Alright people, don’t panic. If you don’t win here you only have to wait eight months until you can start to earn redemption. No big deal, right?
Huge deal! Help me, help you! Leave your question in the comment section below and let’s have a dialog about what you can do to win your league.
Quarterbacks
Blake Bortles, JAX, 39.3% owned: Blake freaking Bortles has been on a scoring frenzy his past four games averaging 22.25 fantasy points. He has 7 TDs and only 1 INT over that span. Bortles is heading out to San Fran to face-off against the 49ers. The 49ers have been one of the worst defenders of the pass all season averaging 19 fantasy points allowed per game. I told you to start Bortles last week and I’m telling you to believe me again.
Joe Flacco, BAL, 8.5%: The poor man’s Blake Bortles (wtf?!) Flacco is averaging 18.33333333333333333 fantasy points per game over his last 3 games. He hasn’t thrown over 300 yards all season, but I think that’ll change in your championship week as Flacco faces the Colts who have allowed the 3rd most passing yards all year. They even allowed Brock Osweiler to score 24 fantasy points on them in week 15.
Mitchell Trubisky, CHI, 4.5% owned: This will be a nice soft start for Trubisky. In week 15 the Detroit Lions ballhawk defense grabbed 3 INTs from Trubisky. The kid still threw for over 300 yards and 1 TD, but for the most part it was a sad performance. In your championship week he’ll welcome the Browns to town who couldn’t even stop me from passing gas. They’ve allowed the 4th most fantasy points to QBs on the year including a season high 21 to the aforementioned Joe Flacco last week.
Running Backs
Theo Riddick, DET, 64.0%: Sometimes the stars just align and you need to strike while you can. Riddick has more single-digit scoring games than double-digit but I have a feeling that week 16 is going to be one of those double-digit days. PPR darling Theo Riddick is going to have a field day against the team that has allowed the most receiving yards to RBs, the Cincinnati Bengals.
Javorious Allen, BAL, 32.1%: Everything old is new again! First Danny Woodhead was the RB to own in Baltimore, than for hot second it was Terrance West, then it was Javorious “Buck” Allen, then it was Alex Collins — now? It’s Buck Allen again! In week 14 Buck had 2 rushing TDs. Apparently that was enough to make the Ravens lead rusher in week 15. He only had 1 more rushing attempt than Alex Collins, but 51 more yards! Buck and his Ravens get the Colts in week 16. The colts have allowed the 5th most rushing yards on the season setting him up for a great game.
Wayne Gallman, NYG, 6.1%: Gallman didn’t get the most rushing attempts for the Giants in week 15 — that would be Orleans Darkwa. But he somehow averaged 0.77 yards per attempt. Not a typo! Gallman didn’t do too much better with 4.875 yards per attempt but did do some damage in the passing game with 40 yards on 6 catches and that’s where his value lies. In deep PPR leagues I could see Gallman warranting some flex consideration as the Giants face the Cardinals who have allowed 82 receptions for 664 receiving yards to RBs (10th worst in the NFL.)
Wide Receivers
Dede Westbrook, JAX, 30.8%: Okay. I really don’t think Jaydon Mickens nor Keelan Cole are going to be the leading Jaguar receivers in week 16. That was probably just a fluke. Bortles will be flinging the thing around the yard and Dede should bounceback as the prime beneficiary in week 16.
Kendall Wright, CHI, 3.7%: I told you to grab Wright and yea I’ll do it again this week. Last week I pointed out how Kendall grabbed 10 catches for 107 yards and 20 fantasy points in week 14. Well in week 15 he answered with 7 catches for 81 yards and 15 fantasy points. Now, as you can read above in Mitch Trubisky’s post, I like this passing game against the Cleveland defense.
Damiere Byrd, CAR, 0.2%: Papa oom mow mow papa oom mow mow mow! Byrd was the word in the Panther’s week 15 game against the Packers. He grabbed 2 TDs on 3 catches for 17 fantasy points. Greg Olsen dominated the receiving game so there weren’t many passes thrown their receivers way (only 8 total passes on the day) but Byrd made his count. Cam Newton and Byrd now face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who have allowed the most receiving yards to WRs.
Tight Ends
Eric Ebron, DET, 30.9%: Ebron has scored over 14 fantasy points in his last two games and has been the Lions receiver with the highest catch total in both of those games. The Bengals are allowed a healthy 10.79 yards per reception to opposing TEs on the season.
Defense/Special Teams
Bears D/ST, vs CLE, 29.1%: 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.
Kickers
Josh Lambo, JAX, 26.0%: Lambo has the honor of facing the San Francisco 49ers who have allowed the second-most field goals on the season. Lambo to his credit is averaging over 9 fantasy points per game. With the possibility of hitting 3 FGs — Lambo could be in double-digits for your championship game.
Went in to last night down 16 with Freeman and Bryant against his Evans…..the Freeman fumble in the end zone, the Evans TD catch, the Bryant blocked field goal, oh the misery…..and then….Davonta! One more week, just win baby. What better way to spend the holiday than cussing at the TV all weekend.
