Tony Pollard looked like the truth against the 49ers, replacing Zeke Elliott for the day. A dual threat, Pollard is worth flexing against the Eagles, even if Zeke toughs it out. Pollard will stay involved. 

 

• Amari Cooper flopped just when we needed him. He was the only certainty in the Cowboys offense the last half of the season, and now we’ve seen the depths of his floor. He’s only a must start if Michael Gallup can’t go this week.

 

• Michael Gallup exited with a hip pointer on Sunday, with Noah Brown taking his place in the lineup afterwards. He had been the most targeted Cowboy the last couple of weeks. If he can’t go CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper are decent options this week. 

 

Seahawks – 20 @ Washington – 15

 

• Yes, Carlos Hyde had 55 yards on the ground and a TD, but it came on just 2 carries. He’s not an option in Week 16. 

 

• The Seahawks receivers got stymied by Washington’s league best secondary on Sunday. It doesn’t help matters much that they’ll play a good Rams defense this week that will be angry about the loss to the Jets on Sunday. DK Metcalf had his worst game of the season against the Rams in their first meeting. You probably need to start Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but they’re by no means locks in Week 16. 

 

• Logan Thomas, Terry McLaurin and Jd Mckissic all had decent fantasy days with Dwayne Haskins under center, with Thomas garnering a whopping 15 targets. If Alex Smith misses another game, I actually don’t hate any of these guys in Week 16 against the Panthers, except for Haskins himself, who isn’t an option. 

 

Bears – 32 @ Vikings – 27

 

• No Bear player had more than 5 targets on Sunday, with David Montgomery getting 33 touches on the day. Darnell Mooney did score for the second straight week, but he’s only eclipsed 50 yards twice this season. Only Allen Robinson and Montgomery can be used in the finals. 

 

• Adam Thielen has only had 3 and 4 targets these last 2 weeks. He did manage to maintain his lead on WR TDs(12) though. He’s extremely TD dependent going into a week that you can’t have him whiff in. 

 

• I thought it would be the Irv Smith show with Kyle Rudolph sidelined, but Tyler Conklin managed to pick up 57 yards and a score over Smith, who actually dropped a TD pass. This is a situation to avoid in the finals, even if Rudolph continues to sit. 

 

Patriots – 12 @ Dolphins – 22

 

• Sony Michel led the backfield for the Pats with 11 touches for 82 yards. He actually averaged 7.4 YPC, which is excellent. The Pats just have a stagnant offense otherwise. Michel offers a decent floor against the Bills this week if Damien Harris sits again. 

 

• Jakobi Meyers had his 2nd 100+ yard game of the season against the Dolphins this week, but I don’t see history repeating itself this week against Buffalo’s stifling secondary.

 

• Salvon Ahmed and Matt Breida were the Miami offense in this one. I almost wish Myles Gaskin won’t return this week from the Covid list, as it would make the decision to play Ahmed a lot easier. If Gaskin returns, both he and Ahmed would be in the mix for touches, and Breida would be on the outside looking in. 

 

• Lynn Bowden led the Dolphins in targets with 7, on a day when DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant and Mike Gesicki were absent. Chances are at least one of those guys makes it back to the field this week, so Bowden is not likely to be an option for you.

 

Jaguars – 14 @ Ravens – 40

 

• James Robinson is the only acceptable fantasy option for the Jaguars as they go against the Bears this week. DJ Chark hasn’t had a worthwhile day in fantasy since Week 9, and you can’t rely on that to change in this matchup. 

 

• Mark Ingram was a healthy scratch, making JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards split touches for Baltimore. Dobbins is the 1A it seems, but Edwards gets enough action in this running offense to still warrant consideration in deeper formats. 

 

• Marquise Brown has flourished over the last 4 weeks, though he’s been bit a TD dependent. He’s a high upside flex this week against the Giants. 

 

Buccaneers – 31 @ Falcons – 27

 

• Tom Brady managed to get all 3 of his starting WRs either a score or 100+ yards in this one. All 3 will be reasonable options against the Lions and their sieve-like secondary this week.

 

• Leonard Fournette only had 41 yards on the day, but he found the end-zone twice. He’s a solid start against Detroit if Ronald Jones is still out in Week 16. 

 

• Interim coach Raheem Morris said that Ito Smith is the lead runner in Atlanta right now on Monday afternoon. He, nor any of the Falcons backs could get much going against Tampa on Sunday, but he should have more room against Kansas City this week. He makes for an intriguing PPR flex this week. 

 

• Russell Gage had 10 targets, 68 yards and a TD against the Bucs behind Calvin Ridley, who feasted as usual without Julio Jones around. Jones has no plans to be shut down, but what’s the use of risking further injury in a lost season? Gage is worth flexing this week if Jones remained sidelined. 

