Okay Aaron Rodgers owners — if you put all your eggs in his basket — you can still recover. I’ve got three solid starting QB options who could lead you to fantasy football glory. If you’re Antonio Brown — I’ve got you covered there.
If you’ve got anyone else on your team that you’re not entirely sure of please throw your questions down in the comment section and I will get to them ASA-quick.
Good luck in your championships!
Quarterbacks
Start:
Case Keenum, @ GB, 40.7% starting: If you were hoping for Aaron Rodgers to return and help you win your fantasy league — you got another thing coming. However, Case Keenum has been playing like an MVP himself in his last 7 games and can be the face of your championship week line-up. He is averaging 20 fantasy points per game and has at least 2 TDs in 6 of those 7 games. Week 16 sees Keenum playing in Green Bay in what should be a frigid, freezing game, but I still believe in Keenum. The Packers are allowing the 7th most fantasy points to QBs.
Blake Bortles, @ SF, 24.2% starting: This is my third article in a row recommending Blake Bortles, but still people aren’t hearing me. I get it. He’s been a punchline for mediocrity for most of his career — but something has changed over these past 8 games where he is averaging 18 fantasy points per game. Bortles heads to San Fran to take on the 49ers who have allowed a passing TD in every game and over 15 fantasy points to QBs in 10 of their 14 games this season.
Joe Flacco, vs IND, 5.0% starting: The gunslinger formerly known as Joe Cool has reemerged over these past 3 games. He has put up fantasy games of 18, 16 and 21 points respectively with 5 TDs to only 1 INT. Week 16 sees the Ravens welcoming the Colts to Baltimore. Here’s the caliber of QB that the Colts have allowed to score over 20 fantasy points: Brock Osweiler, DeShone Kizer, Blake Bortles and Brian Hoyer. Flacco has a better track record and skill set than those 4 guys.
Sit:
Matt Ryan, @ NO, 38.8% starting: In most leagues Matt Ryan was one of the top-4 QBs off the board. Unfortunately there has been no bigger disappointment than Ryan. He is currently 16th among QBs in fantasy scoring and can’t be trusted anymore. If you made it this far hoping for a vintage 2016 performance from Matt Ryan — well you’re probably not playing anymore. If you somehow did make your league’s championships there is no shame in benching the guy who scored only 6 fantasy points only two weeks ago against this same Saints team. All three of the guys listed above are going to score more points than Ryan.
Running Backs
Start:
Joe Mixon, vs DET, 26.6% starting: Mixon has missed the past two weeks with concussion symptoms, but he’s been fully participating in practices this week and seems ready to roll and it couldn’t come at a better time. The Bengals are tied for second in most rushing TDs allowed to RBs and have allowed over 20 fantasy points to opposing RBs in 11 of their 14 games this season.
Theo Riddick, @ CIN, 24.9%: Surprisingly Theo Riddick appears to have pried the RB1 role from Ameer Abdullah’s hands. Riddick is one of the league’s elite pass-catching backs and is facing off against the Bengals who have allowed the most receiving yards to RBs. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t expect Riddick to get a bunch of points on the ground as well — the Bengals have allowed the 3rd most rushing yards as well.
Sit:
Jamaal Williams, vs MIN, 53.1%: I know we all want to believe that without Aaron Rodgers in the fray Williams will run wild — but this Vikings run defense is too good to allow that to happen. They’ve only allowed one team to score 100 rushing yards all season. Without Rodgers, the Vikings will key in on stopping the run meaning a lot of stops for Williams.
Samaje Perine, vs DEN, 42.3% starting: Perine is coming off three straight single-digit fantasy scoring games and is now nursing a groin injury after hurting himself in practice on Thursday. Even if he plays, I can’t see Perine being effective due to injury and his opponent, the Broncos, who have held their last three of their last 5 opponents to only 45 rushing yards.
Wide Receivers
Start:
Martavis Bryant, @ HOU, 35.5%: Lil Wayne’s stunt double has a chance to continue to regain Steelers’ fans’ trust in week 16. Last week he caught 4 passes for 59 yards and a TD for 15 fantasy points. This week, the Steelers are without Antonio Brown which should lead to more targets for JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bryant. In your flex spot you could do worse than Bryant playing against the secondary that has allowed the 5th most receiving yards to WRs.
Mike Wallace, vs IND, 20.5%: Joe Cool is going to be whipping the ball to somebody, and I think that somebody is Mike Wallace. It definitely won’t be Jeremy Maclin who is predicted to miss this match-up due to a knee injury. Wallace has scored double-digit fantasy points in five of his last six games and should add another game to that streak against the Colts who have allowed the 3rd most receiving yards to WRs.
Cooper Kupp, @ TEN, 20.5%: Consider this more of a hunch than anything. With Robert Woods healthy and back in the mix and Sammy Watkins still drawing some passes it could be difficult for Kupp to get looks, but I have a feeling Kupp is going to get his this week. His opponent the Titans have allowed seven team’s wide receivers to score over 35 fantasy points.
Sit:
Demaryius Thomas, @ WSH, 57.1% Demaryius can struggle against the top pass defenses. In two games against the Raiders who have allowed the 11th fewest fantasy points to WRs Thomas had 2 and 6 fantasy points. Against the Chargers who have allowed the 8th fewest points to WRs Thomas had only 2 fantasy points. Against the Dolphins who have allowed the 7th fewest fantasy points to WRs he had 4 points. Now he gets the Redskins who have allowed the 12th fewest fantasy points to WRs. It could be a rough game for Thomas.
Tight Ends
Start:
Vernon Davis, vs DEN, 27.8%: While the Broncos have stopped WRs for the fewest fantasy points on the year, they’ve allowed the 3rd most fantasy points to TEs. With Jordan Reed officially done for the season, Davis has an opportunity to thrive this week against the Broncos.
Jesse James, @ HOU, 11.1%: James was a bad-call away from scoring double-digit fantasy points for the second week in a row. Like Bryant above, James could be in for an increase in targets without all-world Antonio Brown in the line-up. He has a good team to score against as the Texans have allowed the 5th most fantasy points to TEs.
Sit:
Greg Olsen, vs TB, 66.7% starting: Olsen had a Olsen-like performance in week 15, but now faces the Buccaneers who have held opposing TEs to single-digit fantasy games in 6 of their last 8 games and hasn’t allowed a receiving TD to a TE since week 7.
Defense/Special Teams
Start:
Chicago Bears D/ST, vs CLE, 47.1%: I told you to grab the Bears on Tuesday and now I’m telling you to throw them into your line-up. Here’s what I said then that still remains true today: “The Bears are averaging 10 fantasy points per game over their last three games. Week 16 has them playing against the worst team in the league, the Cleveland Browns in Chicago. Bears are likely to have another double-digit fantasy scoring day.”
Sit:
Philadelphia Eagles D/ST, vs OAK, 52.1% starting: The Raiders have held opposing defenses to under 9 fantasy points in 7 of their last 9 games. Also, if the Sunday games work out in the Eagles favor they could lock down the #1 seed in the NFC and rest some of their defensive studs.
Kickers
Start:
Jake Elliott, vs OAK, 49.8% starting: Hot off back-to-back double digit fantasy weeks Elliott is sure to score double-digits again this week. With Nick Foles under center, there might be a few more stalled drives in the red zone which will lead to more points for Elliott (and you!)
Sit:
Ryan Succop, vs LAR, 53.4%: This Rams defense has been one of the best in the league at preventing fantasy points to kickers. Only four kickers have scored double-digit fantasy points against them and Succop has only scored double-digits once in his last seven games.