So went into last night with a 5.9 point lead and my opponent starting Sanu – just barely squeaked by into the finals (and likely took a year or two off my life).
But this week I have a double barreled conundrum – at TE and DST. It’s standard scoring ESPN. I currently have:
TE: Jimmy Graham
DST: Bears
I also had the Saints D (picked up for what I thought would be an opportunistic start against the Jets).
My two questions:
1) Do I keep starting Graham, or do I grab Ebron off the waiver wire? Graham nearly cost me last week and his relationship seems to be breaaking down in Seattle.
2) Do I start the Bears, or put in a claim for the Chargers D against the Jets?
@Drekkan: I am in a similar situation with Graham, and I am putting in a claim for Ebron. -.1 points in the past two weeks, I’m lucky to have made the finals (thank you, Todd Gurley!)
@Drekkan: @Mike in Busan: Graham. Big bounce back game for Russ and Co!
@Drekkan: Boy that TE issue is a tough one…I still feel like you can’t sit Graham.
I’d go Chargers
Dede, Martavis Bryant or Randall Cobb this week?
@Cram It: I;m going Bryant, Cobb, Dede
@Packers: Yeah, that’s the order of waiver claim actually. Thanks man!
Bortles over Ben @Hou?
@FrankGrimes:
Nah I like Big Ben in Houston even without AB.
I own JuJu, do I bother picking up Martavis or is JuJu the right play?
My other WRs are Hopkins, Thielen, Marvin Jones and Tate. Planning on going with Hopkins and Thielen at WR with JuJu as my flex (over the other WRs and Kerwyn Williams)
@Mike in Busan:
Stick with JuJu – SAWFT matchup and no AB he’ll be getting a lot of Big Ben hot tub love.
Lambo over Kai or Butker? Both Kai and Butker were awesome last week
Pick 2 for WR: Robert woods, Dede, Martavius Bryant, Demaryius Thomas
Pick 2 for TE: Ebron, Witten, RSJ
Thanks!
@LG Football:
I’d rank ’em Butker, Kai, Lambo — but the first two are over 50% owned so I try to avoid putting them in the article.
WR: Woods and Bryant for me. Thomas has a tough matchup.
TE: Witten and Ebron. I know Seals has the better matchup but he’s too inconsistent.
Defensive dilemma for the championship:
Currently own Bengals (free falling dumpster fire) and Bills (not testing Brady).
DAL, SF, NYG, TB, NYJ, CLE available. DEF, not DST
Ugh…
@Stone Cold Beast:
This is the hardest question I’ve ever had to answer.
I’m actually leaning Browns? then Bengals?
None are good options though…
2 QB league need a 2 – Garoppolo, Tyron, Eli or Flacco?
@Mike: Tyrod @ NE or Flacco vs. Indy both look good. I’d lean toward Tyrod cause I can see the Ravens running a lot in the second half… while the Bills will be playing from behind.
@Mike: I like Tyrod then Flacco then Eli then Garop
Cousins or Foles this week?
Thanks man
@Nightpandas: Similar sitch here… I’m putting in a claim for Foles and benching Cousins. Flacco may surprise too…
@bigbear: only got one move left as well which complicates things
@Nightpandas: If this is championship week, don’t leave it in the chamber…
@bigbear: I’ll take Foles over Cousins actually.
1 QB league, need help deciding between Dak with Zeke back or Bortles on fire? (or Foles?)
@JZ: Dak and Zeke.
The Ravens back field is Collins’. Buck Allen only got the carries because the Ravens were in cruise control… Maybe that happens again, but I think there’s less risk going with Collins.
Which 2 of these to start:
Josh Gordon @ Chi
AJ Green vs Det
D. Thomas @ Was
@bigbear:
Give me Green & Gordon. Good luck!
Need a WR to replace Devante Adams to win me my league… Who you taking?
Dede Westbrrok against the 49ers
or
Marquise Goodwin VS the Jags
Thanks in advance!
@GroovyGreg:
Oohhhh these are two of my favorites. Given that Goodwin is Garopp’s favorite I’ll choose him even in a tough matchup.
12 team dynasty standard. start 3 WR no flex and i have a.brown (out), both thomas’, hilton and doctson. doctson’s spot had been a streamer or stash slot, but now that i might have to play him or hilton i’m attempting to get wallace. what order if i miss wallace should i go after these: cobb (hundley’s back, doesn’t throw to jordy at all, and adams might be out), hogan?
Who do you like more:
Chiefs DST @ Home vs MIA in 30° Weather- win and clinch the division.
or
Chargers on the road in a must win game vs Bryce Petty and the Jets.
Well, Rodgers is done: do I go with Kase Ceenum against the Packers (likely not gonna be a heavy passing game) or pick up Bortles and go with him? Or Alex Smith (on whom I am not sold).
I’m thinking Bortles, Keenum, Smith is the order.
4.875 yds per attempt is very good.
At TE, Delanie Walker or Eric Ebron?
1/2 PPR, 6 pt TDs.
Bortles or Alex Smith?
2 WRs: Tate, Josh Gordon, Robert Woods?
Thanks for your help. Merry Christmas!