 

• Hayden Hurst had his first score since Week 6, but he was a distant 3rd in targets(5) and is too TD dependent for the finals. 

 

Lions – 25 @ Titans – 46

 

• Marvin Jones and D’Andre Swift remain the only fantasy relevant players for the Lions right now. Chances are that Kenny Golladay doesn’t return this season.

 

• Corey Davis bounced back in a big way after the stinker he gave us in Week 14, racking up 110 yards and a score. It’s a little disconcerting that he did it on only 4 receptions, but he was tied for the team lead in targets(6) with AJ Brown. Both players are worth taking a chance on against the Packers this week. 

 

• Jonnu Smith popped up this week with 52 yards, but I’m already too wary of his up and down ways. 

 

Texans – 20 @ Colts – 27

 

• David Johnson was useless in the running game, but he lead the Texans in receiving against the Colts(11 rec, 106 yards). He’s a decent flex option against the Bengals this week. 

 

• Chad Hansen continues to find ways to stay fantasy relevant for 3 weeks now, scoring on Sunday, even with Brandin Cooks back on the field. As the tallest of the starting WRs, he’ll maintain a red-zone role in Week 16. 

 

• Zach Pascal came out of nowhere to lead the Colts in receiving(79 yards, 2 TDs) against the Texans. It’s highly unlikely he does it again against the Steelers this week. That being said, I’m off of Michael Pittman for now, and Ty Hilton is the only Colts pass-catcher I’m rolling with in the finals. 

 

Eagles – 26 @ Cardinals – 33

 

• Jalen Hurts‘ favorite pass-catchers in Week 15 were Dallas Goedert and Jalen Reagor, who both had 8 targets on the day. Zach Ertz was right behind with 7. With Dallas on board for week 16, I’d feel fairly safe firing up any of those guys in your finals. 

 

• Chase Edmonds came into Week 15 a game-time decision and left it leading the Cardinals backfield in touches(14) for 66 yards and a score. There didn’t seem to be a particular reason for his usage, other than he just got hot. Both he and Drake can be flexed against the 49ers this week, though Drake is still the safer play.

 

Jets – 23 @ Rams – 20

 

• Frank Gore had 24 touches for 65 yards and a score on Sunday, but he is NOT an option against the Browns in the finals, unless you win my scoring the least fantasy points.

 

• Jamison Crowder is averaging 6 targets a game over his last 4, which doesn’t seem like that much, but this is the Jets we’re talking about. He is actually a fair flex option in PPR leagues against Cleveland this week. 

 

• Cam Akers didn’t have the monster we were expecting against the Jets(63 yards), but he did have a 14 carry difference between him and the next closest rams back. Fire him up in Week 16 against Seattle. 

 

• Tyler Higbee has scored in 2 of his last 3 games, and he’ll go up against a Seahawks team that was his previous season high for yards(60) before Sunday. I like him more than the likes of Jonnu Smith. 

 

Chiefs – 32 @ Saints – 29

 

• Clyde Edwards-Helaire came back negative for a serious injury on Sunday, but he’ll still most likely miss the last 2 games of the regular season. Le’Veon Bell needs to be owned and started in all formats. 

 

• The Chiefs face the Falcons this week, so the likes of Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman will be boom or bust options in the fantasy finals. You have worse options out there, so why not take a shot on the best offense in football?

 

• Drew Brees wasn’t a great improvement on Taysom Hill for his pass-catchers, but the Chiefs actually have a stout secondary. Things should be better against the Vikings this week, so Emmanuel Sanders can be utilized as the no.1 option for the Saints, with Tre’Quan Smith potentially out. Lil’Jordan Humphrey could be a deep league flex option too. At 6’4”, he’s a built-in red-zone option.

 

Browns – 20 @ Giants – 6

 

• The game-script didn’t Kareem Hunt‘s way this week, and he ended up with only 28 yards on the day. If it was most 2nd backs, I would shy away from them in the playoffs, but the Hunt would be a starter on most teams, and the Browns play the Jets this week. Hunt is a flex play. 

 

• Jarvis Landry is an easy start in Week 16. Rashard Higgins is a bit more questionable. He’s been a valuable asset for the Browns since ODB went out, but he really needs to score to make it worth your while. If there’s one team he’s got a good shot against, it’s the Jets though. 

 

• Austin Hooper scored on Sunday, but he’s been up and down all season. The fact that the Jets are the best matchup for TEs in football makes him a solid streaming option this week. 

 

• Oof, Colt McCoy is a killer for fantasy production. Darius Slayton had a decent day with 74 yards on 9 targets, but the Giants never really came close to scoring more than maybe once. If Daniel Jones is out for Week 16 against Baltimore, I’m not starting a single Giant in fantasy.